Are we over Avatar yet?
MARGARET AGNEW
When's it all gonna end? Unless you're about to go see Avatar again for the 15th time, you're probably a tad over the hype by now.
For the fourth straight weekend, Avatar has dominated the international box office, taking Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen's crown as 2009's biggest money-maker. The world's No. 2 movie so far (as of last week) is second only to that other ginormous Jim Cameron-directed movie, Titanic, topping even LOTR: Return of the King.
While no-one's accusing Cameron of being particularly ground-breaking when it comes to the plot, there's a theory that we've seen literally seen it all before (sans the 3-D SFX). Check this out.
Just goes to show there's nothing new in the world, even if you've invented a planet of big blue aliens (yup, I'm too tired even to type Thunder-Smurfs anymore...)Incidentally, South Park was onto it very early on - warning naughty language - with Cartman enraged that Cameron stole his idea for Dancing With Smurfs.
Today's my first day back at work for 2010 (*boo*) but I'm buoyed by the thought of the great-looking movies yet to come. It looks like it might be a pretty happy new year...
If, like me, you're daunted by the crushing size of your inbox, and would much rather procrastinate on something else for an hour or so, here's the rather comprehensive preview of flicks coming our way in 2010, by the British film mag Empire (NB: their British release dates sometimes differ from NZ's - we've already seen a few of these, while others will screen here later).
Of the films mentioned, I've already seen a few, including Up In The Air, which opens here Jan 14 and has an appearance by our own Melanie Lynskey.
I can thoroughly recommend it. It's probably going to win gorgeous George Clooney lots of bling at the upcoming Golden Globes (look out for some live twee-logging from me on Monday avo) as well as his first Best Actor Oscar, but I'm picking it's more of an "It's his time" Oscar than based on the merits of this role alone. Love your work though, George.
So today's yay-it's-the-end-of-the-holidays-back-to-work question is: What was your favourite film of the recent silly season and why?
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Thank you soooooooo much for that South Park link.
I am nowhere near over the Avatar hype! I know so many people who still havent been able to get in to see it on 3D yet so it's still got life in it!
Avatar in 3D. I tried to be cynical. I really did! But it was too much fun to, so I was forced to just sit back and enjoy it. Hugely.
First film in years I would seriously consider seeing again at the movies.
Avatar Schmavatar I took my 13-year old nephew to see it. He loved it and I think he was the target audience anyway so good-o
If I never hear another word about it again I won't be sorry, even if some of the effects are pretty cool and at least the main female character wasn't a complete wimp.
I saw it, gave it about an 8.5 although that was dragged up by the 3D visuals.
Apart from that it reminded me of a aliens version of Dancing with Wolves, although after seeing that you can't argue with the Pocahontas link.
Also, there were a few kumbaya moments where I was going "you're fricking kidding" - like the bit where they're sitting there doing the alien version of morris dancing under the tree of souls. I also cracked up at the alien sex scene too.
Basically it was typical James Cameron schmaltz, however it was better than that other peice of crap that somehow became the biggest money maker of all time.
@ Tricky
What about Aliens? That was an awesome film. This one was just a big bunch of cliches. No character developement, no shades of grey, no interesting new angles just the ye old good/bad/saving the world BS.
I went to 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. I hadn't read the books, so there was no expectation. I think it was one of the best thrillers I 've ever seen- dark and menacing.
I think the Pocahontas references, while valid, miss the true reference that Cameron was going for:
He'd seen Return of the Jedi and thought to himself "that's rubbish. I'll show Lucas how the Ewoks would have REALLY defeated the Empire."
So Jake is really C3PO, the godlike chosen one who leads the bow-and-arrow warriors to victory.
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is definitely the winner for me. Yes, i have read the book but the film is a full on thriller that delivers whether you've read it or not.
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Only film I made it to was Lovely Bones; poor choice. I think Jackson and his crew, esp the effects lads and lasses, squeezed all life out of the story. It was a big disappointment.