Avatar: Champ of The Blu-Ray

Leave it to Avatar to blast through Blu-Ray records like nobody's buisness. They sold 2.7 million Blu-Rays in it's first week. The Dark Knight still hasn't even sold that much in it's 16 month life-time. Good job on James Cameron and co.!

SYS

Avatar 2 Plot Revealed..

Well sorta. James Cameron revealed today that Avatar 2 would center on the ocean of Pandore and the forest. Interesting. This likely means we'll see more of the Pandora wild-life..or underwater creatures I suppose.

SYS

Film Review: Clash of The Titans

I just can't hate a film where 3 giant scorpions duke it out while humans try to escape their claws. That's too much fun to resist. Though it has atrocious 3D, this film overall is better than the norm.

After seeing his adoptive parents killed, Perseus learns Hades plans to unleash the Kracken to destroy all of humanity. Percy and a ragtag group of men go off in search of their destiny...

This film is fun. Fun, fun fun fun FUN!!! The Kracken is an example of this. If a smile dosent come to your face when you see him, it's amazing. Perseus is also a fun ride. He may not act well, but he does his job as a warrior right. Liam Neeson does well and scorpions...well their perfect.

The 3D though, is an abomination. I love 3D and I feel like in How To Train Your Dragon, Alice In Wonderland and especially Avatar, 3D was used to advance the story. Like Alice, this film was CONVERTED to 3D. Unlike Alice, they thought of doing 3D, 11weeks before it came out. Watching the film in 3D is like drinking Near Beer or a Diet Soda. Not the full monty and many will get it if you dress it up like the real thing. Many asked for refunds actually after the screening. If I hadn't seen it in XD, I would've joined them.

Despite that, this is one fun ride and it's a good time overall..just see it in 2D!



One final note: best cameo of the year is in here. Just wait until you see it.

Rating: 7.4 out of 10 or B

SYS

FOX Wins The Quarter

Some small buisness news. 20th Century FOX won the first quarter with 742 million. Most of this came from the juggernaut of Avatar and Alvin and The Chipmunks 2 certainly didn't hurt the bonfire.

Warner Bros. came in at number 2 and Disney was number 3. Columbia was last in terms of major studios and was the only one to be down from last year.

SYS

Avatar Meet Spidey

The Avatar team today met up with the Marc Webb to see if he'll film Spider-Man Reboot in 3D. I doubt we'll get the same story and visual quality as Avatar did in this flick, but htere may be some ogod 3D, who knows?

SYS

Avatar Box Office Part XII: 602 Million Reasons To Love Avatar

Avatar...has now...brought down Titanic...to become the biggest...movie....of all-time. Wow.

SYS

BREAKING NEWS: Nominations For The 82nd Oscars Announced!!

HO BOY!! Here are the noms for this years Oscar race. Congrats Up! I'll have an Editorial up tomorrow on the Oscar snubs.

BEST PICTURE:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), A Lightstorm Entertainment Production, James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
The Blind Side (Warner Bros.), An Alcon Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
District 9 (TriStar), A Block/Hanson Production, Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
An Education (Sony Pictures Classics), A Finola Dwyer/Wildgaze Films Production, Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), A Voltage Pictures Production, Nominees to be determined
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), A Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures/A Band Apart/Zehnte Babelsberg Production, Lawrence Bender, Producer
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate), A Lee Daniels Entertainment/Smokewood Entertainment Production, Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
A Serious Man (Focus Features), A Working Title Films Production, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
Up (Disney•Pixar), A Pixar Production, Jonas Rivera, Producer
Up in the Air (Paramount), A Montecito Picture Company Production, Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

DIRECTING:
James Cameron - Avatar (20th Century Fox)
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air (Paramount)
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)
Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate)
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company)

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight)
George Clooney - Up in the Air (Paramount)
Colin Firth - A Single Man (The Weinstein Company)
Morgan Freeman - Invictus (Warner Bros.)
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side (Warner Bros.)
Helen Mirren - The Last Station (Sony Pictures Classics)
Carey Mulligan - An Education (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate)
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia (Columbia Pictures)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Matt Damon - Invictus (Warner Bros.)
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger (Oscilloscope)
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones (Paramount)
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Penelope Cruz - Nine (The Weinstein Company)
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air (Paramount)
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight)
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air (Paramount)
Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
District 9 (TriStar), Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
An Education (Sony Pictures Classics), Screenplay by Nick Hornby
In the Loop (IFC Films), Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate), Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
Up in the Air (Paramount), Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Written by Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Written by Quentin Tarantino
The Messenger (Oscilloscope), Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
A Serious Man (Focus Features), Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Up (Disney•Pixar), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Ajami (Kino International), An Inosan Production, Israel
El Secreto de sus Ojos (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haddock Films Production, Argentina
The Milk of Sorrow, A Wanda Visión/Oberon Cinematogràfica/Vela Production, Peru
Une Prophéte (Sony Pictures Classics), A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production, France
The White Ribbon (Sony Pictures Classics), An X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red Production, Germany

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Coraline (Focus Features), Henry Selick
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox Searchlight), Wes Anderson
The Princess and the Frog (Walt Disney), John Musker and Ron Clements
The Secret of the Kells (GDKIDS), Tomm Moore
Up (Disney•Pixar), Pete Docter

ART DIRECTION:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Sony Pictures Classics), Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro, Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
Nine (The Weinstein Company), Art Direction: John Myhre, Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood, Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
The Young Victoria (Apparition), Art Direction: Patrice Vermette, Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Mauro Fiore
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Warner Bros.), Bruno Delbonnel
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Barry Ackroyd
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Robert Richardson
The White Ribbon (Sony Pictures Classics), Christian Berger

COSTUME DESIGN:
Bright Star (Apparition), Janet Patterson
Coco Before Chanel (Sony Pictures Classics), Catherine Leterrier
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Sony Pictures Classics), Monique Prudhomme
Nine (The Weinstein Company), Colleen Atwood
The Young Victoria (Apparition), Sandy Powell

FILM EDITING:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
District 9 (TriStar), Julian Clarke
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Sally Menke
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (Lionsgate), Joe Klotz

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Burma VJ (Oscilloscope Laboratories), A Magic Hour Films Production, Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
The Cove (Roadside Attractions), An Oceanic Preservation Society Production, Nominees to be determined
Food, Inc. (Magnolia Pictures), A Robert Kenner Films Production, Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (First Run Features ), A Kovno Communications Production, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
Which Way Home, A Mr. Mudd Production, Rebecca Cammisa

MAKEUP:
Il Divo (MPI Media Group through Music Box), Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
Star Trek (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
The Young Victoria (Apparition), Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

ORIGINAL SCORE:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), James Horner
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox Searchlight), Alexandre Desplat
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros.), Hans Zimmer
Up (Disney•Pixar), Michael Giacchino

ORIGINAL SONG:
"Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Down in New Orleans" from The Princess and the Frog (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Loin de Paname" from Paris 36 (Sony Pictures Classics), Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas
"Take It All" from Nine (The Weinstein Company), Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

SOUND MIXING:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
Star Trek (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro, Distributed by Paramount), Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

SOUND EDITING:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company), Wylie Stateman
Star Trek (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
Up (Disney•Pixar), Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

VISUAL EFFECTS:
Avatar (20th Century Fox), Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
District 9 (TriStar), Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
Star Trek (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province, A Downtown Community Television Center Production, Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner, A Just Media Production, Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant, A Community Media Production, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
Music by Prudence, An iThemba Production, Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
Rabbit à la Berlin (Deckert Distribution), An MS Films Production, Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

ANIMATED SHORT FILM:
French Roast, A Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films Production, Fabrice O. Joubert
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty (Brown Bag Films), A Brown Bag Films Production, Nicky Phelan and Darragh O'Connell
The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte), A Kandor Graphics and Green Moon Production, Javier Recio Gracia
Logorama" (Autour de Minuit), An Autour de Minuit Production, Nicolas Schmerkin
A Matter of Loaf and Death (Aardman Animations), An Aardman Animations Production, Nick Park

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:
The Door (Network Ireland Television), An Octagon Films Production, Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
Instead of Abracadabra (The Swedish Film Institute), A Directörn & Fabrikörn Production, Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
Kavi, A Gregg Helvey Production, Gregg Helvey
Miracle Fish (Premium Films), A Druid Films Production, Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
The New Tenants, A Park Pictures and M & M Production, Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

SYS

Avatar Box Office Part XI: 2 Beee-lion Dollars

Well, Avatar, you just couldn't stop breaking records if you tried could you? Well it just did something no film in history has done. It made 2 billion dollars worldwide. Jesus. The film is likely to beat Titanic Wednesday. I'll let you know when it beats Titanic though regardless.

SYS

Avatar Box Office Part X: Avatar Numero Uno

Holy Maru Maktau Avatr beat Titanic worldwide!! It beat it overseas this past weekend, but the money it made here on Monday pushed it over Titanic! Not only that, but it's poised to be the 1st film to make over 2 billion dollars.

Amazing.

SYS

TV Reivew: 67th Golden Globes

Last nights Golden Globes gave an awards show that was teetering on becoming a joke a well-needed boost.

Although the Supporting Actors were obvious wins, the Best Actor- Musical or Comedy was a surprise to say the least. Robert Downy Jr. got one for Sherlock Holmes. He not only had the best speech of the night (I DON'T want to thank Joel Sivler for saving my career 16 times...). However, the biggest surprise was the Best Picture winners. The fact that Th eHangover won was a jaw-dropper in the Best Musical or Comedy, but the Best Drama going to Avatar was totally unexpected. That film (Which I saw for the 3rd time yesterday in IMAX) deserved it, though.

Ricky Gervais also managed to be hillarious the entire night, turning the night into one hillarious escapade. His joke at Steve Carrel was by far the best one of the night. Like Ricky, the Globes were a little different but still showed they had great stuff still there.

SYS

Mars Project Has Begun

The John Carter of Mars project that is!! The genuis that is Andrew Stanton is about to churn out John Carter of Mars, based on the classic novels. The film will be released by Disney and will be Live-Action/CGI like Avatar. PIXAR is actually an uncredited producer on the film. I can't wait to see hwat Andrew churns up next. \

I am pumped for May 2012.

SYS

Avatar Box Office Part VIII: This One's For No. 4

Avatar has now surpassed Shrek 2's 441.2 million dollars gross. This puts it as the 4th biggest film of all-time in the USA. Not only that, but it's gross now stands at a trmendous 1.3 billion worldwide. Titanic better look out. Avatar is about to beat it.

SYS

Top 10 of 2009

A little late I know. However, here finally is my best films of 2009:

10. The Blind Side: This will tick off critics, but I definitely say this film deserves every penny it gets. Cute, funny and inspiring, this film is a wonderful exporation of the type of roles Sandra bullock can portray. And at the end if you ain't crying...wel you have no soul, pure and simple.

9. A Christmas Carol: Another unexpected 'un. This film cuaght me off-guard completley and dazzled me. The UnCanny Valley has completley been washed away. Jim Carrey gives a pitch perfect performance and makes this one of the best adaptations of the classic tale ever.

8. Star Trek: J.J. Abrams has created, along with Avatar, a Star Wars type film that has fun, laughs and action coming through in spades. This film leaves you awe-struck and makes you wish The Enterprise came around much more often. Good job, Kirk for this one.



7. 2012: A modern day Towering Inferno? Mayhaps. This film combines thrilling events (they're gonna crash...into Mount Everest!!) with down-to Earth humans. A tale full of sacrifice and destruction, it's one of those rare films that's a little bit of everything...and is just flat-out perfect.

6. Sherlock Holmes: This choice is elementary, my dear readers. Robert Downy Jr. gives an Oscar winning performance as the grand sleuth and makes Sherlock a hero...but still unlike any version we've seen of him before. It's quite a film and quite a mystery as to why no one else thought Holmes could be an action hero.

5. The Princess and The Frog: Disney was in a rut earlier this decade with Home on The Range and Atlantis. Now, they hit the gold mine of fun, music and depth they were missing. This film may even be on par with films like Dumbo and The Little Mermaid. It's a classic, one that deserves so much more. This is a film that'll stick like glue to future generations and prove Disney is still an animation king.



4. Where The Wild Things Are: A kids movie? As if. Dismemberment, tantrums and betrayl are all an integral part of this polarizing, but brilliant film. It may be a stretch, but I certainly think this film is a modern day E.T.



3. The Fantastic Mr. Fox: Talk about misleading marketing. This film will leave in stitches and awe as Wes Anderson creates a film that leaves you begging for more. George Clooney is stunning as Mr. Fox and leads you to love him like in Michale Clayton and the Ocean's films. Wes has created a picture that will remain essential to any animation viewing.



2. Up: Wow. PIXAR ain't number one. Still, this film is a masterpiece, PIXAR's near best. Carl Fredrickson's sad montage at the beggining is guranteed to leave you in tears. And about Dug...well let's just say he's a great tracker, okay? SQUIRELL!



1. Avatar: James Cameron has created The Godfather of sci-fi. A modern day Star Wars. He has transformed cinema from nice to breathtaking. Every single 3D moment leaves you breathless, wanting to see it again immediatly. Thisi s a film that'll one day be known as a triumph of both storytelling and visual effects. A rare modern day masterpiece.



There you have it. Hope you enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to seee what 2010 brings.

SYS

The PGA Nomminations Are Announced!

Excitingly, the PGA nominations have been revealed. Below are the noms. On January 24th, by the way, we will know who wins. Fingers crossed for Up!

Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures:

Avatar
Producers: James Cameron, Jon Landau

District 9
Producers: Carolynne Cunningham, Peter Jackson

An Education
Producers: Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey

The Hurt Locker
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

Inglourious Basterds
Producer: Lawrence Bender

Invictus
Producers: Clint Eastwood, Rob Lorenz, Lori McCreary , Mace Neufeld

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Producers: Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness

Star Trek
Producers: J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof

Up
Producer: Jonas Rivera

Up in the Air
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

PGA Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

9
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

Coraline
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

Fantastic Mr. Fox
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

The Princess and the Frog
Producer: Peter Del Vecho

Up
Producer: Jonas Rivera

PGA Producer of the Year Award in Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:

Burma VJ
Producer: Lise Lense-Moller

The Cove
Producers: Paula DuPre Pesman, Fisher Stevens

Sergio
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

Soundtrack for a Revolution
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

SYS

Update on Tintin

It seems Tintin has just gotten it's 1st rendered images out. That's what I've just happened to stumble upon while maming my usual rounds. It seems Spielberg is pleased and there might be some re-shoots in March/April.

After seeing Avatar and A Christmas Carol, I'll be elated to see more Motion Capture now.

SYS

Editorial: To 3D...Or Not 3D

Right now, over 200 million of Avatar's USA gross has come from 3D. Companies are pouring millions into getting films like Robin Hood and Eclipse to become 3D pictures. And now TV is about to go 3D. So the big question right now is this: is 3D a fad or a revolution?

If someone had suggested the latter 5 months ago, I would've said BAH! But now that could be a possibility. Audiences find a mere 2-3 dollars extra for the eperience much better than the 15 dollar IMAX showings. Plus, consumers find that there is a difference. Most studios find this equation when seeing 3D:

3D = Money + Film = Profit

Sad but true, the only reason STUDIOS are giving a darn about this is becuase there's a ton of money in this investment. 3D movies oculd be sold on Home Video for 35 dollars. Wow. That's a ton of money. But I guess that's what we're willing to pay for something we didn't have 5 years ago.

Hollywood seems to be in the 1st transition in nearly 50 years. The last one was color TV. Now 3D imagery is coming and people can't get away from it. Steven SPielberg, DreamWorks Animation, MArvel, James Cameron, PIXAR, George Lucas, PEter Jacdkson & Disney have pledged loyality to 3D and more (like Ridley Scott and Jon Favreu) are bound to come.

SO my opinion on the ordeal is this: Audiences can be choosey and they seem to be choosing 3D. Plus, we just hit 10 billion last year and Avatar could hit Titanic's mega-gross if 3D keeps staying at it's side. Now that's some cash no studio head will refuse.

Avatar Makes A Billion,Holmes Drops 38.5%, Chipmunks A Hit, Complications Continue, Princess Increases, Up In The Air A Smash

Avatar made the biggest 3rd weekend ever, landing 68.3 million dropping a mere 10%. The film has made 352.1 million here, but has reached over 1 billion worldwide. The film has surpassed the juggernaut that was The Dark Knight worldwide and overseas. It'll soon surpass Pirates of The Caribbean 2 and beat The Return of The King. Avatar could even beat Titanic.

To add on to this, the film had the biggest 3rd weekend ever and is the biggest Non-Sequel since Steven Spielberg's E.T. Avatar is the 1st film in 12 years to outdo Titanic and become the biggest film of all-time.

Sherlock Holmes made 38.3 million and has reached 140.6 million thus far. The film could wind up with 225 million and become the next big franchise for Warner Bros.

Alvin and The Chipmunks 2 went down 25% with 36.6 million. It will make around 240 million, beating it's predecessor and guranteeing a third film.

It's Complicated did amazing, dropping the least out of all of last weekends new releases, dropping 15%. The film made 18.7 million and has made 59 million. Meryl Streep seems to have, like Sandra Bullock, hit her stride late in ehr life.

Speaking of Sandra Bullock, her film The Blind Side made 12.6 million this weekend. It's total now stands at 2009 million and could reach 250 million by the end of it's run.



Up in The Air made 11.3 million this weekend. The Best Picture possible film has made 45 million, handily doing it's 25 million budget back.

The Princess and The Frog increased this weekend by 10%. The masterpiece has made 86 million and will have a total similar to Bolt, Disney's 2008 CGI flick.

The Top 12 overall made 214.1 million estimated and up 62% from last year. This could bode well for 2010 overall.

Rated Learning For Na'vi Language

By now, Avatar has become a phenomenon. And one question that has floated around is how to talk like the Na'vi. Well, here it is: a Wikipedia page detailing the language of the Avatar species.

Pxan livu txo nì’aw oe ngari!

SYS

Avatar Box Office Part VI: New Year, New Gross

Avatar continues it's plunge towards Titanic's gross, as it made 25.2 million on Friday. It was the 9th biggest Non-Opening Friday ever. The other 8 films were in their 2nd or 3rd days. Avatar is in it's 15th! This makes it the oldest film in the 39 films Box Office Mojo has tracked on Biggest Non-Opening Fridays. It's also the 3rd Fastest film to make 300 million. This film may never stop making money at this rate. And it's Oscar Nom's haven't even come in yet!

Continuing...

SYS

Film Review: Avatar

Look, I won't lie to you. the 2000-2009 period was a little sad. There were only a dozen or so masterpieces (mainly Brokeback Mountain, PIXAR films and Lord of the Rings). We really needed to end the decade with a film that could be called a masterpiece. And boy did we. This film has terror, fun, adventure, personality & visuals that will keep even the hardened critic who was written off Modern Day Hollywood to turn back. This is not just a film for the decade, but a film for the ages like 2001 and Star Wars.

Jake Scully (Sam Worthington) is an ex-marine who has a twin brother that has just died. Jake's brother was to undergo the Avatar program, where humans are transported to bodies similar to the bodies of the Natives on the alien planet Pandora. Jake agrees to go to Pandora, fill in for his brother and help the evil General Quaritch (Stephen Lang). However, he is accepted by the Na'vi Tribe, falls in love with the tough warrior Neytri (Zoe Saldana) and soon a war breaks out between the Na'vi and the humans and Jake must choose one side...



James Cameron is the King of The World and here he also shows he's king of many other world's as well. Pandora is like a wonderful new Earth, peaceful and has real thought in it, something that wasn't in the Star Wars prequels. The animals are all unlike anything you've seen before and a Banshee flight (Banshee's are lizard-birds) feels like James Cameron has set a bar that can't be met again anytime soon.

The cast all do well. Sam Worthington is spectacular as Jake. True, it's no Oscar winning performance but he shows the transformation wonderfully, both physically and very subtly as well. Zoe Saldana as Neytri is perfection. She makes the alien become the greatest CGI character ever, period. Sigourney Weaver is well done as Grace Augustine, a scientist that works on the Avatar program. Her Avatar is another great creation, really working and having emotion.



The visuals here are so good that I think they have revolutionized what computers are able to do. The RDA robots work amazingly well. However, it's simple things that astound you, like when Jake tries out his Avatar for the first time and wiggles his toes in the dirt. That moment really feels...real! However, nothings tops the end, when Neytri holds the human Jake Scully in her arms. At that momeny..you don't know what CGI or hwat real..you just know it's good however you slice it.

Avatar is easily the best film of the year and one of the best of all-time. A modern day masterpiece, it's a film that shall one day be hailed as a triumph. Avatar is a wonder, majestic as a film, perfect as an experience. James Cameron has pulled it off beyond our wildest dreams.



Rating: 10.2 out of 10

SYS