Avatar (Cameron, 2009)

[ayaa1977]

People applauded at the end of the screening I attended as well. I think that indicates nothing except that people are in denial and will praise anything that they've invested time and money in simply to not look like total idiots.

I disagree with you Fizz, because by you definition people would applaud by the end of every movie they watch because each one cost money and time. I think people applaud in the films rarely and this happens when they are genuinely pleased with what they watched.

P.S. Welcome back!!

[fizz]

There is a certain audience that almost always attends late night weekend shows (I specifically avoid these). Though I am not one of them, but from the few screenings I have attended because I just couldn't resist waiting till the next day, they always applaud at the end of the film, unless its something as dismal at Van Helsing. My elder brother, who routinely attends such screenings, has made mention of this applauding mentality for films such as Mummy 3 and Transformers 2.

[kaytee]

Couldn't get a ticket at Reel 3D, all shows including 12:30 was sold out, guess I'm just going to wait for a week and watch it once I am done with my exams.

[ak]

People are flocking to the cinema because of the hype created by the media. They want to feel part of something, anything; and applauding at the end of Avatar (even if they didn't necessarily love it), is because they want to be exalted. I don't trust the masses and would not put my faith in their ability to discriminate. People are stupid.

[ayaa1977]

Well Fizz, you would know better, because I don't attend as many movies in theatre as you do and that is just a fact. However, I had my fair share of watching films on opening weekends and I would say that I didn't see much applauding in them, I say obnoxious behaviors a whole lot of that, but not much applause. As a role of thumb, watching films in opening weekend is almost always more bad than good.

[animatedude]

yeah i rarely watch movies in cinema on weekends nowadays....it's all 15 year old perverts who want to watch the next horror movie or the troubled divorced women with 4 kids or the 30 plus fatties who laugh at anything...

[ak]

Film festivals are like potty-training for the masses. The effect of DIFF is not long-lasting in Dubai, but it remains for a month or two after the fest. I doubt people will be magnanimous in their applause in a couple of months...

[ak]

Guys, can you post your thoughts on the 3D *experience*? Answer these questions:

1) What cinema did you watch Avatar in?

2) What *format* did you see it in: IMAX 3D, IMAX Digital 3D, Dolby 3D, RealD 3D, regular 2D screen with red/blue glasses?

3) How did the glasses feel on your face: weight, comfort?

4) At what point did you *forget* that there were glasses on your faces?

5) Did the 3D help the *story* or work against it?

[sandeep]

Guys, can you post your thoughts on the 3D *experience*? Answer these questions:

1) What cinema did you watch Avatar in?
Ibn Batuta

2) What *format* did you see it in: IMAX 3D, IMAX Digital 3D, Dolby 3D, RealD 3D, regular 2D screen with red/blue glasses?
IMAX 3D and Imax Digital 3D

3) How did the glasses feel on your face: weight, comfort?
IMAX 3D, wrapped around the face like oaklies, a little uncomfortable but very good quality,
IMAX Digital 3D, light weight sun glasses

4) At what point did you *forget* that there were glasses on your faces?
Pretty soon into the film

5) Did the 3D help the *story* or work against it?
It surely helped make Pandora more beautiful and the fight scenes more fun to watch

--
Roger Ebert all praise for Avatar

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091211/REVIEWS/912119998

[ak]

2) What *format* did you see it in: IMAX 3D, IMAX Digital 3D, Dolby 3D, RealD 3D, regular 2D screen with red/blue glasses?
IMAX 3D and Imax Digital 3D

3) How did the glasses feel on your face: weight, comfort?
IMAX 3D, wrapped around the face like oaklies, a little uncomfortable but very good quality,
IMAX Digital 3D, light weight sun glasses

Thanks, Sandeep. Can you please describe your 3D experience in IMAX Digital 3D? I understand the screen size of the IMAX screen is gigantic compared with IMAX Digital 3D (which is basically a *regular* screen that has an "IMAX projection" system).

I want to hear your thoughts specially on the objects "coming out from the screen" (negative disparity) and how well/poor the 3D worked in the IMAX Digital 3D.

[shariqq]

1) What cinema did you watch Avatar in?
Ibn Batuta

2) What *format* did you see it in: IMAX 3D, IMAX Digital 3D, Dolby 3D, RealD 3D, regular 2D screen with red/blue glasses?
IMAX 3D or IMAX Digital 3D, dunno which it is.

3) How did the glasses feel on your face: weight, comfort?
Comfortable. Fit easily over the eye-glasses I wear. Took them off once to air my eyes though otherwise didn't disturb me through out.

4) At what point did you *forget* that there were glasses on your faces?
From the IMAX logo opening onwards.

5) Did the 3D help the *story* or work against it?
Neither. It didn't affect the story either way, in my opinion. There was no "breaking the fourth wall" by any objects/characters. The 3D was mostly used for depth-perception. But this didn't work too well (in my opinion) coz the director was controlling the point of focus. There were instances where I was trying to focus on the background while the focus was on the characters. Obviously, unlike real life, it was all blurred. It's possibly the same in movies that use the 3D effect the best (Beouwulf, Polar Express), but in those movies I've never *not* wanted to focus on what the director was focusing on.

[ak]

2) What *format* did you see it in: IMAX 3D, IMAX Digital 3D, Dolby 3D, RealD 3D, regular 2D screen with red/blue glasses?
IMAX 3D or IMAX Digital 3D, dunno which it is.

There is only *one* IMAX 3D screen in Dubai. IMAX Digital 3D is a label for any *regular* screen in Ibn Battuta cinemas that has been fitted with an IMAX projection technology -- it is, simply put, NOT the real IMAX experience, and just a way for the company (IMAX) to ca$h in on the 3D wave. They got a lot of criticism in the States when they rolled out this service and people who know a thing or two, generally avoid IMAX Digital 3D.

[sandeep]

Having watched the movie first in 3D IMAX, Digital 3D was a poor distant cousin in comparison.
The depth perception was very limited in Digital, and items on screen didnt jump/reach out as much.
Also, the size of the screen makes the effects less real, as its not as 'in your face' as 3D IMAX.
I would rate Digital as last place, and am yet to see Dolby, but 3D IMAX is the best way to see this film.

2) What *format* did you see it in: IMAX 3D, IMAX Digital 3D, Dolby 3D, RealD 3D, regular 2D screen with red/blue glasses?
IMAX 3D and Imax Digital 3D

3) How did the glasses feel on your face: weight, comfort?
IMAX 3D, wrapped around the face like oaklies, a little uncomfortable but very good quality,
IMAX Digital 3D, light weight sun glasses

Thanks, Sandeep. Can you please describe your 3D experience in IMAX Digital 3D? I understand the screen size of the IMAX screen is gigantic compared with IMAX Digital 3D (which is basically a *regular* screen that has an "IMAX projection" system).

I want to hear your thoughts specially on the objects "coming out from the screen" (negative disparity) and how well/poor the 3D worked in the IMAX Digital 3D.

[ak]

Yes, Dolby 3D will be infinitely better compared to IMAX *Digital* 3D. The glasses in the Dolby 3D system are most ideal, but there are inherent benefits of watching in IMAX 3D: gigantic screen, proprietary technology that helps with depth perception (especially "negative disparity" -- out of screen action), and great sound.

What would be interesting is to compare the Dolby 3D in Reel Cinemas (Dubai Mall) with the Dolby 3D in Cinema City (Arabian Centre, Mirdiff).

[sandeep]

12 years.Titanic. King of the World. James Cameron. AVATAR.
2154. Pandora. Na'vi. Blue & Green. Mother Nature.
Technology. Tradition. Weapons. Energy. Destruction.
Anti-war. Aggression. Balance. Greed. Grief.
Triumph. Loss. Universal Spirit. Choices. Reborn.
 
5/5