Knockback, Episode 271 | Avatar
Added 2023-10-15 16:00:07 +0000 UTCOnly a couple of months from when this episode of KnockBack launches, an Avatar-themed AAA game will launch from Ubisoft-owned studio Massive. And -- as you may already know -- I (Colin) am a fan of Massive, as I love their Division series. So when I heard they were making a Far Cry-like title that happens to be Avatar-themed, I knew I had to play it. But there was a glaring problem: I didn't know the source material. KnockBack seemed like a good place to concoct a remedy so that I could emerge from the murky waters un-posered. As such, Dagan and I sat down to watch James Cameron's smash-hit 2009 film, which neither of us had seen, and really have no familiarity with whatsoever. And while we liked what it was attempting to do, whether or not it's successful is another story entirely. Allegorically-hinged on humanity's destruction of Earth -- and drowning in freaky blue humanoids galore -- Avatar is widely-considered both the pinnacle of cultural relevance and something seemingly inconsequential. Obviously, it's neither.
Comments
Colin has this instinct where he wants every answer spelled out for him. That’s bad story telling and script writing. A 2 hour movie is supposed to be a glimpse of the world. Mystery and unanswered questions are a good thing. The souls games sorry telling is at the extreme end of the spectrum but it tells it’s story like it does because Miyazaki used to read fantasy books in English and he knew he didn’t understand everything and that made it more compelling in ways
Ryan
2023-10-19 16:54:14 +0000 UTCNo mention of Zoe Saldana rip
Chetsnooze
2023-10-19 16:21:35 +0000 UTCThe colonel is definitely what I remember most. He’s like a meme and it’s sooo good. Avatar 2 has a similar feeling of what Colin is complaining about with 1. That said 2 definitely goes places with the story which is cool. Also… S/o to terminator salvation. -Originally planned to be a trilogy. Christian bale hot off the dark knight. -Sam worthington also in it and was put in the map from avatar which release I believe the same year. -Post apocalyptic setting catering to a bunch of highschoolers HOT off Fallout 3. -you could be mine -boring movie lol
SeanG123
2023-10-17 22:56:36 +0000 UTCI watched Avatar years ago but after listing to this episode I think i will watch Avatar 2. You guys got me kinda interested in the second film now lol.
Wayne Moss
2023-10-17 18:26:48 +0000 UTCMy favorite high school teacher would always say "Avatar? Oh you mean CG FernGully?". Thats what i remember most about the movie.
Simon Payne
2023-10-17 17:25:13 +0000 UTCUnless you have a 3D TV! I still use mine and they just released Avatar 2 on 3D Blu-ray, so the format is still limping along
Corey Adams
2023-10-17 16:47:39 +0000 UTCAw sweet finally more Avatar! Oh wait, it’s the movie with the blue mofos haha. I kid but, also please Season 2 of Avatar this year? 😭🙏 I’ve only seen this movie the one time in theaters, thought it was fine. Hopefully the game hooks me more than the two movies did. Always forget Sigourney Weaver is in this haha.
Angel Urbina
2023-10-16 23:09:39 +0000 UTCYou guys were correct about the technology causing delays. I'm not going to spoil, but Avatar 2 was originally slated for 2014. Due to the nature of the film it took years to get it right. I will also agree with the other commenters. The "magic" of Avatar was watching it on the big screen in 3D. Remove that and it's just a Pocahontas/Dancing with the Wolves knockoff without the heart.
Ealia Staroverov
2023-10-16 20:47:02 +0000 UTCGreat episode, totally agree with you Colin! Your critiques get bonus points for being both funny and true! 😂
Jeffrey Rommel
2023-10-16 20:39:48 +0000 UTCAlways really wanted to know more about the RDA and Earth. The Navi stuff was always so boring for me.
Noah Trujillo
2023-10-16 16:40:34 +0000 UTCI hope we get a Knockback episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Richard Hernandez
2023-10-16 04:30:49 +0000 UTCPretty much exactly this. It’s like playing a game designed for VR without the headset. The tech is what truly makes it a special experience.
Cody Raburn (ray-burn)
2023-10-16 03:16:33 +0000 UTCI think y’all are a little confused. They aren’t trying to colonize pandora, they are mining it for resources to take back to earth. That’s why after a certain point the top brass had no issue destroying everything when diplomacy didn’t work.
Cody Raburn
2023-10-16 00:16:21 +0000 UTCPandora The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom is the Best Themed Land Ever Created.
Robbie Agnew
2023-10-16 00:09:54 +0000 UTCAll the people saying that you had to see it in IMAX/3D is their exact point. No one ever defends the content of the movie, only the tech. You never once hear about the story, theme, character, performances - nothing.
Dante B
2023-10-15 22:40:07 +0000 UTCSorry boys. I RARELY disagree with your takes, but if you didn’t see this movie when it released in theaters, in what was at the time the first “true 3D movie,” you missed the magic. I still think about how blown my mind was seeing this in 3D. That “movie magic” is completely lost watching it on your TV.
SneakerHead24
2023-10-15 21:55:48 +0000 UTCDagen calling TLOU clickers "mushroom people" had me crying man!
Man of Constant Sbarro
2023-10-15 18:34:34 +0000 UTCNever saw Avatar, but I have experienced Avatar land or whatever you call it Disney a few times. Special shoutout to Boiler Room though. That's a twice a year watch for me. Beats Wall Street and Wolf of Wall Street for me at least.
Stewy108
2023-10-15 18:28:43 +0000 UTCI think I like the first one more than the general consensus, but Way of Water is genuinely really good I thought.
Noah Friscopp
2023-10-15 17:25:48 +0000 UTCAs a huge Avatar fan, these movies HAVE to be seen in Imax 3D.
Robbie Agnew
2023-10-15 17:04:55 +0000 UTCProbably never. Don't be blue though, that's the Navi's job.
Boomboom Washington
2023-10-15 16:16:34 +0000 UTCWrong Avatar S2 when?
Ice Slice
2023-10-15 16:06:29 +0000 UTC
