Avatar - A new Era of Cinema begins

plot-paris

I have a problem with these Motion Capture type movies because they never quite work and come off just looking creepy.

then you should really give Avatar a chance to convince you otherwise. this movie transports motion capture to a completely new level, seriously
in the past the technology has mainly been used to capture the body movements. facial capture was very rudimentary and basic, leaving a lot of work for digital artists to interpret the footage of the actor's performance to create the final image.
with the technology used for Avatar this is a completely different matter, for the actor's facial expressions have been translated almost one to one to the digital character (not for nothing the WETA guys spent almost a year with each character, fine tuning the rigs to the actors faces...).
I actually put Avatar to the test and forced my mother to watch it. she has always refused to watch any cg movie (because she doesn't want these "horrible computer monsters" in her head). but she did like Avatar (and cried a lot - an indicator that she forgot about the blue guys not being real...)

Chris Fullmer

I have to say David, I was VERY unimpressed by the trailers. I thought the rendering style was hideous, absolutely awful. But the movie feels nothing like the previews looked like. The movie felt very real.

I do think there is a long ways to go, and CG is only going to get better. But this was a huge step in the right direction, and worth seeing on the big screen.

Chris

solo

I agree, the trailers I saw were on my 42" LCD at home, regardless how crisp a football game looks in HD it still did not give the movie justice, going to the theatre and watching it in 3D was a completely different experience. I was impressed with the 'real 3D' glasses, I had no eye strain that I would normally get with the two color previous 3D movie concept, this was a pleasure.

pilou

In the other side : does it gratifiant for an actor to play in front of a green(or blue) plan background?
Or to know that the blue girl is a black people

[flash=425,344:3sgatdut]http://www.youtube.com/v/KcBuqUDLg7w&hl[/flash:3sgatdut]

david_h

@chris fullmer said:

I have to say David, I was VERY unimpressed by the trailers. I thought the rendering style was hideous, absolutely awful. But the movie feels nothing like the previews looked like. The movie felt very real
Chris

Well, I guess I am going to have to think about it, cuz just watching that little blurb above didn't give me a whole lot of confidence. . . and it wasn't really about the CG as much as the awful acting and clunky story. . . A bit heavy handed on the Holy Mother Planet thing. . . .

Ecuadorian

I agree that Avatar is motion capture finally done right.

However, I have a bad feeling about this other motion capture project...

@unknownuser said:

Robert Zemeckis will be directing a performance capture 3D adaptation of the 1968 film Yellow Submarine, which will include 16 licensed Beatles songs.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/09/11/disney-confirms-robert-zemeckis-3d-yellow-submarine/

Watching motion-captured blue aliens is one thing, as we don't have real blue aliens around as a point of reference, but... The Beatles?

david_h

This from the "Totally Unnecessary Remakes File". . . why don't they just digitally remake the Beatles--and let them go back on tour and re-do the Ed Sullivan Show and all that stuff. After all 2 are gone and Paul and Ringo are way past***"When I'm 64"***

solo

There are two good remakes to be released this year, firstly we have 'Clash of the Titans' which by the previews looks like a CG feast, definitely a must see.
Then from the guys that made 'Gladiator', will now be doing 'Robin Hood', and yes Russel Crowe is Robin Hood, I'm seriously looking forward to this, if it's anything as good a Gladiator it will be the big one this year.

david_h

I don't know about that one Pete. It's hard to think of anybody else but Kevin Costner in the Role.

Gaieus

Well, Gladiator also had some issues but yeah, I know I am a bit picky on this as it's my "profession" so to say...

BTW that initial scene and the death of Marcus Aurelius took place in "my province"

solo

@unknownuser said:

I don't know about that one Pete. It's hard to think of anybody else but Kevin Costner in the Role

I must admit he did play a good Robin Hood, and having Morgan Freeman in support was a bonus, not to mention the best Sheriff played by Alan Rickman (one of my fave obscure actors)
From what I see this one is more gritty, violent, Gladiator like, they have also done some serious research apparently, getting it historically correct(based on the time period and not the legend).

david_h

I was totally joking.. . .For me there's only one Robin Hood. . .Errol Flynn. 1938

Olivia de Haviland, Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone. CLASSIC!!!

errol flynn the adventures of robin hood 1.jpg

Marian

I think this is one is the best...

ahh Russel Crowe in tights.....what a gay thought

solo

Daniel

@marian said:

I think this is one is the best...

ahh Russel Crowe in tights.....what a gay thought

LOL....Robin Hood and his "merry" men running around in the woods .... surely someone has made a gay parody of this tale.

david_h

***We're men, we're men in tights.
We roam around the forest looking for fights.
We're men, we're men in tights.
We rob from the rich and give to the poor, that's right!
We may look like sissies, but watch what you say or else we'll put out your lights!
We're men, we're men in tights,
Always on guard defending the people's rights.

We're men, MANLY men, we're men in tights.
[Gay voice] Yes!
We roam around the forest looking for fights.
We're men, we're men in tights.
We rob from the rich and give to the poor, that's right!
We may look like pansies, but don't get us wrong or else we'll put out your lights.
We're men, we're men in tights
[High Voice] TIGHT Tights
Always on guard defending the people's rights.
When you're in a fix just call for the men in tights!

WE'RE BUTCH!***

david_h

I guess the thread really hasn't changed course because correct me if I am wrong. . .don't the tall naked Blue people in AVATAR shoot bows and arrows too?

Gaieus

Only arrows, Davit (withthe bows)

watkins

Solo,

Alan Rickman an obscure actor? Not in the UK!

A clip from the superb Truly, Madly, Deeply with Juliet Stevenson. Rickman plays a ghost.

Regards,
Bob

david_h

My children knew him as Professor Snape. But for me it is his Star making turn as the baddie Hans Gruber in DIE HARD. He stole the show from Bruce