A couple of days ago we took the kids to see Avatar. I’m a huge science fiction fan and have been looking forward to this movie for months — with trepidation. As I told a friend beforehand, I didn’t know which James Cameron would show up to write and direct: T2 Cameron, or The Abyss Cameron. I managed my expectations about the movie, even after Manohla Dargis raved about it in the New York Times.
I didn’t need to worry. Avatar blew me away. It’s fantastically entertaining. The cast is terrific, the 3D makes it an immersive experience, and the world Cameron creates is jaw-droppingly beautiful. I found the story gripping and at points deeply emotional. It has elements of Quest, Rebirth… okay, the action sequences are awesome.
I walked out of the theater thunderstruck. Then my daughter said, “Well, that was Fern Gully on crack.”
Further wisecracks from the kids and the Husband ensued, referencing Ewok battles, Pearl Harbor, Titanic, Mel Gibson, and Dances With Wolves. Maybe other jokes as well, but at that point I drove off without them.
Well, now the snarking has stopped, thanks to our stumbling on the most awesomely awful science fiction movie of all time: Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus.
It features hideous, stilted acting, bad sex, a battleship firing guns in the wrong direction as a sixty-foot shark fin bears down on it, and former ’80s teen singing sensation Debbie Gibson, looking bizarrely like Birther-Queen/lawyer/dentist Orly Taitz.
And it has the most off-the-wall shark attack — poorly executed, badly acted, implausible in the extreme — ever put on screen. It was so amazing that the Daughter gaped in wonder at the screen and said, like a child discovering Santa’s gifts under the tree on Christmas morning, “Can we see that again? Please?”
Here you go, honey.
UPDATE: A big thank you to WordPress.com for promoting this post to the WordPress.com homepage.
UPDATE 2: In the comments, Patti writes The Mega Shark Song.
I’m completely speechless….but, that was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. The Daughter’s absolutely right…. it’s like Christmas morning all over again…
And then the scene cuts to San Francisco International Airport, conveniently located right next to Santa Monica beach…
what was that about bad sex?
Oh my. Now THAT’S a scene…
And Meg, I had the same reaction to Avatar as you did. Later I heard it renamed, “Dances with Ferngully”.
heavy sigh…
when i found the mega shark vs. giant octopus trailer, it made my month of october.
for serious.
Contrary to popular belief great white sharks only attack for food. If you look and act like a seal you’re in danger. A flying 747 doesn’t, by any stretch of the imagination, fall into that category.
Two movies I have to see soon are Avatar and Invictus.
Were you expecting an orginal story from Avatar? James Cameron made a typical hollywood blockbuster, which is every movie you’ve ever seen.
Avatar changed my life !
Speaking of really, really bad shark themed movies (even worse than mega shark vs giant octopus) check out the Megladon series; they make the former look high tech and well acted!
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We saw Avatar (3d version) Monday afternoon and quite enjoyed it. I’ve never been able to get the old 3-D green/red glasses to “work”, so the new polarization glasses were a delight.
Avatar has some great special FX. But, the plot was…there was not much of one.
Avatar was probably one of the best movies of 09. ;D
sure, the plot section seemed unoriginal, but there were some special moments.
most kids love science fictions,
dynamic,
imaginative
and exciting,
right?
Happy New Year,
I thought the story in Avatar was old, but the graphics saved the movie for me. Also, 3d and IMAX didn’t hurt either.
Haha Avatar as Fern Gully on crack is hilarious. I found it very much like Pocahontas myself. Still, the amount of visual stimulation was mind-boggling. I felt like I was there in the midst of all the action.
i have seen the avatar movie twice and i love it…. i want to see it again and when it comes out for sell i will be the first to buy it…. i wish there was a place in the world like that actually and we ccould be avatars..
Avatar truly deserves some credit and not slamming. It IS a jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime experience…
hi i can’t see y
Looking forward to seeing Avatar – alth0ugh it may be at home in 2D when it comes out on DVD. After seeing that clip, I don’t think I could bring myself to watch Megashark. Then again…
Oh, and congratulations for WordPress promoting your blog, Meg – it’s long overdue.
avatar was one of the best movie of decade
it was an awesome cool movie
though the story line was some what weak but sure its a magic created on screen
I can not wait to go see Avatar! The only thing that bothers me about the movie is the name. It makes sense why it is called Avatar but I love the Avatar cartoon which is popular at the moment too. The Avatar is coming out with a movie as well but instead of it called Avatar which it can’t due to this movie, it will be called the Last Air Bender. I can’t wait to see either movie!
As for this shard movie, there is no way I am going to see this. I saw and loved Jaws but this movie looks really corny and just a bad rip off that I don’t see why anyone would want to see it.
Thanks for all the comments. To a few commenters above: I don’t think Avatar has a completely original plot. I didn’t expect it to. A completely original plot is almost impossible. But I did think the story was well acted and well executed, and that the movie was hugely entertaining.
As for Mega Shark, its awfulness was of a particularly amusing kind — one we couldn’t look away from. And it showed how brightly Avatar shines by comparison.
HARA QUE EN PEZAMOS EL AÑO 2010
QUE LA JENTE SEAMOS MAS UMANO CON TODAS LA PERSONAF
Emilio: Estoy de acuerdo, mi amigo.
Le gustaba la pelicula Avatar?
I haven’t seen avatar, but as soon as you mentioned Ferngully, I had flashbacks. Still, I’m dying to see it for the sheer love of tech.
The shark clip is awe-inspiring in its B-movie cheese. I may have to watch the movie now.
Avatar was awesome!
O Mega-Shark!
O Mega-Shark!
Your teeth are white like pearl-drops.
O Mega-Shark!
O Mega-Shark!
You bite like Jaws on steroids.
You leap into the summer skies
With blood-lust in your little eyes.
O Mega-Shark!
O Mega-Shark!
Within you Jaws meets Airport.
Patti: Festive! Sun to the tune of “O Christmas Tree”?
I am the youngest of four brothers who, way back in the 1950s, took me to see The House of Wax. It starred Vincent Price and Charles Bronson as Igor, the quintessential assistant of mad scientists. Until, Avatar, that was my only impression of a movie in 3D.
Avatar made me feel like a little kid all over again. I loved it! Obviously the technology has improved and it’s equally obvious that 50 years from now, Avatar will seem to be campy.
http://goodbloodbadblood.wordpress.com/
Oh, indeed, Meg.
avatar was jaw-droppingly beautiful! left me thunderstruck too. in addition to quest and rebirth, you must acknowledge the love story. another cameron epic.
I can’t wait to see Avatar! It’s sound amazing!
I love this blog!
That’s really Nice!!
Happy New Year Guys!!
I loved avatar!! I actually wrote a blog about it myself if you are interested in my take on the movie.. it kinda turned into a rant at some point lol but i still loved the movie.
http://juniper86.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/avatar-old-story-new-setting/
I actually did turn to my boyfriend at one point and say it reminded me of Ferngully also lol just the colors and amazing animals and plants were similar- awesome all around
I need to see Avatar. Thanks for highlighting it. It is good that J.C. did a wonderful job so that you can write about it. Happy New Year.
ZOMG! I have see this Megashark movie! I don’t understand: how can people still say that ‘Avatar’ was brilliant, after watching a hundred tons of pure badass sharkery hurling at a 747 like that. Oh man, those passenger are so lucky – what Sheer Awesomeness they get to see. And feel, a minutes later.
On a more serious note, where can I get myself of these cute things for my fishtank? Mommy, are you listening?!
*have to see
*passengers
*get myself one of
Typos, typos. Sigh.
We started watching “Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus” through the magic of Netflix On-Demand.
O. M. G. It’s so bad, it almost rounds the corner back to being train-wreck level interesting. We’ll watch the rest later tonight and see if offers any additional laugh-out-loud moments.
What a way to start the new year O.O
gargoyle: So glad I could help you guys usher in 2010 in style.
Watched Avatar in 3D this evening and the movie exceeds the hype by some margin. The attention to detail is mind-blowing and even surpasses 2001: A Space Odyssey and I never thought I’d say that.
This is just brilliant – wish the clip was longer. When I first saw “Megashark” in your blog, I assumed it was a play on your name – or possibly the Swedish pronunciation of it!
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Very nice to see many people to your blog.Very nice and good luck
Jensi
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