# Avatar: Now that you've actually seen it. No spoilers in OP **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2009, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626 "2009-12-17T11:32:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 31
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/602 "2010-01-11T03:54:05Z")
I didn’t know he was a Scientologist. I just know he is like the acting equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard anytime I see him onscreen. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/603 "2010-01-11T04:07:26Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Jeez, you’d think this was Star Trek. 🙂 Actually… I think it’s going to be this generation’s Star Wars. It’s the same eye-popping step beyond the status quo of movies (particularly, sci-fi movies), mixed with exciting action. And, of course a familiar plot and familiar characters that don’t compete with the eye-popping and the action. Although I think Avatar’s dialog was a smidge better than Star Wars’. I think in ten years, there’ll be a generation that looks back to Avatar the same way that a generation looked back to the first Star Wars movie. (to be clear: the same way that _my_ generation looked back to Star Wars) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/604 "2010-01-11T04:29:28Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Actually… I think it’s going to be this generation’s Star Wars. Oh my, good point, well taken. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/605 "2010-01-11T04:46:38Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > So then why have you been constantly referring to him as “$cienoBoy” throughout this entire thread? It seems so childish. Because being born something doesn’t absolve one of continued ignorance. Plenty of Scieno kids grew up, woke up, and started learning about their parent’s cult and wisely distancing themselves from it. It’s harder if you’re born into it, plenty of kids have died trying, rather than being brainwashed into it at a later age, but it can be done. I have more sympathy for them but my scorn level is only slightly lowered. Using that name may be childish, but not as childish as believing in Xenu and not researching the cult as a grownup when you have the entire Internet at your disposal. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/606 "2010-01-11T04:51:34Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Because being born something doesn’t absolve one of continued ignorance. You could make the same argument about any religion, which would then apply to 90% (ish) of all celebrities. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/607 "2010-01-11T05:14:22Z")
Believing in a god and a devil is pretty ingrained into our society. Believing in space aliens isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/608 "2010-01-11T05:21:51Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Believing in a god and a devil is pretty ingrained into our society. Believing in space aliens isn’t. I fail to see a distinction, unless you yourself are religious? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/609 "2010-01-11T05:32:14Z")
Hardly. I put God, Xenu and Santa Claus all in the same box. What I mean is that we’ve had centuries to get used to believing in one deity, and so it seems more natural. I don’t think it’s unusual for someone to grow up without questioning the existence of god. I do think it’s weird to grow up without at some point questioning the existence of Xenu and the whole space alien saga of $cientology. Of course, the saga is kept hidden. Well, they TRY to keep it hidden, but in these days of the internet and South Park and MTV and so many other outlets making fun of the saga, it’s practically impossible to not be aware that the cult you grew up in has some pretty weird beliefs, even if you and your parents haven’t spent the money yet , ato find out what they are exactly. Research is easy and more people should do it. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/610 "2010-01-11T05:44:40Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I can’t stand Ribisi, and I don’t think it’s just because he’s a $cientologist. First, he’s a $cieno by birth and I always have sympathy for those poor unfortunate souls, and second, there are a lot of other $cientologist actors I really really like when they’re acting, like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. No, I think I dislike Ribisi because he’s just not a very good actor. IMO, of course. > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > So then why have you been constantly referring to him as “$cienoBoy” throughout this entire thread? It seems so childish. I’ve spent this entire thread trying to figure out who the !@#$ “$cienoBoy” is. Okay, I sorta figured out from the context that it was Mr. Executive, and my best guess was that the character either wasn’t named or nobody could remember the character’s name and so he was being called "cienoBoy". But I couldn't figure out how the !@# we arrived at that tag. TLDR: I’d assume the majority of us don’t keep up with what religion various B-List actors belong to. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/611 "2010-01-11T06:19:57Z")
[I thought this fit Homer’s criteria, and I laughed.](http://failblog.org/2010/01/10/avatar-plot-fail/) ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/612 "2010-01-11T15:53:44Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > I think that’s the way the character was written, but Ribisi is terrible at putting that across. (I really hate him as an actor. A better actor could have done something with that role.) I didn’t think he was terrible at putting that across. I thought he did just fine. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/613 "2010-01-11T15:55:00Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I can’t stand Ribisi, and I don’t think it’s just because he’s a $cientologist. First, he’s a $cieno by birth and I always have sympathy for those poor unfortunate souls, and second, there are a lot of other $cientologist actors I really really like when they’re acting, like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. No, I think I dislike Ribisi because he’s just not a very good actor. IMO, of course. The religious affiliation of an actor is a complete irrelevancy. This is just a gratuitous swipe at Scientology, a pointless non-sequitur. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/614 "2010-01-11T15:56:31Z")
Could you guys go start your own thread about Scientology? This thread is about Avatar. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/615 "2010-01-11T16:06:54Z")
I really hated it - saw it this weekend. And I am surprised at how many people loved it. I found the plot incredibly trite, all of the characters one-dimensional, and the main character was just a complete dumbshit and I never, ever, empathized with him. The world was pretty but there was so much that was just biologically ridiculous that I was pulled away from the plot time and time again. I really feel like I wasted my money and am sorry I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/616 "2010-01-11T16:18:39Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > **2001: A Space Odyssey** neither had “charismatic” leads and was only slightly shorter than Avatar at 2:21. **2001** was a very different sort of movie. It was intended to be a serious, “hard” science fiction movie. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/617 "2010-01-11T16:36:35Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > there was so much that was just biologically ridiculous Such as? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/618 "2010-01-11T16:43:14Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I really hated it - saw it this weekend. And I am surprised at how many people loved it. I found the plot incredibly trite, all of the characters one-dimensional, and the main character was just a complete dumbshit and I never, ever, empathized with him. You know, I saw this movie 3 weeks ago and this still summarizes my thoughts as well plenty of others. Which at this point, actually kind of makes me angry. Angry in the same way I felt about the Star Wars prequels. Cameron has absolutely everything at his disposal. A $400 million+ budget, competent actors, cutting edge f/x, a lush world/universe that has been created, dazzling visuals, etc. And even with all of this he completely fails to deliver a compelling story. It’s all such a waste. By the end of the movie you really don’t care one way or another who lives and who dies. All such a missed opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/619 "2010-01-11T16:47:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Such as? The main one that sticks out in my head is the spinning lighty thing. What a stupid way to travel around. I agree with you, Hampshire. I kept hoping random people would die - like every time one of those huge jet things took off, I was hoping something would explode and kill one of the ground crew. Just for shits and giggles. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/620 "2010-01-11T16:58:52Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Such as? Combining human DNA with alien DNA is one example. How does _that_ work? ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/621 "2010-01-11T17:20:24Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > You know, I saw this movie 3 weeks ago and this still summarizes my thoughts as well plenty of others. Which at this point, actually kind of makes me angry. Angry in the same way I felt about the Star Wars prequels. Wait. You felt it necessary to single out the Star Wars _prequels_ when complaining here? Star Wars _the original movie_ was stock characters and a retread plot through and through. It’s about a Magical Farmboy meeting up with a Rogue With A Heart Of Gold and an Old Wizard to go rescue a Princess who’s being held captive by an Evil Knight, for heaven’s sake. Even when I saw the first Star Wars movie, at the age of 10 I could tell right away that Luke and Han were going to rescue Leia, and that the Empire wouldn’t win and that the Rebel Base wouldn’t be destroyed. About the only surprise was that Obi-Wan died (it was some time before I read about the Hero’s Journey)… and same thing happened with Jake’s mentor Grace in Avatar. This sort of cardboard cutout characters and plot didn’t just suddenly show up in the Star Wars prequels. It’s been in Star Wars all along. And in Avatar, too – although the latter had a bit more nuance; Quaritch isn’t as over-the-top eeeevil as Darth Vader, and Grace wasn’t as all-knowing and wise as Obi-Wan. Still, with Avatar you get the alien princess in bikini from the _first_ movie. Obviously superior to the Star Wars oeuvre, QED. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626.md?page=32)