Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that we're going to drown.

I thought that the lyrics should have at least reflected the theme more.

JB

Well as it happens, I don't like art-house films or foreign films particularly either and I know that nearly ALL films have some sort of cliche in them, but Avatar just had far more than most other films I'd seen.

I'm holding out for Tim Burton's Alice in 3d. Reckon that's going to be great fun.

I thoroughly enjoyed Avatar, warts and all. I enjoyed the conversation later, at home, where we pinpointed all the derivative plot lines and characterisations. I also enjoyed the TV programme showing James Cameron telling us that he knew exactly what he was doing when he created a film which had the OP seemingly incandescent with rage. I suspect that Mr Cameron's tongue was firmly in the cheek.

Well, done Mr C another resounding success!

OP?

JB

I loved Avatar. It's one of the few films I've been to see twice and I'd have seen it a third time if I could have persuaded my Beloved to come with me again.

I found it visually stunning. The 3D was beautifully done and I felt like I was in the world of the Na'vi. I agree that some of it was silly and I didn't enjoy the violence but on the whole it was a wonderful escapist experience.

Maybe I'm just not deep enough to need more from a film. I'm OK with that!

I don't mind too much when punters talk in polarisations, e.g. a film is either 'fun' or 'art house', or they use the 'd' word (deep) as both an excuse and an insult; but it worries me when it crops up on a writers' forum. Surely, part of our minds should always be noting the writing behind any film, TV or book story, and not refusing to see the bad stuff. Polarising into 'fun' and 'deep' is just a cop-out, i.e. there is absolutely no reason why dialogue in commercial movies can't be fun and good; fun and profound - it just needs good writers to do it. Joss Whedon is a very good example of someone who writes in such a way that funsters get their fill but those who prefer a bit of meat in their screenplay pies also get, um, well stuffed.

Much as I liked the first two Terminator movies, I found Titanic unwatchable and I haven't bothered with Avatar: suspect that Zettel's review contains far more beef than the movie anyway.

Terry

Terry, you seem to have overlooked the fact that the posts variously said the film has it's warts, silly moments, and was full of cliche - as well as saying, inspite of it's faults, that it was entertaining. It just goes to show that a film is made up of many parts, not just the writing.

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Personally, I found the overlying message that eco-terrorism is a valid alternative to diplomacy, highly disturbing.

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If history has taught us anything, it's that the US will be back with bigger and better weapons, and extra soldiers. And this time they're going to shoot first and ask questions later.

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the US - sorry, I mean humans.