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Cameron's Avatar a 3D Drug Trip?
bowman9991 writes "James Cameron's first movie since Titanic, his upcoming science fiction epic Avatar, has a budget pushing US$200 million and enough hype to power a mission to Mars. Now it appears the 3D technology he created to turn his vision into a reality, the key to Avatar's success or failure, may be habit forming. Dr. Mario Mendez, a behavioral neurologist at the University of California, said it is entirely possible Cameron's 3D technology could tap brain systems that are undisturbed by conventional 2D movies. Cameron himself believes 3D viewing 'is so close to a real experience that it actually triggers memory creation in a way that 2D viewing doesn't' and that stereoscopic (3D) viewing uses more neurons, which would further heighten its impact."
Not quite... "According to spokesmen of both NASA and the federal government, the price tag of the mission to Mars currently sits at approximately $11 billion over the course of the multi-stage implementation of the program. Unfortunately, flipping this extraordinary bill is only a small portion of the whole sum of costs imposed by the Mars Exploration Program." - http://www.mises.org/article.aspx?Id=1440
...to push stories from years ago as if they were just published to the masses. The article is from November 2007.
"It was like doing some kind of drug," he said, describing a scene showing Sam Worthington running around "with this kind of hot alien chick," and being attacked by jaguarlike creatures. He was sprinkled with sprites that floated down, like snowflakes. "You feel like the little feathery things are landing on your arm".
In other words, it's a typical fantasy movie with spaceships masquerading as science fiction.
Finally, is it me or is this an Onion story reject? A bit more funny and it'd fit right in.
Neal Stephenson called it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_crash
One of the plot devices is a drug that can be absorbed visually.
Interestingly, Stephenson is also the one who coined the modern use of 'Avatar' in virtual worlds.
I'm blind in one eye too. The latest 3d trend makes me sad, cause it sounds so cool. I remember being sad I couldn't go see captain nemo when I went to disnyworld as a kid.
This movie has no connection what so ever to that cartoon of the same name.
This story is a dead-ringer for the plot of John Carpenter's cult classic film, 'The Hidden'.
O lord, bless this thy holy hand grenade, that with it thou mayest blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.
Actually I believe a mission to mars could boost US research quite a bit.
This is a list off technology from the Apollo program: http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/apollo.htm
www.aleo.no
Uh, err... damn. That's the last time I post to /. after tasting our latest hooch production.
I meant They Live. Watched both movies back-to-back a few weeks ago, probably why I confused the two. 'They Live' is about space aliens who live hidden among us, aliens who came to earth to colonize it and us, because they view earth as a "developing planet." The key part is that they look just like us - unless you're wearing special optics, made for seeing their true image.
So... what exactly is an "avatar," in the context of story you retold us all...?
O lord, bless this thy holy hand grenade, that with it thou mayest blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.