Movie Snob and Avatar

| February 2, 2010 | 14 comments

avatar-spoiler

First off, I haven’t seen Avatar so I admit I am just speaking from what I’ve heard, and I’ve heard a lot.

I have no interest to see Avatar, at all. There are probably 10 movies in the theater I’d see before that movie and one of them is Alvin and The Chipmunks. Ok, that was a lie but they are pretty much in the same boat for me. I rarely do cartoons and this is, as far as I’m concerned, a cartoon.

It’s a well-known fact I don’t give a rats ass about special effects. Occasionally I’ll see a movie that has them but not because of the, usually for some other reason. Like The Day After Tomorrow, I saw that for Jake Gyllenhaal. Ok, so maybe that isn’t the world’s greatest reason to see a movie but it’s my money, shut up! Anyway I remember the scene with the tidal wave, that gave me chills.

I also saw Titanic, because I’m a sucker for a good romance and the story was interested, even if I knew how it ended. Plus, I might have seen it in the theater 4x but people kept dragging me back, it’s not my fault I was one of the first to see it on Christmas Eve. Anyway, my point was when the ship went down I could feel it down to my bones, it was amazing.

But Avatar, the plot is not enough to get me to see the movie and I need a plot or, you know, a cute guy at least. This movie plot has been done, SO MANY TIMES, and in so many fucking movies. I swear, if you listen closely while watching Avatar you can hear James Cameron snickering in the background.

You know what a great movie is to me?

Visually Beautiful: this does not mean CGI or whatever, I mean artistically beautiful. When I see a scene that could be made into a photograph, that’s beautiful. To me it’s about the right lighting, the right angles, the right editing, it’s not about computer generated images.

Strong Plot: I want something new or if you can’t do new at least give it to me in a way that it seems new, don’t just regurgitate all the other movies in existence.

I could go on, but I won’t, you get the point. Plus I didn’t have coffee this morning so I’ve now run out of steam.

If not, watch these. Also, go watch American Beauty or The Pianist or Once if you want to see a real film.

Movie Snob and Avatar was posted on February 2, 2010 at 10:04 am in Listen Up and tagged as , . It was last modified on February 2, 2010 at 10:05 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your site.

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  • http://piecesofmejen.wordpress.com/ jen

    I really enjoyed Avatar, but I do see what you are saying…looking at the list of nominated movies, I am not impressed, personally I don’t think Distict 9, Inglorious Bastards and Up in the Air is worthy, I know you enjoyed Up in the Air, but for me that was NOT Oscar worthy.

    BUT YES…American Beauty or The Pianist or Once

    Once was simply BEAUTIFUL! LOVED!!

    GREAT MOVIES!

    can name so many more!

  • http://www.thecorporatechick.com Alissa

    I’m a movie snob too. I HATE HATE HATE all these stoopid romantic comedies that have the SAME formula EVERYTIME and yet people FLOCK over and over again to see them. Boy meets girl. Unexpectedly fall in love. Something makes them break up. Romantic things and fall back in love. END OF STORY. Movie makers must think we’re morons…oh wait. We are because they are a smash EVERYTIME.

    I just saw The Reader. Liked that. Had an unexpected plot. American Beauty is by far one of my favorites. The colors, the thoughts, the everything.

  • http://bloggochicago.com Barb

    Heh heh.

  • http://amandainreallife.blogspot.com Amanda

    I’m confused because you mention the words “Avatar” and “plot” in the same sentence

  • http://lifeisnotamovie.net Robin

    @jen, I get that people like the movie and the special effects. I get that it might even be nominated for, you know, special effects. It should not be nominated for Best Picture but the Academy has their heads up their asses.

  • http://lifeisnotamovie.net Robin

    @Alissa, The Reader was great!

  • http://lifeisnotamovie.net Robin

    @Amanda, I know, I’m trying to confuse you.

  • http://www.brightestblue.wordpress.com Pauline

    I’m a bit of a “snob” too and don’t usually rush out to see the latest hyped up films in the theatre, but I thought Avatar was pretty good.
    Which movies have the same plot as Avatar? Because admittedly there are lots with messages but I can’t think of one that is literally the same as it.

  • http://lifeisnotamovie.net Robin

    @Pauline, people have mentioned Dances With Wolves but I haven’t seen that…or Avatar really. The videos I posted explain all the movie comparisons in depth.

  • http://darnedtoheck.blogspot.com/ Grant

    I think a plot would have been distracting in Avatar. It’s more than just great f/x (which usually fail to impress me), this is a whole new level of technology. For the first time anyone experiences it, a complex plot would have just been a distraction. If you don’t see it in IMAX 3D, you’re undercutting the experience. Star Wars probably wouldn’t have done so well if Lucas only released in B&W on screens no greater than 13″. Having said that, I hope it doesn’t win for best picture. For the visual effects, definitely. Maybe for best director as a nod to all the time he spent developing the process, although I was really pulling for Bigelow and The Hurt Locker.

  • http://lifeisnotamovie.net Robin

    @Grant, I never said a complex plot, just a solid somewhat original plot. Also the way the aliens or whatever were designed, they look like cartoons to me and I can’t take that seriously. I will however go see Alice in Wonderland in 3D.

  • http://www.kill-the-body.blogspot.com Gwen

    I think after my post, my feelings on the movie should be fairly clear. I also think that if this piece of shit wins best movie, movies will suffer for it. We’ll see a whole new generation of movies that are nothing more than pretty flashing lights.
    That thought makes me feel sick.

  • http://www.sudobeer.net ed

    i haven’t seen avatar either. don’t really want too. i don’t know why

  • Sean

    I saw Avatar in IMAX 3D, because I am into the effects…but this movie was FANTASTIC. The storyline might be familiar, but the way that it’s done in this movie is fresher than you think. You said you’re a sucker for a good love story, there is one here. So, just go fucking see it or you’ll regret it! LOL