What the success of Avatar teaches movie makers

[fpb]

"You may skimp on the writing as much as you like. As long as it looks gorgeous and feels self-righteous, who cares if it has a story."

Comments

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

I think movie makers knew that already; it's what James Cameron has been doing his entire career.

I probably will go see "Pocahontas in Space" because it's supposed to be really pretty, and I can't help noting that it's going to be regarded as a technological milestone, if nothing else. (Back in the day, Star Wars was known mostly for its special effects, not its storyline.)

LOL

[affablestranger.livejournal.com]

I don't know how long I've been saying the same kind of thing about tv and movies. It wasn't original to me. I saw it years and years ago in a film special effects magazine, and the article was specifically about James Cameron's "Terminator 2" movie. The special effects guy interviewed said the story wasn't going to matter, whether it was good, bad, or mediocre, because it was going to look awesome. "Just make it look cool" was the title of the article. I realized then that was going to be the wave of the future, and indeed I was spot on.

I rather figured "Avatar" was going to be the same: stellar computer animation and graphics and a fabulous musical score... and the same old story of conquest/colonization and the hero that defies his "masters" and goes native and becomes the leader of the very people he was sent to destroy/infiltrate. (I haven't seen the movie, but I figured that's what it was about from the previews.)

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

Sad but true. This is what annoys me about most big theater films. They appeal to the emotions and the senses, whether through impressive visual effects (i.e. Avatar), "hot" leads, or hormone-driven story lines (i.e. Twilight). I suppose it is a very effective marketing strategy to envision the audience before the film, but it does not make for a truly good film.

[becomethesea.livejournal.com]

I think you will find this quite amusing (I know I did...)

James Cameron's Pocahontas Avatar