I’m incredibly glad i saw it in 3D in the theater. everything you said about the CGI and effects are true. (Like how there are always flies in the jungle; that’s awesome! who thinks of that stuff?) I never caught myself saying “Oh that’s computer.” It all blurred together

The story was bad. Like, I hated it bad. And i gotta say Brett, if you have all the bells and whistles, but your story is cliched, recycled, and predictable, then I don’t care what you’re selling me. (sound like a familiar business model??)

Yes, Avatar changes movies, but I did not get fired up about the Eucatastrophe (look it up) in Planet Fern Gully like I did when Gandalf rides over the hill in Two Towers. Why? because I knew it was going to happen, just like I knew who the bad guy was at first glance and what the major themes were after every character was introduced. Sure you know what happens to Frodo and Sam and Aragorn, but you care about them! I did not care about Jake Sully so much (he’s a good guy, but meh?).

Avatar will be known for what it has done to cinema and how it changed the game. Roger Rabbit was a pioneer putting animation alongside real life actors, Tron was the first major use of CGI for extended time, and the Matrix Reloaded took CGI to a new level.

But all those films are remembered as good films, Groundbreaking, but not great!

Citizen Kane was groundbreaking in the way that it told a great story. it used cinema to tell it’s story. Toy Story, groundbreaking, and told a great story. LoTR series, epic BECAUSE of the story it told.

I think Cameron used an easy story to show off some special effects. (really really awesome special effects, mind you)

seriously though, when they’re walking around in the jungle, and flies are coming at you? really cool detail.

might i also suggest the southpark episode “dances with smurfs”

http://www.xepisodes.com/southpark/episodes/1313/Dances-with-Smurfs.html

and the NPR interview with james cameron? it is VERY interesting how he explains the facial capture that made up the new CGI (from the sound of it, Brett, you will like this.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121604325