Films that came then went

[hallicks]

Yeah it’s got to be Avatar, with the greatest respect to @HarmonicGenerator. Outside of the technological innovation of 3D @ 48fps, I just don’t find anything meaty or engrossing about it, it doesn’t really say anything clever (killing whales is bad amongst others), and I’ve seen an analysis of it that says that Jake Sully’s reincarnation as not only one of the aliens but the best alien is somewhat racist. It’s just not inspiring or endearing to me at all. However I must state that my taste in films is questionable so I’m sure I know nothing. HG - I have no convictions at all so please convince me otherwise! 

[Lorne Malvo]

1 hour ago, HarmonicGenerator said:

Triply for ones they probably hoped would be awards contenders and weren't, like Greyhound, or News Of The World, or something not starring Tom Hanks. 

I call these February films, as it seems over here all the big awards contenders are released in January and everything that didn't get the acclaim the studios wanted gets quietly snuck out in February, almost in a 'nothing to see here!' way.

I'd never even thought about Avatar in a racist context before but can absolutely see it, it's white saviour-esque. I'm sure that's not James Cameron's intention but just goes to show how clumsy the screenplay is.

I'm not sure how they were seen in the wider world, but Sin City and 300 were both massive in my school/college to the point people seemed to base their entire personalities around them. Although that may say more about my choice of mates than anything. 

I've just realised this thread is basically the film equivalent of sitting in the pub naming 90s footballers. 'Into The Wild! Remember him??'

Edited June 17 by Lorne Malvo

[seph]

4 hours ago, SuperBacon said:

Some 3D nonce will always turn up to defend the technology despite the fact that it has never once enhanced a film. I'm glad that fad sodded off pretty sharpish.

Dredd 3D.

The only film I can think of where it had an affect, but it was noticeable and great.

[HarmonicGenerator]

42 minutes ago, hallicks said:

Yeah it’s got to be Avatar, with the greatest respect to @HarmonicGenerator. Outside of the technological innovation of 3D @ 48fps, I just don’t find anything meaty or engrossing about it, it doesn’t really say anything clever (killing whales is bad amongst others), and I’ve seen an analysis of it that says that Jake Sully’s reincarnation as not only one of the aliens but the best alien is somewhat racist. It’s just not inspiring or endearing to me at all. However I must state that my taste in films is questionable so I’m sure I know nothing. HG - I have no convictions at all so please convince me otherwise! 

I definitely can’t claim I’m an arbiter of taste for liking them. I just find them great basic escapist adventures, which feel like dropping into another world. They’re quite sincere and uncomplicated (killing whales IS bad and we should be continually reminded of this until people stop doing it) and in a world where many blockbusters are either overly serious or overly quippy it’s quite refreshing. And Cameron can still stage a spectacular action set piece like nobody else, which is thrilling to watch.

They are problematic in various ways and I can totally understand not liking them. But when the evil colonist humans destroy the environment and the animals and the indigenous people and then the environment and the animals and the indigenous people get to fight back and kill the evil colonist humans … I do like to see it.

Team Payakan.

[Rockbus2]

Avatar was shite and the thought of watching the sequels makes me do a little sick in my mouth. That franchise is up there with Reform for things that people only like because the media have brainwashed them into thinking it's a good thing. 

[DavidB6937]

6 minutes ago, Rockbus2 said:

Avatar was shite and the thought of watching the sequels makes me do a little sick in my mouth. That franchise is up there with Reform for things that people only like because the media have brainwashed them into thinking it's a good thing. 

Or, you know, people actually just like different stuff..

[HarmonicGenerator]

So that’s why the last hour of Fire And Ash was just Sigourney Weaver barrelling the camera and saying “stop the boats” over and over. Makes so much more sense now!

[Devon Malcolm]

I watched Avatar a few years ago and thought it was Cameron playing the greatest hits (mostly from Aliens) and just being absolutely baffled how something so utterly mediocre and derivative had made so much money. The only way I'd watch the sequels is if someone paid me and even then I'd probably just read the plots on Wikipedia.

[Mr_Danger]

I fucking wish Avatar came and went. 

[wordsfromlee]

I saw Avatar at the cinema when it came out and enjoyed it as a big screen spectacle, but had no desire to ever watch it again. Especially not at home. I’m not sure why anyone would want to watch it on a living room TV. The movie is basically just an over the top version of those demo videos that they play on all the TVs in Curry’s, but for cinema screens. 

[HarmonicGenerator]

I'm just going to stay here on my little Pandoran island by myself with my tulkun and Na'vi friends.

I see you. I see all of you.

[westlondonmist]

16 hours ago, wordsfromlee said:

I think it might be a bit early to say for definite, but my shout is Barbie. 
 

I don’t know any whos seen it since the first week of it going to streaming. I’m not sure if I’ve heard anyone talk about it save for people saying “…like Barbenheimer” when talking about watching two movies back-to-back. 

It's actually a really good film, but I've never felt the need to rewatch it. I haven't heard people talk about that or Oppenheimer in quite a while but maybe that's just how the modern day is. Fast fashion that people talk about and then discard pretty much instantly.

[DavidB6937]

15 minutes ago, HarmonicGenerator said:

I'm just going to stay here on my little Pandoran island by myself with my tulkun and Na'vi friends.

I see you. I see all of you.

Avatar gets a pass simply for Pandora and Flight of Passage at Disney.

[SaitoRyo]

I saw Avatar once, around Christmas 09, in Pathe cinema in Amsterdam. We were stoned out of our minds (first time trying space cake) and saw it in 3D. You can tell me the film was three hours all you want, I swear it was over in about half an hour! 

Anyway, I thought it was shit then and would have absolutely no desire to watch it without being under the influence. 

The Artist is a great shout for this. I also saw that in the cinema, thought it was kind of cute, and then promptly forgot all about it. Looks like the rest of the world did too, despite the Oscar win and hype at the time.

[DavidB6937]

Most Oscar winning movies are made to win Oscars. I think that's the problem. There aren't many that feel like they're made with the intent of having a longer lasting legacy and impact in the movie world. It's just for that one success and then that's it. Plus it's rare that the way 'good' films are viewed by the public ties up with what the Oscars go for.