Do we need to watch Avatar....

[greg9x]

No, you don't really have to see the movie to go on the rides.

But I will disagree with the "really not a good movie' opinions... More that it is not some peoples type of movie, which is fine... but that doesn't make it a bad movie. I have no desire to sit down and re-watch a lot of the Disney classics (Bambi, etc) as they put me to sleep.. but there would be torch mob if I said they were't good movies... and it has no effect on me enjoying the parts of those movies at the parks, but I have seen them to know what they are about.

 

[MJ6987]

Thanks all. Some very mixed views on this then! I guess we will try to watch if we get a chance (it’s pretty long!) but don’t need to stress if we don’t manage to.

I still think it was a strange choice of franchise to spend money on - I think the only reason it was so popular at the time was that it was the first movie to nail proper 3D but now that is standard technology and I don’t get the sense that anyone is really waiting for a sequel. Doesn’t seem to have endured at all as a franchise. But maybe that’s just me.

 

[anneboleyn]

I would just watch Ferngully lol. It is basically the same story, but I like Ferngully a heck of a lot more.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

I suggest watching the movie, which will make you more alert to what you're seeing. It's basically Pocahontas in Space, and the dialogue is actually atrocious. All the same, it's visually quite spectacular and you can see how the themes actually do fit with Animal Kingdom. It's definitely not the greatest movie you'll ever see, but sitting down to watch it could be a great vacation psych-up activity. We did this with our family before our June trip and made an evening of it with a full family movie night on the couch with popcorn. We all had a great time, even as we made fun of the horrible dialogue. Enjoy your trip!

 

[mousefan73]

Not needed but a bit background would help. I would just recommend watching the trailer.. then you know at least what an avatar is... The land is so beautiful and immersive. No need for the full movie. BUT understanding the movie does make you understand more the details.

 

[AngiTN]

I would just watch Ferngully lol. It is basically the same story, but I like Ferngully a heck of a lot more.

So many people say that yet hardly anyone saw or even heard of Ferngully when it came out. The story is similar but it's it truly a better movie? It was by no means a hit or even remotely popular movie. DD and I loved it. We even picked a song from the movie, A Dream Worth Keeping, as her first Lyrical dance for competition and she dressed as Crysta. No one knew who she was mind you cause I think we were the only people to have seen the movie, LOL.

 

[anneboleyn]

So many people say that yet hardly anyone saw or even heard of Ferngully when it came out. The story is similar but it's it truly a better movie? It was by no means a hit or even remotely popular movie. DD and I loved it. We even picked a song from the movie, A Dream Worth Keeping, as her first Lyrical dance for competition and she dressed as Crysta. No one knew who she was mind you cause I think we were the only people to have seen the movie, LOL.

I was little when Ferngully came out and it was a really big hit here and everyone in my grade had Ferngully stuff lol. I would actually be really surprised if people my age had never heard of it. My daughter and my friends’ kids have seen the movie as well, because it was a hit within our age group (as well as the Brave Little Toaster...I love that one! lol)

I personally like Ferngully better, but it is totally fine if not everyone does

 

[gwb]

I’d rather not as from what I’ve heard it’s not very good

don't know where you got not very good from. It's the highest grossing film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films

 

[disneysteve]

made an evening of it with a full family movie night

I would not recommend the movie for younger kids. My wife and I were expecting sci-fi fantasy, not a war movie. That's part of why we were so disappointed by it. It was not at all what we thought it was. That's also why we thought it was so odd for Disney to base something on it. It was not a nice or family-friendly film.

Fortunately, none of what actually happens in the movie is reflected in the land. They just went for the look and a couple of the fun parts of the movie like riding the banshee.

I imagine the problem is kids who experience Pandora and then go home asking to watch the movie if they've never seen it. I'd recommend parents watch it all first before deciding if they want their children to see it.

 

[disneysteve]

don't know where you got not very good from. It's the highest grossing film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films

My wife and I got "not very good" from us sitting down and watching it.

 

[MJ6987]

don't know where you got not very good from. It's the highest grossing film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films

I believe it was so popular as it was the first movie to do proper 3D. This also helped with it being high grossing as they charged more to see it.

Highest grossing does not equal best imo.

 

[randumb0]

I thought the movie was great and am looking forward to the sequels. With that being said, you don't need to watch the movie in order to enjoy Pandora. Most people haven't seen Song of the South yet Splash Mountain is a popular ride

 

[disneysteve]

Most people haven't seen Song of the South yet Splash Mountain is a popular ride

Very true. Heck, I bet a lot of Disney guests haven't seen a number of the movies that park attractions are based on. How many Disneyland guests have seen The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad prior to riding Mr. Toad's Wild Ride?

 

[dachsie]

Agree-ANYTHING at WDW will enhanced by having seen the Movie or by knowing the backstory,but everything can still be enjoyed at some level.

For example,IllumiNations can be "enhanced" by knowing the backstory,but most Guests enjoy it just fine without knowing ANY of the backstory!lol

Wait! There is a backstory to Illuminations?? Maybe that's why I don't like it.

I just watched Avatar for the first time last nite. Am excited to see Pandora now. Movie was eh. But I could see the potential in theming

 

[dachsie]

don't know where you got not very good from. It's the highest grossing film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films

Just because a movie makes a ton of money, doesnt mean its a great movie

 

[anneboleyn]

Just because a movie makes a ton of money, doesnt mean its a great movie

Exactly. Paul Blart: Mall Cop made a lot of money. Not Avatar amounts of money, but over $150,000,000.

Anytime someone talks about Avatar (or any other James Cameron movie), this is all I can think about:

 

[Mome Rath]

One of the reasons it made so much money was the repeat viewer. They put out articles about people becoming clinically depressed because they could not actually go to Pandora... truly, you can Google it. I work in the Mental Health field so I read all about it when the movie was out.

 

[rileyz]

No. I’ve tried 5 times and can’t stand it. Love the land and rides though. Go figure

 

[AngiTN]

I would not recommend the movie for younger kids. My wife and I were expecting sci-fi fantasy, not a war movie. That's part of why we were so disappointed by it. It was not at all what we thought it was. That's also why we thought it was so odd for Disney to base something on it. It was not a nice or family-friendly film.

Fortunately, none of what actually happens in the movie is reflected in the land. They just went for the look and a couple of the fun parts of the movie like riding the banshee.

I imagine the problem is kids who experience Pandora and then go home asking to watch the movie if they've never seen it. I'd recommend parents watch it all first before deciding if they want their children to see it.

Eh, everyone has different opinions on what they recommend for younger kids too. We had the 9yo watch it. She loved it. Didn't find anything inappropriate in it. She knows make believe. You could always watch a version edited for TV, which would be tamer.
I often find the Parents Guide at IMDB useful (available for any movie)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/parentalguide

Just like the family that was in the BWI CL lounge with us recently. The TV in the kids viewing area had on the new Disney Zombie High movie. The family sat down to eat and the kids saw what was on and said something to the Mom about how she said they couldn't watch it because of the zombies. Mom hushed them because she realized it was a Disney channel show and clearly Disney was going to show the Disney channel shows and they probably shouldn't be saying negative things about them while there. They did not get up and leave, and they kids did watch while they were in the lounge.

 

[disneysteve]

I would not recommend the movie for younger kids.

I'd recommend parents watch it all first before deciding if they want their children to see it.

Eh, everyone has different opinions on what they recommend for younger kids too. We had the 9yo watch it. She loved it. Didn't find anything inappropriate in it.

Absolutely, which is why I said what I did. You know your kid best, and you know what you do and don't want them seeing. If you aren't sure, watch the movie first and decide if you're okay with your kid seeing it.

Just don't assume that Avatar must be kid-friendly and okay for all ages because Disney chose to base a section of the park on it.

Since you mentioned the IMDb parent guide, here's one part of their page on Avatar: "The battle at the end is extremely violent and a lot of creatures and humans die again and again, each death presented in gruesome detail." I imagine that isn't something that all parents want their little ones watching.