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Dec 22, 2009 10:20:45 GMT -5
Post by Kristin Sane on Dec 22, 2009 10:20:45 GMT -5
I don't think that really relates to what I was saying. It's the idea that a native population (who are OBVIOUSLY supposed to represent Native Americans, btw) needs to be "saved" by a white protagonist right after he fucked them over. It's not enough for Worthington's character to apologize and help out, he actually becomes their leader and savior, thereby apparently clearing him of any wrongdoing. Anyway, I'm not going to write a big treatise on this, because I don't think it was a super big issue. Just something that nagged a little at the back of my mind. I shouldn't have even brought it up. good article on this: io9.com/5422666/when-will-white-people-stop-making-movies-like-avatar
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Dec 22, 2009 11:07:03 GMT -5
Post by Emma on Dec 22, 2009 11:07:03 GMT -5
Cheers Kristin, I was about to post that article. As regards the homophobia, there were no gay people in the film. It wasn't even an issue. Pandora's supposed to be this perfect world, and there just aren't any gays? Maybe homophobic is the wrong word, but it's certainly heteronormative. It's like the 21st century was a tiny blip where there was overt homosexuality and then the world got back to how it was supposed to.
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Dec 22, 2009 15:41:44 GMT -5
Post by xbeerdrinkerx on Dec 22, 2009 15:41:44 GMT -5
I've heard the accusations of homophobia elsewhere, and I really do think it's absolutely ridiculous. How do you know there weren't any gay people on Pandora? Norm Spellman or Grace could have easily been gay for all we know.
Should there have been an insultingly stereotypical gay person thrown into one scene just to clear that up? Even as "that guy" who managed to find racial undertones in a fucking action movie, I really think this is pushing it.
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Dec 22, 2009 16:19:02 GMT -5
Post by twhneal on Dec 22, 2009 16:19:02 GMT -5
I find it more homophobic to make a big deal that there were no obviously gay people in the film. Just because no one said it, or there were no military guys dressed like one of the queer-eye dudes? Is everyday life homophobic, by proxy? Was Titanic homophobic because the few gay couples that there probably were on the ship weren't making out on camera next to Jack and Rose? And the Navii culture having a very strict pattern of mating for life... Well, so what? This is, after all, a fake species of imaginary people. Their definition of male and female and straight and gay could be radically different from what we understand.
As for the racism, I can't honestly wrap my head around that. If Jake had been black, would that have been better? Or asian? Then we would be listening to arguments that black Jake is an uncle tom for selling out the natives. It's the nature of the story, which is not a particularly new story, by the way.
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Dec 22, 2009 16:32:46 GMT -5
Post by xbeerdrinkerx on Dec 22, 2009 16:32:46 GMT -5
I find it more homophobic to make a big deal that there were no obviously gay people in the film. My thoughts exactly. As for the racism, I can't honestly wrap my head around that. If Jake had been black, would that have been better? Or asian? Then we would be listening to arguments that black Jake is an uncle tom for selling out the natives. It's the nature of the story, which is not a particularly new story, by the way. Fair enough, you're probably right. But like I said, it was just something that crept into the back of my mind.
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Dec 22, 2009 17:27:45 GMT -5
Post by Rebecca on Dec 22, 2009 17:27:45 GMT -5
Seeing this in IMAX at four. I don't really know what it is about, but I just dropped 15 bucks, so it had better be good.
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Dec 22, 2009 22:54:30 GMT -5
Post by JoshShark on Dec 22, 2009 22:54:30 GMT -5
Honestly, I wasn't blown away, which in itself is weird because movies like this usually blow me out of the water. I think its because 1) I'm sick and the 3D was giving me a headche; 2) I knew NOTHINGGGG about this movie except that it was really good; and 3)as a product of #2, I expected a pretty complicated plot and deep philosophical message. Soo, now being aware of these problems, I think I'm going to go see it a second time with a couple other things in mind, which I also think first time viewers should keep in mind as well:
1) Its a VERY visually stunning movie. Lots of CG, but done very tastefully. 2) TURN YOUR BRAIN OFF. Don't expect anything hugely complex or groundbreaking.
I think with these two points in mind, you can experience how its meant to be experienced: very immersive and fantastical. If you're looking for a movie like that, this is it.
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Dec 23, 2009 5:30:13 GMT -5
Post by Imhotep on Dec 23, 2009 5:30:13 GMT -5
Cheers Kristin, I was about to post that article. As regards the homophobia, there were no gay people in the film. It wasn't even an issue. Pandora's supposed to be this perfect world, and there just aren't any gays? Maybe homophobic is the wrong word, but it's certainly heteronormative. It's like the 21st century was a tiny blip where there was overt homosexuality and then the world got back to how it was supposed to. Haven't seen this yet, but it would be horribly forced if they had to explain somehow that one of the aliens is gay. I guess it is "heteronormative", but srsly, almost every movie is.
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Dec 23, 2009 6:38:51 GMT -5
Post by twhneal on Dec 23, 2009 6:38:51 GMT -5
I just have to add that Michelle Rodriguez's character could have easily been gay. Just sayin'.
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Dec 23, 2009 8:26:35 GMT -5
Post by xJASONx on Dec 23, 2009 8:26:35 GMT -5
So that's what she meant by 'You should see the look on your faces'.
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Dec 23, 2009 9:12:27 GMT -5
Post by Cheryl Prime on Dec 23, 2009 9:12:27 GMT -5
I enjoyed it. The story wasn't anything new by any means, but it worked. The 3D and effects were amazing. I can see why it took Cameron so long to get the project off the ground. the 3D was used to good effect, and not just 3D for 3D's sake. Nothing being thrown at the audience etc...
Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana were actually pretty damn good. Even as the Na'vi you could tell there was a person behind it. The expressions, the way the eyes were used to make a point.
It's not a perfect movie, and has it flaws, but as an experience it was brilliant.
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Dec 23, 2009 11:50:42 GMT -5
Post by Cei on Dec 23, 2009 11:50:42 GMT -5
Saw this for the second time, still loved it.
The moment when Na'teri (sp?) meets Jake as a human guts me. It's sad, sweet and gorgeous with just a little dash of creepy. Call me crazy, but I think their romance is pretty adorable. And I hated the Notebook.
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Dec 23, 2009 14:49:39 GMT -5
Post by JoshShark on Dec 23, 2009 14:49:39 GMT -5
I couldn't help but laugh at some of the romantic scenes because all I could of think was how this is a furry's wet dream.
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Dec 24, 2009 4:39:04 GMT -5
Post by anthropocene on Dec 24, 2009 4:39:04 GMT -5
Made the mistake of going to see this movie in Brussels. It wasn't so bad it was a mistake, just that when they were speaking their weird little language, all the subtitles were in French and, apparently, my French isn't as good as it used to be and I only half knew what was going on.
I liked this film up until the mineral was called 'unobtanium'. After that, it was just impossible to take it seriously and, duly, it got more and more ridiculous as it went on. Also, seriously, what was with the vaguely African music every time the Na'vi were doing something? Was that really the best they could do?
Also, it's totally fucked up but the main blue chick was pretty hot...
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Dec 24, 2009 4:55:20 GMT -5
Post by Eankam on Dec 24, 2009 4:55:20 GMT -5
I want to live on Pandora! Everything glows in the dark!!!
The film was beautiful! I'm really glad I saw it in 3D, though not in the IMAX :/ Still, it was awesome!
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Dec 24, 2009 14:49:30 GMT -5
Post by Nick Taxidermy on Dec 24, 2009 14:49:30 GMT -5
Cheers Kristin, I was about to post that article. As regards the homophobia, there were no gay people in the film. It wasn't even an issue. Pandora's supposed to be this perfect world, and there just aren't any gays? Maybe homophobic is the wrong word, but it's certainly heteronormative. It's like the 21st century was a tiny blip where there was overt homosexuality and then the world got back to how it was supposed to. there was only one romance in the entire film, really. I dunno that I feel that the film was really geared toward that.
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Dec 26, 2009 4:33:56 GMT -5
Post by Fatal Kiss on Dec 26, 2009 4:33:56 GMT -5
I liked it a lot. I would like to live on Pandora please, but fuck a 6 year journey there and back. I don't care if I'm knocked out that whole time or not.
So, being attracted to Na'vi. Okay/weird?
Also, I hated how the subtitles appeared to be in Papyrus. Surely they could've looked further afield than MS Word for a font??!
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Dec 26, 2009 6:35:09 GMT -5
Post by Cheryl Prime on Dec 26, 2009 6:35:09 GMT -5
If you're talking about Sam Worthington, I say it's ok. Because I felt the same. I'm glad he didn't try to put on an American accent. His accent in T4 was terrible.
Also,more Sam Worthington with a beard.
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Dec 26, 2009 6:55:24 GMT -5
Post by peanut on Dec 26, 2009 6:55:24 GMT -5
It looked nice but other than that it was a little bit meh.
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Dec 26, 2009 8:06:07 GMT -5
Post by Lickitung on Dec 26, 2009 8:06:07 GMT -5
PEANUT LOVE OF MY LIFE WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN.
ps it's jessie pps if this is a fake peanut i'll cry all night long ppps i haven't seen avatar
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Dec 26, 2009 21:24:29 GMT -5
Post by Cei on Dec 26, 2009 21:24:29 GMT -5
If you're talking about Sam Worthington, I say it's ok. Because I felt the same. I'm glad he didn't try to put on an American accent. His accent in T4 was terrible. Also,more Sam Worthington with a beard. Haha, but he WAS trying to put on an American accent. That really isn't what he sounds like at all when using his normal accent. It might not have sounded American, but it definitely didn't sound Australian either.
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Dec 26, 2009 21:52:17 GMT -5
Post by Emma on Dec 26, 2009 21:52:17 GMT -5
Seriously. That was the most horrendous accent I've ever heard.
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Dec 26, 2009 22:07:22 GMT -5
Post by Cei on Dec 26, 2009 22:07:22 GMT -5
I believe that title belongs to Robert Downey Jr. in Natural Born Killers.
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alan
Babby
F♯ A♯ ∞
Posts: 236
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Dec 27, 2009 3:24:24 GMT -5
Post by alan on Dec 27, 2009 3:24:24 GMT -5
saw it today. it was fucking awesome.
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Dec 27, 2009 4:07:59 GMT -5
Post by overzealousxfanboy on Dec 27, 2009 4:07:59 GMT -5
Holy shit, this movie was great. I saw it in 3D. It was pretty crazy at first, but when there was a ton of moving around it kinda became a blur and just irritated my eyes. Still cool, though.
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Dec 27, 2009 4:30:52 GMT -5
Post by AlexD336 on Dec 27, 2009 4:30:52 GMT -5
Saw it. The visuals were great! I like Dances with Wolves better though
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Dec 27, 2009 8:17:59 GMT -5
Post by peanut on Dec 27, 2009 8:17:59 GMT -5
PEANUT LOVE OF MY LIFE WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN. ps it's jessie pps if this is a fake peanut i'll cry all night long ppps i haven't seen avatar As far as I know I am the real Peanut. As for where I have been, not really anywhere
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Dec 27, 2009 9:20:59 GMT -5
Post by Cei on Dec 27, 2009 9:20:59 GMT -5
If you weren't so active on twitter I'd have missed you as well.
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Dec 27, 2009 11:41:14 GMT -5
Post by peanut on Dec 27, 2009 11:41:14 GMT -5
I should cut back on my twitter rampaging, it is only going to end badly.
Still not overly fussed about Avatar. It was a pretty iffy story tacked onto some awesome FX.
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Dec 27, 2009 13:29:52 GMT -5
Post by Lindsay on Dec 27, 2009 13:29:52 GMT -5
I haven't spent a whole lot of time in New England, but I thought that was the accent he was going for. I don't know. It didn't bother me. I didn't have a clue who Sam Worthington was before I saw the movie, and I did actually believe he was an American actor. Just an American actor from like, Boston or Rhode Island.
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