As the haze of last night's RiffTrax live event lifts this morning, it's time for another Social Friday. It just also happens that last night's event coincides with yesterday's release of the first trailer for Avatar and tonight's much hyped Avatar Day.
So, there's a lot happening in these parts as I'll have to "suck it up" and venture out to the IMAX theater later on today to get a real first look at Avatar. Do I get paid overtime? Or at least hazard pay?
Avatar - Theatrical Trailer
I am working on a full recap story of last night's activities complete with pictures and it should be up later this morning. In the meantime, I'd love to hear from other peeps who were out at the live event last night. I am very curious to how it played in the rest of the country.
Also, with Avatar hype ramping up, it made me think of all the big upcoming movies for the rest of the year and this article from Movie-Moron.com in which the author lists his top remaining movies of the year.
What say you on these topics? What movies are you geeked about for the second half of 2009 and is Avatar overhyped?
Update #1
Uhhmm.. It doesn't look bad, the special effects seem decent and I just have one question, what is this movie about? I didn't get that answered.
--Korab from Bronx, NY
That's a very good question. It seems to me that the story is something that George Lucas tossed aside for Phantom Menace as being too bad. The trailer really makes me long for Jar Jar Binks and that's a bad thing. Of course, I am reserving judgment until I see the extended footage tonight in 3D.
It's only fair. I will post a rare Saturday article tomorrow and let you all know what I think.
Of course Tim didn't want to wait to lay out his judgment.
"Instead of Avatar Day, perhaps they should've called it Battlefield Earth day."
Yikes!
Update #2
I would have to say the best movies to get a rifftrax treatment would be: The Day The Earth Stood Still with Keanu, Obsessed, and possibly Knowing.
--Darin from Ogden, UT
Personally, I think they should riff any movie that stars Keanu Reeves, but I don't think they've done any yet. Maybe The Matrix? I'm sure one of our readers will correct me.
Perhaps there is such a thing as a too easy joke.
Update #3
I've never heard of rifftrax until I read the story about the live event. Apparently, it's the same thing my friends and I do when we sit down and watch Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot!, or an offshoot of MST3K.If there was a movie I'd like to see come with a commentary like that, it would have to be Dan in Real Life. Maybe something like that could make it funny and entertaining.
--Shane from NC
Yeah, the RiffTrax guys are the same three that did MST3K for like the last five seasons or so. I'm finishing up my recap from last night's live event, but suffice it to say, it was a great time.
There are many movies that I would love to see them stick it to. I'm sure it's only a matter of time.
Update #4
Thought you might be interested in seeing my 7yr.-old son's reaction! Check it out on www.youtube.com/gabndad ("Max reacts to Avatar Trailer")
--Gab from The Great White North, eh!
I'll do you one better and embed the video right here in the story. Cute kid, the next Siskel and Ebert.
Update #5
Hey guys. Sorry this is coming in so late, but I really don't know what to think of Avatar. I certainly don't think it will be the disaster that Battlefield Earth was. Travolta, yuck. I would say it looks more like a live action version of Thundercats. I'm mildly disappointed with the trailer, but I definitely do not think the special effects look bad like some of the posts that came up after indicated. That being said, I can't possibly understand from the trailer how this film could be the most expensive film of all time. Maybe James Cameron should run for president, because he is clearly paying thirty grand for hammers and toilet seats on set. Anyway, I think there are far better looking movies coming out at Christmas like Sherlock Holmes and that will certainly get my money before another Cameron epic. He's gonna need to make True Lies 2 after this just to get some of his street credit back. Have fun at the preview.
--Eric from Gardner, KS
Thanks Eric, I hope the preview blows my socks off. Of course, this could all just be one big ploy by James Cameron to lower expectations. Granted, this would be one risky move, sort of like bluffing all-in with a flush draw on the board in poker, but it could pay off.
I think the biggest reason people didn't like the trailer was that their expectations were sky high. As in, this was supposed to be the best movie ever made. Sort of hard to ever live up those expectations. I wouldn't be surprised if the trailer was released intentionally to help lower expectations to a more reasonable level.
Update #6
Thanks everyone for the feedback today. My recap of last night's RiffTrax event is live. It's time to put a fork in another Social Friday. See ya next week.
