Obviously what I am about to write has spoilers of some sort, but if you have seen the trailer then you know what you are getting into!
On Friday I was lucky enough to scope tickets for one of the invite-only Avatar 15 minute screenings in full 3D. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see it at the IMAX theatre, but hey! Beggers can’t be choosers.
Oooh, blue aliens!
Let me preface this by saying I knew pretty much nothing about the movie before going in . . . on purpose. I just wanted to watch it and see what happens. Hence me not knowing who the characters are, what they are supposed to be doing etc.
Firstly, the 15 minute preview only covered sequences from the first half of the movie. I will try and remember as much as I can as I was obviously concentrating on the visuals. Also, the majority of the footage shown was CGI.
The first scene was in real life with the Marines as their CO tells them about the planet. Very nice real-life 3D . . . very natural. We are introduced to Sam worthington’s character as he wheels in.
Alien paradise in gunmetal grey
Next scene is real life with Sigourney Weaver putting Sam into some kind of MRI chamber thingy where they scan him and do various Minority Report visual interface things with his brain scans, which are hologramatic 3D projected from 2D heads up display style clipboards. This worked very well with the 3D glasses as you really got a feeling that the 3D interfaces were just that. Excellent tracking work.
Beep boop beep! Make spinny pictures go now!
Sam sees the light and goes through the tunnel, cue waking up as 10ft tall blue dude in a medical bay.
This, for me was where the rubber was really going to hit the road. The 3D space really felt like it had depth, and most importantly, the lip-synch was solid. I don’t care how good the CG or motion capture or lighting is . . . as soon as the lip-synch is out I am pulled out of the illusion. Interaction with props and live-action was very solid.
The next scene is Sam, Sigourney and others as Avatars confronting a large alien triceratops type creature in a territorial dispute. The dino backs down as some crazed monster lizard attacks. Think King Kong. A lot. The 3D did the job in these scenes, however the frenetic movement was a bit hard to follow as I felt my eyes were trying to focus on too many things at once. The shots also seemed to be a bit unrealisitically sharp, which again made the fast camera moves a little weird. The depth of the forest was palpable, you really felt like you were standing in it.
Next scene is Avatar Sam fighting off alien dog packs as the Avatar woman leaps in to save the day. Spectacular fight ensues, not as many issues with the fast moving cameras in this one. Hints of lurve action to come. Animation and lip-synch again are faultless. Sets and lighting are amazing.
Can Cameron make us care for CG characters?
Avatar Sam and tribe climb along a cliff edge to fight and tame lizard like flying beasts. After a prolonged struggle resulting in Avatar Sam clinging to vines over the edge (whoah! Vertigo), he climbs on the beast as it falls from the ledge and finally starts flying. Spectacular 3D vision.
I can see my house from here!
Various action shots as per the trailer
So, overall the experience was excellent. The 3D really felt like it added something to the shots, not just there for it’s own sake.