Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Science of Avatar

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the god-i-want-to-see-this dept.

Jamie noted a bit on The Science of Avatar running on Ain't it Cool, written by a professor of astrophysics who has worked on searching for planets and SETI. I believe I might be the last person on earth who hasn't seen it; here's hoping I can find 3 free hours over the holidays.

10 of 275 comments (clear)

  1. I haven't seen it by A+Friendly+Troll · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I haven't seen it because all of my friends have torrented the damn movie, some even watched horrible cam rips with a foreign language and no subs.

    Nobody wants to go to the cinema any more.

    Fuck you, torrents.

    1. Re:I haven't seen it by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If you want to see it that bad, go by yourself. Enjoy the crowds of obnoxious people, screaming babies, filthy floors, cramped seats, blocked views, terrible traffic, and insufficient parking. Yeah, nobody wants to go to the cinema anymore because of crappy cam torrents.

    2. Re:I haven't seen it by iocat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Having seen in in 3D, I can assure you, the visuals are not "a critical piece," they are "the critical piece." This is not a movie to watch critically for plot holes or bad dialog, The 3D is great, and the CG is just stunning.

      --

      Dude, I think I can see my house from here.

    3. Re:I haven't seen it by ShatteredArm · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Dances With The Last Of The Pocahontas." Once you work FernGully in there, you've incorporated pretty much every plot element.

    4. Re:I haven't seen it by CodeBuster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Enjoy the crowds of obnoxious people, screaming babies, filthy floors, cramped seats, blocked views, terrible traffic, and insufficient parking.

      This can be a problem yes, but one thing that Avatar has going for it is the Imax 3D angle which generally costs at least $16 US dollars per seat and more like $20+ if one gets popcorn and soda. While some might say that price is a rip-off, it does have the rather nice side effect of discouraging some of the more low-brow elements of the general public (especially during a recession). So, if I were going to see it at the theater I would chose the more expensive Imax 3D option at least one week after release. This reduces substantially the probability of encountering the unpleasant elements enumerated by the parent.

  2. I haven't seen it either. by bsDaemon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I haven't seen it, and I'm not planning on it. You can't just take Dances with Smurfs and call it something else! That's not kewwwwwwwwww'!

  3. Re:Ava-who? by thisnamestoolong · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seconded -- it actually almost makes me physically ill to think of the fact that Avatar will probably make close to (if not more than) a billion dollars while thousands of brilliant, thoughtful films wallow in obscurity. We are no longer a nation that takes pride in greatness -- we reward mediocrity and shun anything that might challenge our preconceived notions. Our entire nation is roughly at the emotional development level of an 11 year old -- just turn on the television, radio, or walk into your local multiplex if you don't believe me.

    --
    To the haters: You can't win. If you mod me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine
  4. Re:Ava-who? by Venerence · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I have never seen this movie, heard nothing but good things about it, and it has a gigantic budget, so therefore it's terrible and I will never see it. Yet somehow I think I can write an opinion about it.

  5. Re:Ava-who? by TheKidWho · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "I didn't watch it and I don't like the idea of it, so anyone who does like it is obviously a moron and is a sign of things to come for our society. Why can't people be intelligent like me and like some obscure movie by some obscure director???"

    BooHoo, get off your high horse. The movie is visual excellence, nothing compares to it in that department.

  6. Re:Lifeforms by bjwest · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Like I said, we have not seen enough other planets to say whether it's rare or not. Hell, nine out of uncountable billions, does not mean we can say with any probability of accuracy that life is rare. Even if we limit life to carbon/oxygen based organisms, we cannot.

    It's not a science fiction fantasy to think life exists on other planets, in other forms other than our own. It IS out own arrogance that lets us think that we are so "special" as to be the only thing in the universe that matters or counts as life. Our own state is the only state that can be considered life. That kind of thinking will get us into trouble when/if we get out there.

    --

    --- Keep the choice with the user..