Avatar in IMAX

[dar512]

Originally Posted by Flint

Of all the things I've said, one off-the-cuff comment made in jest (in reply to the immediately preceeding post) is what you're getting from this?

Ok. Here's hos it seemed to me:

Flint: I'm not going to see Avatar because it's been advertised too much.
Dar: So you realize that means you are still being affected by the advertising
Flint: Well, I wouldn't like it anyway because I can guess how the story will come out.

So what you're saying is that a work of art is guaranteed to be no good if you can tell where the story will go? Novelty is the only attribute that matters to you in a movie?

[Flint]

What I said was that the overly-specific framing of the movies attributes would make viewing the movie itself into an excercise in comparative analysis, thus a completely out-of-the-moment experience for me. It wasn't my decision to be bombarded by a rigid preconception of this movie, I am placing blame where it belongs--the decision to execute an unrelenting media blitz.

The fact that seeing a preview of the plot was such a shocking disappointment was fueled by this same level of over-hyped expectations.

I'm saying that the quality and quantity of media attention created conditions which preclude me being able to give an honest, fair chance to this movie. Again, this wasn't my decision. I am not claiming immunity to the advertsing campaign, I am saying it had consequences they did not intend.

[dar512]

Originally Posted by Flint

What I said was that the overly-specific framing of the movies attributes would make viewing the movie itself into an excercise in comparative analysis, thus a completely out-of-the-moment experience for me. It wasn't my decision to be bombarded by a rigid preconception of this movie, I am placing blame where it belongs--the decision to execute an unrelenting media blitz.

The fact that seeing a preview of the plot was such a shocking disappointment was fueled by this same level of over-hyped expectations.

I'm saying that the quality and quantity of media attention created conditions which preclude me being able to give an honest, fair chance to this movie. Again, this wasn't my decision. I am not claiming immunity to the advertsing campaign, I am saying it had consequences they did not intend.

Ok. I'm glad you explained that again, 'cause that's not how I read this:

Originally Posted by Flint

That, and when I actually saw a preview of the movie, it looked dumb. The recently-reformed, reluctant hero fights against impossible odds to save the idyllic utopian society from being destroyed by the military-industrial, shoot-em-up bad guys? Wow. My life won’t be complete until I see how that turns out.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by dar512

Ok. I'm glad you explained that again, 'cause that's not how I read this:

Oh, that's an easy fix. Read the full post, not just the second part. Here:

Originally Posted by Flint

I’m not trying to be non-conformist, I simply don’t think I can enjoy the movie when the act of watching it has been forced to be an analysis of what I am seeing on the screen versus the expectations created by an unrelenting, overly specific media campaign. The entire movie will be an out-of-the-moment experience. A meta-movie, about itself.

That, and when I actually saw a preview of the movie, it looked dumb. The recently-reformed, reluctant hero fights against impossible odds to save the idyllic utopian society from being destroyed by the military-industrial, shoot-em-up bad guys? Wow. My life won’t be complete until I see how that turns out.

See? Two different points. You are correct in noticing that if you chop the post in half, half of it will be missing.

[dar512]

Originally Posted by Flint

Oh, that's an easy fix. Read the full post, not just the second part. Here: See? Two different points. You are correct in noticing that if you chop the post in half, half of it will be missing.

Yabbut it was the second point I had a problem with. Knowing-the-story = movie bad. I don't buy it. But I respect your right to miss a kickass scifi movie.

The world needs curmudgeons too.

Hey! You kids get offa his lawn.

[Shawnee123]

I get that sometimes I sounds snooty in my critiques. However, does a piano player keep playing Mary Had a Little Lamb, once he's learned Mozart?

[squirell nutkin]

RE: papyrus
Usually the Cellar is about 2-4 weeks ahead of the curve when it comes to current events. The real typeface nerds have been moaning about how crappy papyrus is for a long long time now. (like 20 dolla long time)

Anyway, Dar, put "Helvetica" on your queue and you will be entertained and gain an insight into the world of typographers and how passionate they are about something 99% of the population are/is blissfully unaware of.

[dar512]

Originally Posted by squirell nutkin

Anyway, Dar, put "Helvetica" on your queue and you will be entertained and gain an insight into the world of typographers and how passionate they are about something 99% of the population are/is blissfully unaware of.

I'll do that, squirell. But I am not ignorant of typography. I worked at Aldus for 7 years. But I still think criticizing a movie for the font it uses is over the top. It seems to me like people congratulating each other on being the in crowd. I have yet to hear a meaningful argument against it.

It's overused? Times-Roman has been around since 1931.

It's not unreadable, it's not ugly. It may be cutesy, but it fits the movie.

[squirell nutkin]

Originally Posted by dar512

I'll do that, squirell. But I am not ignorant of typography. I worked at Aldus for 7 years. But I still think criticizing a movie for the font it uses is over the top. It seems to me like people congratulating each other on being the in crowd. I have yet to hear a meaningful argument against it.

It's overused? Times-Roman has been around since 1931.

It's not unreadable, it's not ugly. It may be cutesy, but it fits the movie.

Never said you were ignorant, but you are in the 1%. I haven't seen the movie, but if it's lost for someone because of the font, they probably weren't going to be fair minded about it anyway.

And yeah, it is jumping on the "We're so typographically sophisticated blah blah crowd." I wonder how well they'd do with this quiz?
http://fontgame.ilovetypography.com/
my best so far is 23

(Talk about ubiquitous, Garamond goes back to 1530)

[Flint]

To all of the font nerds...this is you:

[Cloud]

sometimes it's the little things that get ya

[Cloud]

I recently saw the movie, Shorts (Adventures of the Wishing Rock), and was amused by the typographer nerdiness. One of the kids was named, "Helvetica" -- last name Black. Thank you, Robert Rodriguez!

(also, the main character in that movie was the same kid who played young James T. Kirk in ST:AOS--the only casting misstep I could see in that movie)

[Happy Monkey]

It seems like, among the typeface nerds, font quality is based on how few of the wrong sort of people use it, rather than any attribute of the font itself. I think Papyrus is a fine looking font, and appropriate for Avatar, and the fact that National Geographic and newsletter writers like it too doesn't diminish that for me.

It's unfortunate for anybody if something they bring in affects their enjoyment of a film, but it's not James Cameron's fault if the Na'vi are the same color as your mother-in-law's bathroom.

[squirell nutkin]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

It seems like, among the typeface nerds, font quality is based on how few of the wrong sort of people use it, rather than any attribute of the font itself. I think Papyrus is a fine looking font, and appropriate for Avatar, and the fact that National Geographic and newsletter writers like it too doesn't diminish that for me.

It's unfortunate for anybody if something they bring in affects their enjoyment of a film, but it's not James Cameron's fault if the Na'vi are the same color as your mother-in-law's bathroom.

Audibly laughed in a muttley knid of way.

[Cloud]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

the wrong sort of people . . .

ummm. regarding fonts? You guys have anything against Times New Roman?