Avatar is Definitely a Must See

First the bad, yes, this is the evil human empire against an indigenous people. That's where the similarities end with other movies like Fern Gully, X-Terra, Dances with Wolves. When you boil the movie down to it's most basic parts, it's that kind of story. The problem with those aforementioned movies is they are pandering and preachy. They do it so much in those movies they make you want to puke. Cameron does none of those things. The way he tells the story is actually good. It doesn't pander or be preachy. When you look beyond the premise of the story, you realize it's not only the evil cowboys vs the good Indians. I can understand why people draw conclusion when the Na'vi are so Indian like. It's about corporate greed. The lengths corporations will go to make a buck. Though they go to extremes in this movie, but then the movie wouldn't be as exciting if they didn't make it so epic. I draw parallels with some of our own very real evil empires. The RIAA is a prime example. The RIAA will go to any length to squash the little man for downloading and sharing music. They also go to extremes, case in point the recent ruling against a file sharer for $1.92 million. That ruling was against someone who will never have the means to pay back that fine in his lifetime.

Taking the story at face value, and how well Cameron executed it, makes it a good story. The story could have been better with better dialog. It's not a great story, and it's evident that the story takes a back seat to the action, exploration and understanding of the world of Pandora.

The most important aspect the film, is the film itself. The visuals, for lack of a better phrase, breath taking. The film is truly groundbreaking. I'm not talking about the True 3D experience. I'm talking about the entirely cg world Cameron and countless effects studios have put into this movie. It's clear that Cameron borrowed a great deal he had learned doing documentaries on plant and animal life. He uses it such a way, along with the visuals makes the world real in the minds eye. Weta, which was the lead effects studio on the movie, really pushed the limits of what can be done with motion and facial capturing technology. Never has body and facial movement looks so real in all cg characters. I was floored with what they did with Gollum in Lord of the Rings. They set the bar with that movie, and with Avatar, they didn't just raise the bar. They flung it into space.

With most movies, especially with my artistic eye, I usually find those moments where I say "Holy shit that's some bad CG". It's usually so glaring it instantly removes me from the world the director is trying to bring me into. I found none of that in this movie. The CG is flawless, and appears to real and life like. This brings me to the True3D experience. It is indeed an experience. One you have never before seen in your life to this day. Those that have seen the movie in 3D know exactly what I'm saying. The CG world and story already does a great job bringing you into the world of Pandora. The True3D and glasses quite literally holds you there. While watching the movie, I found myself engulfed in the setting. On until the movie ended, was I even aware of the crowd of people around me. The depth, distance all seem real. You can even see the distance between windshields and the person piloting the cool looking aircraft. Liquids in tanks, show their volume in depth. The visuals on the computer consoles, look truly interactive, literally wrap around the actor/actress. So much so that you can almost feel like reaching out and touching the screen they are using.

This movie, is in my opinion the most ground breaking and innovative movie ever released. Sadly the story isn't as ground breaking, but it's still a good story that at least helps you along the visual journey. I highly recommend anyone who loves scifi and/or fantasy films.Taking the story at face value, and how well Cameron executed it, makes it a good story. The story could have been better with better dialog. It's not a great story, and it's evident that the story takes a back seat to the action, exploration and understanding of the world of Pandora. The most important aspect the film, is the film itself. The visuals, for lack of a better phrase, breath taking. The film is truely groundbreaking. I'm not talking about the True 3D experience. I'm talking about the entirely cg world Cameron and countless effects studios have put into this movie. It's clear that Cameron borrowed a great deal he had learned doing documentaries on plant and animal life. He uses it such a way, along with the visuals makes the world real in the minds eye. Weta, which was the lead effects studio on the movie, really pushed the limits of what can be done with motion and facial capturing technology. Never has body and facial movement looks so real in all cg characters. I was floored with what they did with Gollum in Lord of the Rings. They set the bar with that movie, and with Avatar, they didn't just raise the bar. They flung it into space.

With most movies, especially with my artistic eye, I usually find those moments where I say "Holy shit that's some bad CG". It's usually so glaring it instantly removes me from the world the director is trying to bring me into. I found none of that in this movie. The CG is flawless, and appears to real and life like. This brings me to the True3D experience. It is indeed an experience. One you have never before seen in your life to this day. Those that have seen the movie in 3D know exactly what I'm saying. The CG world and story already does a great job bringing you into the world of Pandora. The True3D and glasses quite literally holds you there. While watching the movie, I found myself engulfed in the setting. On until the movie ended, was I even aware of the crowd of people around me. The depth, distance all seem real. You can even see the distance between windshields and the person piloting the cool looking aircraft. Liquids in tanks, show their volume in depth. The visuals on the computer consoles, look truly interactive, literally wrap around the actor/actress. So much so that you can almost feel like reaching out and touching the screen they are using.

This movie, is in my opinion the most ground breaking and innovative movie ever released. Sadly the story isn't as ground breaking, but it's still a good story that at least helps you along the visual journey. I highly recommend anyone who loves scifi and/or fantasy films.

Finale

The concert is over and I must say I am impressed! Amazing show, the original composer was there and jammed with the rest of the symphany. The only problem is the in game footage from the other games haven't really stood the test of time. Especially on such a huge screen. Overall I am so impressed that I hope to see them again. Now if only there were a concert series for Blizzard games.

Good night all, time for me to get my drink on. :)

Sent from Android

Intermission

We just hit intermission and wow what a show its been so far. They have played a lot of music from my favorite final fantasy games. Vii, viii and x.

Oddly though I'm dressed better than most, I feel under dressed at a symphany.  anyway, after the last half we'll be heading back to the hotel to probably do some drinking and munching :)

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Distant World

So we're in Chicago this weekend for Distant Worlds the Music of Final Fantasy. Sadly not lot of people are dressed up as Final Fantasy Characters. With the weather being so cold its not suprising.

The hotel we're staying as is down right amazing, hd tv, free internet, hdmi/vga hooking your laptop up to a 42 inch tv, kick ass view from the windows, and amazing glass showers. I know major run on but I'm excited to to be here. ;)

I'll post more as the night goes on. The show is about to start.
Wish you all could be here.

-grex
Sent from Android

Taking Christ out of Christmas

I'll admit, I'm a pretty jaded kind of guy. Nothing bothers me the most than Christmas. I have absolutely nothing against Christmas really, it's the way everyone goes about celebrating it. What bothers me about it, is it's only a celebration of SHOPPING, and BUYING, and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. Political correctness?  Shopping and buying? I'm sure some of you are thinking I've gone mad. Honestly I've been nuts for a long time. Just hear me out. 

Christmas and it's sole purpose was to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It's not the literal birth date of Jesus, but is the designated date that we all celebrate. In history, it has also become a time of gift giving and family gatherings. Nonetheless it is a Christian based holiday. 

Sadly, Christmas has lost it's meaning to the masses. It now spending spending spending. Money, money, money. Christmas sales everywhere, Christmas in July sales, Christmas summer sales, it's all enough to make a person sick! In my town, Christmas started to be celebrated commercially the day after Halloween!! Not even Thanksgiving yet and Christmas trees, and decorations are being put up. Not to celebrate Christmas but to remind people YOU NEED TO SHOP. Subconsciously they tell you Christmas has arrived and you need to SHOP NOW! Never mind the fact that in the pre-holiday season, prices jump so when the holiday season does arrive they lower the prices back to normal so they can say CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SALE! People fall for it every year. "look at this great deal!, I remember when this was $20 more back in August!" failing to remember that the same items was really cheaper this past May, June or July. We're all suckers, we fall for it every time and not even realize it.

On the religious side of things, we have now become so "politically correct" that the Christian faiths are discouraged from celebrating the birth of Jesus publicly. All due to fear of offending other faiths, religions or those with lack there of. I just heard on the news this morning that somewhere someone tried to read a passage out of the Christian Bible in public, in celebration of a Christian holiday, and was stopped from doing so because it was ILLEGAL and NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT. This is a Christian holiday for crying out loud! Let the man celebrate his faith with others who share the same things. I'm not a Christian, I am atheist, though I may not agree or believe like others do, they should have the right to their religious beliefs, and to celebrate it how they see fit. For me if I don't like it, I can go home , not participate or change the channel. It is CHRISTmas after all, a Christian holiday, let them celebrate it and their faith.

The last thing that bothers me most about Christmas is it's used as an excuse to spend time with family and friends. This makes me sick most of all. Why do we need an excuse to spend time with family and friends and to give gifts. Shouldn't we do this anyway all year round? Our time on this Earth is short, and we need one day a year to make sure we show appreciation and love to our friends and family? Screw political correctness, shopping sales, and what not. Love and appreciate your friends and family all year round, don't just wait until Christmas or any other holiday to do it. Put some thought in your gifts and really make it count all the time. It will mean something, it will mean more when you do.