What sexual dysfunction best explains Avatar fandom?

[Great Rumbler]

[youtube=560,345]a3HemKGDavw[/youtube]

Led Zeppelin ripped off Tolkein!

[Flannel Boy]

Should he have done some more research? Probably. But who doesn't need to do more research?

So Page simply didn't do enough research when he failed to credit Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" for "The Lemon Song," even though Led Zeppelin performed "Killing Floor" in concert before? (The song wasn't even credited as a "traditional arrangement")

[Eric P]

it's not theft.

it's musical colonialism

[The Fake Shemp]

Look, it's pretty much an unspoken rule - according to music historian Glen Shinobi - that any and all blues musicians are allowed to "borrow" songs from one another and arrange them in different ways. In reality, the blues genre is made up of only three songs.

[Flannel Boy]

In reality, the blues genre is made up of only three songs.

It's really just one song. The other two borrow from the first.

[The Fake Shemp]

 

[Flannel Boy]

The Lemon Song is fucking awesome.

True.

[Eric P]

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[Eric P]

sci fi never wins director

it will most likely get Best Adapted Screenplay

[The Fake Shemp]

Any screenwriting awards for Avatar would be a complete joke, as would winning over Bigelow for The Hurt Locker.

[Mr. Gundam]

Any non-technical award for Avatar would be a joke.

[The Fake Shemp]

Uh what? The Hurt Locker is littered with scenes that tell more in one frame than Cameron accomplishes in his whole lousy film. Bigelow literally builds tension through visual storytelling; the entire film is an exercise in that. The scene near the end in the cereal box aisle is more powerful than anything Jimmy Cameron's 3D Jungle Safari can muster up.

And by your own admission, the acting was incredible. Which - guess what? - also happens to be the director's job. Yes, great actors can often times direct themselves, but I think you have to give Bigelow credit here.

What did Cameron do in Avatar other than direct some very adequate to poor performances in a very dumb and predictable story propped up by special effects? And while Cameron is involved in the technical aspects, my feeling is that, y'know, the actual people that worked on those elements should win - not Cameron. But you probably thought he was DP/art director/etc.

[Mr. Gundam]

Willco, you haven't seen Avatar, and thus you are completely unqualified to speak on this matter.

 

[The Fake Shemp]

Willco, you haven't seen Avatar, and thus you are completely unqualified to speak on this matter.

You don't know anything about filmmaking, and thus you are completely unqualified to speak on this matter. You are, however, great at putting your foot in your mouth, so continue to do that.

[Great Rumbler]

Uh what? The Hurt Locker is littered with scenes that tell more in one frame than Cameron accomplishes in his whole lousy film. Bigelow literally builds tension through visual storytelling; the entire film is an exercise in that. The scene near the end in the cereal box aisle is more powerful than anything Jimmy Cameron's 3D Jungle Safari can muster up.

And by your own admission, the acting was incredible. Which - guess what? - also happens to be the director's job. Yes, great actors can often times direct themselves, but I think you have to give Bigelow credit here.

What did Cameron do in Avatar other than direct some very adequate to poor performances in a very dumb and predictable story propped up by special effects? And while Cameron is involved in the technical aspects, my feeling is that, y'know, the actual people that worked on those elements should win - not Cameron. But you probably thought he was DP/art director/etc.

I chuckled slightly, but not much else.

[The Fake Shemp]

Apparently not much if you think Cameron deserves to win over Bigelow.

[Great Rumbler]

Apparently not much if you think Cameron deserves to win over Bigelow.

He's at least seen both movies in question.

[The Fake Shemp]

To be fair, I'll cut you some slack, since I imagine that you think after James Cameron finished inventing 3D technology and personally rendering Pandora in his house, that he worked the dual-camera system once he gave direction to his actors (and cleaned up dialogue for the day's scenes). Then he personally motion-capped Zoe Saldana and animated her frame-by-frame on his Alienware desktop.

He is so great, that James Cameron.

[fistfulofmetal]

round 2!

[The Fake Shemp]

Because of what? By the critics' own admission, the performances are merely adequate and the story is predictable and trite. It's being championed as a spectacle.

Guess what, Bigelow has the action, and the acting and the storytelling. There is more to directing than fancy explosions.

I look forward to you campaigning for Michael Bay's Oscar next season.

[Phoenix Dark]

ergo when pdiddy sampled led zepplin for the godzilla soundtrack he exponentially became the greatest rock artist of all time

[Mr. Gundam]

I just think Cameron deserves it more.

Mediocrity does not deserve awards. It was fun and visually stunning, but an extremely cliched and predictable film, one that DOES NOT deserve any non-technical awards.

[Mr. Gundam]

The performances are pretty good. Zoe Saldana has a good chance of getting a Best Actress nomination. Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang have also been praised.

Did you fall and hit your head? Seriously? No one in Avatar deserves an acting nomination.

[Great Rumbler]

blahblahblah opinions blahblahblah

Lock this thread.

[Mr. Gundam]

Unlike Willco, I'm not trolling. Saying that anyone in Avatar deserves a nomination for acting is a joke.

[Great Rumbler]

Unlike Willco, I'm not trolling. Saying that anyone in Avatar deserves a nomination for acting is a joke.

Not everyone thinks so, apparently.

[Mr. Gundam]

Unlike Willco, I'm not trolling. Saying that anyone in Avatar deserves a nomination for acting is a joke.

Not everyone thinks so, apparently.

Then those people need to see better movies. Avatar was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it. But it's not that good.

[Great Rumbler]

Unlike Willco, I'm not trolling. Saying that anyone in Avatar deserves a nomination for acting is a joke.

Not everyone thinks so, apparently.

Then those people need to see better movies. Avatar was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it. But it's not that good.

Not everyone thinks so, apparently.

[The Fake Shemp]

The world is full of stupid people, Great Rumbler.

[Great Rumbler]

The world is full of stupid people, Great Rumbler.

Yeah, like people that talk about the merits of movies they haven't seen. Those guys are so dumb!

[The Fake Shemp]

Or people that just mention the weaknesses of a film as stated by its supporters, and are, uh, somehow... wrong?

Avatar: You either love it... or not at all.

[Great Rumbler]

Oh, Willco, you're such a caution.

[Mr. Gundam]

Clearly I'm wrong, even though I saw the film. I'm so wrong that GS keeps ignoring my comments.

[The Fake Shemp]

You're a MINORITY. Everyone LOVES Avatar. It has NO FAULTS. GREATEST FILM OF OUR GENERATION... OR ANY.

EDIT: I won't even mention that the rave reviews Great Rumbler put on the first page of his own Avatar thread (y'know, the ones used to validate his opinion) had quotes that torpedoed the script and characterization.

[Great Rumbler]

Clearly I'm wrong, even though I saw the film. I'm so wrong that GS keeps ignoring my comments.

Nah, you're cool, we're just not in agreement.

Willco's dumb though. Duuuuumb.

[The Fake Shemp]

I guess all those critics that loved Avatar, but did not like its story or the lack of characterization, are dumb as well. OH WELL.

[fistfulofmetal]

Zoe deserves some recognition. She's really good in the movie. And she's pretty.

[Great Rumbler]

I guess all those critics that loved Avatar, but did not like its story or the lack of characterization, are dumb as well. OH WELL.

Duuuuumb.

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Dumb.

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Lock this thread.

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[Flannel Boy]

Zoe deserves some recognition. She's really good in the movie. And she's pretty.

I guess turning into a furry is an improvement in your case.

[fistfulofmetal]

it didnt hurt.

[Diunx]

[Brehvolution]

Saw this on another forum:

[Tauntaun]

Zoe deserves some recognition. She's really good in the movie. And she's pretty.

Plus Zoe is the name of the black girl on Firefly* so by extension she is awesome.

*

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If you hate Firefly then you are dead inside, DEAD! 

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[Flannel Boy]

Firefly was pretty mediocre.

[Tauntaun]

Firefly was pretty mediocre.

[Ichirou]

Unlike Willco, I'm not trolling. Saying that anyone in Avatar deserves a nomination for acting is a joke.

Uhhh, several critics are saying Zoe Saldana should be nominated for Best Actress.

I'm also tired of Willco trolling and talking stuff about the movie's direction when he hasn't even seen it yet.  And I'm even more tired of Green Shinobi falling for Willco's trolls over and over and over again.

[Ichirou]

Also, Willco claims he's just repeating what critics have said, but then proceeds to slam the direction, which is the one thing the critics have universally said is great.  His trolling really has crossed over into the ridiculous at this point.

GS, GR, ignore him, he's just trying to provoke reactions from you guys.  I didn't even think Avatar was that great (I think I'm on the same boat as distantmantra, generally, except I think Zoe Saldana's performance was the best in the movie and probably worthy of at least a nomination considering the conditions it took place in), but even I am getting tired of the constant slamming of what is basically a good, fun adventure movie aimed at the teen set.

[The Fake Shemp]

Geez, Ichirou. I didn't know you were so emotionally attached to a "good, fun adventure movie aimed at the teen set". :'(

[Ichirou]

I'm not emotionally attached, it's just that your trolling has gone from funny to ridiculous.  You're criticizing the directing of a movie you've never even seen! 

Stick to making fun of the plot and the furry blue smurfs.  At least you're on solid ground with that angle.

[Phoenix Dark]

His trolling fell off when he started lampooning Avatar with the same argument he used to hail Paranormal Activity.

[The Fake Shemp]

I don't find it that difficult to make the leap to criticizing his directing when the performances have ranged from poor to "get's the job done" according to critics (with the rare glowing review for Saldana's performance), and his primary job as storyteller falls flat since the story itself is painfully derivative.

And while I understand critics might laud his direction, these are the same critics willing to nominate it for serious awards consideration despite the fact that they think the screenplay is poop, there is a significant lack of strong acting and the characterization sucks.

But - hey! - it's a fun, good adventure movie for teenagers. What do I know?

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p.s. I still love you, you card.

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[Barry Egan]

aspects of Avatar Willco does not feel he is authorized to comment upon:

[The Fake Shemp]

His trolling fell off when he started lampooning Avatar with the same argument he used to hail Paranormal Activity.

Guh? I must have missed the argument for Paranormal Activity that I made that called for serious awards consideration? I called it a theater experience that could be nit picked to death.

I don't think I've blasted Ichirou or distantmantra for the similar reactions to Avatar. My only gripe is heralding spectacle entertainment as Oscar-worthy. Don't try to troll when you got no basis, Maurice!

[Cormacaroni]

by this point, Willco has surely spent more time stripmining reviews for juicy ammo and trolling here than he would have ever spent watching the film. I agree, getting a bit ridiculous. Go see the film and do it right, Willco! Tell us what YOU think!

[Ichirou]

I think I mentioned in this thread or the previous ones that the only awards I think it deserves to be nominated for are the technical ones.  I'm definitely not in Shinobi's corner.

That said, I do think the direction is one of the strongest aspects of the movie.  I was fully absorbed during the film's running time.  I was emotionally "with it" for the duration.  It was only after the credits started rolling that I started thinking about some of the more laughable aspects (the stereotypical macho man colonel, the often corny dialogue, etc.), but Cameron's directing is great, IMO.  The way he directs action is such a welcome change of pace from the Sommers and Bay school of directing.

[The Fake Shemp]

Again, as I would not recommend someone who is not an avid fan of horror to go see Paranormal Activity in theaters, I would not personally spend the time and money to see a painfully derivative adventure movie aimed at teenagers.

That sub genre is just not my cup of tea.

[CajoleJuice]

That said, I do think the direction is one of the strongest aspects of the movie.  I was fully absorbed during the film's running time.  I was emotionally "with it" for the duration.  It was only after the credits started rolling that I started thinking about some of the more laughable aspects (the stereotypical macho man colonel, the often corny dialogue, etc.), but Cameron's directing is great, IMO.  The way he directs action is such a welcome change of pace from the Sommers and Bay school of directing.

Yep, I agree wholeheartedly with this.

[Phoenix Dark]

Films "aimed at teenagers" don't gross a billion worldwide. The film has broad appeal 

[The Fake Shemp]

You ever hear of a movie called Titanic, Maurice?

And it didn't even have the benefit of 3D ticket prices and inflation!

[Phoenix Dark]

If you don't think Titanic appealed to a broad audience, male and female, you don't know anything about movies - which obviously is not the case. So you're trolling, but dude it's getting old.

See the movie to come up with some better material