Avatar (Cameron, 2009)

[ak]

Jim Cameron is not a great director. He's not a great writer. Such opinions are debatable, but what everyone can agree on is that he's a great showman.

After years of scuba diving and Titanic fetishing, Cameron is finally bound by Fox's legal contract to make a real, narrative fiction film. It's called "Avatar" and it comes out in 2009. He's promising a groundbreaking; using names like "2001" and "Star Wars." I believe him, the man got skills. I just hope its not in fooking 3-D, thank you very much.

James Cameron is to make new movie Avatar, his first film since 1997's Oscar-winning blockbuster Titanic. Fox Filmed Entertainment has confirmed Cameron is to start virtual photography on the sci-fi epic in April, followed by live-action work in August, ahead of a summer 2009 release. Cameron has also written the screenplay for the movie, which tells the story of a wounded marine who is sent to the faraway planet of Pandora against his wishes, and finds himself caught up in a battle of survival with the planet's inhabitants. The 52-year-old has spent years researching and developing the new filming techniques needed to create the movie's $190 million hybrid of action and animation, and he claims he's been "the busiest unemployed director in Hollywood." He vows, "We're going to blow you to the back wall of the theatre in a way you haven't seen for a long time. My goal is to rekindle those amazing mystical moments my generation felt when we first saw 2001: A Space Odyssey or the next generation's Star Wars. It took me 10 years to find something hard enough to be interesting."

[madali]

"The next generation's Star Wars" was "Lord of the Ring", so he cant do that one.

[ak]

I like how when anyone wants to try a challenging new technology or narrative technique, they use "2001" as a reference. In my opinion, no film since "2001" has quite stretched the boundaries of filmmaking. Well, may be, except "Howard the Duck."

[shariqq]

I just hope its not in fooking 3-D, thank you very much.

I quite distinctly remember reading that this project will indeed be in 3D - latesht. Lemme see if I can dig that outta somewhere.

[shariqq]

This movie will be a blend of live action and photorealistic CGI "image-based performance capture techniques" (actors on the set whose performances are then turned into CGI aliens, ala Gollum in "Lord of the Rings"), all filmed in, and presented in, digital 3D. Other key technologies being used are concurrent twin digital cameras to create the sensation of depth perception necessary for true 3D, and camera sensors on each actors so that the director can see their perspective during filming. 20th Century Fox predicts, in its press release, that by the time of its 2009 release, digital 3D theaters will be widespread. All the SFX will be handled by WETA Digital.

[shariqq]

Sexy Premise!

Set in the 23rd century, this is the story of how paralyzed ex-marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) finds himself recruited in an effort to colonize and exploit the natural resources of an exotic jungle planet rich in bio-diversity (AKA lots of neat monsters and critters), taking control of an "avatar" of a 10-foot-tall blue-skinned alien belonging to the planet's predominant indigenous race, the Na'vi. When he falls in love with one of the Na'vi (Zoe Saldana), however, Jake throws himself over to the side of the Na'vi, leading them in a revolt against the other humans, in a giant clash between the Na'vi and Human armies.

[ak]

I hope digital 3D theatres means we won't have to wear those goofy glasses.

[kaytee]

James Cameron and M Night Shyamalan might soon be fighting it out over the title Avatar.
 
For just as Cameron  -- preparing to return to the big screen with a science fiction feature film ten years following 1997s global blockbuster Titanic -- announced his film, Paramount Pictures, the new home of Shyamalan lost no time declaring its own Avatar. The fight is over the title, say trade publications, since the storylines are vastly different. 
 
Despite the title, Cameron's Avatar has nothing to do with India. For that matter, neither does Shyamalan's, but at least it's expected to have, if he follows the Nickelodeon series for kids that are the basis of the film, some Asian influence by way of martial arts and spiritual elements.
 
The Cameron film for 20th Century Fox -- which also produced the $1.8 billion grossing Titanic -- is expected to cost about $200 million and is slated for a summer 2009 release. Shyamalan's live-action film, which could cost $80-$100 million, may be out much earlier.
 
In December 2006, Cameron described Avatar in an interview to The Independent as "a futuristic tale set on a planet 200 years hence... an old-fashioned jungle adventure with an environmental conscience... [that] aspires to a mythic level of storytelling."
 
Shyamalan -- who has maintained deep silence for over six months following the abysmal failure of his Lady in the Water which could not reach even the $100 million worldwide, is to adapt -- direct and executive produce Avatar based on the popular Nickelodeon series, according to the trade publication Variety. This is the first time Shyamalan, who has made six films starting with Praying with Anger shot mostly in Chennai, will be working on outside material. Though he was in discussions a few years ago with Fox to direct the Booker Prize winning novel Life of Pi, he gave up the idea because of scheduling conflicts.
 
As for the title war, Variety quoted Paramount as saying it has registered the name with the Motion Picture Association of America. That statement was immediately contested by Fox, with a spokesperson for the studio asserting, "We own the movie title Avatar. There won't be another film called Avatar coming from anyplace."
 
Shyamalan, who took out his production house from Disney after making five films for the mouse house (4, including The Village, were hits), has inked a three film deal with Paramount, trade publications report. He left Disney for Warner on a bitter note when honchos there wanted him to revise the Lady script. Apparently, Paramount has more faith in him.

[ak]

This is not in Shyamalan's best interest. After the bitter embarrassment of "Lady in the Water," the last thing he needs now is hype, good or bad.

Also -- what's with the obsession over adapting children's material? You'd have thought he learned his lesson by now. As a friend wisely said, Shyamalan's next picture will need to be really special if he is to survive in Hollywood.

[shariqq]

Sigourney Weaver Back in Orbit

Sigourney Weaver is headed back to the future with James Cameron. Daily Variety reports Weaver has signed up for a supporting role in Cameron's long delayed 3D action thriller Avatar.

Weaver's role sounds a little like Ellen Ripley: She'll be a veteran interplanetary explorer who becomes mentor to the lead character, a wounded ex marine whose consciousness is inserted into a 3-D digital "Avatar" which becomes part of an alien planet's battle for survival. Sam Worthington will play the title character, Jake Sully. Zoe Saldana, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder and Wes Studi are also cast in the film.

Cameron has been mulling over the project for over a decade, largely waiting for the 3-D digital technology to mature enough for the picture's needs. Apparently, the technology is finally ready: Avatar goes before the cameras in April, with a release date sometime in 2009.

[kaytee]

Giovanni Ribisi and Michelle Rodriguez have joined the cast...

[ak]

I've seen some stuff and holy shit. It's the craziest shit ever.

[animatedude]

more like"you see this shit? i've done it all together by my new 3D technology that no one understands,i know everything and i'm the biggest snob in the whole world,you mean you don't know what "Avatar" means?"

*throws up*

[ak]

I have absolutely no clue what that post means.

[kaytee]

I have absolutely no clue what that post means.

Only this?