Project 880: The Avatar that almost was

In case you want to read the scripment for yourself:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/14294813/Avatar-Scriptment-by--J...

That is an interesting comparison. Still the movie is worth seeing no matter what the script as a demonstration of what special effects are now possible. And for the full experience, IMAX is best.

That said, I would have personally enjoyed the amazing special effects in Avatar more if I hadn't recently seen Under The Sea 3D with my 5 year old son. Therefore I was aware of exactly what 3D visual experience that screen is capable of, and was correspondingly aware of how much the movie fell short of that ideal.

In the documentary I remember looking from one fish to another, and feeling my eyes refocus for the different depth and then notice the amazing detail. By contrast in Avatar I never felt that anything really was in solid focus.

(cross-post from here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1018254)

wow thanks so much for that link! it's great to see that cameron's original script (which really seems like a short novel) had much more depth and soul. however, i suspect that he was first and foremost aiming to make a dazzling action film, so unfortunately a lot of the back-story and slower scenes had to be cut. i can't imagine how he could've squeezed in more story without cutting much of the action.