Click here to view the embedded video.

The video really illustrates the absurdity of watching a pirated version of Avatar on a small TV, or for that matter pirated movies in general. Some things are just meant for the cinema.

James Cameron on the "set" of Avatar

What makes a film (or any work of art for that matter) memorable for years after it first appears? What are the films that we go back to again and again? The ones with the amazing special effects? The big stars? Or the ones with the great stories that still resonate?

James Cameron makes blockbuster hits. He didn’t necessarily set out at the beginning of his career to do so, but that’s what it has become. From Terminator to Avatar, most if not all of his films have engaged the most up to date effects and techniques and have made (and cost) substantial amounts of money. Despite lukewarm reviews (for the story at least), I expect Avatar will end up being the hit of 2009 (though even its substantial tickets sales will probably barely be enough to cover the costs).

So his movies are popular in the moment. And a few of them have continued to be popular years later. Terminator and Aliens are considered (rightly so) classics of their genre. The Abyss has a loyal following, and even True Lies is shown on television now and again (and personally I do like it).

But with the exception of the first two mentioned above, what will Cameron be remembered for? Mention Titanic, and mostly you will hear about what it cost to make and the ‘King of the World’ Oscar speech. And considering the praise for Avatar has been about its effects, will that be remembered much in the future? Better special effects always come along and the old ones are forgotten (remember the fuss over Tron or Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)

I have not seen Avatar and am not sure if I will. I know if I do see it, I must see it at Imax or there is no point. This is a good thing to me; I appreciate films that embrace the medium for which they were intended. Still, if I’m going to spend that kind of money, I want more. I want a story, and a good one, because that is what we remember.

Yes, when Robert Patrick liquified his body around prison bars it was cool, but we remember a mother trying to protect her son. We remember Ripley kicking alien ass because Ripley is one of the greatest science fiction characters ever created. We remember Ed Harris pounding on his wife’s chest willing her back to life. It is these moments that we go to film for, long after the special effects have worn off.

So in decades to come will Cameron be remembered? Well, of course he will. But for what? I doubt he will care, he’s rich and his name is in the history books; for creating some of the most expensive movies of all time; For creating some gems early in his career; And for utilizing the best technology had to offer. But technology improves and the story fades. And when we all sit around the campfire, there are no special effects, just the story. That is what we remember.

Idhren's "Favourite Jeans"

Download: Dork Shelf Podcast 14 (37 MB, MP3, 50:45)
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Programme:

• 0:05 — “Soft Revolution” by Stars
• 3:30 — Trine and class warfare in TF2
• 10:00 — System Shock, franchises, and Arkane’s Arx
• 14:00 — Jeff on DC’s 2010 comics: Earth One
• 27:20 — “Öngyilkos Vasárnap” by Venetian Snares
• 27:55 — Batman’s lost in time; Krypton is orbiting Mars
• 35:00 — Talk about Mongols
• 39:15 — On Avatar
• 53:00 — “Killed by a Horse” by Buck 65

Discussed:

• Trine, Team Fortress 2: War!, System Shock, Arx Fatalis
• Earth One, Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne, War of the Supermen
• Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea, Mongol, Avatar
• Jay Pinkerton, J. Michael Straczynski, “Still your favourite MILF!”

James Cameron's Avatar

You may have heard of James Cameron’s new film, a little movie called Avatar.  Cameron and others have hyped the film to no end, claiming that it will change cinema as we know it (and for $250 million, it had better!).  Avatar features all the hallmarks we’ve come to expect from James Cameron: great action set pieces, amazing effects, evil corporations and cool creatures. Despite its many shortcomings, Avatar is impressive as sheer spectacle and a genuinely exciting experience

In 2154, Earth is overpopulated and starved for resources.  Mankind is beginning to explore the galaxy, and discovers the resource-rich planet Pandora. SecFor, a military-industrial conglomerate has setup shop on Pandora, eager to exploit its natural resources.  There is just one problem: the Na’vi, 12-foot-tall, blue feline–humanoids and the natives of Pandora, don’t take kindly to outsiders. The Na’vi are a tribal society who seek to live in harmony with their planet, but as the humans continue to encroach on Pandora the age old conflict between nature and technology comes to a head.

Enter former Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair.  After the death of his identical twin, Jake is offered a chance to take his brother’s place in the experimental Avatar program.  SecFor has created human-Na’vi hybrids called avatars that can be remotely controlled by the person for whom they have been grown.  The company hopes to use the avatars to foster better relations with the Na’vi.  Shortly after arriving on Pandora, SecFor’s head of security, Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) offers to arrange surgery that will allow Jake to walk again, on the condition that Jake uses his avatar to gain the trust of the Na’vi and provide the Colonel with intelligence.  Over the course of the next three months Jake becomes a member of the local tribe, goes native, and finds himself torn between his duty to SecFor and his newfound loyalty to the Na’vi.

Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington in Avatar

Avatar’s plot has been done to death. It’s pretty much Dances with Wolves in space. It’s Fern Gully with big-ass mechs.  Avatar even shares many thematic similarities with Cameron’s Aliens: humanity expanding its frontiers and coming into conflict with hostile alien forces. At times, the film burdens itself with messages about war and climate change, and it feels like you’re being hit over the head with it. Cameron seems to have a hard time reconciling his eco-friendly, pro-environment message with the fact that he enjoys blowing things up. For every beautiful creature and breathtaking vista, Cameron has a sleek piece of military hardware just around the corner, ready to destroy it.

Speaking of beautiful creatures and breathtaking vistas, it cannot be understated how absolutely gorgeous the film is. Avatar looks like no other movie I’ve seen. Cameron’s attention to the smallest detail makes the film’s universe come alive. Add to that his expert application of the 3D effects and the results are stunning. There are a few of those moments where something flies at the screen apparently to remind you that the film is 3D, but those moments don’t ever feel like too much. The 3D really shines in the scenes where it adds depth and scale to a scene: ships look big, the jungles look dense, and the chasms look deep.

Equally impressive are the computer generated effects in the film. There probably isn’t a single shot in Avatar that wasn’t altered, augmented or otherwise changed using computer graphics.  The effects were integrated into the live action scenes flawlessly.  Not only are the Na’vi well characterized, but because their performances were motion captured by the actors who played them, the results are far more realistic than you’d expect of computer-generated characters. From the way they move, to the way the light reflects in their eyes, you’ll be convinced the Na’vi were actually filmed and not generated.

Stephen Lang as Colonel Quaritch in James Cameron's Avatar

Computer generated creatures aren’t the only stars of Avatar, there are some genuine flesh-and-blood actors in the film too.  Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation, Clash of the Titans) gives a passable, if a little wooden performance as Jake Sully; his Aussie accent comes through on more than one occasion.  Jake narrates the film in a series of log entries, and it’s in these quiet moments where Worthington really shines.  Zoe Saldaña (Star Trek), who plays Jake’s Na’vi love-interest Neyteri, is a little stiff at times too.  I have a feeling that both Worthington and Saldaña may have suffered from Star Wars prequel syndrome; acting against green screens with little or no sets to interact with is challenging for even the best actors.

Sigourney Weaver and Joel Moore are both having fun with their supporting roles as part of SecFor’s science team. Stephen Lang’s villainous Colonel Quaritch is worth mention. It’s been a while since we’ve seen such a great hard-ass on screen. The atmosphere on Pandora will kill a human in under a minute, yet Quaritch foregoes an oxygen mask on multiple occassions in order to more quickly deal with a situation. Quaritch is not a villain per se, he’s just a hired gun for SecFor. His job is killing and he’s very good at what he does. When he finally does start taking things personally, he’s terrifying. Stephen Lang is one of the highlights of the film.

Is Avatar the industry redefining film we were promised?  Maybe. It seems unlikely to become a classic film and certainly won’t provide the same bang when viewed at home. It’s legacy will most likely be technological one: Avatar has pushed many theatres to add new, powerful 3D setups.  Time will tell if 3D is truly the game-changer Cameron claims them to be. The bottom line is that Avatar is worth seeing for the spectacle; this is a film that must be experienced on the big screen. It’s a shame to see the film suffer because the director put so much emphasis on the technology and effects.  If only Avatar‘s generic plot had lived up to groundbreaking visuals; at least Cameron got it half right.

Yahoo Movies has posted the full theatrical trailer for James Cameron‘s upcoming 3D sci-fi adventure Avatar.  Not convinced by that first teaser trailer?  The new trailer offers an expanded look at Cameron’s new film, finally shedding some details on the plot.  Fox also finally advertises the fact that Titanic is not Cameron’s only movie, that he’s actually directed a few other films including Terminator, Aliens and True Lies.

I still think Avatar looks like Dances with Wolves in space, but this trailer sells me on the film a little more.  Be sure to check out our reaction to the 15 minute Avatar preview that hit theatres in August.

Avatar arrives in theatres on December 18th.

Dork Shelf saw the 15 minute preview of James Cameron’s Avatar yesterday.  Having seen it do we think the film is worthy of the hype?  Well, yes and no.

If you were like us and were left generally unimpressed by the teaser trailer for the film, then rest assured that the film looks far superior on the big screen.  The spectacular visuals, aided by Cameron’s deft use and understanding of the new 3D technology, make Avatar unlike anything you’ve ever seen.  Scenes on the planet were so immersive, so full of depth, that we literally felt like we were sitting jungle.  The end result is something that closely mimics the way our eyes work when looking at something in the real world.  It’s not like looking at a screen, but more like looking through a giant window with a constantly changing perspective.

The effect can be as as simple as having blades of grass in the foreground or having trees move through the frame.  There were no obvious moments with objects flying toward the screen, not one use of 3D in the presentation felt gratuitous; it all felt very organic.  Cameron is using the 3D not as a gimmick, but as a legitimate tool to aid his filmmaking.

And what of the computer generated effects?  To say they are stunning would be an understatement.  Cameron has pushed the effects envelope far into the uncanny valley.  The movie has more in common with a Pixar film than a traditional effects driven sci-fi movie.  The CG shots heavily outweigh the live action sequences, and anything that is live action has been modified with effects in post production.  The native inhabitants of Pandora (the giant blue humanoids from the trailer) are so photo-realistic, I had a hard time believing they weren’t just really amazing make-up and prosthetic effects.  The Pandorans are animated using the motion captured performances of the actors.  This lends even more believability to them, you forget that you’re watching a computer generated creature.  Similarly, the environments of Pandora, though wholly otherworldly, are equally realistic and believable.  Now we know why Avatar has taken so long to produce. The long production schedule is surely due to the insane rendering time needed to create this whole world from scratch.

So that’s our reaction to how Cameron’s much vaunted 3D and CGI technology was used, but what about the narrative?

To be honest, the story doesn’t feel terribly original.  Think Dances with Wolves in space.  An advanced society interacting with a primitive one, mostly from the barrel of a gun.  It’s a man versus nature tale; technology versus ecology.  Also, some of the dialogue we saw was pretty clunky.  Maybe Cameron will surprise us, perhaps there’s more to the story.  Keep in mind that what we saw in the presentation was only from the first half of the film.  It was meant as a showcase for the visuals more than anything else; which it more than delivered on.

There is no denying that you will be totally impressed by Avatar‘s visuals.  As for the rest, we’ll have to wait until December 18th to find out if it really is just Dances with Wolves in space, or something else.  With a budget rumoured to be north of $250 million dollars, there is a lot riding on Avatar’s success.  Yes, Titanic was the highest grossing movie of all time, but it’s a very different movie from Avatar.  No mention of Cameron’s other films? You know, the films that are actually in the science fiction genre.  Why not promote the fact that this is from the same guy who made Terminator, Aliens and The Abyss? Just saying.

If you were one of the lucky people to score tickets for one of the Avatar preview events happening all over North America tomorrow, you’ll get to see much more than what is shown in this trailer, and in 3D no less.  Dork Shelf will be at Avatar Day and we’ll let you know what we thought.

There is no arguing that Avatar looks impressive, it’s crazy to think that almost everything in the film is a computer generated effect.  Expectations for this movie are huge, if anyone can surprise us, it’ll be James Cameron.  We’ll have to wait until December to find out if the wait was worth all the hype.

Dork Shelf has received some interesting information from a reliable source regarding the San Diego Comic Con and James Cameron‘s new film Avatar.

Apparently the huge 65,000 square foot H hall at the San Diego Convention Center is being converted into a massive 3D theatre for the event.  This means that not only will Cameron be showing off Avatar at Comic Con, but that it will also be presented in full 3D as the director intended it to be seen.  The hour long panel on July 23rd will feature James Cameron and two of the stars of Avatar, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver.

Later that day the same hall will play host to the Future of Filmmaking panel with Cameron and Peter Jackson.  We can probably expect some more footage of Avatar and possibly our first look at Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s Adventures of Tintin movie.  Spielberg, Cameron and Jackson have been the biggest proponents of this new 3D tech; Comic Con will be the first real public demonstration of what they’ve been up to with the technology.  Every person that has seen footage from Avatar says that it really must be seen to be believed — I guess we’ll find out in a few weeks.  Will it live up to the hype?