The Evolution of Avatar as a story

The Evolution of Avatar as a story

Devin Faraci from Chud.com and his massive essay on how Avatar changed from it's original form to what it is now. Spoilers ahead.

News
By Keven - Dec 28, 2009 03:12 PM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi
Source: www.chud.com

I didn't follow Avatar all that much back in the day and had no clue it was originally titled 'Project 880' - which is obviously a code name to keep it under wraps at that time.



Devin Faraci from Chud.com has been destroyed by Avatar fans (much like myself who also defend the movie with blinding rage). So he's been researching why he didn't like Avatar as much as the majority of the sci-fi world. He gave Avatar a 6/10 I believe - or around that score.

His essay details the differences between Project 880 and what Avatar is in it's current form. The changes are insane. I could either take or leave much of them - some of them being much darker in theme...Which I thought were pretty tight.

Here's some highlights - For the full massive read head here - http://chud.com/articles/articles/21969/1/PROJECT-880-THE-AVATAR-THAT-ALMOST-WAS/Page1.html

- Earth is seen - and it's a run down hole. The death of Jake's bro is detailed as he was killed in a subway fire and they show his funeral etc.
- Sully cries and has a more emotional breakdown when he finally can walk again through his Avatar form instead of running around like a kid.
- A previous Avatar controller is now insane because his Avatar was eaten alive by a creature not shown in the movie.
- The military initially wanted to control the Navi as a workforce because it was cheap labour.
- Sigourney Weaver's Character doesn't die and survives the soul transfer
- Sully rescues prisoners to prove his worth as a leader in a huge action scene and there is no big dragon taming - other Navi can ride them as well
- Sully threatens earth that he will wipe them out with a disease if they return to Pandora at the end of the film.
- The world of Pandora is shown as connected right from the start as plants and wildlife attack the marines.

- and much much more. I suggest reading it. As much as I loved Avatar - some of these original concepts feel more oldschool Cameron and have some cool dark themes to them which would have been awesome on the screen. Maybe he'll carry over some of this into a sequel - which I would welcome with open arms. Some very cool ideas here.
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LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/28/2009, 3:06 PM
PROJECT 880! Cool! ; D
StrangerX
StrangerX - 12/28/2009, 3:26 PM
Yea I can def see some of the themes being added to a sequel. Especially the parts witht the connected plant world. However, now that Jake is a full out Navi will they call the sequel avatar still.
superdog
superdog - 12/28/2009, 6:38 PM
Wait sigourney weaver dies? That sucks.
supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 12/28/2009, 8:02 PM
Evolution of the story? James Cameron was watching Jurassic Park and Pocahontas one night, and thought to himself "Hey, what If I combine these films into one movie, and take complete credit for originality?"

And later, on the look of the Na'vi, "Well, I always did love The Smurfs....."

lol. Unoriginal story aside, Avatar was a great film

rockingrich1webb
rockingrich1webb - 12/28/2009, 10:06 PM
interesting...
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 12/29/2009, 8:24 AM
Geez Louise guys, enough with the unoriginal story hating lol. Would you rather have all the Navi die, instead of Jake becoming one?

Anyway, I don't think the movie would have been worse or better with those changes.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 12/29/2009, 9:04 AM
"OK SHOOT HIM IN THE ASS, GET IT IN THE ANUS AND YOU GET A MANGO"
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 12/29/2009, 9:26 AM
Most of them would have added a lot to the story I think. Especially seeing Jake's bro die and seeing Jake break down after he can walk as an Avatar...of course that probably would have had people on hear up in arms that they had to see someone cry in a movie.
skidz
skidz - 12/29/2009, 10:50 AM
A controller going insane, more detail about his brother, and the Na'vi used as slave labor would've been good additions. Possibly without changing the timing much. Being in a wheelchair myself, I can understand Jake running around like a kid with new toys. I think the audience can see bits and pieces of a 'breakdown' throughout the story. They could've had him a little more conflicted about his connections to Humanity and the Na'vi. The other stuff might've been a little too much darker for me. Maybe some of this'll come up on the dvd. In the end, this film is escapism at its finest and people are forgetting the 'messages' in story are, in fact, an undertone. Cameron even said that himself. It's still 180+ minutes of escapism magic! The question asked should be 'did you have fun'? This movie is exactly that in spades!
NoobMike
NoobMike - 12/29/2009, 2:07 PM
hey Keven... she wants you, I think you two are a perfect match

BillyBlack
BillyBlack - 12/29/2009, 2:15 PM
Agreed Wesley

Some of the changes could've been cool. I'd like to see what kind of shit-hole we turned this planet into. Sully is a marine, so the tears are out for me. Especially in a world where you can buy new legs. Sigorney's character was cool, but I could take it or leave it. Even if these changes were made, the people who bitch would still find something to bitch about. Overall I think it was a success, even with the "simple" storyline. Not that it's needed, but if they go the sequel route a few of these points would be a welcome addition.
LobsterJohnston
LobsterJohnston - 12/29/2009, 7:19 PM
Oh, I hit that play button. This is more so a tutorial on how to look like the chick what ate the bad gum and swelled up like a grape in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Also, why make fun of wheelchair people when there is a fair to middlin' chance she's a twinkie away from losing her feet to diabetes? Uncool.
MattJMarcus
MattJMarcus - 12/29/2009, 9:36 PM
There is nothing wrong with taking an old idea and bringing it to new audiences. The problem was that the film brought absolutely NOTHING NEW beyond visual eye candy to the story. The main character was as boring as cold toast, and the plot holes were atrocious. I posted this already, but once again:

"After the humans score a huge initial victory, they sit with their thumbs up their asses for a whole day while the hero manages to escape and round up thousands of very convenient alien reinforcements from the entire planet without any interference. This was especially embarrassing since one thing the humans could have done after Jake Sully escaped was:

1. Follow him.
2. Wait for him to get into the Avatar chamber.
3. As his human body slept, shoot him in the head.

And then when the humans finally decide to attack again, all they have to do is drop a single bomb on a sacred tree to defeat the aliens, but instead they decide to wait to drop the bomb until about 20 minutes into the battle. Because that way, we get more battle."

I could go on and on.

The bottom line, however, is that no one cares. Everyone loves the movie because it's pretty.

Only me and a small handful of people actually didn't like it.
MattJMarcus
MattJMarcus - 12/30/2009, 5:17 PM
Ok. If that helps you enjoy the movie.
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