It just dawned on me that it’s been over four years since AVATAR was released. I remember it was quite a big deal back in 2009. I remember getting advanced screenings (this was before I was on the press list, mind you) and I was soooooo excited! I even had a countdown post like I did before Man of Steel came out. I had barely any blog followers back then either, so most of you probably never read my review of the movie. Yes, I actually loved it. Yes I know it’s basically the story of Pocahontas with blue people, but I couldn’t help being caught up in the spectacle of it all. Visually, it was a thrill that at the time, I hadn’t experienced before. My hubby and I even went to the Avatar exhibit at EMP Museum in Seattle, so yeah, I was obviously a fan 😀
But it seems ages ago now. I haven’t even rewatched it in a couple of years though we did get the Blu-ray. It’s not as exhilarating visually when you didn’t see it on 3D or IMAX, and this is one of those movies where the visual does matter. In any case, I sort of have forgotten about this movie, but yesterday I saw a bunch of tweets about Arnold Schwarzenegger possibly joining Avatar 2 as a villain.
“Get to da leonopteryx!” Will Arnie be Avatar 2’s villain? http://t.co/GvN6Y2JARt
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) September 17, 2013
I’d think Arnie’s probably playing a general/leader role similar to Stephen Lang. It’s been a while since he collaborated with Cameron in those Terminator movies and True Lies (which I’ve been wanting to rewatch for some time!), though at this point I don’t really care. Heck, I used to actually like Sam Worthington, he was even on my list of 10 Notable Foreign Actors to Watch, but apart from maybe The Debt, I don’t really care for him as an actor anymore. Yeah, blame it on the abominable Clash of the Titans!
What I am curious about is if Avatar 2 would actually take place underwater as was reported early this year. This is what Cameron said to LA Times Hero Complex about what the setting of the sequel,
Part of my focus in the second film is in creating a different environment – a different setting within Pandora. And I’m going to be focusing on the ocean on Pandora, which will be equally rich and diverse and crazy and imaginative, but it just won’t be a rain forest. I’m not saying we won’t see what we’ve already seen; we’ll see more of that as well.
Of course they’d use the latest technology for the motion capture and stuff, that’d be interesting to see how that’d work underwater. The Abyss is one of my favorite sci-fi, which was filmed underwater. Surely the technology has improved tremendously since 1989 that we should expect something even more breathtaking.
So what do you guys think about AVATAR sequels, are you a fan of the first film?
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I remember being blown away by the original as well, but it’s certainly lost some of its wonder with repeated viewings. I’m looking forward to the sequel, but I don’t think it’s necessary. But since sold sci-fi is becoming hard to come by I’ll definitely be watching it. As for Arnold being in it, well, I can’t help but laugh at the thought. 😉
Hi Billy! Glad to hear you like the original too. I know the script is a bit hackneyed and the love story isn’t too convincing, but man visually-speaking it’s spectacular! I was looking forward to the sequel initially but I sort of forgot about it until now, ahah. As for Arnie, well is he gonna be a Na’vii terminator?? 😉
Now THAT would get me to the theaters. 😉
Or he could be a Na’vii Dutch (his character in Predator) Like this one: http://media.aintitcool.com/media/uploads/2013/draven/schwarzeneggernavi_large.jpg
Now I’m laughing again. Haha! ;D
I’m not sure, people hyped up the first one so much, that when I did see it, I was a little disappointed.
Yeah, that’s what hype does to people. I’m a bit worried about Gravity as well as the hype is quite high for that one too. So are you disappointed even by the visuals of Avatar?
Oh no the visuals were absolutely amazing.
Ah ok, just curious if there’s some people who aren’t impressed w/ the visuals, ahah.
I’m sure it will be cool, but I’m not head over heels to see it.
Hi Gene! Me neither, though if it is indeed filmed underwater, I’m curious how the Pandora universe would look like!
I hate Avatar with a passion. I actually think it’s one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.
Ahahaha, I like your passionate answer, Fernando. So I guess the answer is no then 😀
Yep. Huge NO. 🙂
Ok, heard you loud n clear, good sir 😀
Epic! My Favorite Hatiri…
Quick answer : NO!
I hated the story of Avatar. It was ripped from several other movies most notably Dances with Wolves. I also thought it was one of the most heavy-handed political stories ever. It’s fine to have a “message” but Caneron bludgeons the audience to death with it.
I remember giving it 2.5 stars and making it clear that ever star was for the technical side of the movie. Visually it was gorgeous and amazing. Too bad the story was unoriginal and ridiculously preachy to me.
(Oh, it also made my Phenomenal 5 list of overrated movies! Ok, my griping is complete! 🙂
Ahah, I forgot how much Avatar got on people’s nerves! I hear ya about being preachy though I think I was marveling at the visuals too much to mind it. I haven’t seen Dances With Wolves but yeah, lots of people mentioned the plot is similar to that, too.
How long ago was your Phenomenal 5 on that one Keith? I might’ve missed it.
It was a list I did a while ago. Probably one of the first 5 or 10 that I did. But don’t check it out just yet. I’ve been thinking about rewording it and using it again. It’s such a good conversation starter.
Oh and you really need to see Dances with Wolves. It’s well worth it.
Sounds good Keith, send me the link when you have it ok?
Oh yeah, I definitely need to see Dances with Wolves, that’s one classic I somehow missed out on!
I loathed Avatar, so I’ll likely never watch these sequels. They’ll probably look pretty nice, at least.
Yeah, I think the stunning visuals seems to be what most people agree on, thanks Brian.
I hated the first movie. One of the most boring films I’ve seen and the script was atrocious. I wouldn’t see the sequels if they paid me money to 🙂
Okay then.
Wow, way to be short with people, Ruth!
Oh sorry, didn’t mean to be short, especially with you, girl! 😀 I respect your views. There are some films people absolutely adore that I feel the exact same way as you do, won’t even go see it even if they pay me. So cheers!
I love the first movie. I think I will watch the sequel (even with Arnie as villain!) but I really doubt that it will receive good critics and acclaims like its predecessor. I think the sequel is more like a blockbuster, not an award darling like the first movie.
I don’t think the first movie was an award darling Akbar, I mean it made a boatload of money but it’s no Titanic. I think they poke fun at it at the Oscar w/ Ben Stiler dressed as a Na’vi??
LOL!! 😀
Put me in the YES column. As usual, I enjoyed the director’s extended cut ever more.
Oh I haven’t seen the extended cut yet. I have so many Blu-rays I bought that I still need to watch apparently. Thanks Michael.
Well if Cameron actually pays more attention to the storyline this time then I might see the sequels. Yes the first movie was quite a visual feast on the big screen and it’s the first 3D movie that actually took advantage of the technology and it worked in that format. But I rolled my eyes so many times at the preachy and cliche plot in the first movie that I thought my eye balls were going to roll back for good, LOL. I actually thought the movie was going to be the biggest flop ever and ruin Cameron’s career, well of course I was wrong on that. Cameron’s a great story teller but he seemed to only want to focus on the technology on the first movie, so hopefully for the sequels, he’ll give us a better plot and not preach to us.
Well I think we can all agree that Cameron is more of a tech geek who’s tech innovation often gets the best of the story. I do think he tries (though not hard enough perhaps) to create an engaging story, but even when I saw Titanic I was laughing too at how cliched it was. It has a similar storyline in this one about an unlikely couple who got together, ahah.
I am curious about the technology aspect of underwater filming in Avatar 2. I remember being in awe of The Abyss and surely the technology has improved a lot since then.
Yup, Titanic was a pretty cliche storyline, I fell asleep when I first saw it in theater. Didn’t wake up till the ship started sinking, it’s the only reason why I went to see it, the big spectacle. I was hoping for Avatar, he wouldn’t do another generic love story, I was wrong of course. I remember reading the first draft of Avatar’s script, the first version he wrote, and it’s quite engaging. It’s more about how the humans landed on Pandora and tried to survive in that environment, it wasn’t a love story or anything cheesy like that, it’s more of “true” sci-fi script. I assume he changed it to a more generic plot because he needed the money to make the movie happen. I don’t think the studio would give half a billion dollars to make that version of the script.
Ahahaha, you fell asleep until the ship’s sinking!! Can’t say I blame you. I know it’s terrible of me to say but the effects of the sinking ship is indeed a spectacle to behold!
Heh, that first draft of the script would’ve been a lot more engaging and yeah, a true sci-fi like you said. I think the studio’s meddling is more to blame in this case then. But whose idea was it to do the Jack & Rose story, wasn’t that Cameron’s??
I don’t think Fox really have to tell him to change the script, I think he changed it into a cheesy love story because he knew he won’t get the money had he kept the original storyline. He is after all, the producer, writer and director on all of his movies, so that’s a perfect example of a control freak, lol.
Hi, Ruth:
I’ve already seen ‘Ferngully’ and Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’. So, no.
Not really thrilled about rumors about an add-on, sequel or pre-quel to ‘Prometheus’, either.
Ok sir, dully noted!
Ahah, well I have no interest in Prometheus sequel either, not crazy about the first one.
I actually really liked it too, Ruth. The story was absolute mince but there was no denying the visual spectacle that it was. I’d be very interested in seeing the sequels but I hope Cameron’s quill is on better form.
Hi Mark! I like how you said it, absolute mince, I love how Scots/Brits use certain terms that means the same thing 😀
I do hope the story would be more engaging this time, but yeah, visually I’d love to see how the world of Pandora looks underwater!
For Arnold Schwarzenegger playing a villain alone 😀
Ahah well looks like that rumor has been shot down Tim 😦
NIEN!!!
You mean NEIN?? 😀 😀
Yeah that’s the one 😀
Ahah, I just picture a spoof on Hitler where he said ‘Nien, nien, nien!’ to which his Nazi followers look at him w/ bewildered look. Has the Führer been drinking? 😀
Glorious!
I actually quite liked it, especially the visuals. I was blown away by all the sky sequences. I wasn’t overly fussed by the story but I still enjoyed it. As for the sequels, I wouldn’t say I’m looking forward to them as such but I’d still probably go and see them.
Yeah, the flying sequences w/ those Banshees are amazing! I felt like I was on a ride of some kind the first time I saw it. I felt like a kid again, that’s probably why I tolerated the cliched story.
No. Nein. Please don’t! The graphics were amazing, but the plot pretty conventional. IT was a 2009 version of ‘Dances with Wolves’. The story ended. Let it rest in peace.
Ahah, well Avatar made a boatload of $$$ so I doubt Cameron would let it rest in peace. Call me shallow but I love the gorgeous universe of Pandora, I’m curious to see it underwater 😀
Btw, tomorrow’s Jeremy Irons’ B’day 😉
I do like Avatar though I don’t think the 3D was worth it. Still, I would be down if James Cameron puts on a stronger story. Plus, get someone else to replace Sam Worthington. I heard Arnold won’t do it but I would love him to be in the film either as a villain or one of the good guys.
I’d be ok if they replace Sam Worthington, he’s such a one-note actor. I don’t know why I was so keen on him initially, ahah. I doubt they’d do that though. Seems that FOX has shut down the rumor about Arnie as the villain, too bad as I think that’d be interesting… even better if he’s a villainous Na’vi 😀
Btw Steven, love your recent review of Bergman’s early review. I reddited: http://www.reddit.com/r/moviecritic/comments/1mo61c/summer_with_monika_1953_one_of_ingmar_bergmans/
Thank you.
Cameron just can’t stay out of the water, can he?! By the way did you and your husband dress up as Navi for the exhibition? 🙂
Hi Mikey! Yeah he seems to have an infatuation w/ water! It sure makes a living hell for the cast for Titanic and The Abyss, ahah. Ahahaha, no we didn’t need to, there’s a section where you could actually be a Na’vi on camera. It’s a pretty cool effects 😀
Nice question. I’m glad you enjoyed it, but like Fernando, Avatar is one of my least favorite movies. The plot was unoriginal, the acting poor, and I wasn’t even very impressed with the special effects.
Wow I think you’re the first who said you didn’t care for the special effects. Suffice to say you won’t really care for the sequels then.
I liked Avatar, but it was way too long! I think the whole hype is going to begin again when the movie nears its release. I would definitely like to see how it does underwater, though.
Yeah, it’s not out until 2016 so the hype machine hasn’t begun yet. Yeah, the underwater stuff intrigues me too.
Lets be real i would watch anything by James Cameron, he has his way of crafting the universe in his films and i think Avatar production design is so amazing i don’t even care about the formulaic genre films plot. So yeah i’m looking forward to it so much!
I think Cameron’s strength is indeed in crafting a certain universe for his films, he has an impeccable attention to detail. I guess it’s at the expense of the story but it’s still within tolerable level for me 🙂
The first Avatar was great! I watched it in it’s first weekend; after that word of mouth spread and tickets became hard to come by for weeks at my local theaters. Cameron and Arnie make a great combo but I’d prefer to leave Arnie out of this franchise. 🙂
I saw it on its first weekend too! Actually I saw it twice on the big screen as I love the visuals. Well looks like you got your wish, looks like Arnie won’t be in Avatar 2 after all.
I am definitely watching the sequels. Maybe Avatar was not a great writing achievement, but it definitely made a new standard of visuals, it kind of changed what fantasy movies should look like.
The fact that Avatar 2 takes place underwater promises a lot – more enjoyable sets & visuals. James Cameron knows how to “make” a movie.
You’re right Nika! It sure gave me goosebumps when I first saw the beauty of Pandora, never seen anything like it before. Let’s see how it looks underwater!
Although I will be watching the sequels I have to admit I was not a fan of Avatar. Sure it looked pretty and different as the first proper 3D movie, but I wasn’t swept away by it.
I hear ya Nostra. But hey at least you didn’t hate it.
Well, I will be dead honest when I say that I am not. I really didn’t enjoy this first one, it was like watching some semblance of Pocahontas, but with blue people. I was not enamoured, and nothing has changed over the years.
Seems like a lot of ppl here share your sentiment Zoë 🙂
😛
My answer is no! hehehe unless they come up with a better story that blue Pocahontas 😉
Ahah, well it’s a bit too late to change it for the sequel now Nov. But now it’ll be blue Pocahontas underwater 😀
Lol…can they make it as Deni si manusia ikan 😉
I haven’t seen Avatar in a while – probably because I don’t own it on DVD/blu-ray – but I did enjoy it (more so in 2D) when I first saw it. Actually, I’ve seen it twice and probably enjoyed it more the second time around.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next film. James Cameron takes so long over these things the anticipation levels are bound to hit the roof. It’ll be interesting to see where he takes the story but we know he can outdo an original film – just look at Aliens and Terminator 2! 🙂
You enjoyed it more in 2D? That’s interesting Dan. I thought it looked sublime in 3D, perhaps the best one when it came out.
I’d think it take a long time for him as he’s so meticulous w/ the special effects stuff. Plus seems like the main cast have been quite busy so probably tough to schedule ’em too. I think it’s tough for a lot of directors to surpass their stellar original film, and Cameron is included!
I loved the first film when I first saw it on the big screen, but it doesn’t hold up well. I like it now, but I can’t say I love it anymore. Still, I also love The Abyss, so I’ll be interested to see how the Avatar sequels turn out.
I’m so not bothered about an Avatar sequel(s). I never quite understood the fascination with the first one. I just thought it was weird. Maybe I’m too picky. 😉
Ahah well it certainly has a weird aspect, I mean it’s blue aliens 😉
Sequels always have a strong chance of disappointing you, but I am still certainly going to check them out when they come. I’m interested to see where Cameron takes it this time.
Hi Ian. Yeah, not all sequels are created equal but I think based on Cameron’s past work I’m more than willing to give it a shot.
Well Ruth it took the re-release of the first Avatar to get me to finally see it so I think I am in boat of not really interested. I thought the first one was enjoyable enough and that is about it.