tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post2113394557598303170..comments2022-11-13T09:38:58.195-05:00Comments on Raining Acorns: AvatarSusan Scheid (Raining Acorns)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02827286681242730183noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post-43619218277557989102010-03-16T22:05:19.537-04:002010-03-16T22:05:19.537-04:00A great comment to this post disappeared, but I ha...A great comment to this post disappeared, but I have retrieved it. Here it is:<br /><br />I am, by trade, a Geek. I work with and on computers, am an audiophile turned videophile and an avid HD home theater enthusiast. I have been reading article in trade mags for over 3 years about the technology involved in the making of Avatar, much of which, as pointed out, invented by Mr. Cameron for this project. Carol-Ann's well written write up should inspire many of you to take a chance on a movie that may not, at first blush, have much appeal, and those of you interested in technology may, in all likelihood, have already seen it.. but for those fence-sitters who have not yet laid down their exorbitant entry fee for this experience allow me to offer a quick read that may push your curiosity over the edge into reality. I submit a simple article from Popular Science that seems sum up some of the more interesting tech employed by Cameron in the making of this milestone. http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2009-12/feature-3-d-revolution<br /><br />On another not, the 3D itself... I love that JC didn’t try to wow and amaze you with dramatic 3D effects. He realizes that 3D should be used to enhance your immersion in the story, not to make you say, “WOW, did you see that!” In my area there is only one theater showing Avatar in 3D, I have since learned that there are actually 3 flavors of the 3D version out there. The vanilla flavored version that probably has the widest circulation [cost of retro-fitting theaters is lowest –around $100K] the IMAX version –the most likely to send your middle ear into orbit and the one that, among the three, is most dramatic and the REAL-3-D version. A minute or two on Google and you’ll find that the film was actually shot in REAL-3-D and among the 3 flavors it is the one that best displays Cameron’s true intentions. Look at the theater listings and seek out that one, I have it on good authority it is the best version to see… <br /><br />I would love to blather on about this film and its many aspect of bar raising, standard setting etc… But Carol-Anne has gotten you this far and you must still be interested if you are reading this so face it, your participation is inevitable… It’s time to change the URL to Fandango and just decide where and when… Then you too will be back here singing its praises!<br /><br />Thanks Carol-Anne<br />GillSusan Scheid (Raining Acorns)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02827286681242730183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post-77171352313933367722010-01-18T15:54:02.370-05:002010-01-18T15:54:02.370-05:00Looks like Carol-Ann is prescient. The Hollywood ...Looks like Carol-Ann is prescient. The Hollywood Foreign Press gave Avatar 2 Golden Globe awards last night, including Best Motion Picture. <br /><br />I would bet that when Oscar nominations come out, Avatar leads the pack for technical and special effects awards.Wide Open Spaceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04573357176617683341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post-138071479506089222010-01-08T11:08:23.332-05:002010-01-08T11:08:23.332-05:00Hi, Gill: Welcome to the blog! Thanks so much fo...Hi, Gill: Welcome to the blog! Thanks so much for writing, and for all the good information you gave us non-geek types (speaking only for myself, of course) about this movie.Raining Acornshttp://www.rainingacorns.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post-10464399967103471682010-01-08T11:06:35.636-05:002010-01-08T11:06:35.636-05:00Thank you, Gill, for enlightening all of us on the...Thank you, Gill, for enlightening all of us on the finer points of 3-D technology. Heck, never mind the finer points, I barely understood the most basic points! So thank you, too, for the link to that really interesting article. <br /><br />I saw Avatar at a 3-D Imax theatre though I did notice that there were 2 versions being screened at the same time at that theatre. That is when I stopped trying to figure it out!<br /><br />You are absolutely right about JC's understated, oh so subtle, use of 3-D. He could have hit us over the head with it, and if he did, he would have lost me. As it is, the movie is still lingering on in my mind.Carol-Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07390714553925368818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post-57233187023093375962010-01-07T23:07:02.230-05:002010-01-07T23:07:02.230-05:00I am, by trade, a Geek. I work with and on compute...I am, by trade, a Geek. I work with and on computers, am an audiophile turned videophile and an avid HD home theater enthusiast. I have been reading article in trade mags for over 3 years about the technology involved in the making of Avatar, much of which, as pointed out, invented by Mr. Cameron for this project. Carol-Ann's well written write up should inspire many of you to take a chance on a movie that may not, at first blush, have much appeal, and those of you interested in technology may, in all likelihood, have already seen it.. but for those fence-sitters who have not yet laid down their exorbitant entry fee for this experience allow me to offer a quick read that may push your curiosity over the edge into reality. I submit a simple article from Popular Science that seems sum up some of the more interesting tech employed by Cameron in the making of this milestone. http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2009-12/feature-3-d-revolution<br /><br />On another not, the 3D itself... I love that JC didn’t try to wow and amaze you with dramatic 3D effects. He realizes that 3D should be used to enhance your immersion in the story, not to make you say, “WOW, did you see that!” In my area there is only one theater showing Avatar in 3D, I have since learned that there are actually 3 flavors of the 3D version out there. The vanilla flavored version that probably has the widest circulation [cost of retro-fitting theaters is lowest –around $100K] the IMAX version –the most likely to send your middle ear into orbit and the one that, among the three, is most dramatic and the REAL-3-D version. A minute or two on Google and you’ll find that the film was actually shot in REAL-3-D and among the 3 flavors it is the one that best displays Cameron’s true intentions. Look at the theater listings and seek out that one, I have it on good authority it is the best version to see… <br /><br /> I would love to blather on about this film and its many aspect of bar raising, standard setting etc… But Carol-Anne has gotten you this far and you must still be interested if you are reading this so face it, your participation is inevitable… It’s time to change the URL to Fandango and just decide where and when… Then you too will be back here singing its praises!<br /><br />Thanks Carol-Anne<br />GillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post-80841479013695049822010-01-07T11:57:57.745-05:002010-01-07T11:57:57.745-05:00Like Raining Acorns, I had bypassed most of the pu...Like Raining Acorns, I had bypassed most of the publicity for this movie, but your essay makes it sound like more than a typical action film.<br /><br />Nice to see Signorney Weaver still starring in good roles. I read a piece (can't recall where) discussing James Cameron's use of strong female leads in his movies (think Linda Hamilton, Kate Winslet, Jamie Lee Curtis, etc), which he continues here with Signorney.<br /><br />The 3D effect must be amazing. The last 3D movie I saw was Hannah Montana (!); I am sure the effect is much better used on Avatar!Wide Open Spaceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04573357176617683341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post-87922095104237683242010-01-07T09:28:03.086-05:002010-01-07T09:28:03.086-05:00The glasses still look the same, but the picture&#...The glasses still look the same, but the picture's a whole new animal now!Carol-Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07390714553925368818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574060146103839230.post-32973752710810579072010-01-06T21:46:16.642-05:002010-01-06T21:46:16.642-05:00I had not the slightest interest in this movie, an...I had not the slightest interest in this movie, and here I am, reading and re-reading this beautifully written review and checking out every link! (The New Yorker article, in particular, provided a fascinating "understory.") So, do 3D glasses still look the way they did 50 years ago? I love thinking of those glasses in the context of this movie and its way over-the-top 21st century special effects.Raining Acornshttp://www.rainingacorns.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com