How was this movie successful?

[AJBopp]

A place for you to wonder aloud how everyone else's favorite movie got to be that way. In other words, what's a candidate for a movie that was way more successful than you can fathom.

For me, just now watching Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. A billion dollar movie? Seriously? This is the most unfunny, derivative excuse for an action movie I think I've ever seen. At this point, about halfway through, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to make it to the end.

[hulahulk]

I really don't understand the appeal of James Cameron's Avatar. It was formulaic, predictable, and too long. The CGI wasn't all that great, either.

[Flashback]

I really don't understand the appeal of James Cameron's Avatar. It was formulaic, predictable, and too long. The CGI wasn't all that great, either.

What do you mean the CGI wasn't all that great?

Avatar was using groundbreaking CGI at the time. Of course if your comparing it to today's CGI, yeah you have a point.

But the CGI they were using at the time was amazing.

[Immortal Weapon]

Crash. The movie approached it's subject matter with seriousness and nuance of a Saturday morning cartoon. Not only was a box office success but it also won three academy awards including best picture.

[numberthirty]

Crash. The movie approached it's subject matter with seriousness and nuance of a Saturday morning cartoon. Not only was a box office success but it also won three academy awards including best picture.

Which Crash?

[Immortal Weapon]

Which Crash?

2004 movie.

[Totoro Man]

Crash. The movie approached it's subject matter with seriousness and nuance of a Saturday morning cartoon. Not only was a box office success but it also won three academy awards including best picture.

so it would've been better if an animated version of G.I. Joe's Roadblock showed up (voiced by Kene Holiday, of course!) and had a little chat with the audience at the end?

"and knowing is half the battle!"

[hulahulk]

What do you mean the CGI wasn't all that great?

Avatar was using groundbreaking CGI at the time. Of course if your comparing it to today's CGI, yeah you have a point.

But the CGI they were using at the time was amazing.

I didn't see it in IMax 3D. Still, I thought Jurassic Park was better CGI, and it was done much earlier. Just my opinion.

[Kusanagi]

I didn't see it in IMax 3D. Still, I thought Jurassic Park was better CGI, and it was done much earlier. Just my opinion.

I think that might be because Jurassic Park also used a heavy deal of practical effects as well.

Avatar makes sense because it was really the first next gen 3d movie. Years after the fact (especially without 3d) and there's little appeal. At the time though it was amazing, visually speaking.

[Carabas]

I'm picking not a movie specific, but the whole 3D fad. I just don't get it.

[ChrisIII]

I think that might be because Jurassic Park also used a heavy deal of practical effects as well.

Avatar makes sense because it was really the first next gen 3d movie. Years after the fact (especially without 3d) and there's little appeal. At the time though it was amazing, visually speaking.

A lot of Jurassic Park's CG was also used in dark settings as well (The T-rex attack, a good chunk of the Raptor scenes) which hid some of the faults as well. Although the Brachiosaurus and Gallimimus scenes do still look pretty good, even when compared to the sequels.

[SpiderClops]

I really don't understand the appeal of James Cameron's Avatar. It was formulaic, predictable, and too long. The CGI wasn't all that great, either.

I have to agree. It's so mediocre. Nothing, and I mean nothing, about it is special. Nothing stands out. Visuals are ok, set pieces are ok, action is ok, acting is passable to terrible, dialogues are... "I didn't sign up for this ****."... world's highest grossing movie, people.

What do you mean the CGI wasn't all that great?

Avatar was using groundbreaking CGI at the time. Of course if your comparing it to today's CGI, yeah you have a point.

But the CGI they were using at the time was amazing.

No, even back then I was not impressed with its CGI at all. Freaking Transformers had me impressed. Most stuff in Avatar looked cartoonish, felt like watching a really well made animated movie than a live-action one.

[SpiderClops]

Alice in Wonderland(Tim Burton). How the hell did this movie managed to make $1 Billion, I will never understand.

[Tofali]

Alice in Wonderland(Tim Burton). How the hell did this movie managed to make $1 Billion, I will never understand.

The same thing could be said about Maleficent. I guess Hollywood peddling four quadrant movies isn't stupid after all.