Comments on: THE ACM TOP 25 FILMS 2000-2009 #’s 10-6 http://acmazzaro.com/2009/12/22/the-acm-top-25-films-2000-2009-%e2%80%99s-10-6/ A nice place to visit, but.... Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:45:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Some Kind of Mazzaro World » Blog Archive » 2010 BEST PICTURE NOMINEES PART 1 http://acmazzaro.com/2009/12/22/the-acm-top-25-films-2000-2009-%e2%80%99s-10-6/comment-page-1/#comment-1583 Some Kind of Mazzaro World » Blog Archive » 2010 BEST PICTURE NOMINEES PART 1 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:28:19 +0000 http://acmazzaro.com/?p=193#comment-1583 [...] story that affects the entire body: gut, heart, head. Some of my other thoughts on the film are here. It was absolutely one of the best films of the last decade and clearly one of the two best of the [...] [...] story that affects the entire body: gut, heart, head. Some of my other thoughts on the film are here. It was absolutely one of the best films of the last decade and clearly one of the two best of the [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://acmazzaro.com/2009/12/22/the-acm-top-25-films-2000-2009-%e2%80%99s-10-6/comment-page-1/#comment-1544 Andrew Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:17:53 +0000 http://acmazzaro.com/?p=193#comment-1544 I will admit that on paper, Avatar does appear to be a simplistic re-hashing of revisionist history doctrines of white guilt, anti-imperialism and military/capitalist bashing. And yes, to the majority of mouth breathers incapable of interpreting things like subtext, that is what it remains. However, in Avatar, there is no government entity to be seen. The "military" is not military at all, but are rather mercenaries paid to aid an interplanetary mining mission. And the main character/hero is a former marine who has been hired to Pandora for a mission. This film is truly so much more than your run of the mill hollywood soapbox fest. It truly is an achievement in art, and one of the finest films I have ever seen. It may possibly be the best film I've ever seen in a theater. To me, it's reminiscent of Jurassic Park, in that it is so visually stunning that one loses their postmodern skepticism and just enjoys entertainment at a high level, like a child would. Any criticism of capitalism or business is muted, it's not a criticism of responsible business, but rather cut-throat profit at all costs robber-baron style business that both parties basically agree is a bad idea at this point in time. In the hands of a lesser director, this material truly could have degenerated to liberal propaganda, but I challenge anyone to see this film in 3D (how it was intended to be seen), and not be amazed at what you're watching. My advice to anyone is to go out, spend the 12 bucks, (see it in 3D, seeing Avatar in 3D is like watching other movies in black and white) and sit back and enjoy the ride. Like all truly great films, this one rises above the sum of its parts and proves why movies are, have been, and will be, such an important part of Americana. I will admit that on paper, Avatar does appear to be a simplistic re-hashing of revisionist history doctrines of white guilt, anti-imperialism and military/capitalist bashing. And yes, to the majority of mouth breathers incapable of interpreting things like subtext, that is what it remains. However, in Avatar, there is no government entity to be seen. The “military” is not military at all, but are rather mercenaries paid to aid an interplanetary mining mission. And the main character/hero is a former marine who has been hired to Pandora for a mission. This film is truly so much more than your run of the mill hollywood soapbox fest. It truly is an achievement in art, and one of the finest films I have ever seen. It may possibly be the best film I’ve ever seen in a theater. To me, it’s reminiscent of Jurassic Park, in that it is so visually stunning that one loses their postmodern skepticism and just enjoys entertainment at a high level, like a child would. Any criticism of capitalism or business is muted, it’s not a criticism of responsible business, but rather cut-throat profit at all costs robber-baron style business that both parties basically agree is a bad idea at this point in time. In the hands of a lesser director, this material truly could have degenerated to liberal propaganda, but I challenge anyone to see this film in 3D (how it was intended to be seen), and not be amazed at what you’re watching.

My advice to anyone is to go out, spend the 12 bucks, (see it in 3D, seeing Avatar in 3D is like watching other movies in black and white) and sit back and enjoy the ride. Like all truly great films, this one rises above the sum of its parts and proves why movies are, have been, and will be, such an important part of Americana.

]]> By: Phil http://acmazzaro.com/2009/12/22/the-acm-top-25-films-2000-2009-%e2%80%99s-10-6/comment-page-1/#comment-1510 Phil Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:46:20 +0000 http://acmazzaro.com/?p=193#comment-1510 Since your facebook status said there'd be a rant on Avatar haters, I figured I better take a look to see what you had to say. And, since I'm definitely someone who has taken a few pot-shots at it (not the first time I've done so with super-hyped pop-culture events), I'll take this moment to clarify. First, I'm just not into sci-fi/action/big-budget-special effects movies. So, no matter what, the movie was going to be hard to please me -- but, that's just my tastes. Second, I am not easily impressed or entertained with computer-generated special effects in movies, and often think they at times look laugh-out-loud ridiculous. I think a muppet (the old Star Wars) looks much more real than computer generated characters (the recent Star Wars series). And the worst is when the movie overplays it. In the trailers, it looks like they overplayed to the extreme. Now, you and Brenner are telling me that it looks good in a theater, so maybe I should ease up. But, forgive me, it looks laughably fake on TV. Finally, unlike the Wizard of Oz or Star Wars, I just don't see the universal appeal in Avatar's simplistic story -- or at least they are not selling it in the trailers if it does. And, I think politics has a lot to do with it, as the movie looks to me like nothing more than a liberal's wet-dream -- like it was written by a college freshman who just finished reading the first chapter of A People's History. I am amazed how they could chalk so many Hollywood liberal/PC cliches into just a 3 minute trailer -- stereotyping the military as bloodthirsty neanderthals with no conscience or redeeming qualities, ditto to American business and the U.S., etc. If I roll my eyes 10 times during a 3 minute trailer, chances are I'm not going to pay money to see it. While I can see how others would eat this all up, for me this combination makes for a movie I have no desire to see. And since I'm not that big into special effects, that's not enough to save it, no matter how amazing they might be. Since your facebook status said there’d be a rant on Avatar haters, I figured I better take a look to see what you had to say. And, since I’m definitely someone who has taken a few pot-shots at it (not the first time I’ve done so with super-hyped pop-culture events), I’ll take this moment to clarify.

First, I’m just not into sci-fi/action/big-budget-special effects movies. So, no matter what, the movie was going to be hard to please me — but, that’s just my tastes.

Second, I am not easily impressed or entertained with computer-generated special effects in movies, and often think they at times look laugh-out-loud ridiculous. I think a muppet (the old Star Wars) looks much more real than computer generated characters (the recent Star Wars series). And the worst is when the movie overplays it. In the trailers, it looks like they overplayed to the extreme. Now, you and Brenner are telling me that it looks good in a theater, so maybe I should ease up. But, forgive me, it looks laughably fake on TV.

Finally, unlike the Wizard of Oz or Star Wars, I just don’t see the universal appeal in Avatar’s simplistic story — or at least they are not selling it in the trailers if it does. And, I think politics has a lot to do with it, as the movie looks to me like nothing more than a liberal’s wet-dream — like it was written by a college freshman who just finished reading the first chapter of A People’s History. I am amazed how they could chalk so many Hollywood liberal/PC cliches into just a 3 minute trailer — stereotyping the military as bloodthirsty neanderthals with no conscience or redeeming qualities, ditto to American business and the U.S., etc. If I roll my eyes 10 times during a 3 minute trailer, chances are I’m not going to pay money to see it.

While I can see how others would eat this all up, for me this combination makes for a movie I have no desire to see. And since I’m not that big into special effects, that’s not enough to save it, no matter how amazing they might be.

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