What if Avatar was released in 1997
 

Here's a hypothetical situation i've been thinking about the past couple of days, what if Avatar was released instead of Titanic? Let's say James Cameron was the only person who had the technology to produce such a film and the ability for cinemas to show 3d was available. How do you think the film critics would receive it? what about the average person?

I think that it would be maybe too much for the time. After all in 09 it blew us away with the visuals and effects, how would somebody in 1997 react? What about Post Avatar Depression? it greatly affected a percentage of movie goers because of the escape Avatar provided for 2.5 hours, would the same happen in '97?

Assuming all the technology was available to James Cameron alone in 1997 (though we both know that's impossible), I'm sure it would actually be taken a LOT more seriously. For one, in 1997, there was no war in Iraq or Afghanistan because no 9/11 had happened yet. Secondly, "Pocahontas" had come out just three years before, so no one could say "He copied it" because everyone would understand it'd take years to accomplish such a film. The same goes for "Dances With Wolves".

With these factors out of the picture, the film would probably be rated at least a '9/10' stars on IMDb, and the critical reception would be phenominally better than it is now. The political viewpoint would be dramatically shifted to other wars and other events in American history, rather than it being compared to the Iraq/Afghanistan War. Movies about indians were especially popular in the '90s as well, so that's also a plus. Video games didn't have nearly as good graphics as they do today, so the special effects wouldn't be doubted by some either.

The box office would swarm with more people, the ticket sales would probably surpass what they did today, even not adjusting for inflation, because at the time of "Titanic" there were no other hot films in theaters. The only reason "Titanic" stayed in for so long was because there weren't any other popular films that year until May of 1998. "Avatar" would run longer, and receive more revenue. All in all, the film would be phenomenally more successful than it is now.

...Assuming of couse that the sfx were as advanced in '97 specifically for Cameron, as they are now.

I agree, you make some good points.

I think the environmental message (= Half of the life on Earth dead before 2154) would have been taken a lot less seriously in 1997..

Fosus is right, the message would have been ignored more.

Things like PAD would still have happened, I think, and might even have been worse without the widespread use of the internet - we wouldn't be able to talk to other Avatarians.

As for making more money and for there being less haters, I think Woodsprite is right.

I can't help but wonder what the PAD effect would have been like. I can't be the only person who'd have been in trouble without AF and later ToS...

Also -- I'm glad Avatar was released recently. I was five in 1997! :P

And i was 3. Good point here :D

I was 4 years old in 1997. If Avatar had come out in 1997 obviously I wouldn't have understood the movie at all.

I am glad it came out when it did. The technology really helped with the CGI and everything, but the story is the heart of Avatar.

Imagine rendering Avatar on 233MHz Pentiums. But if JC had the tech, it would have a much deeper affect. It would have even more power to blow people away (sfx). I agree with everyone else. But, I believe the environmental message would be taken More seriously, without everyone being so jaded.

Definitely things would be totally different... people would've take it a lot more seriously

Time to start building that time machine i've (not) been working on.
Give James a copy of the dvd.

That makes me think about all the kids who're 4 y/o right now. :( They'll have to wait to see it in later years...

But you're right, I would've been 7 if it came out then, and I'd probably have to wait to see it much later as well. Plus, my zealous mom wouldn't let me see it either because she wouldn't care, and if she did see it she might've probably thought it would turn me from Christianity.... and it probably would've. In this sense, I'm glad it didn't come out then. ;)
Lol, I keep wishing a time machine'll be built in the future, so my future self would come back and show me all the film scores I'll compose. :D

...I can hope. :shy:

I've got a design for a time machine!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...arpMachine.jpg

Stanly
9875

Hmm...
Stanly=energy of stanly=Stanly's mass*(299792458km/s)^2
We need to know how much you weigh, Stanly.

Previous part:
time
Warp

Lets see...
Time=2121 days, warp=1=light speed=299792458km/sec
1D=24h,1h=60m,1m=60s
2121*24=50904,*60=3054240,*60=183254400s=T
So,
183254400s
299792458km/s

So,
Energy of Stanly/9875=.6112708813km.

These calculations were helpful, i shall do more tommorow when it isn't midnight.

Haha! "Lots of mathematical equations" cracked me up. :D

I thought this design rather intriguing. Not much of a blueprint, but still incredibly cool-looking. :P

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...002Version.jpg

It'd be super helpful if you could help me out with those equations :D

*looks at the freakin awesome and really dangerous looking machine*

*Proceeds to put on game face*

lets do it!