Kunowledge

Don’t watch the trailer of James Cameron’s new film Avatar. Don’t listen to your friends when they try to explain the plot or why they loved (or hated) the movie. Just look at the poster here, develop your own ideas of what to expect, know that the movie runs 2 hours and 40 mins and go see it in IMAX 3D.

Most people, I take their opinions of movies with a grain a salt. There are few friends whose movie recommendations I hold in high regard. One friend, in particular, has high standards for a five star rating. In his Netflix account, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a movie he has rated over 3 stars (out of 5). So, when he mentioned to me that he saw Avatar a few days earlier, I was curious his opinion. Not having lived under a rock for the past 4 months, I had inevitably seen some of the reportedly $400 million worth of promotion posters and images.

Generally, I was interested in seeing the movie, but I hadn’t heard any reviews and had purposely refrained from watching the trailers as the clips often tell the entire story in the ridiculous hopes of convincing movie-goers that there is more to see. However, I knew that the movie had recently been released and I happen to be more of a $2-movie theater guy, preferring the 80% discount to being one of the first 10 million people to see a movie.

“Tell me it’s good,” I said, hoping he would confirm my gut feeling that this movie would be worth the hype.

“You should see it,” he replied.

“Is it worth the $10 ticket or should I wait for the $2 theater?”

“It’s worth $15.”

“What?! Really?! It’s that good?”

“Seriously. Go see it in IMAX 3D if you can. It’s worth it. You’re going to like it.”

This particular friend had never recommended a movie be seen in the $10 theater and here he was recommending I spend as much money as possible to see the movie. This friend is not accustomed to exaggeration and his opinion was genuine. Apparently one should not wait to experience the visuals of the movie on a TV or computer screen. This movie needs to be seen on the big screen.

The next day I made plans to see the movie. I called the theater at 11:30 am to see if I could buy two tickets for the 3:30 pm IMAX show in 3D. “I’m sorry sir, but the IMAX show is sold out until the 10:30 pm show.” Wow! There were 6 showings before the 10:30 pm Avatar in IMAX, and all of them were sold out. My friend wasn’t joking. So I inquired about the regular 3D shows and the next shows were 80% full. Thankfully the 4:30 pm Avatar 3D was only 40% full but she said would likely sell out. “Thanks for the help,” I said as I hung up and logged on to Fandango.com to purchase advance tickets online.

Two tickets, and $33 later ($15.50 per ticket plus a $2 convenience charge) and I had just spent as much money on one movie as I had spent on the last 8.25 movies I had seen at the $2 theater. We showed up at the movie theater 30 mins early only to be in the spot in line that allowed us the last two seats at the back of the theater (which is better than the last 20 in the front of the theater). We were issued each a pair of Real 3D glasses which I hadn’t worn since getting zapped in the back by a dragonfly during the Coca-Cola 3D experience in Atlanta, GA. Needless-to-say, I was a little skeptical of the 3D part.

Sitting in the back row, the previews began to a black screen and loud sound effects. For the first 30 seconds we thought it was on purpose, but the next 6 minutes of black screen and Tom Cruise’s voice mixed with explosions and we knew something was wrong with the projector. The packed audience let their disappointment be heard, but subsequently let their appreciation fill the room when the images appeared to match the sounds.

The lights finally dimmed and a screen informing us to now put on the 3D glasses was shown. The audience oohed and awed at the 3D company’s title screen warming us to the effects we could expect and then the movie began.

I will spoil nothing.

“Is it worth the $10 ticket or should I wait for the $2 theater?”

“It’s worth $15.”

“What?! Really?! It’s that good?”

“Seriously. Go see it in IMAX 3D if you can. It’s worth it. You’re going to like it.”

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