I agree whole wholeheartedly with you about how terrible the trailer looked, but still holding out some hope, because… hey… this IS James FREAKING Cameron we’re talking about. I generally agree with your evaluations of movies, and while I still plan on seeing it on disk… I’m beyond being in any sort of hurry.

Shame. I wanted to like this one.

Thanks for the review Jones. Keep rocking on with your bad self.

Hossrex

Maybe catch it at an early matinee. Some theaters have much cheaper pricing if you go before noon for example.

I think I may have enjoyed the movie to some extent had I not already seen it when it was called “Dances with Wolves”.

FYI - Dale and I have been discussing a podcast, so hopefully we’ll have something up soon. As always, don’t hold your breath though.

Merry Christmas!

- Jones

You should make the next Fistful podcast some 26 mile, 4 hour marathon podcast.

Hey Hossrex, go watch the F-in movie! (In 3D of course.) Don’t just rely on Jones’ review! Go watch it and then give us your thoughts.

You’re certainly not alone in disagreeing with me. It would seem that most people liked it, although I have talked to people who had similar opinions to mine as well. Seems like a love it or hate it movie. For me it was an impressive tech demo, but the movie left me bored because there were no surprises to be found amidst all the shiny things on the screen.

If it had at least made some changes to the plot of “Dances With Wolves” beyond setting it on a different world I may have been able to stay interested. Instead it was nearly a carbon copy and ended up being incredibly predictable as a result.

As it was, I found myself thinking about other things during the movie (never a good thing). It is rare for me to actually get bored at the theater (although I almost fell asleep during a matinee showing of “Monsters Inc.”), so I knew “Avatar” was in trouble at that point.

Person A who liked Avatar: Likes fun movies. Doesn’t really care about story, character/plot development, just wants the visceral reaction to excitement.

Person B who didn’t like Avatar: Wants something that makes them think. Not necessarily adverse to the popcorn movie, but really prefers something with substance, and although they may enjoy cheap explosions and half naked women, quickly forgets any movie that doesn’t stimulate their mind.

There’s nothing wrong with either… but seldom does a movie come along that so evenly divides the two groups.

I personally don’t enjoy the movie theater experience anymore. Whether it’s the time I went last year where a man was receiving text messages every five minutes (and lighting the entire theater with his cellphones bright blue screen each time), or the time a person spent the entire time on the phone literally telling the person on the other end what was happening the whole time (complained to management, and after they warned him three times, I got tired of missing the movie to keep getting out of the theater to complain). Couple that with outrageous prices, filthy theaters, and useless employees… and I really just can’t stand the experience anymore.

If you live somewhere this doesn’t happen, enjoy it while you can. It didn’t used to happen where I lived either.

I have to kind of agree on the theater experience not being all it is cracked up to be. It isn’t as bad around here as what hossrex has had to experience, but it is definitely going that direction. I go to less movies these days than I used to and also try not to go on the opening weekend if I can help it just to avoid packed theaters.

My #1 complaint is the jerk behind me who kicks my chair all the time. I should just start sitting in the last row in the theater to avoid that, but I don’t like sitting that far away.

Still the filmgoing experience is quite enjoyable when it isn’t tainted by inconsiderate people. I went to a sneak preview of “It’s Complicated” on Monday night and the audience had a blast. Lots of big laugh moments throughout the film. I hadn’t been to a movie in a loooooooonnnng time where the audience laughed as often or as hard as was the case with this movie. Pretty cool.

I can’t wait to see Avatar win Best Picture.

I distinctly remember seeing “The World is Not Enough” the day the new Star Cinema opened in Fitchburg and no one else was in the theater. Every 10 or 15 minutes I’d move to a different part of the theater to check out viewing angles and what not. Those were good times!

I like it. I sort of liked it a lot.

I feel bad.

There was an old guy kicking my seat the whole time though.

I had some shmuck kicking my seat occasionally when I saw it as well. Inconsiderate people suck!

I understand all the criticisms you guys have. I AGREE with all the criticisms you have. I still can’t get past unobtainium. But… I enjoyed the hell out of myself for almost 3 hours.

No way in hell it deserves best picture (without saying I support this movie for best picture, and simply to illustrate my opinion, I would firmly put Where the Wild Things Are ahead of Avatar), but I enjoyed it.

Still love the site Jones, you and Dale rock.