Cool News
Wait... Shyamalan’s Making AVATAR Too?!
Oh, man, this is gonna get ugly fast.
On the same day that James Cameron announces that he’s moving ahead with his long-in-gestation AVATAR, an original sci-fi screenplay that Cameron wrote, M. Night Shyamalan and Paramount Pictures have announced that Shyamalan has signed on to produce, write, and direct a possible trilogy of films based on AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, the Nickelodeon series.
I’m not familiar with the show, but the basic description of it has always left me a little cold. Maybe there’s more to it, though, and Shyamalan obviously feels like there’s something that will take more than one movie to tell properly. Personally, I’m just interested to see what he does when working with someone else’s material, where there’s an already-existing fanbase that he has to try and please. New territory for him.
Now let the battle of the AVATARs begin!!
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Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
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The same will happen with this. He'll change it. Cameron will get the name.
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This show rocks... I was hoping to see a movie based on it!
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whenever I get the chance. Live action doesn't sound appealing to me though. Although I imagine it could be cool. The show can be epic in scope.
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they need to wait like 15 years before they make AvatarTLAB into a feature, let the kids who watch it now grow up and go to college, build the audience a bit. The whole thing is mistimed and a little fishy. Plus, M Knight's Taint is too silver.
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Nope just something unfunny posted ad naseaum.
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also - agree with you playahatersball
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I said I wasn't going to see Lady In The Water, after the double cock punch of Signs and The Village. And even though I didn't have to pay for it, I ended up seeing it in the theater anyway. Oh, I paid. I'm reaffirming my vow in advance of whatever film Michael Night makes. Never again.
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We all know it to be true.
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the timing of the announcement was obviously strategic to muscle cameron off the name. not sure how he's gonna prevail on this one though. it's an established property, so it's not like they're gonna back off and i doubt he wants to risk any confusion.
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For real.
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booya
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hohoho
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You like that?
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True story. It does have a couple of "Lost" storytelling flourishes, but it's mostly its own beast. It's also pretty cliched; the same recycled crap about "The One" who doesn't know he's The One and needs to rise to the pre-eminence of ass-kicking Oneness. To be honest I'm not totally sure what Shyamalan sees in it. It does have a psuedo-historical fantasy aesthetic that makes it somewhat interesting, but not enough to milk a big-budget trilogy out of, in my opinion. But you never know. Shyamalan handed in the original screenplay for 'Stuart Little,' so don't forget he knows how to write for kids.
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Hah!
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YEEEEAAAAHHHH-HAAAA!
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but I'm glad to see that Shyamalan appears to actively taking a step towards getting out of his current rut as a writer/director and leaving the story to someone else. I hope he tries to direct the movie rather than make it a film that requires his name before it. He seems to be squandering what should be a great career.Question: Can you rape a childhood by destroying something they loved as a child before said child grows up? If so, does that make you a pedophile?
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to make Avatar???
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I have it on good authority that that is the name of the movie.
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Please feel free to use any other catchphrases.
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Oh, wait a minute. This reminds of me of Charles Manson apprpropriating, "Helter Skelter," from the Beatles. Well, maybe not exactly. It's just a title, at the end of the day. And James can always go with, "Big Blue Alien." Hell, he can call it, "Tango and Cash in Space," and we're all still going to go see it. There's only one way to settle these kinds of things in Hollywood: Lawsuits. Lots of Lawsuits.
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Anyone else agree?
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you read it here first brother!!
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You know he put Shyamalan up to this. Kudos to anyone who can snatch the next catchphrase.
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First thing's first: Shyamalan did not steal, appropriate, or any other such thing from James Cameron. The television show has been in existence for several years and has nothing to do with either of Shyamalan or Cameron, although I suppose it is (hypothetically) possible that the creators of the show were somehow inspired by the title of Cameron's (at that point extremely) dormant project. That said, it does seem a little weird that both of these movies were greenlit on the same day. What are the odds of something like that happening?
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Fox/Cameron will squash M. Night and Paramount like a bug. Why would they want to fuck with JC's original project? What stupid fucks. At first I thought that someone was making a space flic just like JC's. That's fucking suicide. Do you remember there were 4 water movies in 89 when The Abyss came out? Maybe a flood of space flics in mid-08 and 09.
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Jan 09, 2007 1:10:53 AM CST
Funny, I was going to write in the Cameron talkback...
by iamnicksaicnsn
"wow, does he really like the Nick Airbender show that much?" How convenient.
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will be the movie Avatar has to compete with when the time comes....i liked the show from the beginning..and im way to old for these lil anime shows. But it has a decent humor and some cool fight scenes. Nice story too
I knew theyll turn it into a movie ..but that fast ?! -
I've never watched the show... It must be half decent since M. Night is putting his name on it... especially for something that's sequel based...
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Was M Night's cameo as Giamatti's taint?
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now Cameron doesn't seem so bad...jesus, it's like choosing between Diarrhea or Nausea
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James Cameron is the King of the World, and M. Night Shyamalan is a self-important narcissist and is circling the Hollywood drain. Cameron's last feature did 1.8 billion dollars in business. Shyamalan's did 72 million. Cameron's Avatar will be the next huge leap in cinema, and possibly the last huge leap. Shyamalan's Avatar project sounds derivative. I actually really like M. Night's films, including The Village and Signs (until the ludicrous ending of course) and especially The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable (until the last 30 seconds of course). The man can make very effective and creepy scenes, but he has lost his way as a storyteller. And casting himself as a writer whose work will change the world is why the word pompous was created. I hope the fact that he has fallen on his ass gives him some humility, and more importantly, some fire to create another great film. James Cameron doing a Sci-Fi with a 200 million dollar budget? Prepare fellow geeks, for we're going to be knocked on our asses in summer 2009.
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For a kid's show, the characters are relatively complex, as is the setting. It isn't just the cliche "The One" shit, it takes place in a setting with a fairly complex backstory and a lot of geopolitical turmoil and military conflict. It can be kiddy at times, but it is a kid's show. Then again, I don't know that many kid's shows that feature sociopathic teenage royalty torturing people just for the hell of it. As it stands, there are far worse things to adapt into movies, but the timing is odd and most will shit on it just because it airs on Nickelodeon, but it really is one of the better kid's show out there.
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Damn you Michael Bay
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THIS IS AN INDY 4 WORLD, DAMN IT!!!
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MORE CATCHPHRASES PLZ
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could be pretty cool. I don't really watch the show, but my brother does and I've caught bits and pieces of it. I've been saying for years now that M. Night needed to try adapting something, as his writing has gotten worse with every film he's done since Unbreakable. I still really like Signs, but it's only about 2/3's of a great movie. Everything after that is shit. This is an interesting move (and I doubt it has anything to do with Cameron), and I will be interested to see how things play out.
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what is this anti-competitive law of which you speak? Sherman Act? Federal Trade Commission Act? I think you're thinking of general intellectual property laws, not competition law (or antitrust as it is in the US). Sorry to be anal, but it's kinda my speciality. And I'm quite bored.
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for something like this to be anti-competitive, it would have to be considered an attempt at "monopolisation" under s2 Sherman Act, it would have to be shown that the Anime Avatar has a 70% (roughly) marketshare of the relevant market as defined by the SSNIP test. I believe the relevant market would be "film". Under IP law, it would just have to be shown that the name was not created through independant thought. Still bored.
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I just what to know what the hell an airbender is. Also, why is this guy the last one? Who was the first to bend air? What terrible tragedies will befall this sad and beautiful world if it will, at some point, possibly have no more airbenders in it? How will we survive in a void of unbent air? I'm on the edge of my seat, M. Night. Don't let me down.
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calling two films the same thing is actually pro-competitive. Product differentiation is a barrier to competition, but one we (rightly) tolerate because it aids consumer choice and rewards innovation and hard work. I'm going for geek of the day.
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...I know I said that same word earlier.
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6th Sense = Over-rated. Unbreakable = good, but with flaws. Signs = same. The Village = the bitch is fucking blind. Lady In The Water = what the fuck happens in the last ten minutes? All's I got to say is maybe Shyalaman hears voices, but sometimes they suck.
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Jan 09, 2007 3:36:05 AM CST
It does sound like Shamalam/paramount are hitting low
by bendersshinyass
no doubt they new cameron was preparing the next biggest film and it was called avatar. No doubt at all they have strategically worked it so that when Cameron announces his title, they will announce their plans. Cameron will have no choice but to change his title. Paramount and Shamalam will get the business of all this 'talk' of 'Avatar'. Personally, i think it's a good thing for Cameron. He can give it a better name and make a better movie!
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TO KEEP HIS FUCKEN (yeS I SAID IT!)HANDS OFF OF ONE OF THE BEST NON-ANIME TOON SERIES EVER CREATED IN THE USA! Lets face it people M's day has passed with the skull fucks that where The Village and Lady in the water. the fact that he is still geting projects form studios is prof that he must be "Smokeing the same Sassauge " that Paul Worthless Shit Anderson and ULE BOLE are. Avatar is right now one of the beat shows on TV right now. PERIOD. Animation or live action. THe stories, paceing. developement. excitement make it as good as Justice League ever was.
To but this in the hands of a has been with clearly erodring tallent, is as big a mistake as puting nipples on the batsuit. Frankly one of my favorite shows deserves way better than him! -
Avatar is right now one of the best shows on TV right now. To PUT this in the hands of ...
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I've only caught Avatar now and then, but the writing is rock solid. Please DO NOT let M. Night fuck with it. What RickSlamu2 above said.
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He took six years off to return to the site of his home planet.
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and every role playing computer game since about 1985. Our esteemed British readers will have a chuckle at this quote from Wiki..."Aang is quite possibly the most powerful Bender in the world"... I always assumed that was attributed to Elton John.
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Did he sick in the sand or what?P.S. Bored as I am, I just read up on the airbending, which, it turns out, is some form of anime martial arts gobbledygook. I was hoping it was Air Bender and was the new training shoe from Bender B Rodriguez, but it was not to be. What I wouldn't give for a pair of high top basketball boots with a Bender version of the Air Jordan logo on them.
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I am stunned night still has a career.
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I don't know much about Avatar, but everytime I read this post and think about how ridiculous "Lady in the Water" was, I feel like breaking wind in M. Night's mouth.
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Avatar is really well executed, you guys should catch a few episodes. But if this turns out to be some live action poop, I will be very sad. It took me FOREVER to find the dang box set, but it was worth it. Shyamalan, you best not fuck up.
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It's that simple - and I was one of the guys who would vouch for him....I loved TSS, REALLY liked Unbreakable...Signs=shit. Village was cool. Give us Unbreakable 2 dammit! The kids....they call me Mr Glass
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is about to hit rock bottom.
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is about to hit rock bottom.
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Even though it's a crappy animé, seeing Shyamalan do it would be seeing yet another director go uninspired and attach himself to the hottest (atm) franchise or series. BLAH.
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Now THAT I would see. This, no.
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I love to sit down and watch it with my kids. The animation's clean, and the storylines are great. Just the right mix of action and humor. The episodes when Eng was searching for Appa, bring a tear to your eye man. So... they don't need to give it to Shamalamadingdong to fuck up. Why make a movie out of it al all? They haven't even wrapped up the story in the cartoon yet!
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oh man, we're killin' it! fire all your taints at mknight immediately boys! the toyline of avatar tlab is taint free! my nephew watches this show...super lame. mknight burns in the fire of cameron's animated taint with the newest technology!
bringingsexyback---word up---keep taint alive! -
There, put him in a Bollywood film school and perhaps he'll actually learn how to make films in 10 years or so.
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and all restaurants will be TACO BELL
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Shyamalan goes back to making animated kids movies. Who saw that coming?
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seriously... Bending is what you do when you tie our shoe lace. getting bent is what you do when you smoke pot out of a bucket.
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It's got some well fleshed out characters, a strong story, some good voice acting and quality animation. Since it's on a "kid's" channel it does have some elements here and there that lean towards a younger crowd but not in an offensive way like the other "intended for kids only" stuff they air on Nickelodeon. Pretty enjoyable.
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Angry Mean Panda's post first.
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but Cameron has MASS. What does this mean? I don't know. JC will have the better film, but may have to change the title.
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Can someone please explain why 2/3 of the posts appearing in the talkback these days make absolutely no sense?
I'm getting sick to death of scrolling through dozens of "Michael Bay's Taint Fucked Optimus' Flaming Nipples" posts. Is it supposed to be funny? Are some of you actually reading this shit and laughing heartily at the wit on display?
Apparently, old-school bitching about movies finally wore itself out, and this what we've resorted to. WTF. -
....Yet! And yet all we hear is the chirping of how he is shite. Go watch Eragon if you want to know what crap is!
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I really liked Signs. I loved it simple focus on just the family. Personally I feel it was the best out of the first three films. I didn't hate the Village either, although I doubt I could ever sit through it again. Now for Lady in the Water, I had a bad feeling about it when I first saw the preview. I actually thought the preview was trying to be all moody just to jump up halfway through it with "suprise" I am actually a comedy. But then it turned out to be an real drama. I still have not seen it and I have no desire to see it.
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Captain Mal! Glad to know I am not the only one annoyed with the crap.
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i don't know what the fuck taint is... but it seems to have replaced teh so i can't be cranky about it. between that and Colons story.... i'm so out of the loop. do i get a space if i type this? we'll see
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i think i did get a space either that or a new line. how bout now i wonder... don't mind me, i'm just testing my code knowledge -
I thought an Airbender was the same as cutting the cheese, but I may be wrong.
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You loony bastard.
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Jan 09, 2007 9:30:41 AM CST
Bringingbacksexy - i was shocked, then i belly laughed
by bendersshinyass
say it'aint so. taint it cool news. oh fuck, i'm in on the joke!!
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he should not even bother appearing in his films. Who does he think he is... Hitchcock!?
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Jan 09, 2007 9:46:19 AM CST
ok, so Aliens coming down with giant ray guns is...
by streakerfreak1983
more realistic?
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Hey how realistic is Signs? Oh ok.
ganymede2010 he just said you were right. The real invasion was more like War of the Worlds. -
for BSB--that's actually the very same wiki article I used to verify the definition of taint before I kicked off the latest AICN catchphrase craze--prestine yet awful indeed!
For Bender, here is the post that started it all, so innocent yet so visionary: http://tinyurl.com/yhlh2q -
Shayamalan has done good work in the past. If he keeps it positve and hopeful like the sixth sense and doesn't go too abstract like he has been lately.
Avatar is an exceptional show, very well written, although admittedly written to a younger audience.
As long as they give the show's creators enough control to maintain their vision. I think it will work out. -
and it sucks huge donkey balls. This has failure written all over it!
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That's the last work on Avatars, for my money. Whose with me? That game was cool.
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how bout the fact that water kills them. shamalam obviously can't grasp the concept that we live in a waterclad environment, regardless of it's density. not to mention the fact that life is water based. and how can you make the logical deduction that they don't like water just because you've never seen them by a river. I like signs, but it does open itself up for critisism
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STOP CASTING YOURSELF IN YOUR OWN FILMS YOU DOUCH!
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i remember reading this a couple nights ago. and it was like my first time back here in months
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Jan 09, 2007 10:28:00 AM CST
personally, taint it cool news is where the funny is
by bendersshinyass
and i made that up
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To begin with, I'm not a fan of Anime. I think it's generally poorly written with jerky animation; characters are usually designed with stupid huge eyes and non moving wide open mouths, with horrendous voices. For those reasons I just can't stand the films of AICN god Hayao Miyazaki. Talkbackers, if you love his films, I think that's great. I just don't happen to share the love. I resisted Nickelodeon's AVATAR; THE LAST AIRBENDER thinking it was the same kind thing. But, brother I was wrong! The world is divided into 4 tribes, each after a different element: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Within each group, tribe members can control the different element (ie, Waterbender, Firebender, Airbender). All tribes had been peaceful between each other until the Fire Tribe begins conquering the entire world, and the all-powerful Avatar vanishes. Brother and sister Sokka and Katara of the Water Tribe set free 12 year old Aang, who turns out to be the Avatar and has been frozen in a glacier for 100 years. He is a flightful, silly youngster more likely to go sledding on penquins than try to solve the problems of the world. Aang grows along the way and like Peter Parker, finds that with great power...well, you know the rest. The show is just a heck of a lot of fun, with great heroes and villains, a wonderful voice cast (including Mae Whitman, Zach Tyler, and Mako. Mako, for crying out loud!), involving action, and a surprising amount of heart (I defy any who watches the series from the beginning not to get a lump in their throat when Aang confronts Earthbenders who may be responsible for the theft of his flying bison, Appa). At any rate, with two seasons (or Books, as they call them) completed, video games, DVDs, and a burgeoning toy line, I think if anyone will be changing their title, it would be probably be Mr James "I haven't created anything since GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS" Cameron. As far as Shyamalan, goes...I don't mind if they create a live action version, it'll probably be mostly CG anyway. But I hope they have the sense to allow the TV series to finish to it's natural conclusion, which I assume is two more seasons. And Drew, the entire first season of AVATAR is on DVD. Do me (and yourself, frankly) a favor and rent it and see what you think. This has been a non-plant planty presentation.
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I agree with you, Sir Guy. M. Night's stories now seem a bit juvenile to me, sort of wanting to be taken more seriously than they actually are. "The Sixth Sense" was a competent, well-filmed story, but every film of his since then has been very, very flawed, in my opinion. They've become unwatchable for me. But maybe he'll do well with "Avatar," even though it won't be called "Avatar," since Cameron's going to win out with that title. Fox executives have assured everyone that this will be the case.
I've seen "Avatar: The Last Airbender" several times with my young nephews, and for a kids show, I thought it was well-written and the animation was pretty kickass. But like all Pokemon-esque kids shows, for all of its violence, no one ever dies (not that you see, anyway), no one gets hurt, and there's never really any drama. It's kind of like GI Joe with barrels of bullets flying around, taking out buildings with impunity, but not one soldier ever takes a slug in the leg, let alone the heart. It's quite silly even though the makers of "Avatar" want everyone to take it SOOO seriously. For this reason, it'll be perfect for M. Night. I wish him good luck. -
i mean if the tv show is a winner, then you don't make a film out of it unless you are continuing the arch for the big screen somehow.
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Stop acting like he did....Jesus. The avatar cartoon series beat the film to the market. I don't think Cameron's got much of a case, despite having had this in "development" for so long. Besides, wasn't it originally called something like "Project 880"? You Cameron fanboys need to relax a bit, I think.
I like the cartoon, it has alot of deep mythology for a kids show, pretty clever fight sequences, and has a pretty strong respect for continuity... I'm curious what they'll come up with for the films.
Also BENDER, bacteria in the water killed the aliens in "Signs", not the water itself. Not only is it hinted at multiple times (the girl refers to the water as having "ameobas" in it, as well as being "contaminated" and tasting "old") but the film was hugely reliant on War of the Worlds for inspiration. We don't have to get into it, and I'm not saying that it's much more believable, but there you go, anyway. -
Go Banana!
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Of course, I'm begin metaphorical for the simpler phrase, "Lady in the Water sucked ass hard."
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but it does deal with some interesting things like all of the main characters friends being dead (since he's been frozen for 100 years). It's not like death is non-existant in the world, they just haven't killed any main characters. Still the bad guys try pretty hard to kill the good guys, so there's definitely violence and suspense there. I'd be excited to see the effects in a live action version- they're handled really creatively in the cartoon, from riding balls of air to drawing waves of water through the air.
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Just here to take us away... I always had the impression they were invading to take people back, as some characters reference as happening. It makes a bit more sense then that they'd brave a partially hostile world to just harvest us and get the fuck out. Still, suits would have helped them, silly aliens. Ok! no more signs talk, back to the battle of the avatars!
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with someone else's material. He's a talented director who's past two scripts have been awful. Hopefully adapting someone else's ideas will get him in the correct mindset.
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those of you who haven't seen it should check it out. Like a previous poster said I also dislike anime and thought from the first visuals of this that the show was anime but its not. The stories are well written. One of my recent fave episodes is the defense of that giant city and fighting that giant drill. Great episode.
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welcome to the year 2000. Nope - no flying cars yet. But how is freshman year treating ya?
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did you miss OneintenMan's posts?
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"The Last Airbender" if they need to change it. I kind of like the ring of that, anyway. Still, I wonder about what affect the fact that the TV show has been out first will have. If you're going to make a series- I'd say make it 4 movies, one for each book: earth, air, water, fire.
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THE SHOW IS SUCCESSFUL... HUGELY, actually. Why does it have to be an attack on friggin Cameron?
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The Cameron project has had that name forever. And the show's been on for a while so no one is stealing from anyone else. It's not the first time two movies went forward with the same name. Geez. No biggie. Everyone goes to their separate corners, makes their own movie and when they're done, I hardly think anyone will get confused.
As a fan of Shyamalan's, I'm pretty much not interested in this. I don't watch any of the stuff out there for the kiddies nowadays. And if it's just more Chosen One crap, who needs it?
However, I do think it's good for him since sooooooo many people think he's at the end of his rope. I personally don't think he's made a bad film yet. But doing someone else's material should get the heat off of him. -
the title Avatar is more common than u guys think plus what does that title have to do with JC's animus story anyway. The cartoon Avatar from what i read, seems rather weary compared to what james camerons juggernaut movie thats sure to please a drooling sci-fi audience. But I think this sci-fi movie should be called 'Phantasmagorical', instead, because it obviously describes the complexity of the project:)
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about "Signs". Bacteria, not water. And diox, as far as i can tell, the avatar refers to the guys new body. It's his avatar- his representation in the world. Still, i don't know that it's really that relavent to the whole story. In the nick show, avatar is the name of the "chosen one", he's "the avatar", so it's a little more relavent. Still, I think the nick show can get away with dropping avatar for the films titles. Doesn't mean they should, just means they can.
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Is that like an Air Biscuit?
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Is that like a regular biscuit?
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Actually both cameron and the creator of The animated series Avatar "both" lifted it from The Sanskrit word avatāra- literally means "descent" (avatarati) and usually implies a deliberate descent into lower realms of existence for special purposes. The term is used primarily in Hinduism, for incarnations of Vishnu whom many Hindus worship as God.
The word has also been used by extension to refer to the incarnations of God in other religions, especially by adherents to dharmic traditions when explaining figures such as Jesus.
And BSB after watching you go at it with stoopider in the TF TB, i figured that you were no better then him, only to rebuke it when you actually acted decent in several conversations with me..and then i come here, and almost every single thread i read from you lacks intelligence and includes the word "taint" i actually started to expect better of you and was gaining enough respect to be able to have serious conversations about film with you...silly me. You are no better then stoopider if all you come into these TB's for is to slam everything and re-use the same phrases over and over again....yes we get it, "dam you micheal bay!" and i happen to be one of those Anime geeks =) oh and king kirby...Anime is poorly written with jerky animation? You are insulting a cultures style of artistic artform, i happen to have been born in Tokyo, am japanese and live in Tokyo, my brother and cousin work for an anime studio, and i also happen to be a fan of Avatar : the last airbender, and i do not believe that Avatar has more depth of story, and more beautiful Art than a Miyazaki film..what world do you live on? all of Miyazaki's stuff is hand drawn and beautiful, compaired to the cartooniness of "The last airbender~ so you are pretty much saying that fantastic works of Art like anything from my good friend Yasuhiro Nightow, or other artists like "Akira" director Katsuhiro Yotomo, are shit. It is one thing to have an opinion, or a certain prefference of anime or film, but it is a complete different ballpark, to start slagging one cultures form of artistic expression. And people/creatures, in manga and japanese anime happen to be drawn that way as our interpretation of our cultures beauty..i agree there is some pretty bad manga, and japanese anime out there but there are also some pretty shabby drawn disney movies, and american or canadian cartoons as well. I realize that you meant your statement in a non derogatory way,and that you were stating your "personal prefference" but please do not make a statement about an artform you clearly do not understand if you are compairing a kids nickelodeon series that is co-created by a guy who worked for "FOX" on "family guy" "mission hill" and "king of the hill" to Hayao Miyazaki...you clearly do not know the difference between art and "bubble gum for the brain" there is a huge difference in depth and animation, from a kids cartoon, and "family" or "adult" anime. You are talking more along the lines of sailer moon,dragon ball...which are enjoyable ,but nowhere close to the same. -
I am sorry that is not more funny, but the guy really does talk too much.
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I am not a huge fan of either...i do love Terminator 2, and enjoyed the Abyss, but Titantic was a hyped up dissapointment for me, good special effects yes...Cameron to me is a director who is very good at what he does " making big summer blockbusters" he is far from a "brilliant" director, what has he made that has just "blown an audiences mind" in terms of true heart of the story,in terms of depth of character? lets see...Terminator,Aliens ~ which was hand me downs of a far deeper version from a much deeper director*Ridley Scott* then there is the Abyss ...which is better in terms of character and depth...but still an "adventure,special effects movie" well i am sure you know the rest. The best thing about any of his movies was the use of "Micheal Biehn" and a whole lot of beautiful action. Sure titantic touched on a deeper more heartfelt story, but thats like micheal bay directing "sense and sensibility" instead of ang lee, there still had to be destruction and mayhem. Everyone bashes Bay and says "he makes beautiful looking movies, and he is great with action" but he is a hack director incapable of making anything with substance, camerons movies have had the same substance in terms of characters and story as Bay's. So once again, i am not a fan of Cameron or Bay, but they make movies i would go see for a summer ~fun day~ at least even though Shymalans last few movies were not up to par with the sixth sense, at least they get you using your imagination and brain.~okay signs was the balls~ but The other two directors just melt your brain with mind numbing special effects,action extravaganzas...Spielberg is pushing close now adays, but the man has a track record of great though provoking special effects movies, like "schindlers list,saving private Ryan,Munich"
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I personally think a movie like that is suited for Cameron more the Bay, at least Cameron would have added alittle more depth then Bay could. i will give Cameron that...he is hands down a better director then Bay in terms of blockbusters....and it would have made fan boys happy, and there would be alot less bitching...but it did not play out that way now did it. A fanatasy is nice but reality is alot more ironic.
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Its a good career move for him, even if I haven't cared for his films since Unbreakable, its a very smart move. Probably repair his shitty reputation in the process.
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I hope he can pull this off. It is different then his other movies, a big budget action movie. So I hope it will be better, I mean it can't be as bad as LitW, can it? In Europe the show is called Avatar: The Legend of Aang but Avatar is still there. I always thought James Cameron wouldn't use Avatar but regardless the movies will probably be The Last Airbender: Water/Earth/Fire
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could be said of H.G. Wells' original story. Again, I also suggest that if the aliens were there simply to harvest people, as characters suggested, then perhaps they thought the bacteria was worth the risk. OR, perhaps they did know the bacteria existed... They stayed away from large bodies of water, didn't they? Metal, don't worry so much. No one's going to ruin your precious Jimmy's project. Oh, and I own/love Abyss' directors cut.
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but, who can say what would have happened. Hindsight can seem so 20/20, when it ain't always the case. Man, wanna_bannana loves coming into TBs, kicking asses, and taking names.
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Oh i absoloutly agree that Spielberg is using those subjects for his own agenda, but it does not mean that they are not very good movies in terms of film making. I to am not a huge fan of Spielberg, my point was..that he is a far better director then Bay or Cameron. Spielberg leaves a bad taste in my mouth with his "summer blockbusters" WOTW did not do it for me, alot of the camera shots were very overused techniques, and nothin in terms of "originality" the acting was hammed, and the son running off into the heat of battle with no weapons, was atrocious. And jurassic park,sure it was fun, but it reeked typical Spielberg cheese..the scene where grant stares doey eyes at all the dinasoours *bad texan accent* and says " how did you do this" in which Hammond replies while staring equally doey eyed at his scientifics break throughs and cheesily replies " i'll show you" was pure and utter ham, and i laugh everytime i see that part. Most directors maipulate heavy subjects like war, for their own private agenda, but at least saving private Ryan, and schindlers list were not only beautiful, but they invoked emotion, unlike pearl harbor..and titantic, which only provoked my gag reflex. My arguement was not that Spielberg was the master filmaker anymore, but that he was a far better film maker then the other two combined...and that his track record speaks for itself...so if your arguement is that Spielberg is "balls"now adays then it is a different arguement ,and one in which i whole heartedly agree with you.
And i have seen the abyss directors cut and yes it is camerons best movie as far as i am concerned, but it is still not great by any means. Children of men is great...blade runner is great. hardly "the Abyss" but it is only my personal opinion, each to their own. -
i haven't read all the posts but alot of people are piling hate on a show just because it's nickelodean. Personally i started watching the show with my niece and i really enjoyed and watched the rest. It truly is a great story but i think m night is the wrong person to direct. His movies aren't known for it's scope and definitely not for their action sequences. Both will be needed for AVATAR
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...Who was Peter Jackson when he signed on to do LotR.
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I love it, ham and all. Just a classic, fun film IMO.
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who copied who metal?and who is infringing on whos rights? are you going to get a paycheck out of either project? You are obviously a Cameron fan boy and are arguing they point in favor to Cameron because you are partial to his movies, because you are sure getting pretty worked up over the whole "legal" aspect of the movies. In fact the last post i saw from you was in the TF's thread and it was more of a racial/politicaly correct thread about how you have not seen any "japanese people" in the transformers movie trailer, or there is no casting involving japanese people, and you are sure took it alot more personal then any of my friends,family, and coworkers...wait a minute, now that i think of it, none of them are taking it personal that there are none of us "japanese people" in the film, because we dont give a rats ass,and i dont believe you are even japanese....you dont come to these TB's and talk film you come and talk "legal" or "racial/political" implications of the film...you obviously do not like Shymalans films, and your statement is biased...if you are going to make an arguement at least weigh all ends of the arguement instead of just your own...and you had said before that i argue a point just for the sake of arguing? the only one i truly argue with is you my friend...because i see no actual point in your arguement when it comes to this film. I just see someone complaing about who stole what from who...instead of actually discussing the films involved. It is more obvious that you are just bitching because you have some sort of personal hate on for Shymalan..you make it noticable in your above post.
~so cut the bullshit Shyamalan. Your hack movie is going to bomb no matter what happens, but I assure you, you won't be using that title. And what a completely uninteresting directorial choice for a flundering career!!! Pathetic!!! ~ a troll who uses big words....and disguises a flame as an arguement....is still a troll -
you really give the rest of us serious TB'ers a bad name. Wheres yack and Colon, even Wonka...at least there is finky and sirguy...makes me appreciate you guys all the more.
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you crack me up...the whole visual of the kid being pushed in the shower by a guy in a nazi uniform...If you took your cel phone with a camera, and got a guy in a nazi uniform to push a kid into a shower wwith metal doors...people would not be moved by what a great piece of work it is...they would probably lock you up for making the wrong kind of porn..i dont know what kind of stuff you look up on the net, or how "moved" you are by it...but this is not neverland ranch buddy, you keep what "moves" you to yourself =P and yes the national geographic bit was campy, but once again, i never said spielberg was not campy, and i dont think it ruined the whole movie, it just made me cringe...you know like watching "Borat" or "Jackass the movie". but once again to each their own...i still adore you sirguy, even though i wonder about you... xxoo
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Like he did in the good old days...........
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......in retrospect. From the aliens who somehow had the advanced knowledge and technology to travel thousands of light years to get here yet couldn't figure out how to open a pantry door, to the fact that they travelled that far to find a new planet to colonize only to end up on one covered over 70% of its surface with the one substance that was poisonus to them. Or maybe the fact that the humans who were supposed to be their food after said colonization also happen to have bodies that consist of 75%.....you guessed it, water; poison to them. It's almost like we humans invent faster than light travel, travel hundreds of galaxies away and out of the many planets we pass along the way, we decide to settle on one with 80% liquid cyanide on its surface, and most of whose life forms and plant life consist largely of cyanide. Yep, that makes sense to me too. And don't even get me started on the silly little "coincidences" or twists as Shymalamadindong would have you believe. And all around silly movie which finally revealed just how much of a flake this guy is. They should have revoked his movie-making licence there and then. Expect Avatar, or rather his Avatar, to be equally ridiculous.
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So this is becoming a racial debate? i never believed i had said my culture was without fault in the ways they treat women and young girls...and children in anime and film. In fact i do not even think we were talking about the differences of western and asian film...i thought we were talking about spielberg,shymalan,and cameron? the abyss,jurassic park, and what not...one subject at a time big boy, i would not want you to start to get confused ;) Mine was merely a joke about how your post sounded, allthough i do believe you were actually taking a culture aimed personal potshot at me...i would hope not? i could be wrong? I hope you did not take my last statement too personal? i would not want you to cry =P and actually you have a very good point, some independent film done with an 8mm or a cel phone cam, can actually be a great film and alot more artistic then saving private ryan..Spielberg is a hollywood drone, everything is flashy,pushy and in your face, where as up and coming directors like "cauron" are much more artistic, and better filmakers....which is why it is well known that if a teacher is good at what they do the student always surpasses them. I am sure Cauron has seen alot of Spielbergs "older" films, or if asked would show a great amount of respect for spielbergs work. Just because he has made some shitty films, and has become over the top, and ego has taken over after years of hollywood seeping into his pores...does not mean he does not deserve some respect as a filmaker for some good films =) i mean..how popular and iconic is indie as a character? or how remembered will jaws be as a classic? or better yet, how many film nerds like ourselves have paid tons of cash to see certain movies of his over and over again? i agree, he has gotten plump around the midsection in terms of filmaking..my arguement was that he is still a better filmaker then Bay and Cameron...whats yours sweety?
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it's always seemed to me, too, that the creators know where they're headed, which is nice.
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Shyamalan has made ONE good movie (notice I say GOOD not GREAT) and this anime crap is just that...CRAP. Anime in general is fucking weak, and this one is no different.
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Okay, AVATAR has been the long rumored next James Cameron movie. Why would Shyamalan think he could step in and own the name? If anything ... if he won the right ... it would create a backlash against his film. Probably he's written a part for himself where he's self-important again.
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Change your title Shyamalan to THE LAST AIRBENDER and be done with it before you get anymore backlash. It's not exactly a terrible name for a movie.
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it is just based on a series with avatar in the title, that does not mean he will call the movie that.
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and is doing a remake of The Last Starfighter.
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Concerning the wherefores and whithers of the bendings of air.
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Whether you are an attorney, or simply somewhat well-informed about the law, you oughtta know that all of this stuff you are citing relates to products and intellectual properties. Titles, on the other hand, are not protected and can neither be copyrighted nor protected (If you don't believe me, just imdb something like "Stigma" or, I don't know, maybe "Avatar"). I'm currently shooting my own "Avatar 2" which will be released the same day as James Cameron's "Avatar." As long as I don't lift any major character or plot elements, no legal force on earth can stop me. Of course, I'm kidding. Common sense and the marketplace would stop me, but the law has nothing to do with it. Peace out!
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Suuuuuuuuuuuucccccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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starts crying when Cameron beats his ass into the ground... just like he did when that Disney exec didn't like his script. God, I can't get enough of that story. M. Night Babypisshispantalan
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This show has been on the air for almost 3 years - they did not get the name from Cameron's project! It is shown in more than 17 countries in several languages, they already have a Season 1 boxed set and all of the episodes are available on iTunes, there is an Avatar roller coaster in Ohio, Burger King gave out 8 differnt toys with their kids meals, there is a multi-platform video game as well as a collectable card game, they've had limited theatrical screenings and the TV movie was ON DEMAND on Comcast for a month, Mattel has a line of toys in stores all over the world, hell they even have a LEGO playset! The most recent hour long episode drew in 4.1 million American viewers alone fer Chrissakes. Why in the WORLD do you think Cameron's pending project's name would trump all of this? How many people, besides people like us, are even aware of Cameron's project at this point in it's development?
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J Cameron's Avatar won't be out until '09. I can't see either party wanting to spend money on legal battles, so I'd wager that The Last Airbender will be the TV series' theatrical name.
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I know it was meant to be funny you ass, i was being sarcastic.. =P And i hear yah on the whole Kate being the "yoko" of his career ~no pun intended~ ooh hope Colon does not read that...he for some reason thinks that everything to do with the beatles is fantastic...silly boy =P I could not stand kate in temple of doom, in fact that was not a good indie flick by any means. And i challenge anyone to say otherwise * puts up fists in little orphan annie stance* hey sirguy, if you have myspace feel free to add me to your friends list, i am under "makiko" i could always use more convo about film with "semi intelligent" people" =P not that you are intelligent or anything, i guess i am just fond of you.
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There we go!!...fox owns the rights,case closed...yay! maybe thats the last we will hear of it? back onto the interesting stuff!!
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A Knights Night, a new $200 million action spectacular, written, produced, directed, and self stared by M. Night Shyamalan. This ground breaking action adventure will have the brilliant man himself star in his own movie as a Knight who must save mankind from homophobic mohawked monkeys by writing a book which will change the world. A Knights Night, starring M. Night, you heard it hear first.
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"AVATAR" is not the same name as "Avatar: The Last Airbender." So why is this even an issue? Saying that you 'own' the word Avatar is like saying you own the word Saint. There are 12 movies released under the name "Dracula" and I'd guess they all have something to do with vampires. There are another 143 listings on IMDb that also use the word Dracula. FOX can't keep Viacom from using that word in their title too.
And for the record, I love the show and I think bringing Shyamamlan is going to destroy the franchise - he sucks. They should just release some full length animated films a'la Pokemon and laugh all the way to the bank. (The 5 Pokemon movies grossed $394.7+ million internationally) Kids like cartoons, just leave it a cartoon. -
Jan 09, 2007 10:34:04 PM CST
Megatron gives the Full Monty http://tinyurl.com/ymbjo7
by all your base
you gotta see it!
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Verily thy prose hath enraptured me. Perchance, is this tale of Shamalamadingdong's absinthe-engendered woe an original creation?
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However, it was more due to the fact it was the first movie to have a single national release date, and due to the pervasive marketing campaign. Before Jaws, movies were released in staggered phases, they would release in one city, then the next, and so forth. However, with Jaws it had one national release date, and this was coupled with a marketing campaign that created hype and buzz on a national level for the very first time. Of course it was a pretty good film as well, especially for its time. What Speilberg has done cannot be denied, however, I just cannot agree with the blind fan worship the man recieves from virtually every nerd/geek website such as Aintitcoolnews and chud. I find plenty of his films underwhelming.
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What about the James Bond movies? Or the Crosby/Hope 'Road' pictures? All tentpoles in their day.
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fuck off
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...when you think about it.
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We will find out that it was actually James Cameron directing the movie all along!! WHAT A TWIST!
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This is probably one of the most unpopular opinions ever on this site, but fuck it. I'm sayin' it proud. I finally rented it - I had meant to see it in the theatre but the timing didn't work out. After hearing all the bitching on this site about the movie, my motivation was lessened, but damn, I should have never listened. I thought it was freakin' brilliant and beautiful. I will never understand the hate for the guy - I get that he's narcissistic and probably bat-shit insane, but it doesn't mean his movies aren't fantastic. In my mind his films are the only ones that come close to the magic of Spielberg's ET and Close Encounters that I felt as a kid. So seeing him do a genuine kid's property should be very interesting.
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First, I think anyone that thinks the two movie names can't or won't coexists is wrong. Obviously, Nickolodean has passed muster with the series name using Avatar. If anything, it's their series that will beat out Cameron's as-of-yet-script-only project.
Next, I think they should wait awhile on bringing Aang and Kitara and Co. to the big screen. My six year old daughter loves this show, and frankly - so do I. What's not to love...? Great storylines, well thought out characters that are a nice mix of dark and light, action, humor, warmth - it's nearly a perfect show. Casting for love action will make or break it without a doubt.
I'm OK with M Knight taking the reins, but I'd be happier with several other directors that are more action-oriented.
All in all, mark my words - the two movies will be made with no issues with their titles OR Cameron will have to rename his... -
I also whole heartedly agree, i think "Lady In The Water" was a satisfying movie, i was caught up in it the whole way through, i thought that it had some very touching moments, and that Paul's character was touching, and felt more real to me then any character in a film,for quite some time. And i mean you are right, it is a childrens fairy tale...with an adult presentation, i do not think M,night has done an a superb movie since the "sixth sense" but i do think his films maintain a certain consistency, they are always entertaining...they might have parts that lack and logic that chews ... and the endings will never match the sixth sense, but they are fantasy movies, and with exception to signs, i always wind up enjoying them...for me watching each film he makes, is like watching new age, well written,bigger budget..episodes of "the twilight zone" the endings are pretty predictable, he is in the same category as "robert zemekis" for me, if not maybe ~alittle~ better. Allthough yack, saying you do not like a directors work, and saying he wears panties, and has no cock...are two completely different things, no need to get that "personal" =P You my friend are not close to a troll, i by far expect better TB conduct from you young man! Oh and yack, that was my point when talking about Spielberg, his old stuff was good, and his new stuff, is okay...as far as cameron goes, i will give him credit for having cahonas, and for making good action flicks. But thats it, he is better then Bay, but that does not say much...to me they are only good to provide summer entertainment.
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James Cameron is cool here, Shyamalan and Nickelodeon are not, so of course we cast a negative light on the cartoon which is actually very good and from the sound of it something totally different from anything Cameron will make. Oh the shallowness of you people.
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They're not the same, but very similar in many ways.
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