DominicCobb said:
miker71 said:
<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; line-height: 17px; font-size: 12px;">Just like Lucas couldn't/wouldn't secure rights to Flash Gordon, we need an exciting new franchise to get behind (and it won't be from Cameron either). I'm optimistic that can happen, but I think it will be "underground" global phenomena rather than overground corporate shilled-to-death. The Matrix came close IMO, but no cigar.</span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; color: #ffffff;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">I don't think I agree with you about Cameron. </span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; color: #ffffff;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Think of it this way: Sci-fi epic is released, becomes a must see event by pushing visual effects to the next level, and it ends up being the highest grossing film of all time. Critical reception is mostly positive, it is nominated for many Oscars including Best Picture which it loses, but many people don't believe in the hype. Granted, the film builds much of its content from pre-existing properties. </span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; color: #ffffff;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Now stop. What film have I described? Star Wars. I know many dislike Avatar, but Star Wars wasn't a sacred cow when it was released either. Now I'm sure most of you discovered Star Wars when you were kids right? Well I doubt you could find a kid that has seen Avatar and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">didn't</span> like it. Also, Avatar 2 and 3 haven't even come out yet. So we should wait before we pass too much judgement. </span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; color: #ffffff;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">As a side note, I think everyone should be looking forward to Avatar 2. If you've seen Aliens, Terminator 2, or, hell the Empire Strikes Back, you should know what kind of movie we'll get.</span></span></span></span>
That's a really good point actually, and I certainly remember Star Wars getting hyped but the establishment rolling their eyes waiting for the "fad" to pass.
I have to say, I did enjoy Avatar - however, it contained nothing I haven't seen before, and nothing my son hasn't seen before in some context on his Xbox 360.
Also, in context of cinema, "global phenomena" is almost meaningless today, but back in the '70s and '80s it was amazing to behold, especially as a fan.
Star Wars got me because every release I saw something amazing, theatrical, cinematic, awesome - that I had never seen before (granted, as a kid you aint seen a lot). Cameron may be pushing the technology but I'm not convinced he's pushing his imagination. Maybe I have outgrown the demographic, "it's not you, it's me" - which still begs the question - where is the next bunch of films coming from that will excite me? I'd be thrilled to hear Star Wars was getting the full remake treatment at this stage (though braced for ultimate disappointment - but imagine if it didn't disappoint!)
Lucas can't even get his live action SW shiz together after all this time, so it really will be Death +70 years in my opinion. And I won't live that long either :(