The embargo on “Avatar” has been essentially lifted by Fox so I could go on at length about how I could sit through it over…and over…and over again. Anne and I will dig in properly in tomorrow’s Oscar Talk and I’m sure I’ll have a review at some point, maybe Monday. But a few things…
The visual effects race, if you couldn’t guess already, is over and done with. In all likelihood, the sound races as well. And there is a compelling argument to be made for the film editing as well. But that’s the expected tech bliss the film delivers.
Wait, let me not undersell that. This is the most amazing cinematic experience I’ve ever had. There are, admittedly, story elements that give one pause. The film isn’t total perfection (though I’d argue this is a very mature, thematically beautiful screenplay from James Cameron). The filmmaker can’t help himself in a number of instances that are too on the nose.
But so what? Seriously. This is why we all go into dark rooms to be transported to other worlds. Cameron gets it. And he delivers. A thousand times over. It’s the kind of film you want to take any and everyone with you to see. Not to be too cheesy — it is absolute magic.
More tomorrow. (P.S.: Give Stephen Lang a Best Supporting Actor nomination. NOW)
Comments
63 responses to “Transported”
I knew Kris would love it!
Hah, guess I am right!
I can’t wait for Chad’s reaction to this.
Not to mention Armond White’s to the film.
CANNOT. WAIT. FOR. THIS.
As good as it may actually be, I feel like the promotion for this film has completely killed out. Outside of these kinds of circles (awards chatter, film buffs), most of the comments I see on Avatar are about how stupid it looks.
The marketing team for this one just is…massive fail.
Well at least one of the big four movies is fantastic. Awesome to hear.
I am sure Chad will find it overly naive and stupid.
I would love to read his review on Avatar.
NOT JUST SOME RANDOM COMMENTS!
Great to see your praise of Stephen Lang. He was excellent in this year’s Public Enemies.
ha yes, fantastic to hear, id ask questions but youll probly answer them all on the podcast
this is going to win best picture.
But is the story good?
If one reads in- between the lines of the trade raves and British press it seems that the story is just…okay. And it seems everybody is okay with that. Interesting. But don’t get me wrong, I’d like to transported next Friday when I see Avatar.
Though Nolan’s Inception looks like a world — and story! — that I’d prefer to be transported to.
*Looks*
Holy hyperbole, Batman.
I agree (as stated in my review) that this is a damn fine cinematic experience. Unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Hadn’t thought of Stephen Lang for Best Supporting (Waltz is too good to be overtaken, in my opinion), but Lang should get consideration. He embodies the destructive movement of the human element in this film. He delivers humor, intensity and range that never, ever even borders on cliche. I thought he made the film (at least as much as an actor can make a film such as this).
So let me get this straight, James Cameron promised this movie to be the cinematic experience to the most mind-blowing orgasm you’ve ever had…and he delivered?
God…damn…Cameron…
Not really hyperbole, Neil. I have reservations. Stated them. But it’s the kind of thing where, truthfully, how do you argue with the experience Cameron has generated here. Sheer brilliance.
ok fine kris ill ask
best picture?
and what about sigourney weaver?
@ AmericanRequiem: “This is the most amazing cinematic experience I’ve ever had.”
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume he’ll say “yes” to your question.
holy shit.
I’m excited to read The Playlist’s review. Those smarmy, elitist bastards.
Sweet review Kris, well I guess my anticipation is super hi now!
Bye-bye haters.
I second the “what about Sigourney Weaver” question?
So how’s Sam Worthington with a good director this time around?
I still think this movie lives and dies by how it plays on 2D screens where the MAJORITY of people will see it.
I’m so fracking excited for this now!!!
“So how’s Sam Worthington with a good director this time around?”
In all fairness, Cate Shortland answered that question five years ago with “Somersault.”
So exciting words and comments coming from all directions, professional(reviewers) and not(just..viewers!)
I would like to point though, that it’s the first time that-with the possible exception of the Lovely Bones- the big unseen four we were talking back in november, actually delivered, more or less. Especially Invictus and Avatar with Nine not far behind.(in terms of good or/and spectacular reviews) I wouldn’t count the Lovely Bones out just yet, since it seems to have as many passionate supporters as haters. Which if u think about it, is what u need to at least get nominated.
I hate Cameron, but god damn he is talented.
I was encouraged by the Variety review for stating that it’d be perfectly fine and (at least nearly) just as great on 2D screens, but then you have fucking idiots like /Film that go and basically write that you have to see it in 3D or you’re not really seeing it at all. And making such a statement without (presumably) actually having seen it in 2D. It’s one thing to be enamored by the 3D effects, but they basically said there’s no point to go see it if you can’t see it in 3D.
Jerks. :(
I’m kinda surprised that Kris liked it THAT much. I’m really looking forward to seeing it and I’m glad that I have managed to shut out most of the hype though.
But one thing “worries” me. When Kris says: “This is the most amazing cinematic experience I’ve ever had.”
Is that because of the 3D experience, or is it because it’s just a great film!? Because there’s a BIG difference in my mind. Í just don’t see how the first thing could make the other and I have had a lot of great cinematic experiences with films that are far from being on my best of the year lists.
So Kris, I would really to hear how that statement holds up after viewing it in 2D (please do that at some point! ;-D) Because one thing is a great cinematic experience, another is how it holds up after everybody leaves the 3D theatre.
I also don’t like all this crap some sites are saying about how it should only be seen in 3D. If it only should be seen in 3D then they should not even release it in non 3D theatres. It must be that simple. But after spending all that money on it there’s no way the company would keep it in those places.
Oh well, I’ll be seeing it next Friday. In 2D. I refuse to drive an hour to see it in 3D when they have decided it should be released in 2D also. If, as some has said, there’s no point in seeing it in 2D, then I would actually go so far as to say that then there’s no point to the film at all. It shouldn’t live and die by it’s technology.
Awesome!
I’m very excited to see it, especially with the growing negative reception for “The Lovely Bones” which is just making me terribly sad. Though, I gotta see it in 2-D, everytime I see a movie in 3-D (UP, Superman Returns, etc…) I get the worst headache from the glasses, and it really distracts me from the experience.
Kyle, I just saw The Lovely Bones last night while everyone else was being blown away by Avatar. I have to say, if you like Peter Jackson and understand that the movie isn’t an extension or literal adaptation of the book, but rather his own cinematic vision and personal interpretation of it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Kris kind of hit it on the nose earlier this week in his detailed take on The Lovely Bones. It’s a film that takes you aback the first time, much like There Will Be Blood in a lot of ways (not thematically or anything, just a similar experience the first time you see it), but once you get to see it again, knowing what to expect, you come to absorb and appreciate its complexity and boldness so much more.
But The Lovely Bones isn’t the topic at hand. Avatar is. And from the looks of it, this film just jumped WAY ahead of the pack in the Best Picture race. In fact based on the reactions I’m hearing, I’d go so far as to call it the new BP frontrunner. But honestly, with a movie like this, who gives a damn about oscars? Everyone who has seen it says its a mind-blowing cinematic experience and it’s simply a great movie. Oscars or not, like The Dark Knight last year, it’s the biggest cinematic event of the year and that’s more important, IMO, than a little gold man.
I’m not sure I’m quite as enthusiastic as Kris, but it sure is one helluva experience, isn’t it? A physically bruising, emotionally-charged (to steal a cliched phrase) and powerful piece of CINEMA. A lot of people huff and puff over lines like “you have to see it on the big screen”, but with this you really have to.
Cameron and his crew have put so much on screen here that it’s impossible to soak it up. Visually it is epic in every possible way and the 3D work is astonishing. Clearly the best use of 3D we’ve ever seen (and not just during the CGI scenes, but the live action stuff as well). The whole picture is just so beautifully rendered though. Those nighttime sequences are some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen (on film or not).
In regards to performances, Lang was indeed great but I thought best in show was Zoe Saldana. Sigourney Weaver has some really great moments – a cinch for best “character introduction” of the year! – and Sam Worthington is just ace. He knows a lot of the lines he’s saying are hokey, but he gets by with saying them by being so gosh darn cool.
Also: The movie is “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” set on another planet. Really. Everything about the way the story flows up to and including the two parallel action set pieces at the end that take up such a long amount of the running time.
The film’s only real negative (since it’s silly to complain about a recycled plot or hokey dialogue) is Giovani Ribisi who falls into Billy Zane territory of cardboard villainy, but without Zane’s campiness.
Interesting take Glenn. Like I said, this is the biggest cinematic event of the year, like The Dark Knight last year. It DEMANDS to be seen on the big screen. And you know what, that’s exactly what we all hoped it would be. Movies like Avatar are increasingly rare these days, and sometimes I wonder if people remember how to watch movies like it (though no one seems to be complaining about it). It’s the kind of film that recalls movies like “Lawrence of Arabia”. Epic, big canvas storytelling with resonance. And we haven’t seen much like it in the last couple of decades. Movies like “The Dark Knight”, “The Matrix”, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “Terminator 2”, “Titanic”, “Star Wars”, etc. This is the reason I’m a film fanatic and filmmaker. Here’s hoping “Inception” can be next year’s cinematic event.
“I still think this movie lives and dies by how it plays on 2D screens where the MAJORITY of people will see it.”
This is in no way true. Look at the box office figures/track records of films release in 3D — even if there’re ample numbers of 2D screens (or even more) showing the film, the gross from 3D screens is usually about 5 times the 2D screens.
If people have both options, even if the 2D is more easily accessible, that just means the 3D houses are packed while the 2D houses play to small numbers.
A lot of regular theatres have digital 3D projectors now. The only places without it are like the small, old theatres, drive-ins (if those even still exist), and discount theatres. Pretty much every theatre with up-to date projectors have digital 3D projectors now, with movies like “Up”, “Coraline”, and Zemeckis movies out. Avatar is gonna create a high demand for it as well.
my dick is hard 4 this movie after hearing all this.
This may be a Cameron film but isn’t it true that the film couldn’t have been made without Jackson’s special effects unit?
Kevin –
Thanks so much for the encouragement in going to see “The Lovely Bones”. My better half and I are going tonight, and this is one of those cases where we defy our rule of “if it’s near or below 50% on RT, we don’t make the $20 investment”. (I think we’ve only done that this year with Watchmen and Terminator: Salvation, the former we loved, the latter I wish I had never wasted the time on.) Though I have no familiarity with the source material at all for TLB, so it’s all fresh to me.
Thank you,Kris! Reviews are universally raving the movie so you are definitely not alone in your enthusiasm. Decemebr 15 cannot come soon enough! Would you see it again?
Wow, wasnt expected such rave reviews from you Kris… excited to check this out even more now.
If only it was being shown in a real IMAX theater in NYC…
So, essentially, based on all the reviews that have poured in, this is Titanic 2.0: a truly cinematic experience that, while not flawless (especially in the the screenplay dept.), it’s strengths are just SO STRONG that it makes you forget about its shortcomings…
…Honestly, I can live with that. Looks like the best pic race just got a whole lot more interesting…I just hope that the movie/movies it muscles out aren’t the good ones…
Boy, I really hope I’m not disappointed now that early word is so strong. I think my biggest hesitancy is going to be being emotionally invested in the central romance. Does the emotion come through the CGI?
Since it is going to sweep the technical awards, can we just put them all together and get on with the rest of the show? I will support Avatar if it results in me getting to bed earlier.
Really looking forward to the podcast, especially since the embargo was lifted.
You guys should just do a Avatar podcast, what other news of note was there this week?
Question: I’m going to see this in 3-D. But there are two different versions that will be playing: digital 3-D and “IMAX”. Which is better? Does it make a difference?
“I hate Cameron, but god damn he’s talented.”
I sincerely hope your hatred is based on personal professional experience with the man and not his filmography.
Rob —
It might be true in North America, but here in Europe, in my country for example it’s only going to be showing in 3D in handful of cities, which will be 10-20% of the total number of screens. While 3D-capable theaters might be more abundant in North America and represent a larger chunk of the gross, in the rest of the world it will mostly be playing in 2D.
As such, the film should to be 100% in 2D, and 110% in 3D. The 3D should only be an extra bonus.
Wow! Such good words so far in regards to this movie. I’ve been a fan of James Cameron since “Aliens.”
Hm. I suppose I’ll have to see it now.
Re: the 2D/3D debate. I did mean live or die critically – is the story strong enough for a 2D blockbuster for example? The word of mouth on 2D will be important for repeat viewings and DVD sales.
I sooo hope this kickstarts the emerging 3D revolution..
I think I’m the only one who has never enjoyed Cameron’s films that much. “Aliens” was such a letdown after seeing “Alien,” just a big lumbering dumb action movie. “Titanic” is super sentimental fluff, and the Terminator movies (even the second one, my personal favorite of the two) are just not nearly as good as I remember them (seeing T2 recently made me realize this). So I wasn’t that excited for Avatar. The first movie in years from James Cameron? Didn’t care much.
But all these good reviews coming out are making me pretty excited (though I doubt the movie – any movie for that matter – would be able to live up to the hype of these reviews). I still obviously have my reservations, but I’m getting more excited. I’m seeing it next Saturday. Hopefully it’s awesome.
Anyone waiting for my reaction will have to wait a long time. I have no interest in ever seeing it.