I saw Avatar on Saturday. Read the full post.
Dec 22
2009
08:37 PM ET
Is Avatar this generation's Star Wars? Is Avatar BETTER than Star Wars? The debate begins!
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The Lord of the Rings is my generation’s STAR WARS. I was floored by it! the intelligent writing, the heart breaking coda with which it ended… the psychology of golem… Oh, but if i had to pick between Star Wars and Avatar… I’d go with Star Wars.
ooh i agree. LOTR is this generation’s star wars
lord of the what? those are SOOOO OVER
You know WANDA the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the one that won 17 Academy Awards in all. 11 for the Lord of the Rings, which is the same number Titanic won, which is James Cameron’s other “masterpiece” let’s see how many Avatar Wins.
None if i have anything to do about it.HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE
if that smurf epic wins best picture,or director,i am going to go your house Eli,and FIST YOU
Considering LOTR was written long ago, maybe that’s my grandma’s Star Wars. LOTR was painfully boring.
We have to specify here. Avatar is better than Episodes 1+2, and maybe even episode 3.
but when you say Star Wars, I’m thinking the fantastic original three that are full of heart and great effects (given their time period)
I loved Avatar. But it is NOT better than Star Wars. Not even close.
That’s the problem. We can’t take back the last (first) three episodes of Star Wars. I wonder how the debate would be if Lucas had never made the prequels.
Oh Stop with the bitching about the Prequels.Can we just take YOU Back?
EW is deliberately trying to sabotage Avatar. First the whole ridiculous criticism of the script. It is completely unfair because other movies are not subjected to tha kind of scrutiny. The plot is more than adequate. It is a great story. It is a lot better than many movies EW has not tried to bring down. Now EW is comparing it to the biggest popculture phenomenom of the past 40 years when it has been out for only five days. Avatar has not even had a chance fully establish itself and you are putting it up against a classic. Why not compare it to transformers and the other trash we have been subjected to this year. All my friends and family that have seen the movie loved it. The response from fans has been largely positive. EW should be encouraging people to see this movie. They reviewed the movie, then released another article further criticizing it harshly. Where is the love? I just hope people won’t listen to EW because they will miss out on one of the best movies of the year
Personally, based on its story, I don’t think that Avatar was a good film. It was a beautiful film, but its story was weak, and the dialogue was corny.
It was better than Transformers, LOL, but for me to love a film it has to have a captivating story. Avatar didn’t even come close.
It had a really interesting premise, but never lived up to it’s potential.
You may not agree with their opinions, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with EW expressing their views about Avatar.
I don’t mind EW expressing their views. I come here for that. What I would like to see is some consistency in their coverage because avatar has got the short stick. It is taking a harsher beating than worse movies.
I agree with you, Jane. I can’t help but think that they’re just trying to start a flame war.
Avatar may end up with Star Wars’ longevity, and it might not. But now, four days after its release, is probably not the best time to form snap judgments. We’re not going to know anything about Avatar’s long-term influence for, maybe, decades. From that perspective, even posing this question at all borders on the idiotic.
Thanks, Jane.
I’ve heard some people defending EW’s criticism by saying that Avatar should be held to a higher standard than, say, Transformers. It’s James Cameron, we’ve heard it hyped up (ironically by media outlets JUST LIKE EW, who hyped it up only to tear into it for not living up to said hype), it’s supposed to be game-changing (and in terms of technology, it is).
What pisses me off more than anything is that Cameron aimed high, VERY high, and faltered a bit. But instead of commending him for pushing the envelope, for putting it all on the table, for appreciating that he at least tried to do something different, people are kicking him in the groin over the story and trying to compare this movie to friggin’ Star Wars (a little early for that, no?).
Meanwhile hacks who aim low and make cynical, soulless garbage are given a pass, because they’re just doing what’s expected.
It’s a sad world when a guy like Bay who makes trash isn’t called out for it, but a guy like Cameron gets raked over the coals because his film didn’t quite meet the impossibly high standards set for it.
By that logic, what incentive is there for new ideas and technical innovation when all it gets you is a sneer?
I totally agree with Jane. Isn’t this discussion a little premature? I think it’s a good idea to give this generation a chance to actually, I dunno, watch Avatar before this argument is even considered. It’s been out what 5-6 days? How did you expect people to answer? Did you really think people will choose Avatar over a 32 year old cultural staple?
avatar already came out, so yeah, let the discussions begin! that’s why it’s called film criticism, and i agree with EW, with a little more care towards the screenplay and the characters this movie would have topped all. However, as it stands right now, it’s a nice ride… great visual… weak story.
That article was supposed to be film criticism?
Jane, you are my hero! I love EW, but they are being morons about this.
It’s hard for me to see it this way when even Roger Ebert said his Avatar experience reminded him of Star Wars back in 1977, and he liked it a lot more than Owen G. and Jeff Jensen did. See here:
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091211/REVIEWS/912119998
I’m surprised Jensen didn’t use Ebert’s review for his own Star Wars/Avatar comparison (or open discussion if you prefer).
But the more important aspect of the comment: are any of their snap judgments premature? Perhaps. But there’s no harm debating its impact at the moment.
The true test will be how well it holds. If 30 years from now, your son still thinks Avatar is the greatest movie ever, as many in my generation still feel more than 30 years after Star Wars, then this might hold true. That said, no way is Avatar on par with Star Wars.
I do not see how anybody could think that Star Wars is the best movie/series of all time. I have played the games to the ground, I have read most of the books, and I love all of the movies (excluding episodes I and II). What makes it the best movie of all time? I love it personally, but I do not think it deserves that spot. It is because you were around when it first came out in theatres. Guess what? I’m around now, and Star Wars just came out again…for me anyway.
Just saw Avatar. It wrinkled my brain with its visual beauty and imagination. I may even call it a masterpiece.
But it didn’t have the sense of ‘FUN’ that Star Wars had. I never laughed during Avatar like I laughed during Star Wars. I didn’t leave thinking how cool it would be to be Jake Scully like I did with Han Solo or Luke Skywalker. I can’t quote any lines from Avatar like I can from Star Wars, even though its been 30 years.
Maybe its a generational thing and this is what will grab today’s youth, but, as much as I enjoyed Avatar and would recommend it to people, I didn’t have as much FUN as I did with Star Wars. But maybe today’s youth don’t want FUN or have a different definition of FUN.
Does that make sense?
Raised on Star Wars, I certainly prefer it. And I think it’s a little too soon to assess whether or not Avatar will have a similar cultural effect. It’s certainly possible, I think, with such a grand story and the new world James Cameron invented, but honestly, only time will tell if it will have the same cultural impact.
I agree with those who were surprised by how weak Avatar was as a story. Some of the dialogue was ridiculous, and, in my opinion, it’s far from even being a good film, let alone ground-breaking. To me, beautiful visuals are not enough to make a movie a classic.
My question is how Owen gave this movie a “B”. Any movie that you even think about comparing to Star Wars should not have been given a “B”.
One way to answer this question is whether this movie appeals to the same demographic as Star Wars — teenage boys. I have seen this movie 3 times (morning showings), and teenage boys have been mysteriously absent. Is it the time of day for the showings, or is this movie really not attracting any teenage boys?
That’s simple. It’s not Transformers. It has a gripping story.
Why do ANY of presume to think that Avatar is either this generation’s Star Trek or it’s not? Can you see into the future? Do you know what will be considered a classic in 30 years and what will be forgotten?
I think the obvious answer to this question is, “It’s way, way too early to tell.”
As prescient as some of you seem to be (in either direction), I have to ask, why aren’t you playing the lottery?
Correction: Why do ANY of YOU presume to think that Avatar is either this generation’s Star WARS or it’s not?
I need to stop typing on a caffeine high.
really liked Avatar, but The story line was weak and I have seen it before. Dances With Wolves? Pocahantus*? Star Wars had a much deeper, more complex, and relatable story-line with better characters. but Avatar visually blew my mind and I hate this new 3D trend. I am not personally a fan of it. I think 3D takes a lot away from a film.
Have not seen Avatar, and could be totally wrong here, but from the previews I gather this:
Technological Humans vs. Primitive Aliens. Sounds lots like Return of the Jedi. And the simple fact of tons of CGI including main characters seems like a page out of the Phantom Menace. Don’t get me wrong, I am interested in seeing this movie, but I am guessing there will be nothing in it that stirs the imagination that hasn’t already been concocted. When Star Wars came out it truly was groundbreaking cinematically. Maybe this will at least have decent acting, but short of wanting a Big Mac when I see an Avatar commercial I am going to be hoping for nothing more than a movie that holds my attention for a few hours.
“Technilogical humans vs primitive aliens” IS pretty much where it starts, but it goes somewhere from there that is so amazing that — if your imagination is as invested as mine was — will make you wish you could be one of the Na’vi.
Oops. “Technological.”
i wish you were one of them so i can beat your ass
There is no “this generation’s” Star Wars. Not even Lucas could replicate that movie’s magic, much less improve upon it. The characters were more memorable and unique, and it had one of the greatest villains and scores in cinema history.
But film-making has come along way in the past 30 years. I showed my kids (10 and 12) Star Wars IV a few days before we went to see Avatar; one wandered off before it was over and the other fell asleep. They left the three-hour Avatar buzzing with excitement. The vistas that can be created now are limited only by the director’s imagination.
I think this generation’s Star Wars is THE DARK KNIGT.
the Dark Knight is already passe ,much like THE Matrix and Harry Potter.Avatar is already passe
Wanda what is not passe for you?
Isn’t it funny how Wanda, Bridget, and Tom have all used the word “passe” in their comments?
Lol I think Owen is commenting on this.
Sit on my face Crispy
It is as passe as the dump Crispy took on Franksf’s face
Dark Knight is A Batman movie..which one was it??..The Michael Keaton or The George Clooney one? or the really cool Val Kilmer one?
Wasn’t Jack Nicholson a brilliant joker????????
Naw it was that Cool one with Adam West
Um, until we see what’s still around in 30 years, I don’t see how anyone on here can say with such smug confidence that a movie that came out less than a week ago is or isn’t “this generation’s Star Wars.”
How about, Star Wars is Star Wars?
May the Force be with you Padawan