In theaters, James Cameron returns to Pandora for an ambitious sequel while on Netflix, Guillermo del Toro refashions Pinocchio as a story about fascist Italy.
I hated the original Avatar so much. I’ll be seeing this one because my girl loved the first and is elated for the sequel. I’m relieved to read that you weren’t keen on the first but liked this one, which gives me some hope for the three-plus hours I’m facing. The things we do for love. 😁
Me pleasantly surprised to see good review of Avatar, and obviously me have to support more blue representation on film... but me still not can get that excited about it.
Me also think stop-motion is entirely wrong medium for Pinocchio. Puppet coming to life lose all of its magic when everyone else is also puppet.
Dec 15, 2022·edited Dec 15, 2022Liked by Scott Tobias
I realize the degree to which a film delivers on an emotional level is subjective, but I bristled at the assertion that Del Toro gives the viewer nothing to feel. The central themes of death, grief and humanity got my emotions flowing, with my eyes welling up more than once. And the design of the movie, Del Toro's blend of fantasy and realism, made for some emotionally jarring moments, such as when a "real" gun is produced.
Regarding the bent nails sticking out of Pinocchio’s back, I’m pretty sure that has less to do with Gepetto’s carpentry skills than the fact that he was soused when he made the puppet.
On the topic of HFR: Wouldn't want every movie to look like this, but I've so far enjoyed every experiment with HFR 3D I've seen so far. Seeing Gemini Man in 3D 120fps 2K was a staggering experience for me - unlike anything else I've ever seen. In Avatar 2, I was actively put off every time the movie switched back to 24fps because it made the 3D look so much choppier. I tend to not care for 3D in general, but I think HFR can be the difference maker there. Just makes the effect much smoother and easier to look at imo.
Just watched Avatar in a typical suburban thirty seater theater in 3D.
1) I felt like a total fool for not reviewing the first one. It's been thirteen long years... Why didn't I just read the goddamn wiki page?!! Like I could not remember how Sully actually became one of the blue people.
2) Despite my lack of recalling the backstory, I got on board within fifteen minutes. And I remembered something about the first one... How much I wanted to live in Pandora. That feeling rushed right back.
3) The 3D effect is used so judiciously. Cameron knows this better than anyone. The effect is subtle... It makes this fantastic, made up world so much more real. So smart.
4) At the two hour mark, I thought I had no chance of being able to finish this movie without having to run to the bathroom for a pee break.
5) One hour later, I'd forgotten I had to pee. That would be my pull quote for this film. "So good you'll forget you have to pee!"
Seriously, between Top Gun Maverick and this, I'm so thankful the big theater experience is still alive. Thank you, Tom and James. You two make me believe in movies, still.
I saw this at a Cinemark XD theater, and they don't list online whether the showings are HFR. I very quickly realized it was HFR and was absolutely blown away. It just seemed to give the action sequences a kinetic feel that was unlike anything seen before. Reminded me of a (real? fake?) quote from George Lucas about his desire to try new things and push boundaries forward with his star wars movies.
I saw the original in 3D in 2009. I essentially felt the same way as many (looks awesome, lackluster script/characters.). In the interim, I’ve come to love Cameron even more. So, I was really excited to see the rerelease in 3D IMAX with my daughter. We both essentially felt the same way as I did in 2009. I was really expecting to like it much more.
Nevertheless, I still always find myself, then and now, “routing” for the franchise. It’s a strange relationship to a movie, one I don’t know I’ve had before. To put it another way, I’m glad there are people who love it, even if I just can’t count myself among them.
The routing paid off. I caught the new film on one of the biggest IMAX screens in New England.
THANK GOD “AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER” IS SO DAMN GOOD!
Saw it Saturday night and thought the HFR really enhanced the 3D. We saw it in IMAX 3D and much of the last two thirds especially was just breathtaking.
The movie is too long, I think they actually waste a little too much time getting out of the forest. I don’t think the original is worth watching at home even once, but I suspect the last hour of this one is going to play like gangbusters in any format.
Fwiw Randall Jr, who will be 12 in a couple of weeks, only flagged a bit in the middle but had a great time at the theater. Seems interested in the movies’ universe in a way that he wasn’t after we saw the re-release of the first one.
I saw it on Friday at the Dolby theatre at AMC River East and I found the HFR portions incredibly uncanny and distracting. I’m kind of looking forward to potentially seeing it again this week at a non-HFR screening with my parents in Ohio because I think I’ll enjoy it more without. So you have at least one person in your corner, Scott!
So … I saw Avatar II coupla weeks ago after reading KP’s rave. My companion, a fellow SF fan, and I joked throughout the film at its idiocies (patrons few and far between), including esp the very suburban contemporary American worldview and locution of these faraway alien beings.
Crucially we saw it at our local quasi-arthouse on a smaller screen without hfr or 3D etc; not getting seduced by virtuoso tech fireworks meant we could only respond to plot, storytelling, characters, acting and standard audio-visuals. Alas, alas!
My friend, a generous man, gave it 3.6 out of 5; then marked it down to 3.2. I asked him to convert my response of “execrable” — 1.4 out of 5.
Do I need to innumerate my naysaying points? Utterly predictable plot points, execrable dialogue, horrible characterisation, complete fail in SF terms re its vision of other kinds of life and view points. The bloodlust built into this purported ecofable. And I just laughed when the Tulkun-whale analogue went all emo.
I enjoyed tremendously Avatar I, which I saw in 3D. Perhaps it was entirely misguided to experience Avatar II shorn of its technological crowning glories. But we did and it does not stand. It didn’t wash with us.
Finally saw this-- caught at the Chinese in LA in IMAX 3D. While the little brother’s decision-making and the kids’ being put in perpetual peril left me a bit frustrated, I was fully transported to Pandora and its sheer beauty and splendor. I even bought the father-son/brothers’ stories and got a bit emotional. Don’t think I’ll splurge again for IMAX 3D but glad I caught this on the big screen as Cameron intended. Thanks for the positive review!
I hated the original Avatar so much. I’ll be seeing this one because my girl loved the first and is elated for the sequel. I’m relieved to read that you weren’t keen on the first but liked this one, which gives me some hope for the three-plus hours I’m facing. The things we do for love. 😁
here's my big question for Avatar: would it be better if it simply accepted it was an animated film?
Me pleasantly surprised to see good review of Avatar, and obviously me have to support more blue representation on film... but me still not can get that excited about it.
Me also think stop-motion is entirely wrong medium for Pinocchio. Puppet coming to life lose all of its magic when everyone else is also puppet.
I realize the degree to which a film delivers on an emotional level is subjective, but I bristled at the assertion that Del Toro gives the viewer nothing to feel. The central themes of death, grief and humanity got my emotions flowing, with my eyes welling up more than once. And the design of the movie, Del Toro's blend of fantasy and realism, made for some emotionally jarring moments, such as when a "real" gun is produced.
Regarding the bent nails sticking out of Pinocchio’s back, I’m pretty sure that has less to do with Gepetto’s carpentry skills than the fact that he was soused when he made the puppet.
On the topic of HFR: Wouldn't want every movie to look like this, but I've so far enjoyed every experiment with HFR 3D I've seen so far. Seeing Gemini Man in 3D 120fps 2K was a staggering experience for me - unlike anything else I've ever seen. In Avatar 2, I was actively put off every time the movie switched back to 24fps because it made the 3D look so much choppier. I tend to not care for 3D in general, but I think HFR can be the difference maker there. Just makes the effect much smoother and easier to look at imo.
Just watched Avatar in a typical suburban thirty seater theater in 3D.
1) I felt like a total fool for not reviewing the first one. It's been thirteen long years... Why didn't I just read the goddamn wiki page?!! Like I could not remember how Sully actually became one of the blue people.
2) Despite my lack of recalling the backstory, I got on board within fifteen minutes. And I remembered something about the first one... How much I wanted to live in Pandora. That feeling rushed right back.
3) The 3D effect is used so judiciously. Cameron knows this better than anyone. The effect is subtle... It makes this fantastic, made up world so much more real. So smart.
4) At the two hour mark, I thought I had no chance of being able to finish this movie without having to run to the bathroom for a pee break.
5) One hour later, I'd forgotten I had to pee. That would be my pull quote for this film. "So good you'll forget you have to pee!"
Seriously, between Top Gun Maverick and this, I'm so thankful the big theater experience is still alive. Thank you, Tom and James. You two make me believe in movies, still.
I saw this at a Cinemark XD theater, and they don't list online whether the showings are HFR. I very quickly realized it was HFR and was absolutely blown away. It just seemed to give the action sequences a kinetic feel that was unlike anything seen before. Reminded me of a (real? fake?) quote from George Lucas about his desire to try new things and push boundaries forward with his star wars movies.
I saw the original in 3D in 2009. I essentially felt the same way as many (looks awesome, lackluster script/characters.). In the interim, I’ve come to love Cameron even more. So, I was really excited to see the rerelease in 3D IMAX with my daughter. We both essentially felt the same way as I did in 2009. I was really expecting to like it much more.
Nevertheless, I still always find myself, then and now, “routing” for the franchise. It’s a strange relationship to a movie, one I don’t know I’ve had before. To put it another way, I’m glad there are people who love it, even if I just can’t count myself among them.
The routing paid off. I caught the new film on one of the biggest IMAX screens in New England.
THANK GOD “AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER” IS SO DAMN GOOD!
Saw it Saturday night and thought the HFR really enhanced the 3D. We saw it in IMAX 3D and much of the last two thirds especially was just breathtaking.
The movie is too long, I think they actually waste a little too much time getting out of the forest. I don’t think the original is worth watching at home even once, but I suspect the last hour of this one is going to play like gangbusters in any format.
Fwiw Randall Jr, who will be 12 in a couple of weeks, only flagged a bit in the middle but had a great time at the theater. Seems interested in the movies’ universe in a way that he wasn’t after we saw the re-release of the first one.
I saw it on Friday at the Dolby theatre at AMC River East and I found the HFR portions incredibly uncanny and distracting. I’m kind of looking forward to potentially seeing it again this week at a non-HFR screening with my parents in Ohio because I think I’ll enjoy it more without. So you have at least one person in your corner, Scott!
So … I saw Avatar II coupla weeks ago after reading KP’s rave. My companion, a fellow SF fan, and I joked throughout the film at its idiocies (patrons few and far between), including esp the very suburban contemporary American worldview and locution of these faraway alien beings.
Crucially we saw it at our local quasi-arthouse on a smaller screen without hfr or 3D etc; not getting seduced by virtuoso tech fireworks meant we could only respond to plot, storytelling, characters, acting and standard audio-visuals. Alas, alas!
My friend, a generous man, gave it 3.6 out of 5; then marked it down to 3.2. I asked him to convert my response of “execrable” — 1.4 out of 5.
Do I need to innumerate my naysaying points? Utterly predictable plot points, execrable dialogue, horrible characterisation, complete fail in SF terms re its vision of other kinds of life and view points. The bloodlust built into this purported ecofable. And I just laughed when the Tulkun-whale analogue went all emo.
I enjoyed tremendously Avatar I, which I saw in 3D. Perhaps it was entirely misguided to experience Avatar II shorn of its technological crowning glories. But we did and it does not stand. It didn’t wash with us.
Finally saw this-- caught at the Chinese in LA in IMAX 3D. While the little brother’s decision-making and the kids’ being put in perpetual peril left me a bit frustrated, I was fully transported to Pandora and its sheer beauty and splendor. I even bought the father-son/brothers’ stories and got a bit emotional. Don’t think I’ll splurge again for IMAX 3D but glad I caught this on the big screen as Cameron intended. Thanks for the positive review!