Is the AVATAR Footage Playing to Half Empty Theaters? - Page 3

You're correct.

It would be hilarious if lightning struck twice...

If the movie is fun and half-way decent people will eat it up. It's got nothing to compete with. Jesus Christ, both transformers, terrible films, made over $300 million.

You guys are nitpicking and overanalyzing this thing to death because you've heard it talked about and hyped up for years. Get outside of your own heads for a moment. Will the film be a "success" in terms of making its money back? I have no idea, but I'd be shocked if it is A) so terrible or B) so unable to connect with mainstream audiences that it doesn't pull in $200 million + domestic.

Transformers guys. Trans-fucking-formers.

Already met has very little to do with it. The vibe of the, "They didn't have to die," bit was that she didn't like him, then she switches to shy-ish cutie-pie mode, then she switches to kind of, "You're stupid," scolding. It's easy to see what Cameron wants us to feel about the tensions in the dynamic of their relationship but it's depicted in such a ham-fisted and immature way you not only can see the strings, you can smell the puppetmaster's ass.

Even given that, there's no excuse for undiluted cheese like, "You have a good heart." I'm a pretty hopelessly romantic, soft-centered motherfucker but that's just going too far into cliche-sappy-treacle territory and it's prodding at my gag reflex. Hasn't Pixar taught screenwriters that you can write for kids without going there?

But I'll say again, I wouldn't have been as disappointed by that bit if I hadn't liked so much of the rest of it.

Yeah, but bear in mind, noone had really seen anything of Titanic...just rumors and innuendo and all of that. This was somewhat before internet buzz, comiccons previews and all of that stuff were really big deals. When it finally came out, people fell in love with it.

The big difference here is that people have seen Avatar and have been totally underwhelmed. They may be liking what they're seeing, but it's not shattering their senses like Cameron and FOX want it to. Avatar is going to be wearing this underwhelming buzz around its neck like an albatross straight up until release time. I for one am not even remotely excited (I think the Navi are just fucking stupid looking, and the effects look like something from the StarWars prequels, and the story seems pretty boring) and I have yet to see a James Cameron film I haven't liked (even Titanic). So I hope im wrong here because I really, really want to like this.

I don't think I would fuck one of those blue things so I worry I won't connect with the love story.

You're from Finland. You are excited for Avatar. You think Americans are stupid. We get your predisposition for ignorant generalized stereotypes by now, why don't you actually discuss film without inserting your subtle bullshit nationalism.

Why? The guy is a Centi-millionaire (I read he pocketed a few Hundred Million for himself from Titanic gross and DVD profit sharing). I wouldn't worry about where James Cameron's next meal is coming from.

I question both of these statements. "Totally underwhelmed" seems like an exaggeration. It feels a lot like responding negatively to the hype has become a sort of fad. Fox and Cameron probably deserve that. But aside from that minority among geeks, most people seem to have enjoyed what they've seen so far.

The second...I'm not sure whether Cameron and Fox's senses-shattering expectations will need to be fulfilled for this film to be a success commercially or critically.

Ironically, I don't even want this to be some cinematic revolution. I just want a Terminator 2 sort of experience again. Didn't need 3D or paradigm-shifting for that.

The wailing and gnashing of teeth is speculative wankery. This film will do, at worst, mid 200s stateside, and absolutely smash it in the foreign take.

And for the record, trying to suggest that Beowulf's human characters 'didn't cut it' is silly. You cannot pin the success or failure of such an innovative movie on something like emotional engagement, but anyone who saw it (in 3D nonetheless) will tell you the primary characters stood firmly on quality ground.

I strongly suspect the vast majority of people who slag hate at that movie haven't even seen it.

What? That doesn't enter in to the conversation. Someone said that this could be the next The Fountain. Having seen The Fountain and having seen over fifteen minutes of footage from Avatar (plus most of Cameron's other films) I think it's fairly safe bet that the ambitiousness, originality and execution of The Fountain are world's better then what Avatar will be. No one said anything about one line plot synopsis.

Wow, some people around here read far more anger in to posts then is there.

I am well aware of the context of the character designs in Avatar. They don't work. The Na'vi are supposed to be so alien in appearance to humans that a human would stick out like a sore thumb so they need to use the Avatars*. None of those character designs are even remotely alien looking nor do they move in a an alien way.

*I'm well aware of the lack of oxygen on Pandora but that's kind of leads to a pretty awkward plot hole if you follow it.

No one's seen Avatar yet. They've seen 15 minutes. The geek community saw it at comicon and from what I've heard most people liked what they saw. And I'd argue if Fox had done the same thing with Titanic they'd get similar response (most people like what they see, some don't, the consensus is it's underwhelming).

The recent IMAX preview has gone over very well with "normal" people who've seen it. My screening went over very well and I've heard similar reports with others at their screenings. It's going to make alot of money...how much? I don't know, but it's not going to bomb.

Hmmm, I'm pretty sure this is supposed to be a love story? In that case I can see Cameron sacrificing going too hard with the design in order to avoid turning people's stomachs.

I can see District 9 used as an example...I don't imagine a love story using that extreme of an alien design would work very well. I can see being sympathetic to them, but being caught up in a passionate love story with two prawns? Hmmmm...

One could argue that there's a happy middle ground to be had...but Cameron seems to be erring on the side of caution.

It's sort of a love story/war epic.

I do agree that he erred on the side of caution much to the detriment of the stuff I've seen. The one thing I like about Cameron is the look of his films. They always look great and have a consistent visual style. So far, Avatar has been a bust in that way.

The big issue with the look of the Na'vi is that they aren't different enough looking or moving from humans in order to necessitate a huge undertaking like the Avatar Project.

I guess I don't know enough about the story to add anything...I don't even know what the Avatar project is.

Tony Shaloub made out with a Stan Winston squid monster in Galaxy Quest, and made it a warm, sweet, funny scene.

Unfortunately, Avatar doesn't have Tony Shaloub.

Incidentally, the Avatar trailer played in front of District 9 last night in my local theater (fantastic movie, by the way; loved it). Most of the audience was silent through the trailer, but I went with a female friend, and her and the few women around me audibly didn't care for what they saw of Avatar. A girl behind me whispered to her husband/boyfriend/male companion, "There's no way you're making me come see THAT."

Women control the world, my friends.

See, this has been what my thinking has been on comparisons between this and Titanic. This movie doesn't have Leonardo Dicaprio at the height of female lust frenzy for his being. Maybe the ladies would have liked Sam Worthington the same way, but they sure as shit ain't gonna feel that way about a cartoon. I'm not saying it won't be a hit, but the Titanic comparisons are flawed at best.

Yeah, the Titanic comparisons seem pretty misguided in all sorts of ways.

Went on Friday in Toronto and all four screenings were sold out. They even made everyone cram together to make sure everyone had a seat. I was at the first screening and it was a packed house. Enthusiastic applause at the end, and rightly so.

I was incredibly let down by the trailer but my friend and I were just stunned by what they showed at the screening. I had some issues with the 3D in general, especially with extreme foreground objects "flickering" a bit, but overall it was just amazing and I'm glad my enthusiasm was deflated by the trailer the day before.

Yeah, I had a kind of flickering, motion-blur effect when close objects moved laterally across screen quickly.

About the flickering... I was disappointed. Because in that e-mail interview he did with Variety, he talked about addressing the fact that the strobing/stuttering/flickering effect that we've gotten used to with 24 frames per second that only gets worse in 3D.

Avatar Day my ass. I went to the the theater to see Basterds yesterday and only then did I find out that the same theater was playing the preview on the 21st. There wasn't a single word anywhere about it. I mean I tried a while before to see if anything was going to happen through their broken ass website to no avail, but not a single word otherwise. And the season is dead news-wise. The news, I think, would have jumped on a chance to show something other than chicks in bikinis complaining about the price of coffee time after time. For an investment that huge FOX marketing sure doesn't seem to have the slightest idea how to sell it. The movie needs 600 million at least, you'd think that their marketing plan would have been the first thing they'd have figured out.

The website was fine after an initial delay.

The marketing has just started.

The trailer shattered single day views on apple.com (4 million versus 1.7 million)

Everyone is talking about it now, good or bad.

It seems to be selling itself.

Cameron had hoped to shoot the film at 48 frames per second and get the theaters to project the film at that same frame rate, virtually eliminating the flickering...but it seems they didn't wanna do it. So it's not really his fault.

I've asked some non-movie nerd friends to watch the trailer and let me know what they think. These are intelligent thoughtful people that go to the movies occasionally and they all (separately) have zero interest in the movie after seeing the trailer. Unfortunately for the movie; TRAILERS are all most people are going to see.

I suspect the only way this movie is a smash is by word of mouth and word of mouth alone. Geeks (the only people even talking about this movie right now) need to scream from the mountain tops that the 3-D makes the movie. If you're curious how much money great word of mouth from the geek public gets you, take a look at the District 9 numbers. Awesome for a $30m movie... Sure, Avatar will be marketed larger and will probably pull in more than D9 but I wouldn't be shocked if it kind of bombs.

I personally don't like the look and generally dislike 3-D. I think its distracting and adds phony looking depth but I'll save that for a 3-D forum I guess. So yeah, I'm not the target audience for this one.

They're in the minority.

You seem to think so at least.

Look. I'm an easy sell for this. For fuck's sake I even skipped a school exam and brought down my grade average just so I could get to the T2 avant premiere. My parents finding this out made for a fun few days. I'm online almost daily. I'm showing the teaser trailer to anyone that will watch. If even I'm missing important stuff about this, how in the world can you say that the marketing works?

Why wouldn't I? Record breaking trailer views, constant buzz (good or bad, it sells a movie). I'm not making this shit up.

We are 4 months out and this Movie is already getting way more attention than transformers had a month before release. Good or bad but this movie Will at least Open very big. People want to see what all the talk is about. I also have a feeling they'll listen to all the teaser critique and release a proper trailer showcasing some more stuff. I can't even imagine the buzz a few week from release

Is this true? Is there any real talk amongst people that aren't on these boards/sites? I don't have any TV channels or anything so I have no idea what Access Hollywood is pushing but among people I know, they are pretty unfamiliar with the whole Avatar thing.

Has anyone else noticed this among those "normal" people out there? I'm really curious how all of this is playing to people that don't keep track of release dates and weekend grosses.

If Avatar Days goal was to get media attention for the film..and I think it was..Huge Crowds at the theaters showing the footage attracting TV News Cameras etc..then it was a bust. Even the Entertainment shows did not headline it.
Fanboys can live in their little fantasy world, but fact is Fox is going to have to really step up the marketing for Avatar, and realzing that the trailer was more or less a bust with the general public is a starter.
The idea this will "Sell Itself" is mistaken.
If anything, the popular opinion of the film is the trailer failed to come anywhere near what Cameron's hyperbolic statements were promising.
Fox should stop the "This Will Change The Way Films Are Made" crap and start selling it as a sci fi action film..and now even that will be an uphill battle with a trailer that a lot of people found unwhelming.
And the rumored 3 hour plus running time also might createa problem.

Was this posted from an alternate dimension? I have yet to see anybody in real life go, "Hey did you see that Avatar trailer?". The only comment I've heard outside of the internet, was when they played the Avatar the last Airbender film and somebody seemed to have confused Cameron's Avatar with the cartoon Avatar movie.

You guys are talking about how the fact there were not record breaking lines and news coverage for a trailer is a little off the wall. There is no precident for a trailer released all by itself. Gas prices are up, why would people go out just to see a trailer? I would say this, HAD there been record breaking (when in fact this has never been done before so there is no record. in fact, avatar has the record for the most people ever to show up at a movie theater for just a trailer!! yay!) lines, that would say something about the box office potential of this film to be a blockbuster. the fact that there were not jam packed theaters however i think does not necessarly speak to it being LESS likely the film is a hit.

there is no precedent for this trailer nonsense. i've been more hyperbolic than anyone about avatar and how it will change the world, but i'll tell you straight up, i'd never go to just a trailer no matter the film.

I'm strictly speaking about press reactions and media attention. If things continue like this just until we are 3 weeks from release, everyone will know about this thing. People worrying about lack of awareness 4 months out need to relax. Of course, if this teaser is the only bit we get then they are fucked but we all know they'll begin the bombardment at some point.

I was referring to your comment about transformers, 4 months before release, I don't agree at all that this movie has more "buzz" or "awareness" than the first Transformers movie.

Not even close.

Millions of people bought full-price movie tickets just to see a trailer in 1999.

Man, you just reminded me that I had to put up with Wing Commander just to watch that trailer. I had totally forgotten about that movie.

there will never be another situation like the third star wars sequel
1) it was a cultural event that was one of a kind, the film played for months and was viewed as virtually a perfect film by the public, becoming an iconic part of the pop culture landscape

2) this was 16 years after the last film, long after most had given up hope of a new film.i can only compare this to michael jackson rising from the dead 15 years from now and moonwalking into a theater near you.

3) the people who grew up on star wars were old enough to have kids and famiies of their own. they wanted to replicate the experience in their offspring and brought them along


AND LAST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY


even if wing comander sucked, you did not know that going in. you were paying a full price ticket for the trailer of the decade, AND a free science fiction film (a film that would appeal EXACTLY to the target audience who had interest in the trailer anyway).

the avatar thing was 16 minutes and they kick you out of the theater

the avatar day thing was in the middle of the worst recession since the great depression, with gas prices 3 times what they were in 1999, and people worrying about their jobs etc, while also being able to find entertainment and indeed the footage itself on the internet at home

when the actual 2.5 hr film comes out, along with the 3d that can not be viewed at home, you will see actual crowds.

You're contradicting yourself;

So it has happened before, of course it was a different situation, but you said a couple of times it has never happened.

And everybody knew Wing Commander sucked before going in.

I have to agree with you here. Not a SINGLE one of my friends knew about this movie until I asked them about it and they decided to look it up. Most of my friends didn't even know Cameron was still alive.

Not to be a dick... but that's possibly the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard.

Please, for the love of all things sacred, don't speak The Fountain's name in the presence of this monstrosity. Thanks.

Carry on.

Since Wing Commander only made $11million total, and just 5 on it's opening weekend, it's pretty obvious the prospect of a StarWars trailer didn't move anyone to go see it.

i did not bring up the star wars episode 1 paralell, someone else did. i thought of it early on but did not mention it because i did not think it was important

there has never been a trailer released just by itself. its never happened before

some people said star wars was similar, so i was debunking that.

EDIT: i'm out. cant type any more words about a trailer i have not seen and do not care about. time for the rachel maddow show.

Most of them had already hurdled into theaters to see the teaser trailer attached to MEET JOE BLACK a few months earlier. The teaser trailer, being the first footage seen from a new Star Wars film in 16 years, was a bigger draw I'd imagine than the second trailer. Of course, having said that, you're still only going to get the biggest and most die hard fans to pay full price for a film just to see the trailer on the big screen. So MEET JOE BLACK didn't set box office records its opening weekend either, but fans buying tickets for it to see the trailer and then leaving was certainly making the rounds in the news at the time.

Thats fair. Since the movie is 10 years old and I truly don't remember what the marketing was like back then, I really don't know what the pre-buzz or conceptions were like or what the marketing was like other than "IT'S A NEW FUCKING STAR-WARS MOVIE!!!". All I remember is walking out of the theater about half way through the actual movie and playing video-games in the arcade until the movie ended and my friends left the theater and I went to bar to hang with my good ole' friend Jack Daniels.

All I remember is the endless news stories about the first teaser, as well as a personal anecdote: a 30 year old single mother carting three young kids into Meet Joe Black, confirming (twice) with the ticket taker that the Star Wars preview would be in front of the film.

Rabid fans or not, Jim Cameron ain't swinging that kind of fan base. I know its unfair to compare this to Star Wars, etc. But he shot himself in the foot with his ramblings about this film being unlike anything we've seen before. Outside of a Warhammer Online intro movie.

I'd forgive any hyperbole about the look of the film if the story was more than cliche dribble.

Didn't the first trailer for the first Burton Batman film get a lot of buzz and people going to see the whatever movie only to watch the trailer and then walking out?

Female friend: did you see that preview thing?
Female friend: of avatar
Me: Yeah I did. 3D was pretty awesome. Buncha random scenes largely out of context though, so it was tough to say if the story will suck or not.
Me: Total eye candy though.
Female friend: well ive never watched the show
Me: This isn't The Last Airbender. That's M Night ShammaLamma.
Female friend: wait what did you go see
Me: TRAILER LINK
Female friend: OHHH ok haha
Female friend: i was like
Female friend: why the fuck would i wanna see the shaymalan thing?
Female friend: anyway - no thanks on the blue cats

Basically what everyone's been saying for the past three pages.

Actually I`m not that excited. I`m just fed up with Devins "journalism", where he bashes movies he has not seen. Btw, he made a piece about "half empty" theathers showing trailer, what about this, did he report this ( just to cover both sides, no...) http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/149...s-record-debut