Avatar

[bush_cheney2004]

wiki as a source, please.... estimates are on sales of video's, screenings and such...the original producers never likely made much because it's been pirated and resold countless times many pockets shared the profits and still do...

Sorry, that still doesn't get you anywhere near $1 billion USD. Pirated copies don't make much either...not even in China.

I liked Debbie does Dallas too ... I never did see Deep Throat

Deep Throat tried too hard to actually have a plot, but it did break ground for mass audience appeal with a female sexuality theme.

[DrGreenthumb]

My link

needs 8 awards to knock off dances with wolves, which IMO is a similar movie.

Financially, it has a long road ahead to generate the rate of return dances with wolves had.

The dark knight had a far better story.

The dark knight? Please, that movie was lame, and way boring. The best batman movie was the first one with Michael Keaton. Dances with wolves was pretty good, but not even in the same league with Avatar. I wouldn't waste my time watching Dances with Wolves again. The merchandising alone will make this movie more profitable than wolves. I doubt dances with wolves will spawn any sequels that will also make shitloads of money either.

As for Acadamy Awards, didn't The Piano win best picture one year? Awards are meaningless as far as I'm concerned. If The Piano can win an award all it proves is that the people handing out the awards are friggin morons.

edited to add: Seriously, the Dark Knight? I've tried to watch that movie like 3 times, and havn't been able to get through it without falling asleep. Is it really worth another try? I bought the DVD so i could give it another go I guess. Maybe it had to be seen on the big screen to be appreciated but damn I have a 54" and 5.1 surround.

Edited January 5, 2010 by DrGreenthumb

[wyly]

The dark knight? Please, that movie was lame, and way boring. The best batman movie was the first one with Michael Keaton. Dances with wolves was pretty good, but not even in the same league with Avatar. I wouldn't waste my time watching Dances with Wolves again. The merchandising alone will make this movie more profitable than wolves. I doubt dances with wolves will spawn any sequels that will also make shitloads of money either.

As for Acadamy Awards, didn't The Piano win best picture one year? Awards are meaningless as far as I'm concerned. If The Piano can win an award all it proves is that the people handing out the awards are friggin morons.

edited to add: Seriously, the Dark Knight? I've tried to watch that movie like 3 times, and havn't been able to get through it without falling asleep. Is it really worth another try? I bought the DVD so i could give it another go I guess. Maybe it had to be seen on the big screen to be appreciated but damn I have a 54" and 5.1 surround.

depends on what criteria the award is given for...unless you're in the professional movie business what would you about what makes a "Best Picture"? it's not based on box office sales...

there is a lot of politicing by studios for awards but those in the business still know more than the public...

Edited January 5, 2010 by wyly

[kimmy]

Would you care to bet that Avatar beats the Dark Knight in box office ?

Yes, that could happen sometime...

Rank Title Studio Worldwide Domestic / % Overseas / % Year^

1 Titanic Par. $1,842.9 $600.8 32.6% $1,242.1 67.4% 1997

2 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King NL $1,119.1 $377.0 33.7% $742.1 66.3% 2003

3 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest BV $1,066.2 $423.3 39.7% $642.9 60.3% 2006

4 Avatar Fox $1,025.4 $352.1 34.3% $673.3 65.7% 2009

5 The Dark Knight WB $1,001.9 $533.3 53.2% $468.6 46.8% 2008

...sometime last weekend.

FWIW, I also thought The Dark Knight was pretty blah, with its only highlight being The Joker (both in concept and in Ledger's performance.) Many would likewise say Avatar was pretty blah, with its only highlight being the fantastic visuals.

-k

[Moonlight Graham]

Finally went a/*nd saw this flick on Sunday. Wouldn't have gone if i didn't get to see it in 3D IMAX, which i did. Visually, the movie is certainly stunning from a technical and special f/x point of view. In 3D the movie is pretty awesome to watch.

Storywise, it's very very predictable. This is no Terminator 2 for James Cameron, that's for sure. If i were a 10 year-old boy again, i'd probably go nuts over this film. But the simplistic plot has been done before a dozen times, and much better. It's basically Dances With Wolves in CG as others have also compared it, but Dances With Wolves (one of my fav all-time films) does it much better and in much more subtle ways story-wise. And what's with the fight at the end vs that army prick in the mech suit? Didn't Cameron already do the exact same scene at the end of "Aliens"?

The story also incorporates an angle of anti-U.S. foreign policy, which comes off lame. Terms like "terrorism", "shock and awe", and "preemptive strike" are used to yawn-inducing effect.

3 out of 5 stars, not bad not great.

[wyly]

Yes, that could happen sometime...

...sometime last weekend.

FWIW, I also thought The Dark Knight was pretty blah, with its only highlight being The Joker (both in concept and in Ledger's performance.) Many would likewise say Avatar was pretty blah, with its only highlight being the fantastic visuals.

-k

it depends on personal taste and hype...Dark Knight, I heard all the hype and expected more than what was delivered, an okay movie but nothing great IMO, but that's just me....Avatar- I went in expecting something more like a cartoon so I had low expectations I was delighted that it delivered much more than I anticipated, but I'm a sci/fi fan as well so that helped too....

[wyly]

Storywise, it's very very predictable. This is no Terminator 2 for James Cameron, that's for sure. If i were a 10 year-old boy again, i'd probably go nuts over this film. But the simplistic plot has been done before a dozen times, and much better. It's basically Dances With Wolves in CG as others have also compared it, but Dances With Wolves (one of my fav all-time films) does it much better and in much more subtle ways story-wise.

it's the same story line used in countless movies...

And what's with the fight at the end vs that army prick in the mech suit? Didn't Cameron already do the exact same scene at the end of "Aliens"?

standard formula in action movies...the hero must always kick the crap out of the head bad guy...it wouldn't do for the bad guy getting killed by a minion, ultimate good must defeat ultimate evil...and it's always the last battle in any movie...

The story also incorporates an angle of anti-U.S. foreign policy, which comes off lame. Terms like "terrorism", "shock and awe", and "preemptive strike" are used to yawn-inducing effect.

3 out of 5 stars, not bad not great.

it's anti imperialism in general, the story was conceived before the gulf wars, it was just updated with familar jargon...

[blueblood]

Yes, that could happen sometime...

...sometime last weekend.

FWIW, I also thought The Dark Knight was pretty blah, with its only highlight being The Joker (both in concept and in Ledger's performance.) Many would likewise say Avatar was pretty blah, with its only highlight being the fantastic visuals.

-k

I take it you aren't into westerns. There hasn't been a good western made in 16 years (Tombstone and Unforgiven). The Dark Knight is as close as it gets.

As far as stuff goes, all movies are blah compared to Lost. That's solid gold. Unfortunately that "movie" would be well over 100 hours and the DVD set will fetch a pretty penny.

[Moonlight Graham]

standard formula in action movies...the hero must always kick the crap out of the head bad guy...it wouldn't do for the bad guy getting killed by a minion, ultimate good must defeat ultimate evil...and it's always the last battle in any movie...

No, i mean the actual mech battle is extremely similar to Aliens, as director James Cameron also used a similar mech in the final big battle: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z4-I2c8peEQ/RdHKlwoAu_I/AAAAAAAABGA/PGGYJgxwrS4/s400/aliens01.jpg

[Moonlight Graham]

it's the same story line used in countless movies...

No, no. Have you seen Dances with Wolves? It's the EXACT same plot.

[wyly]

I take it you aren't into westerns. There hasn't been a good western made in 16 years (Tombstone and Unforgiven). The Dark Knight is as close as it gets.

As far as stuff goes, all movies are blah compared to Lost. That's solid gold. Unfortunately that "movie" would be well over 100 hours and the DVD set will fetch a pretty penny.

Lost the TV program?..convoluted crap the writers admitted they had no idea where it was going or how it was going to end...but you and my wife like it... Edited January 5, 2010 by wyly

[wyly]

No, no. Have you seen Dances with Wolves? It's the EXACT same plot.

ya it's been done many times, it's a standard story line...the plot isn't orginal the only thing that changes is the setting...and in Dances with Wolves the natives/savages lost so the it's not exactly the same the ending is complete opposite... Edited January 5, 2010 by wyly

[wyly]

No, i mean the actual mech battle is extremely similar to Aliens, as director James Cameron also used a similar mech in the final big battle: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z4-I2c8peEQ/RdHKlwoAu_I/AAAAAAAABGA/PGGYJgxwrS4/s400/aliens01.jpg

and I saw another sci fi movie last week that did the same, don't know the name of it... I turned it off as it was crap... then there was the Deep or was it the Abyss that had both sides use robotic subs to battle it out...

it's really hard for movies to come up with a completely new concept...most movies are just retold over and over in different formats...

[bush_cheney2004]

...it's really hard for movies to come up with a completely new concept...most movies are just retold over and over in different formats...

Yea, that's why porn is so popular....same basic concept!

[wyly]

Yea, that's why porn is so popular....same basic concept!

and always the same happy ending too!...why mess with a good formula...

[DrGreenthumb]

I take it you aren't into westerns. There hasn't been a good western made in 16 years (Tombstone and Unforgiven). The Dark Knight is as close as it gets.

As far as stuff goes, all movies are blah compared to Lost. That's solid gold. Unfortunately that "movie" would be well over 100 hours and the DVD set will fetch a pretty penny.

I love Tombstone. I've seen it probably a few dozen times. It is one of the greatest movies to watch after a few bonghits. I'LL BE YOUR HUCKLEBERRY.. CLASSIC! Val Kilmer's best role EVER! Unforgiven was ok too but Tombstone makes my top 5 list.

[GostHacked]

The dark knight? Please, that movie was lame, and way boring. The best batman movie was the first one with Michael Keaton. Dances with wolves was pretty good, but not even in the same league with Avatar. I wouldn't waste my time watching Dances with Wolves again. The merchandising alone will make this movie more profitable than wolves. I doubt dances with wolves will spawn any sequels that will also make shitloads of money either.

I really loved the first Batman with Keaton. But the Dark Knight is a different take on the Batman universe. To me Dark Knight was mindblowingly awesome. Ledger really nailed the role of the Joker. This one was more serious and dark compared to Keaton's Batman which was campy.

[Black Dog]

I think Avatar will be a dud. 3-D just doesn't work. CGI is in its infancy. Cameron must admit that the secret to commercial success is a technically stunning chick flick - with emphasis on chick flick. It has to seem real. With this recent Cameron effort, I see another Michael Cimino disaster in the making.

Avatar is long and boring. No one will pay to see it a second time. It's not a rental. And it's not a DVD buy. Twentieth Century Fox will get its money now, and that's all. IOW, it's the 2009 version of 1963's Cleopatra.

The movie business, like airlines and hotels, is all about butts in seats. Where the movie business differs is that it must choose what product to promote.

Avatar's promotion took the place of other movies, that possibly could have put more butts in seats - and generated more post-cinema revenue.

:lol: No offence August, but your prognostications on this and indeed, most things pop-culture, are generally pretty off the mark. Stick to politics, mate.

Edited January 5, 2010 by Black Dog

[Michael Hardner]

As for Acadamy Awards, didn't The Piano win best picture one year?

Dr. G - while I loved The Piano for its great acting and setting, it didn't win best picture for 1993, Schindler's List won.

[DrGreenthumb]

Dr. G - while I loved The Piano for its great acting and setting, it didn't win best picture for 1993, Schindler's List won.

The piano should never have won any awards for anything unless there was a "most boring piece of artsy crap" category

[August1991]

:lol: No offence August, but your prognostications on this and indeed, most things pop-culture, are generally pretty off the mark. Stick to politics, mate.

Alot of my predictions on politics are wrong too. But where is the fun in posting on an Internet forum unless one makes controversial declarations.

I have hedged my comments on Avatar and I must admit that it has done better than I thought it would but I still think that it's no Titanic. Its plot and characters are razor thin. It only has some fancy CGI that is a process still in its infancy. The 3D thing is an old gimmick of Hollywood.

A movie like The Matrix (that also had fancy CGI) had a confusing plot so people went back to figure it out (and see the effects again on the big screen). Avatar doesn't have such a draw. (BTW, I didn't like The Matrix in part because its basic premise was fundamentally flawed.)

Avatar has a lot of hype and I think it was a really smart move to raise the ticket prices. From Hollywood's perspective, every screen and promotion dollar devoted to Avatar means less available for another vehicle. I wonder how the number crunchers are assessing the Avatar bang for the buck.

Edited January 6, 2010 by August1991

[Shwa]

Saw it for the second time last night, this time we took the younger kids. They were blown away. My oldest in BC informed me that he saw it a second time as well. The theatre was at 80% capacity and again, when the picture was over, people clapped. All this on a snowy Tuesday night. I did notice more older people in the theatre last night though. Could be that those who were waiting for the crowds to diminish were starting to come out to see what all the fuss is about.

[Michael Hardner]

The piano should never have won any awards for anything unless there was a "most boring piece of artsy crap" category

Peoples' tastes are funny sometimes. It happens occasionally that a critical favourite, loved by many, arrives and I... don't care for it. Renowned critic Gene Siskel never really liked 'Apocalypse Now'.

[Michael Hardner]

I have hedged my comments on Avatar and I must admit that it has done better than I thought it would but I still think that it's no Titanic. Its plot and characters are razor thin. It only has some fancy CGI that is a process still in its infancy.

Thin plot and characters ? Newish CGI ? That sounds EXACTLY like Titanic.

I didn't think much of that one.

[kimmy]

Alot of my predictions on politics are wrong too. But where is the fun in posting on an Internet forum unless one makes controversial declarations.

Indeed. Your prediction may have been epically wrong, but it's given us a lot to talk about.

I have hedged my comments on Avatar and I must admit that it has done better than I thought it would but I still think that it's no Titanic. Its plot and characters are razor thin. It only has some fancy CGI that is a process still in its infancy. The 3D thing is an old gimmick of Hollywood.

Well, I doubt anybody went to see this because they were expecting Tolstoy. They delivered what they promised.

A movie like The Matrix (that also had fancy CGI) had a confusing plot so people went back to figure it out (and see the effects again on the big screen). Avatar doesn't have such a draw. (BTW, I didn't like The Matrix in part because its basic premise was fundamentally flawed.)

The Matrix' big special effect breakthrough wasn't CGI (which was hardly revolutionary by the time the Matrix came out) but rather the "bullet time" photography and innovative combat sequences.

Yes, one would think that machines would be smart enough to figure out that their method of generating electricity was incredibly inefficient.

Avatar has a lot of hype and I think it was a really smart move to raise the ticket prices.

I'm not sure that they raised prices. I paid $12 including the special glasses. I believe the only raise in prices for this movie was a $3 surcharge for the glasses. The other movies at the theatre had the same pricing; the 2d version of Avatar was the same price as other movies, the 3d version was $3 more. I was actually expecting to pay $12 + 3 for the glasses.

From Hollywood's perspective, every screen and promotion dollar devoted to Avatar means less available for another vehicle. I wonder how the number crunchers are assessing the Avatar bang for the buck.

...taking screens away from all the other billion-dollar blockbusters the theatres have in the pipeline?

Even taking the most astonishing cost estimates, Avatar has already earned double that, before a cent of home video or merchandise is counted. And is still going strong. The studio itself has to be very pleased with it.

The theatre operators must be very happy as well, because they didn't pay the production costs, and receive the benefit of a steady stream of popcorn-buying traffic. Most theatres are now multiplexes, and most of them are showing at least a couple of movies that aren't drawing much in any given week; these movies are the ones that will be taken off the marquee and have their screen given to a new film that might or might not draw better. There'll reach a point when Avatar too isn't drawing and gives up its screen, but we're not at that

Avatar isn't taking a screen from the next blockbuster. Avatar is taking a screen from a romantic comedy aimed at women aged 45+ and does niche business appealing to an audience that doesn't get out to theatres in great numbers normally.

-k