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Avatar Origins, Ray and Otherwise

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27 January 2010, 01:57 AM
dandelion
Avatar Origins, Ray and Otherwise
For those who have seen Avatar: which sources, film or print, by Ray Bradbury or others, does it heavily remind you of?

Regardless of your opinion on this, does everyone who has seen it now agree that given enough time and money and put in the right hands, nothing should now be considered unfilmable?

Discuss amongst yourselves.
27 January 2010, 01:53 PM
douglasSP
I actually had time to go see it yesterday, but the show was sold out (mid-afternoon showing). That almost never happens where I live, especially not with a movie that's been on circuit for a bit. The last movie I saw, there were about a dozen people in the theater.

Yet, I must confess that I was reluctant to go and see it. Effects-driven SF movies usually bore me, and I only made the attempt this time because my friends raved about it.

I'd be very surprised if it's in any way reminiscent of Bradbury, though.
27 January 2010, 09:42 PM
Wilderness of the Mind
Not only have I seen it, but I spent a year working on it.

I'd be hard-pressed to say that there are any elements in the film whose roots draw from Bradbury soil.

And since the invention of cinema everything has been filmable. It's more a question of what sort of realism you want to inject into a fantasy environment and the current expectations of the audience.

--
jJ


https://www.facebook.com/ArtOfJosephMugnaini/
27 January 2010, 10:19 PM
dandelion
quote:
Originally posted by jetJagger:
Not only have I seen it, but I spent a year working on it.


Kewwll! What role did you play in the film?
27 January 2010, 10:20 PM
dandelion
Wonder if Cameron had lawyers read the script to ensure it did not too much resemble any one source? This guy is doing a great job so far: http://blog.brightlightsfilm.c...avatars-sources.html
28 January 2010, 01:19 AM
Wilderness of the Mind
quote:
Kewwll! What role did you play in the film?


Senior Lighting Technical Director at Weta Digital. It's basically a fancy name for a digital lighting artist. Smiler

Most of my shots were in the floating mountains sequences (like the banshee rookery and the final battle).

--
jJ


https://www.facebook.com/ArtOfJosephMugnaini/
28 January 2010, 07:49 AM
jkt
jetJagger:

So it is your fault that I am still suffering from motion sickness from watching YOUR flick? Smiler


John King Tarpinian
You know what you are, Mr. Bradbury? ... You are a poet! -- Aldous Huxley
28 January 2010, 09:41 AM
Mr. Dark
Love the floating mountains sequences. Excellent job! You should be very proud of your work.
28 January 2010, 09:46 AM
Doug Spaulding
quote:
Originally posted by jetJagger:
Senior Lighting Technical Director at Weta Digital. It's basically a fancy name for a digital lighting artist. Smiler

Most of my shots were in the floating mountains sequences (like the banshee rookery and the final battle).

Yes - fancy names indeed! Having been a producer on a film before, I can testify that it's a fancy title which really means "stands around a lot with hands on hip"!

Rookery is a good word.


"Live Forever!"
28 January 2010, 03:36 PM
Wilderness of the Mind
Great...now I've got John mad at me for making him sick.

At least I can take solace in the fact that Doug is correct...rookery is a fine word.

--
jJ


https://www.facebook.com/ArtOfJosephMugnaini/
28 January 2010, 05:43 PM
jkt
quote:
Originally posted by jetJagger:
Great...now I've got John mad at me for making him sick.

At least I can take solace in the fact that Doug is correct...rookery is a fine word.

--
jJ

It was a Catch 22, if I'd have taken a Benadryl to help with the motion sickness I'd have fallen asleep halfway thru the flick. Smiler


John King Tarpinian
You know what you are, Mr. Bradbury? ... You are a poet! -- Aldous Huxley
03 February 2010, 02:03 AM
dandelion
Here's more. Anyone recognizes anything or notices anything left out, don't be shy to speak up.

First off, Dances with Wolves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9uo4nOD__s

was so obvious Cameron even admits it.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.co...-is-gimcrackery.html

He denies or ignores some others:

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00028333.html

http://blog.spout.com/2009/08/...rtunately-resembles/

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertai...els/story?id=9561339

http://www.soufron.com/post/29...-avatar-a-big-ripoff

http://doodiepants.com/2010/01...a-pocahontas-ripoff/

Matt Bateman's notes can be more clearly read here: http://www.boredville.com/3102...p-Off-of-Pocachontas

http://www.comicsalliance.com/...1993-story-firekind/

Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dandelion,
03 February 2010, 02:54 PM
Linnl
dandelion wrote
quote:
Anyone recognizes anything or notices anything left out, don't be shy to speak up.


Okay, but I have yet to see it. Frowner

http://www.erbzine.com/mag30/3038.html
03 February 2010, 06:47 PM
fjp451
This, per chance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn8Z8UK8tqA
03 February 2010, 10:54 PM
dandelion
quote:
Originally posted by fjp451:
This, per chance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn8Z8UK8tqA


Hadn't thought of that one, but there are a few points of resemblance--the earth man's blue eyes and the Martians' golden ones, for starters.