# 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:** 35
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/682 "2010-01-14T17:04:42Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Were I an evil movie director, I’d be sorely tempted to make a movie where the shakeycam effect is applied to the _subtitles_. > > In Papyrus. Why not make it a scorching counter-indictment of Catholicism, with a font to match? You could call it _Hell Vatican_. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/683 "2010-01-14T18:44:44Z")
> [@Budista](#): > > I don’t feel the need to dissect to the nth degree something that made me feel happy, and this movie did exactly that. > > - Budista You should probably stay away from all the threads about Lord of the Rings on this board then. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/684 "2010-01-14T18:57:52Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I don’t get irrationally angry when I see the Papyrus font, like some people do, even if I do agree that it tends to be overused. > > The problem, IMO, with using it as a subtitle font is that it draws attention to itself. It’s too distinctive. If I see a subtitle and think to myself “Hey, that’s the Papyrus font,” then I’ve been momentarily pulled out of the movie. They later, after you are jerked out of the movie for the second time upon hearing the unnecessary use of the word ‘unobtanium’, you start to feel like it is time to get up and go get your money back. ---
**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 14, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/685 "2010-01-14T20:07:20Z")
People who want to walk out of movies because of a font and a word probably shouldn’t go to movies. The world of cinema is a minefield! But thanks for adding to the total! On the Domestic chart, Avatar’s now #4, behind **Star Wars**. It’ll pass Star Wars by the end of the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/686 "2010-01-14T20:25:28Z")
It’s also just broken into the Top 50 All-Time Adjusted, right behind _The Bells of St. Mary’s_. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/687 "2010-01-14T20:35:41Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > It’s also just broken into the Top 50 All-Time Adjusted, right behind _The Bells of St. Mary’s_. Are you looking at the figures [here](http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm)? Strange how _Avatar_ itself is already adjusted up 1.5%. Have we really inflated that much since it came out… 4 weeks ago? ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/688 "2010-01-14T20:41:44Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > They later, after you are jerked out of the movie for the second time upon hearing the unnecessary use of the word ‘unobtanium’, you start to feel like it is time to get up and go get your money back. The Papyrus font didn’t actually bother me, it’s just something I took notice of. The use of the term ‘unobtanium’ didn’t bother me in the least. I recognized it immediately as a term that has been used before in science fiction and in the real world jargon of science and engineering. I appreciated it as a nod to us science geeks. > [@Equipoise](#): > > People who want to walk out of movies because of a font and a word probably shouldn’t go to movies. The world of cinema is a minefield! > > But thanks for adding to the total! On the Domestic chart, Avatar’s now #4, behind **Star Wars**. It’ll pass Star Wars by the end of the weekend. For the record, I enjoyed the movie a lot and have seen it twice. I might go a third time this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/689 "2010-01-14T20:45:36Z")
Yeah, I didn’t care about the font or unobtainium, either. I really enjoyed it too, and I am also planning to see it on the big screens again. I think I’ll try regular 3-D this time, and see if my eyes have as big a problem with that as they did with IMAX 3-D. And I still think “Dances With Aliens” is the best description. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/690 "2010-01-14T20:49:13Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Are you looking at the figures [here](http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm)? Strange how _Avatar_ itself is already adjusted up 1.5%. Have we really inflated that much since it came out… 4 weeks ago? I’m assuming they’re taking an average for 2009 and applying the b.o. revenues in December to that figure and adjusting accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/691 "2010-01-14T21:50:27Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I don’t want to read 13 pages - did anyone call it “Dances With Aliens” yet? 🙂 > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > And I still think “Dances With Aliens” is the best description. 😃 And quoting myself from page 2 of this thread: > [@Tangent](#): > > The _Dances With Wolves_ comparison–while not inaccurate–has become something of an internet meme. I’ve read lots and lots of messageboard chatter about _Avatar_ over the last few weeks and everyone seems to think they are the first to make the _Dances With Wolves_ observation, even in threads where it’s already been mentioned dozens of times (I guess most people don’t read the threads they are posting in). Hell, South Park aired their “Dances With Smurfs” episode over a month ago. I just wish people who are complaining that the plot is unoriginal would come up with some criticism that is… more original. No offense meant here, **Cat Whisperer** –just sayin’ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/692 "2010-01-14T21:59:32Z")
I think I would have preferred if they had called it something other than “unobtainium”, since that did pull me out of the movie a bit. And I would also have preferred if they had said something, anything, about what makes the stuff so valuable, as that would have fleshed out the motivation of the humans a bit. Plus, of course, I’m assuming that it’s not coincidence that the village-tree is growing on a particularly rich seam of it, and would like to have had at least some acknowledgment of that (no, they can’t move to another giant tree that’s not sitting on an unobtainium mine, since giant trees only grow in unobtainium-rich soil, or whatever). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/693 "2010-01-14T22:29:22Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Are you looking at the figures [here](http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm)? Strange how _Avatar_ itself is already adjusted up 1.5%. Have we really inflated that much since it came out… 4 weeks ago? Well, that’s Obamanomics for you. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/694 "2010-01-14T23:39:30Z")
This is the first movie made for 2-eyed people that i’ve seen and I enjoyed it a lot. The flaws were dwarfed by the beauty of the movie, so why dwell on them? I saw it in a regular theater and I thought it was too dark though. 3D technology needs to improve substantially still. Overall, another masterpiece for James Cameron. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/695 "2010-01-15T06:11:56Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > And quoting myself from page 2 of this thread: > No offense meant here, **Cat Whisperer** –just sayin’ 😛 Great minds think alike? I don’t think we need a more original criticism if this one fits so perfectly (and I really think it does - a mild, good-natured criticism, mind you, since “Dances With Wolves” is still an awfully good movie). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MitzeKatze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MitzeKatze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MitzeKatze)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/696 "2010-01-15T07:26:24Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Great minds think alike? I don’t think we need a more original criticism if this one fits so perfectly (and I really think it does - a mild, good-natured criticism, mind you, since “Dances With Wolves” is still an awfully good movie). 🙂 I can totally understand the _Dances With Wolves_ comparison (and I liked _Dances With Wolves_) and I have not read this entire thread- sorry I just saw the movie a few hours ago and it is a lot to get through this late at night. 😉 So I do apologize if I am repeating anyone, but I cannot be the only one who watched _Avatar_ thinking, “Didn’t I see this back when it was called _Fern Gully_?” The visuals were stunning, and I would have loved to explore the world and its animals a bit more, but I found the story sad. So sad in fact, that I won’t be watching it again. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/697 "2010-01-15T15:24:33Z")
> [@MitzeKatze](#): > > but I cannot be the only one who watched _Avatar_ thinking, “Didn’t I see this back when it was called _Fern Gully_?” I never saw _Fern Gully_ myself, but others have [noted the similarities](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-SVpZrnF34). ---
**Author:** ![MitzeKatze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MitzeKatze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MitzeKatze)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/698 "2010-01-15T19:28:49Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I never saw _Fern Gully_ myself, but others have [noted the similarities](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-SVpZrnF34). That was perfect! I knew I couldn’t be the only one who thought so. 😉 I also agree with one of the comments that James Cameron just wanted to create a world he liked and didn’t care much for the story. But don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the movie, I just won’t be watching it again and I kind of don’t get all the hype. It was so very pretty and Pandora was an amazing place, but as far as an actual movie…meh…It was very good, but not all that special (outside of the visual effects). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/699 "2010-01-15T20:54:46Z")
I was prepared to put this movie in the same category as other groundbreaking effects movies with weak plots, like _Tron, The Last Starfighter, Final Fantasy, Sky Captain…_, but it looks _Avatar_ has made more money then all of them combined, several times over. I’m not sure why - it’s not a better movie then any of the above. ---
**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 15, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/700 "2010-01-15T20:59:39Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I was prepared to put this movie in the same category as other groundbreaking effects movies with weak plots, like _Tron, The Last Starfighter, Final Fantasy, Sky Captain…_, but it looks _Avatar_ has made more money then all of them combined, several times over. I’m not sure why - it’s not a better movie then any of the above. Not better than Final Fantasy? That movie was garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626/701 "2010-01-15T21:02:49Z")
Well, okay, I’ll give you that one. _Final Fantasy_ had a story so bad that it was actively irritating, while the others, including _Avatar_, are more “meh.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-now-that-youve-actually-seen-it-no-spoilers-in-op/521626.md?page=36)