Avatar, and my one real problem with it.

[Darkmaster2000]

I am sorry if this is an "old news like" opinion but I just gotta say this.

Now I need to say firstly that I love the movie I thought it was great. However I have this one big problem with it.

The story is a Sci-fi PG-13 version of the older Disney movie Ferngully. Now, I have heard smurf jokes, dances with wolves, Pocahontas, but I have yet to hear Ferngully mentioned once. Which makes sense, it is not one of the more popular Disney films. But damn near everything about Avatar is like I said, a sci-fi PG-13 version of Ferngully.

Now before everyone assumes I'm dissing Avatar or James Cameron in anyway, Avatar may not be the most original film ever made, but it sure as hell told this story that has been done time and time again the best, and with the addition of the jaw dropping visuals it showed it, I do think it deserves to be considered one of the best films of all time.

Telling the same story as another movie in a different way, I have no problem with that. But Avatar straight up was a clone of Ferngully. Your thoughts?

 

[Marter]

I really should see Avatar sometime. Apparently it was good or something like that.

 

[unoleian]

I <3 FernGully.

But no, I totally see where you're coming from, but never really considered it at all. Just never came to mind...

But the basic message is very much the same.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

I have it on DVD, its very Meh. Its one of those things you HAVE to see in theaters to get the full effect. Its not bad but, it only really shines and comes to life if full IMax 3D. On the big screne in 3D it may be one of the best films ever. Without the 3D its a bellow average Scifi film..

 

[Coldman42]

FernGully. Haven't seen that one for a looooooooooong time.

Yeah, i see the similaritys. In fact i did think of FernGully when i watched the movie and saw the tree everyone lived in. Reminded me a lot of that tree all the fairies lived in.

 

[eels05]

I will see Avatar some day.

 

[TheRocketeer]

Look, Avatar wasn't the first to do its schtick, but neither was Ferngully. This is a theme as old as cinema itself.

Moviebob wrote this article [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/6909-Going-Native] on the subject, and covers it very deftly. A lot of people came along with their own favorite version of this story that they claim did it first and best. All of them are extremely mistaken, including the OP.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Ferngully wasn't disney, it was 20th century fox.

It was also just a slight wrinkling of the Pocahontas story. Just as dances with wolves and avatar were.

But, yea, your observations are valid and the basic story has been done more times than a mere human could even count.

 

[SturmDolch]

No idea what Ferngully is, but I didn't care for Avatar. Not because the story is old; that argument is so full of falacies it's unbelievable. I just thought Avatar was generally mediocre. Even the special effects were nothing new. It just has the name of a big director on it, therefore it's original and good. I'll give it props for bringing in money, but it's not a cinematic masterpiece, nor should it be considered a defining film of our era. But it will be.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Ferngully wasn't Disney, it was Fox.

Funnily enough, so was Avatar. Hmm.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I really should see Avatar sometime. Apparently it was good or something like that.

I just saw it a few days ago, and it is good...my personal problem was that I was watching it with other people (worse: family). The story itself is really formulaic, enough so to where I had trouble watching it with others due to self-consciousness.

If you don't mind formula, though (like I normally don't), it's still fun, and it really looks spectacular. The last half-hour and the huge effects and fighting were what finally broke me out of my self-consciousness enough to enjoy it.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

That is true. However, the plot of Avatar has been used 2 or 3 times in modern film, as opposed to the 2 or 3 hundred times that every other movie plot that you see today has been used.

All in all, Avatar is great. Some of the fans are awful (Avatar Depression- really?), but the movie is excellent.

 

[Pimppeter2]

FernGully [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferngully] was published by 20th Century Fox and made by Kroyer Films,

Avatar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_%282009_film%29] was made by James Cameron and published by 20th Century Fox

Ohh, and someone didn't think Avatar was original?

This is my shocked face O:

Edit: NINJAD! Lord Krunk you devil!

 

[Vrex360]

I didn't think it was a straight up clone of Fern Gully.... because Fern Gully did not feature guys in Mech Suits battling giant colourful monsters.

Honestly, I enjoyed Avatar immensly and wasn't really bothered by the Pocahontas thing because lots of movies have similar plot lines to other movies. It just happens.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

I am sorry if this is an "old news like" opinion but I just gotta say this.

Now I need to say firstly that I love the movie I thought it was great. However I have this one big problem with it.

The story is a Sci-fi PG-13 version of the older Disney movie Ferngully. Now, I have heard smurf jokes, dances with wolves, Pocahontas, but I have yet to hear Ferngully mentioned once. Which makes sense, it is not one of the more popular Disney films. But damn near everything about Avatar is like I said, a sci-fi PG-13 version of Ferngully.

Now before everyone assumes I'm dissing Avatar or James Cameron in anyway, Avatar may not be the most original film ever made, but it sure as hell told this story that has been done time and time again the best, and with the addition of the jaw dropping visuals it showed it, I do think it deserves to be considered one of the best films of all time.

Telling the same story as another movie in a different way, I have no problem with that. But Avatar straight up was a clone of Ferngully. Your thoughts?

But Avatar wasn't filled with BIg Lipped ALigator Momemnts

 

[m_jim]

No idea what Ferngully is, but I didn't care for Avatar. Not because the story is old; that argument is so full of falacies it's unbelievable. I just thought Avatar was generally mediocre. Even the special effects were nothing new. It just has the name of a big director on it, therefore it's original and good. I'll give it props for bringing in money, but it's not a cinematic masterpiece, nor should it be considered a defining film of our era. But it will be.

You'd be hard pressed to say that the 3D effects weren't "something new." They invented a number of new camera systems specifically for this movie. Since its overwhelming success, 3D television sets and gaming have taken off. It is ushering in a new era of technology. As far as its quality as a movie goes, I hear your complaints, but critics said the same thing about Star Wars when it was released. I'm interested to see if it has the staying power of Lucas's films. It has most certainly captured the world's imagination, so only time will tell its lasting influence.