James Cameron's Sequel to "AVATAR" - Part 1

[747]

I adore Avatar.
Yes I acknowledge it's flaws like it's derivative plot.
But yes, I still adore Avatar.

 

[Victarion]

He can do whatever he wants

I was talking about using other movies as testing grounds for SFX before shooting his.

Everything is derivative nowadays. What counts is how you present your story and the relevance you give it to our world today. So yes, I love Avatar. It is my favorite film epic to date.

 

[Kane52630]

Still say that Zoe Saldana was phenomenal in it.

 

[Lord]

Avatar did its job, i'm sure Cameron will try to make sure the next ones are more impressive plotwise, considering he wants to make a "crescendo", if 2 isn't amazing, 3 or 4 will probably be.

While Marvel has released some good movies and seems to have a promising future, i get more excited with the likes of Star Wars, Avatar, etc. as they're more "Cinematic Events", franchises that have their roots deep within cinema, instead of adapting other stories.

 

[747]

Still say that Zoe Saldana was phenomenal in it.

Yeah, I don't think Worthington is anywhere near a great actor but I still absolutely fell for the love story and I think it was much thanks to Zoe's acting and Cameron's on-point directing.

And most of all I got totally invested in the Na'vi's cause which is very much thanks to Zoe.

 

[Victarion]

i get more excited with the likes of Star Wars, Avatar, etc. as they're more "Cinematic Events", franchises that have their roots deep within cinema, instead of adapting other stories.

Me too. I do wonder if this point will come up in the critical reviews of the Avatar sequels.

 

[DA_Champion]

Wait...Were you expecting everyone to agree with you with your statement, and not challenge you? And...In Parker's defense, what he said was pretty mild. But to put him on the 'ignore list'?

I had Parker Wayne on my ignore list previously due to his belligerence. I took him off a week ago on the assumption hat I might have been wrong about him originally, I was not.

Parker didn't challenge anything, there's no substance in his post, just him rudely delivering his verdict.

I post here and on a couple other sites like it as a hobby, to learn about movies really, and for the most part there are dozens of remarkably informed and wise posters here whom I enjoy reading. I like posts that disagree and that have substance in them, and on another site where there's a "like"-like function I frequently up-vote posts that disagree with mine. Parker Wayne's post was simply a "you're wrong", not a "I disagree" let alone a "I disagree and here's why." Quite frankly if he doesn't have the time to write anything interesting, I don't have the time to read it.

Don't pester Defense Attorney, guys.

"DA" is short for David. I made the name in another context where there was a character limit to the screen names.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I had Parker Wayne on my ignore list previously due to his belligerence. I took him off a week ago on the assumption hat I might have been wrong about him originally, I was not.

Parker didn't challenge anything, there's no substance in his post, just him rudely delivering his verdict.

I post here and on a couple other sites like it as a hobby, to learn about movies really, and for the most part there are dozens of remarkably informed and wise posters here whom I enjoy reading. I like posts that disagree and that have substance in them, and on another site where there's a "like"-like function I frequently up-vote posts that disagree with mine. Parker Wayne's post was simply a "you're wrong", not a "I disagree" let alone a "I disagree and here's why." Quite frankly if he doesn't have the time to write anything interesting, I don't have the time to read it.


"DA" is short for David. I made the name in another context where there was a character limit to the screen names.

God, David, you're soft.

I didn't say anything back because you made a generalization yourself stating that three different companies of movies (Marvel Studios, Disney, WB) basically would never make anything great with little no explanation of your post. What substance is that? I responded with a joke, but you are the one who got uptight over it.

Also, you put me on ignore first not for "beligerence", which is not true and many posters around here know this about me; I won misc. films poster of the year previously because I do understand the other side and I am able to explain myself.

You put me on ignore because I disagreed with the fact that you were talking down to posters and made a thread that was essentially you pretentious talking down to posters because they do not post like you. Let's not make this seem I was being a troll when you're harrassing others and looking down on others because you hold you're own opinions ever so highly. It's so bad that any argument you do not like you try to use logical fallacies to get yourself out of it while attacking others for their own logical fallacies and generalizations.

You may not be able to see this, but others will, so take note guys.

 

[DA_Champion]

Avatar did its job, i'm sure Cameron will try to make sure the next ones are more impressive plotwise, considering he wants to make a "crescendo", if 2 isn't amazing, 3 or 4 will probably be.

While Marvel has released some good movies and seems to have a promising future, i get more excited with the likes of Star Wars, Avatar, etc. as they're more "Cinematic Events", franchises that have their roots deep within cinema, instead of adapting other stories.

You keep mentioning the fact that Cameron is aiming for a crescendo but I'm just not sure how that means much? Is it not expected that a director of a franchise which is his passion project would be aiming for every entry in the franchise to be its own great movie?

I'm excited for this based only on Cameron's track record, and the involvement of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.

I watched parts of Aliens last night, I hadn't realised until recently that Cameron wrote a lot of his own screenplays. It's actually ... a very good screenplay. It feels like a much deeper story than we're used to, both with the number of characters, the types of characters, the evolution, etc.

There are some details I didn't notice before. For example the fact there's a double-climax. Escaping the planet is one climax, then fighting the Queen is another climax. Off the top of my head I can't think of another movie that pulls off a double climax successfully. Man of Steel tried that last year but it wasn't successful, it angered a lot of people and it's arguably the biggest failure of that movie.

Another one is the lead up to Ripley using the power-suit to defeat the alien queen. It's done progressively. We first hear that she's taken a job in processing and forklifting because her license was removed due to her questionable actions in the first movie, which shows that she's resourceful and doesn't mope around. We then see her operate one about 45 minutes into the movie when they've arrived in orbit, which the guys are amused by, which shows her in social context. Both of those scenes come off as totally naturally. Later on she beats up the queen with the big suit, and there's that memorable line "get away from her you *****" which we've all seen countless times. It's a good lead up to a plot point, done well, in most movies that wouldn't be there, Ripley would just wear the suit at the end of the movie out of the blue.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I had Parker Wayne on my ignore list previously due to his belligerence. I took him off a week ago on the assumption hat I might have been wrong about him originally, I was not.

Parker didn't challenge anything, there's no substance in his post, just him rudely delivering his verdict.

I post here and on a couple other sites like it as a hobby, to learn about movies really, and for the most part there are dozens of remarkably informed and wise posters here whom I enjoy reading. I like posts that disagree and that have substance in them, and on another site where there's a "like"-like function I frequently up-vote posts that disagree with mine. Parker Wayne's post was simply a "you're wrong", not a "I disagree" let alone a "I disagree and here's why." Quite frankly if he doesn't have the time to write anything interesting, I don't have the time to read it.


"DA" is short for David. I made the name in another context where there was a character limit to the screen names.

But seriously, get over yourself.

 

[Flint Marko]

I saw your name on the forum list and I knew you'd come in and make a substance-free statement just attacking another poster who had not spoken to you.

A week ago I decided to give you another chance but you remain unworthy. Welcome back to my ignore list.

There really isn't any need to announce when you're putting someone on ignore. You do it quite often. Also, take a step back and realize how pretentious calling someone "unworthy" on an internet movie forum really is.

 

[Hush]

Don't pester Defense Attorney, guys.

This made me laugh way too hard.

 

[DA_Champion]

There really isn't any need to announce when you're putting someone on ignore. You do it quite often. Also, take a step back and realize how pretentious calling someone "unworthy" on an internet movie forum really is.

OK, you're right.

 

[FrozenBanana00]

I saw it in the IMAX and it was totally amazing. Really well done. Looking forward to the sequels but I just hope they have good story. Some sequels are a hit and a miss.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Some sequels are a hit and a miss.

But this is coming from the guy who made what is arguably the two greatest sequels of all time.

 

[FrozenBanana00]

I'm not saying the sequels will be bad. I'm just saying that sometimes it doesn't work out. I hope it does, because I loved the first Avatar. I'm excited to see more of the world he's created. I hope the sequels do good, and I'm sure they will Cameron knows what he's doing.

 

[:eek:]

60th birthday today for James Cameron

 

[FrozenBanana00]

Aw Happy Birthday to him

 

[psylockolussus]

Belated Happy Birthday to him!

 

[:eek:]

Cameron, Gianopulos On "Avatar" Sequels Risk

By Garth Franklin Wednesday August 20th 2014 02:30PM
James Cameron does many things, but he doesn't do them cheap.
With production gearing up to get underway soon on a trilogy of "Avatar" sequels, a new report at Variety has heard estimates of the budget for the trio of films will come in at around $1 billion dollars. 20th Century Fox chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos however says a final production budget hasn't been set yet.
It sounds like a risk, until you remember the first "Avatar" film made $2.7 billion worldwide. What risk there is though, Gianopulos isn't afraid to take it on and tells the trade:

"We know it's going to be a long journey. We know it's not going to be cheap. We know it's not going to be without new discoveries and new challenges in the process of producing something that is so beyond the normal form of filmmaking and technology, but what could be more exciting than that."
​

Cameron himself adds:

"There's nothing I need to say as an artist about the state of the world and human affairs that I can't do through the lens of the ‘Avatar' universe. We've had a couple of years to think through the story arc of the next three films, and every day that goes by, I believe in the stories I'm telling more and more. We're not coming out of the block fast to capitalize on the last film."
​

Fox has certainly been making a mint out of sequels this year, with "Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes" and "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" helping push the studio to become the first to cross $3 billion worldwide this year - blossoming in a Summer that has otherwise been seen as being in the midst of a record slump.
Sequels are a big part of the studio's strategy going forward and that isn't likely to change soon according to Gianopulos:

"One of the things that makes sequels so successful is that they start from a place where people already like what you did before. But part of what they liked, and part of the appeal of the first film, was its originality. You have to give them a new story. You have to give them new characters. You have to take (a sequel) to a place that restores its freshness and originality."
​

"Avatar 2" is currently slated for a 2016 release

 

[:eek:]

"Avatar" Sequels Could Be 4K & 120FPS?

By Garth Franklin Monday September 15th 2014 08:49PM
VFX veteran Douglas Trumbull has revealed that he's had discussions with James Cameron's producing partner Jon Landau about potentially using Trumbull's MAGI technology on the upcoming "Avatar" sequels.
Trumbull has developing a filming system that shoots 4K 3D at 120 frames per second, one that could overcome some of the issues with Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" films which were shot at 48 frames per second rather than the 24 frames per second of standard film. Trumbull tells THR:

"I know that Cameron admired Showscan and that he is a huge advocate of high frame rates [HFRs]. The use of HFRs for Avatar would be very appropriate and very successful. I don't know if Cameron is interested [in using MAGI for the Avatar sequels]. He's in seclusion writing the screenplay for Avatar . I am talking to Jon Landau, and we plan to have a screening [of UFOTOG] soon."
​

"UFOTOG" refers to a ten minute, demonstrative and experimental sci-fi adventure film which showcases the technology. During his keynote address at the IBC Convention in Amsterdam this week, where "UFOTOG" was screened via Christie Digital's 3D 6P laser projection system, Trumbull says that other filmmakers have already expressed interest:

"(There are other directors) who are very interested in this, and this will be driven by the directors. If directors like Cameron, J.J. Abrams, Peter Jackson want this, then I think we'll start getting some traction. It delivers extreme fluidity of motion and amazing clarity with no strobing, no double flickering and a viewing experience that far exceeds conventional movie quality.... Michael Bay is going to make an even worse Transformers movie because there won't be any motion blur."
​

The current "Avatar" sequels are targeting annual releases in November from 2016 through to 2018.

 

[Octoberist]

"Avatar" Sequels Could Be 4K & 120FPS?

By Garth Franklin Monday September 15th 2014 08:49PM
VFX veteran Douglas Trumbull has revealed that he's had discussions with James Cameron's producing partner Jon Landau about potentially using Trumbull's MAGI technology on the upcoming "Avatar" sequels.
Trumbull has developing a filming system that shoots 4K 3D at 120 frames per second, one that could overcome some of the issues with Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" films which were shot at 48 frames per second rather than the 24 frames per second of standard film. Trumbull tells THR:

"I know that Cameron admired Showscan and that he is a huge advocate of high frame rates [HFRs]. The use of HFRs for Avatar would be very appropriate and very successful. I don't know if Cameron is interested [in using MAGI for the Avatar sequels]. He's in seclusion writing the screenplay for Avatar . I am talking to Jon Landau, and we plan to have a screening [of UFOTOG] soon."
​

"UFOTOG" refers to a ten minute, demonstrative and experimental sci-fi adventure film which showcases the technology. During his keynote address at the IBC Convention in Amsterdam this week, where "UFOTOG" was screened via Christie Digital's 3D 6P laser projection system, Trumbull says that other filmmakers have already expressed interest:

"(There are other directors) who are very interested in this, and this will be driven by the directors. If directors like Cameron, J.J. Abrams, Peter Jackson want this, then I think we'll start getting some traction. It delivers extreme fluidity of motion and amazing clarity with no strobing, no double flickering and a viewing experience that far exceeds conventional movie quality.... Michael Bay is going to make an even worse Transformers movie because there won't be any motion blur."
​

The current "Avatar" sequels are targeting annual releases in November from 2016 through to 2018.

I tolerate 48 though it's NOT my preference (It makes everything look cheap) but image what 128 will look like. I don't think it'll ever fly with the public.

 

[dark_b]

i think Cameron is smart enough to not have every scene at that hight frame rate.

i remember him talking that they can use the high FPS and than dial it back for dialoge scene and go higher for specific action scenes that need it .for example you have a dialoge shot and you let it at 48 FPS or maybe even at 30. later you have a 30 second pano shot of navi walking in the forest. and because of the camera movement and all the leafs on the trees you get strange artifacts and strobing. and there they would use lets say 120. thats how i understood his answer. they would use a custo made software where they would dial it up and down. and they would watch the whole movie and look if the transition works. if it wouldnt work they would dial it down in specific scenes. he did this with 3D. when the big final action starts he is using big 3D. than second acter second they dialed it back. when all the big action happens there is very little 3D: Cameron said that it easier for the eyes and in general big 3D doesnt work with fast moving action and explosions.

Cameron is different compared to other directors. he uses his time for experimenting a lot. he spend at least 6 years testing the 3D cameras. other directors try out digital or film camers for 2 weeks before Principal photography. he spends years trying out everything that he needs for filming. he said that it took 2 ( maybe 3) extra years to make the 3D cameras from Avatar light enough so that HE could have it on his shoulders and walk around and film his actors. he repeated this 100 times. he always had it on his shoulder to show for real how light it is and how practical it is for modern hollywood movies.

it was the same with 3D. he said that there is only one way you can have it. negative inside the screen and not outside it because it destroys the illusion of watching it through an invisible window. and its true. when 3D footage is trying to look outside the theater screen it breaks the illusion and your eyes hurt and it looks fake. again he spend years testing.

if it will fail it will fail because there is no way for HFR to work.

 

[Marvolo]

I tolerate 48 though it's NOT my preference (It makes everything look cheap) but image what 128 will look like. I don't think it'll ever fly with the public.

There are a limited number of cinemas that do 48fps and after the cold response to Hobbit 48fps theaters not seem to be rushing to upgrade. If Cameron thinks theaters or the public are ready for 128fps he's delusional.

I had heard that he wanted shifting aspect ratios. 24fps for dialogue scenes and high frame rates for action scenes, but to me that sounds even worse than a constant high frame rate. There is an adjustment time with high frame rates. Most people I've heard from seem to take 3-15 minutes to get to where they don't notice the odd look of the frame rate, but if the frame rate is drastically shifting every 5-10 minutes how does the audience ever not notice it? And the last thing you want is your audience distracted from the story by your shiny new frame rate. Innovation should not distract an audience.

 

[dark_b]

i didnt know that Saldana is pregnant
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...ter-avatar-schedule-cameron-article-1.1892581

"The beauty of doing the performance capture is that she can be as big as a house and it doesn't really matter,"

as big as a house