OK so my $.50 about Avatar: THREE "new" things brought to movie-dom:
- Super-improved stereo (3D) vision.
- Facial rendering is superb.
- Combination of 3D and improved tech make nearly all of the large-scale scenes so believable that you don't get the "what an incredible simulation" sensation - that moment when you're pulled back into the realization you're in your seat at ...a theater.
I had only TWO of those 'gotcha' moments during the movie, and the first one I think may have been deliberate. About four minutes in, a weapon barrel is pointed out 'at' the audience making it 'pop' out at the viewer. The sensation was a lot like earlier 3D experiences; not very realistic. And it made you think, 'Jeez, this isn't going to be one of THOSE movies is it?' to yourself. Happily, the rest of the movie isn't that way. I won't mention the second moment I had because you may not have it.
There are levels you watch movies on, one being visual or sensory. Some of the acting by 'humans' in the movie kind of sucked - characters were defined a little hacky but that may be to compensate/enhance the visual changes. The story line was just OK; not much left to be done out there no matter how much you tweak the experience.
Overall, I think Avatar is a gem and I hope the 3D contexts, with or without animation, will help expand cinema in genres like westerns and film noir. It has a heck of a lot going for it.
The animation on the other hand is just getting better and better, and there are lots of contributors in that space already. I'm not ready for Monkey Car Racers in 3D just yet, so I hope 3D is saved for animation really worthy of it!
