Plot isnt original...

[Fosus]

The way I have it figured: Avatar's plot is not 100% original, but to be honest, it's one of the _least_ repeated stories.

There is only two movies I know, that have largely similar plot:
"Pocahontas" and "Dances with Wolves".

Only these three movies heavily criticize modern society and show the ignorance of people. After all, it's only three, and every one of them is unique in their own way.

IMO, Non 100% original plot does not make Avatar any worse.

[Ay'iheyu]

Goodness. The amount of times I've heard this is unreal. It is extremely annoying. I was talking to my friend and her boyfriend about it, her boyfriend says right off the bat "Ugh, you're one of those fangirls? The plot is SO unoriginal!" How many times have you heard in a summary or review of a movie "with a story that can be compared to Romeo and Juliet" (The most overdone story in the woorrrllld, imo.) ? This is coming from a guy who is notorious for hating things that are popular. (and makes up other excuses for it.)
UGH! You don't have to love it or even like it. But don't make up lame excuses for it. :[

[Human No More]

So true

[madman]

I'm tired of hearing this as well. The movie is unique in many many ways. So many people try and find negatives in everything.

[Dreaming Of Pandora]

Imagine if Terminator 2 came out today.

Let's say the first Terminator didnt exist and nobody had heard of the series. The movie is exactly the same as it was when it came out 20 years ago (except the visual effects would be more modern), same dialogue, same characters, same stunts, same story, same action.

Do you think people would like it as much as people did in 1991?

[SaphirJD]

well, no matter of original or not.. avatar took existing elements and created in the end something quite original and fresh, too bad some people can not see that

[Read C.]

The anti-plot choir's complaints get overplayed like a lousy pop song on the radio. IIRC, and maybe someone else here already mentioned this, but JC's intent was to captivate on a human level so that even the lay audience can behold the deeper archetypal meanings. I wager he defused as many creeping complexities in plot to make way for this.

It's trivial to lambaste Avatar solely on a slipshod plot. The plot was admittedly predictable, but still powerful enough to seize its audience and take them for a ride. There's some definite takeaway value from Avatar that even left casual moviegoers speechless and embarrassed to talk about. If it left you feeling floored and pensive, then the movie succeeded in its purpose. JC succeeded because he was absolutely pivoting this movie so that even the lay audience can become observers and witnesses to the parallels of Pandora and our world. This he admitted both subtly and explicitly in many interviews, especially with Democracy Now.

That's perhaps the greatest mystery behind Avatar: that despite a tepid "plot" as many quasi-critics would accuse, Avatar still made film making history, shattered blu-ray and DVD sales records, and even influenced and reinforced the morale of political and environmental groups worldwide.

It doesn't mean millions of movie-goers who adore and respect the movie are now misinformed movie critics or miscreants, it means that hyperfocusing on plot becomes trivial, miniscule, and eclipsed by the movie's deeper purpose and the overwhelmingly spiritual undertones which do have relevance in our current state of affairs.

Those who adamantly adhere to attacking Avatar solely on plot should probably learn to see the forest for the trees. If they can. But then again, to each their own, especially with movies and the art of film making.

[Patrice Maire]

What I have discovered after watching the trailer for the first time is he left out a lot of points that would have developed Jake's character more and would have made us more connected to the story.
At least, that's my situation.
When I finished watching it the first time, it was on a small tv screen, no hd, no blue ray and I thought...there's a lot missing! This could have been sooo much better story wise!
It was great, but I was missing a connection with the characters that I'm sure was there in the original version. I am hoping that enough of the cuts make it to the August release so I can see if this holds true.
The main complaint I've heard from people is they saw a lot of effects but couldn't really connect with the characters.
I agree, but let me say in my defense, I am spoiled on stories with character development. I watched Babylon 5 and saw characters develop within an hour or two and more so over the five year arc. That is the credit to the writer, Joe Strazinsky.
I think Avatar is a great movie for it's visuals, the concept and ideas. The characters suffered the problem with the conflict of story vs. time.
I have a copy of the directors cut of The Abyss and after seeing that, it made a helluva lot more sense! The characters and the story was better for the added footage.
So here's to hoping that more of the character development gets into the next version. I will definitely buy the directors cut when that is released. I know many more of you will as well.
In conclusion, Avatar is a fantastic film, but it could be so much better!

[Human No More]

I hope so too...