tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1435448003077731913.post7494378332966443282..comments2023-12-21T11:09:00.632-05:00Comments on Rants of a Diva: Rants on AvatarDame Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684030137746709310noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1435448003077731913.post-9205871728158110312010-02-05T14:26:42.901-05:002010-02-05T14:26:42.901-05:00"special effects for spectacle only and not t..."special effects for spectacle only and not to further the story": in art school, we called this the Phantom Menace Effect.Mike Ellis, The Jolly Reprobatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10881457605478808478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1435448003077731913.post-87524506410683448552010-01-26T17:35:43.179-05:002010-01-26T17:35:43.179-05:00James - I salivated for a year over The Lovely Bon...James - I salivated for a year over The Lovely Bones, too. But I sure didn't give that an A. I gave Avatar an A because from my evaluation, based on its merits alone, it deserved an A.<br /><br />If Avatar had had zero hype behind it-- if it were somehow an independent film that was "discovered" at a film festival (a la Precious at Sundance) or the like-- I doubt the response would have been as ferocious from detractors (you included). If anything, hype engenders doubt and even disapproval in most.<br /><br />I think it works both ways though. I have a hard time believing that most critics would say 2012 was a better film than Nine. And yet, 2012 scored higher on average (according to RT). In this instance, the hype didn't deliver, so the film was crucified. With Avatar, the hype delivered.Adam M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04447370109794157759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1435448003077731913.post-22150730453646025132010-01-26T13:33:25.847-05:002010-01-26T13:33:25.847-05:00Samantha: I'm glad you approve. Too bad we cou...<b>Samantha</b>: I'm glad you approve. Too bad we couldn't completely agree on the film, though.<br /><br /><b>Adam</b>: I was as fair as I could be with <i>Avatar</i> but I'll be the first to admit that I have a strong bias against blockbuster action films. It's not because they make massive amounts of money but, rather, I find most of them to have utterly ridiculous narratives and, yet, they are always taken so damn seriously. My God, lighten up, you're not <i>Schindler's List</i> for Christ's sake. Yes, it would be great if we could all judge films based only on their own merits but we don't live in a vacuum. We each come with our own biases, both positive and negative. (And don't tell me you don't have them because I knew based on the way you have been salivating at the prospect of <i>Avatar</i> all year long you would give it an A).<br /><br />And I don't buy your argument that smaller independent films get a free pass, so to speak, while big budget films are judged more harshly. I think the Academy does that to for sure, but, on the whole, the critical community seems fair for the most part. Besides, more people are going to see these blockbusters so that allows for more wide-ranging opinion to seep through.<br /><br /><b>Kameron</b>: Haha I didn't notice that before. Subtle promotion at its best.Dame Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02684030137746709310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1435448003077731913.post-79770179272556424002010-01-26T11:04:08.300-05:002010-01-26T11:04:08.300-05:00Does he have the Vonage® symbol on his forehead? I...Does he have the Vonage® symbol on his forehead? Is this film trying to convince me to switch my telephone provider?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1435448003077731913.post-22175701406948583332010-01-25T23:24:26.585-05:002010-01-25T23:24:26.585-05:00I'm glad you didn't hate it, but I still t...I'm glad you didn't hate it, but I still think you're a grumpy grumpy pants. I never understood-- and I just as much didn't understand here-- the argument that a film with a bigger budget, more populist approval, greater awareness, and a larger P&A campaign deserves to be judged more harshly or with a sharper critical perspective than smaller, independent, or unknown filmmaking efforts. Why can't films be judged based on their own merits, and their own merits alone?<br /><br />I must say I loved this line:<br /><br />" I, at one point, found myself shouting "Kill whitey!" "<br /><br />I think I did that during 'It's Complicated.'Adam M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04447370109794157759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1435448003077731913.post-63188586655742660532010-01-25T20:04:33.950-05:002010-01-25T20:04:33.950-05:00i give my approval of this rant....you're welc...i give my approval of this rant....you're welcome ;)Sam Loreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04629473208285012090noreply@blogger.com