Avatar the ride!!!!

[imagineer boy]

True a lot of movies do follow similar formulas, but there's one important thing that they do to make them feel new and fresh unlike Avatar did. They'll often switch around character archetypes and their relations to one another.

Take the first POTC film for example. It follows the hero's journey type of story and is similar in many respects to Star Wars. However, the characters and their relations to one another are shaken up so much that it feels completely different. Jack Sparrow fills in the Han Solo archetype, the rogue who befriends the main hero. But he's completely different from Han Solo, has past relations with the main villain (Barbossa) while Han Solo has nothing to do with Darth Vader, and Sparrow also sort of fills in the role of the wise mentor like Obi-wan.

Avatar however follows every character mold and cliche beat for beat and note for note. You have the white hero who leads to opressed natives into battle, you have the warrior princess who the white hero falls in love with, the jealous native guy betrothed to the warrior princess, the native chief father to the warrior princess who tragically dies, the EVIL military force, the EVIL military comander, the EVIL corporate guy, and so on and so forth. See what I mean?

 

[T-1MILLION]

True a lot of movies do follow similar Avatar however follows every character mold and cliche beat for beat and note for note. You have the white hero who leads to opressed natives into battle, you have the warrior princess who the white hero falls in love with, the jealous native guy betrothed to the warrior princess, the native chief father to the warrior princess who tragically dies, the EVIL military force, the EVIL military comander, the EVIL corporate guy, and so on and so forth. See what I mean?

while I actually agree with you completely and am not an Avatar fan, I do want to point out as others its not the story you tell, but how well you tell it. Even if it seems very close to exact. I am with the fact that it was all the hype of amazing CGI and that it was, although its already going to be showings its age, it was a well told story to many people.

Walt Disney brought Snow White visually different to a new audience. The only changes he really made to the cleaner Grimm Brothers version of the story were songs and parody personifications of popular people of the era.

But that same story was told VERY well and clearly, we remember it today.



And Disneyfanatic, evolution in the business world is competition, so you are right and not stating anything new. If the new Transformers ride is anywhere near as amazing as Spiderman or Forbidden Journey, DCA's changes will not look as good.

 

[Vince3]

I'd rather see Avatar the Last Airbender !

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Well, I can see what you mean...I don't think anybody gets "Legendary" status until they have retired or passed on. Kubrick was legendary. As long as Scorsese doesn't botch up the rest of his career...he'll be legendary.

You may say that those are two overrated films (and, in some aspects I agree with you), but at the same time, his reputation "GREW" from those...but wasn't created from those films.

Cameron's greatness comes from his vision...not necessarily his storytelling. Nobody can sit there and tell me that Avatar was not visually stunning and unlike anything they've ever seen before. Heck, I WANT TO GO TO PANDORA! He could've put this movie out...but he then sat on the idea and vision until the technology caught up to him. He has such an amazing vision for his films that puts him at "legendary" status (for that aspect alone). I truly believe that he is the greatest visual director of all time and the director that knows how to use technology to his advantage...and not a gimmick.

Watch Avatar in 3D in an IMAX and then watch it in 2D. There's a large dropoff because the immersiveness of Pandora (which is the main focus of the movie) doesn't surround you.
Now take a movie like Clash of the Titans. (Story aside) You can watch that in either format and you're not missing much if you watch it in 2D.

I'm not a huge fan of Titanic but I respect it. That ship felt real. The way it sank felt real. Sure, the story wasn't "great" but again, the environment he created carried the movie.

It's really no different than George Lucas with Star Wars. The actors were horrible...the dialogue was horrible (scruffy looking nerfherder?!?!?)...but he had a vision of what he wanted the planets, characters, etc. to look and sound like...and they became "legendary" films. (I'm, of course, only speaking of the original trilogy).

Good discussion :wave:

Oh, and to touch on Michael Bay... He knows what he is. He doesn't try to do "serious" films because he's created a Niche. He throws his name out there and it's synonymous with "explosions" and it puts people in the seats. He's not trying to be anything he's not. I know when Transformers 3 comes out...it'll just be a bunch of big robots with bad dialogue and huge explosions and close-ups. Will I see it on opening night? Yep. Why? It's fun...and not serious...and it's very mindless. I can go, sit there, eat popcorn, have my eyes explode out of my head...and then go home and not think about it again.

But that's the thing about film, the most original films are usually the best...it's not about the story necessarily, but how you execute it that distinguishes it. In the case of Avatar, it wasn't done well.

 

[JimboJones123]

Those movies weren't being compared to Tangled. Im talking about Jimbo's statement that "Tangled is basically a scene by scene remake of Beauty and the Beast." The only part of that movie that I could see a similar connection is Flynn being stabbed through the end of that particular scene.

I haven't abandoned this thread, I'll be back. I didn't mean it in a bad way though. BatB always seemed kinda dry to me, but Tangled fixed it all for me.

Works almost as a homage. Back with more tonight, but Belle feeling like an ousider while Rapunzel actually is an outsider locked in a tower! WOW! She will be mine/they only want you for themselves! Brilliant!

I'll break it down before bed.

 

[dweezil78]

I have to doubt this rumor still a little bit.

The park is getting major overhaul work already and is going to be Opening Transformers. A huge original E ticket. The park's numbers are also up this year. I don't think they are going to be adding an Avatar Attraction.

I've heard the same rumor as well. Does it really seem that surprising that Universal would want to update their James Cameron attraction with another James Cameron attraction? Terminator 3D, while great in its time, is definitely starting to show its age. (As much as I love it's suuuuuuuuuuper pre-show.) Meanwhile Avatar is synonymous with 3D so it would make sense to create a new 3D/4D attraction from that material in the space that currently holds one by the same creative mind(s).

Would not be surprised to hear about a new show coinciding with the release of the Avatar sequel one bit...

 

[Disneyfanatic!!]

Would not be surprised to hear about a new show coinciding with the release of the Avatar sequel one bit...

Sequels.

2013 and 2014 look like the best bets.

 

[JimboJones123]

Maybe tomorrow. Too tired.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Terminator 3D, while great in its time, is definitely starting to show its age.

There are plenty of attractions that take place in another time. I think a quick change to the script, to remind people that we are back in the mid-90s, would be all the attraction really needs to keep it from looking dated.

 

[hemloc]

Hate for James Cameron=Hate for Kmart or McDonalds. No one claims to shop/eat there, yet the parking lots are ALWAYS full!! :fork:

 

[dweezil78]

There are plenty of attractions that take place in another time. I think a quick change to the script, to remind people that we are back in the mid-90s, would be all the attraction really needs to keep it from looking dated.

Even with script changes, it's an old 3D show that came out on the heels of a 1991 movie. I'm a huuuge Terminator fan, but even I'd like to see something new play in those theaters already. Plus the franchise is so far removed from Ahnuld now too unfortunately. It's time to move on and up the WOW factor on what can be done in 4D experience. T-3D was groundbreaking in its combo of 3D, animatronics and live action -- I can only imagine what kind of crazy effects James Cameron and co. could come up with for an Avatar attraction.

On that note, Back to the Future is easily in my top 3 favorite flicks of all-time, but I'll be the first to admit that The Simpsons ride was a much needed and welcome re-do of that space. Fortunately Universal was cool enough to release both the ride show and pre-show on DVD/Blu-Ray as a bonus feature so we can experience the attraction (albeit without motion -- though it DOES support D-Box if you've got the $$$!) for generations to come... I'd imagine they would do the same in a future T2 release.

 

[flavious27]

The same park that has Cameron's Titanic ride.

 

[T-1MILLION]

On that note, Back to the Future is easily in my top 3 favorite flicks of all-time, but I'll be the first to admit that The Simpsons ride was a much needed and welcome re-do of that space. Fortunately Universal was cool enough to release both the ride show and pre-show on DVD/Blu-Ray as a bonus feature so we can experience the attraction (albeit without motion -- though it DOES support D-Box if you've got the $$$!) for generations to come... I'd imagine they would do the same in a future T2 release.

T23D would be a bit different. With much of the attraction being soley or combined live action it would not nearly have the same at home value.

As you may guess I enjoy the attraction. It may not be my favorite attraction ever but it is the best 3D attraction I know of. Animatronics, 3D, water, smells, fire and even paper shredding from targets above on top of great live action acting.

It gets a round of applause at the end of every show and tons of action figures are sold when the crowd leaves.

The attraction was recently refurbished. A restored print of the film came in as well as a new lighting package. As a bonus touch all the monitors in the queue were replaced with HD flat ones.


Universal just built Two E tickets. Not saying it is impossible, but I have my doubts they are going to rush to it. It is also not like it is a Universal picture. So like Universal did with WB they would have to cut a new deal with FOX. Avatar merch does not sell well. They may not see it worth their while right now.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

But that's the thing about film, the most original films are usually the best...it's not about the story necessarily, but how you execute it that distinguishes it. In the case of Avatar, it wasn't done well.

Well, "it wasn't done well" is of course your opinion...and in some aspects I agree with you.
The total immersive package was done VERY well...but the story was a little "recycled."

Rotten Tomatoes has it at an 83% approval rating.
IMDB has it at an 8.3/10 rating

It brought in $760.5M in the US and $2.7B worldwide.

It was "done well" to A LOT of people.

 

[muse1983]

If anything you might see some kind of 4d attraction for Avatar somewhere in Universal Hollywood...but who really wants to see an Avatar attraction anyways?

 

[aka_emilicious]

Fortunately Universal was cool enough to release both the ride show and pre-show on DVD/Blu-Ray as a bonus feature so we can experience the attraction (albeit without motion -- though it DOES support D-Box if you've got the $$$!) for generations to come... I'd imagine they would do the same in a future T2 release.

Great Scott! Its on the Blu-Ray Trilogy Release?!

This makes me extremely happy. I haven't had time to really go through the features yet.

 

[_Scar]

What are we STILL talking about an Avatar ride?? This is not a new conversation and I can't imagine WDW chasing this down.

Me neither.

 

[The Mom]

:lol:

Maybe I have to start grilling crow today, instead of waiting 5 years.

And, just so to keep all of the current discussion in one place ....