Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Holiday Musings

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  • Keir Leslie,

    But Avatar isn't a videogame, it's a film. If Cameron wanted to make a really kewl videogame, he should have made a damn videogame.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    You are not meant to ponder these points. You're meant to directly experience them. If you can't or won't, fine. Don't. Be critical, it's really, really easy.

    Actually I think you'll find that the imperative is that you should enjoy it and if you don't there's something wrong with you - read the comments to Calder's review. Pardon some of us for having differing opinions.

    But Avatar isn't a videogame, it's a film. If Cameron wanted to make a really kewl videogame, he should have made a damn videogame.

    I'm having flashbacks from the discussions following The Matrix, which was also a film you *had* to enjoy.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    As for the hair connection thing, I thought it was blindingly obvious that it wasn't their sex organ, by the fact that they were sticking them into animals. It was a means of communication.

    The 'bonding' scene is something people are determined to ick about (actually to quite an icky level I think). As I saw it, it was a betrothal, not a fuck. News Flash!: Even Humans Do This.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I thought it was blindingly obvious that it wasn't their sex organ, by the fact that they were sticking them into animals. It was a means of communication.

    Not so. Here's what Saldana said about the deleted sex scene, which will be in the DVD extras presumably:

    If you sync to your banshee and you're syncing to a tree, why not sync into a person? I almost feel like you'll have the most amazing orgasm, I guess. It was a very funny scene to shoot because there were so many technical things that sometimes you have to keep in mind that paying attention to all those might disrupt the fluidity of how a scene is supposed to take place.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Actually I think you'll find that the imperative is that you should enjoy it and if you don't there's something wrong with you - read the comments to Calder's review. Pardon some of us for having differing opinions.

    I think you'll find that cuts both ways.

    But Avatar isn't a videogame, it's a film. If Cameron wanted to make a really kewl videogame, he should have made a damn videogame.

    Ummmm it is possible to make a movie about a game, that uses movie techniques to address game themes. And vice versa.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I dont like computer games - well, actually, I loathe them - BUT
    I thoroughly understand the attraction, the intoxication as you nicely put it BenWilson, of having a real avatar. It's somewhat like a good reading trance - you become the characters you empathise with - but of course with a real avatar you control your actions (not the writer.)
    And I know enough about the blurring between real & virtual - and disempowerment - to appreciate the power the film does have for many - and could have had, for more.

    That said, my critical faculties didnt roll over & wave their paws in the air. There were so *many* jarring notes-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    O, and I didnt suggest the the french braid nerves were a sex organ - they obviously were an interspecies communication device. But given Saldana's words, they obviously could be an aid to sexual ralations.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Not so. Here's what Saldana said about the deleted sex scene, which will be in the DVD extras presumably:

    This would be in the commentaries that are always prefaced by a huge waiver saying that the opinions are not those of the actual organization?

    I'm sure that there was sexual tension in the scene, in much the same way that The Last Samurai tried to put into the scene where Cruise is being dressed in his battle armor by the missus of the guy he killed. But it still wasn't an actual fuck. IMHO. A pash maybe...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    That said, my critical faculties didnt roll over & wave their paws in the air.

    Neither did mine, I just didn't let them get in the way of having a good time at the movies.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    But it still wasn't an actual fuck. IMHO. A pash maybe...

    The sex scene didn't make the cut, so hard to say what it is, no?, but every indication is that it's indeed based on the braids.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    The sex scene didn't make the cut, so hard to say what it is, no?

    Yes, we're allowed to use our imaginations.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Oh of course, plus you'd save packet on DVD rentals and cinema tickets that way. :-)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Josh Addison,

    Admittedly, most of my rationale for the "Na'vi bio-USB ports = their junk" bit came from a Cracked.com article a week or two ago that made a lot of mileage from that joke.

    Why would I like Avatar? Why would I like a really good computer action game? Same answer. If you don't like them, it's probably for the same reason you wouldn't like Avatar.

    But I do like really good computer action games, and I didn't much like Avatar. I'm pretty sure we're just in YMMV territory.

    I have, for instance, watched films that I knew, even as I was watching them, were absolute cack, and yet enjoyed every second ( Torque springs to mind). Avatar left me cold emotionally - all of the picking at plot holes and unoriginality is, I guess, just a post-hoc rationalisation of my emotional response. Ditto for those praising it, I would assume.

    Onehunga, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Neither did mine, I just didn't let them get in the way of having a good time at the movies.

    Oh, I forgot: now we have to do the 'but I like big dumb films!' disclaimer before any criticism, to prove that we aren't overly disconnected from our 'it is what it is, just have fun with it!' id or whatever, right? So fucking tiresome. Hey, I loved Aliens, Die Hard and the latest Star Trek movie, am I allowed to criticise Avatar now?

    I'm sorry if I'm a bit snappy, but FFS, is it OK for me to have had an average time at this movie and think parts of it were totally not-fun and really stupid? Because that's what happened.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    And I know enough about the blurring between real & virtual - and disempowerment - to appreciate the power the film does have for many - and could have had, for more.

    As the second highest grossing movie of all time, it's reached one hell of a lot of people. It would probably reach a lot more if it wasn't banned in China.

    I'm curious why you loathe computer games.

    But I do like really good computer action games, and I didn't much like Avatar.

    Sure, but I said "if you don't like computer games". I didn't say "if you do like computer games then you'll love Avatar".

    It sounds like not so many people actually liked the game version either. Heh...most games that are really movies are like that. Movies that started as games, OTOH....

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Ummmm it is possible to make a movie about a game, that uses movie techniques to address game themes. And vice versa.

    Well, yes, and also no. One could no doubt make a film about Pong that was very accurate at being about Pong, but that wouldn't make it a good film. And one could make a film that was very accurate at being about Pong, and was also a good film.

    Also, being about a videogame doesn't mean being CGI & looking like a videogame; the video for Love Etc. quotes sidescrollers like nobody's business, but it just isn't very video-gamey. (The formal qualities of videogames lie in the play, not in the graphics.)

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Josh Addison,

    Sure, but I said "if you don't like computer games". I didn't say "if you do like computer games then you'll love Avatar".

    Sure, but before that you said that your reasons for liking Avatar were the same as your reasons for liking computer action games. Keep your Modus Ponens in your pants - we're talking 'splosions here!

    Onehunga, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I'm sorry if I'm a bit snappy, but FFS, is it OK for me to have had an average time at this movie and think parts of it were totally not-fun and really stupid? Because that's what happened.

    I'm sorry for your loss.

    Sure, but before that you said that your reasons for liking Avatar were the same as your reasons for liking computer action games.

    Yes, my reasons. You may have different reasons for liking computer games. But I have noticed some uniformity in the people who hate computer games. First and foremost, their age.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I have a friend who is 70 - she loves the Sims. I dont.
    I have nephews and grandnephews ranging from 6 through to 35 (we're talking 12 people here.) Only 3 of them play computer games.
    None of my nieces or grandnieces play computer games.

    And yep, I'm 62. While I've adopted a *lot* of current technology, games leave me cold - why?

    Repetition. Violence (in many.) Boring action to gain points/levels.
    Shallow thinking. Really stupid edged weaponry (I collect edged weapons.) The time factor - I'd prefer reading books, watching movies, dvds, talking, fishing, walking beaches - well, *anything* else to sitting front of a screen pressing a game-console's buttons.

    Mind you, things may have changed. I last looked at one of the nevvies games in 2007.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I give you John Lanchester and then (from the stars to the manure-filled stables, as we say back home) since it's Friday and I have no shame I give you also Dr. Tiso.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    (Executive summary: Videogames = the good stuff. Avatar = still sucks.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Heh, Islander, you forgot to say "it's unhealthy".

    I actually don't play console games. I have a PS3, but no games for it. But that's mainly because I know I'll get hooked (again).

    Funny, you know most of those criticisms you have of games apply in spades to reading books, watching movies, dvds, talking, walking and fishing. Except the violence (I presume you don't use your edged weapons).

    Life is a grind. When you stop grinding, you're dead.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Both those articles were really good to read.

    Mind you, I had read one of them before...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Previously posted in the wrong thread, for I am stupid:

    "I still can't get past Jackson's observation that blockbusters don't even need to be good any more. I find this abdication of any sort of relationship between cinema and critical thinking somewhat troubling. It also comes from the guy who cast the Arabs as the bad people in The Return of the King and got Mortensen to deliver the awful "us people of the West" speech just as Iraq was being invaded, as if the important thing at that moment in history was not to disappoint Tolkien fans. But that's a whole hornet's nest obviously. And of course I'm not discounting that enjoying the film without thinking too much may be the most sensibile response (I wrote as much this week) - I just don't like to be told I have to."

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    LOL Gio, you MAMEr. I love it to, have it on the PDA. Galaga in my pocket. I was kicked out of a flat in Australia because I beat the lease holder's high score.

    I'm surprised you ever found Asteroids playable - it was a complete flop at the arcades. Too much realism!

    And Q*bert is on my phone, with the added feature - I can stop the game in the middle, and continue on later.

    You're right that is a walk through memory lane. My business partner wants us to move into writing games, and I keep telling him that it's not like the old days when a good idea and a hard couple of months coding was enough to make a winner. Nowadays games are made by teams larger than those that make movies. Blizzard has a cast of over 5000 people working on WoW full time. Doesn't sound like fun to me.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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