Walked out of "Avatar"

[mreilly]

This film wins the award for the only movie so dull that I walked out of it into a snowstorm (and in 38 years I’ve never walked out of a movie), for lack of something more interesting to do. "Boring" and "Pointless" are the only two words I have for this sorry excuse for entertainment. Here in Upstate NY there is no shortage of bad weather to contend with, and I found a 2 mile walk in the blizzard infinitely more interesting. Perhaps I just didn’t “get it,” but my wife who stayed behind in the theater didn’t seem to get it either, and she left too to pick me up after an hour or so in. Visiting with her 88 year old grandmother afterwards was a nice break in the monotony!

Don't mean to impugn those who liked it, but I thought it was a complete waste of time.

[kayakjohnny]

1. Thanks for your take on it.

I wondered weather it would also waste my time when I saw the extended trailer. And kept thinking something isn't right. Everything looks to concocted and contrived. Thought there was a cheesy Disney component in there too. With the blue critter people or whatever they were supposed to be. Thought the CG looked very average as well.

But did think the scenics were rather cool. The floating rainforest's or whatever they were.

Cheers!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Rabrrrrrr disagrees.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9186580

[walldude]

3. So do I... I thought the writing was a bit cheesy

I mean "unobtanium"? But I don't mind taking my brain out for awhile especially at the movies. I also didn't think it was "pointless" it actually had more of a message than I was expecting. I can see why the freeps hate it. I think Cameron could have used a bit less "sledgehammer to the head" with the lesson but I think he was kind of dumbing it down for the very people who deny global warming.


And the technology was simply amazing. Within 15 minutes I forgot it was 3D and was just sucked in to this beautiful other world. I had no complaints at all.

Just for reference sake, I had to sit through the Chipmunks movie the day before so anything in comparison would have been good. But I still thought Avatar was great.

[Godhumor]

4. Unobtanium is a real term and was used correctly

Pretty much means any ultra-rare material or even one that hasn't been discovered yet but can be planned for in some ways.

Also loved the movie. And, considering the weather we're having right now in Western/Upstate NY, I would sit through Showgirls in its entirety before taking a 2 mile walk outside.

[walldude]

25. Wow thanks for the info!

However the guy who named that shit needs to get a new gig.

[nickinSTL]

28. "unobtainium" was also some silly special metal

in the crappy movie "The Core".

I assumed they took it from there. Silly, but not invented for this movie.

[hedgehog]

5. Doesn't Upstate New York look more like this?

[GoneOffShore]

6. Have you seen

The Fantastic Mr. Fox?

Excellent film.

[JCMach1]

7. Completely disagree...

[MadBadger]

8. I know. Myself and the 450 people in the theater seemed to love it.

Round of applause after it ended.

[JCMach1]

9. And seriously if someone had trouble following the story, MEH?!?

Ummmm, that was the easy part.

[proteus_lives]

10. You did the right thing.

Avatar in five panels.

[phasma ex machina]

12. Oh noes, I has a date to see it tomorrow.

[JCMach1]

19. Don't listen to these guys!

Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

[Haole Girl]

11. You left your wife in the theater?

:crazy:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

13. Your opinion sounds like what mine would be if I saw it.

I thought The Dark Knight was a depressing pointless and violent and nihilistic waste of time, money, talent and film.

And by talent, I meant Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

I don't need to see pathologically ill murderers on screen. I saw real ones in my job at the courthouse in felony court. That was reality and I don't need the bad juju from the reality or the film.

[JCMach1]

20. I agree with you on Dark Knight- nothing good in that movie but Heath Ledger

Even with his great performance, it only made the film watchable for me... I didn't like it.


Avatar is a good movie from start to finish.

[Frank Cannon]

21. I'll third that opinion of Dark Knight

Bunch of bloody nonsense, if you ask me.

[rollin74]

14. I really like Avatar

I saw it for the 3rd time today.
It has been about 25 years since I've watched a movie in the theater more than once.

Honestly, I don't think I could be "bored" while watching that film if I tried.

Most folks I know who have seen it feel the same way I do.

[victoryparty]

15. Loved it! 3D that actually looks 3-dimensional!

And a great story. Awesome movie.

[kid a]

16. i've seen it three times

3d - 3d imax - 2d.

Needles to say - I loved it!

[undeterred]

17. You must not have seen "Battlefield Earth".

Universally walked out on.

[caitxrawks]

18. .

I quite liked it. Not everyone enjoys that kind of story. *shrug*

[EOTE]

22. I thought it was fantastic.

And I traveled in blizzard conditions in order to see it as well. Can I ask how long into the film you were when you walked out? I ask because I thought the first hour was a little slow. It did provide a great build up to the second and third acts, though. It's a rarity that I'll sit through a movie that long without fidgeting, I'm still suffering a bit with ADD, but Avatar kept me enthralled pretty much the entire time. If your wife left after an hour and you didn't even make it that far in, you really missed the best parts of the movie and the bulk of it as well. I don't think it's really fair to judge the film if you've only seen less than an hour of it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

23. So if the wife left at the 33% mark, and you walked two miles, you left at about the 5% mark.

No matter how awful the movie, I'd at least watch enough to be able to make an honest critique of it.

By your standard, Lawrence of Arabia is just a movie about some nameless guy riding his motorcycle. Star Wars is a pointless story about two electronic appliances that escape some kind of ship that's firing upon it, and we don't even know who the good guys or bad guys are or why we should care. Citizen Kane is just a fucking newsreel, and 2001 is a documentary about ape people.

[mnhtnbb]

24. I enjoyed Avatar, but --and I know I'll be flamed--I loved Titanic.

I still watch bits and pieces of Titanic whenever it's on TV and I doubt I'll ever see Avatar again.

[darkstar3]

26. There was only one part of Titanic

that would even qualify as memorable, and that was the resounding thump of a hand on a steamy window.

[JCMach1]

30. A movie snob and no fan of Cameron, I avoided Titanic for years

like the plague. However, I caught it on cable sometime around 2000. And shock, I thought it wasn't too bad...

[darkstar3]

27. I thought it was OK.

It was a fun ride while I was in the theater, and still willfully suspending my disbelief, but I won't be watching it again. James Cameron couldn't write a birthday card, but thanks to the fact that he chose strong source material to gank his movie from, it was at least halfway decent.

I certainly don't understand why anyone would love this film, but I don't think it was walk-out bad.

[elocs]

29. It doesn't matter if most people think a dish is the food of the gods

because someone is sure to say it tastes like dog shit. Such is life. I think Avatar is going to do just fine anyways.

[seabeyond]

31. sheeeit. lol. only movie hubby has wanted to see in two decades

(at theater)

i am afraid i will probably feel about the same as you. yawl arent very encouraging. the more i read on these many posts, the more i am looking forward to going.... not.

3 hours. i can do 3 hours. anyone can do three hours, though my boredom meter is pretty low and i dont do it well. i can do this.

i dont think i am going in with a good attitude.