[from the stabenow.com vaults, July 10, 2011]
Big conversation yesterday at knitting about Star Wars vs. Avatar. (Talking about the first Star Wars film, here.)
My main objection to Avatar is that there isn’t one quotable line in the whole shebang.
In a film speculated to have cost anywhere from $230 million (The New Yorker) to nearly $500 million (The New York Times), it seems like spending a couple of million on a decent writer wouldn’t have been a bad idea. Avatar is beautiful to look at, the new film tech is spectacular, it is unquestionably a game changer, definitely a, um, Star Wars moment in film history, but there is isn’t a single line in it to compare with
Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.
or
Aren’t you a little short for a storm trooper?
or, hell, even
May the Force be with you.
Don’t get me wrong, I will forever revere James Cameron for Aliens
and Terminator 2
the sources of many great lines, like
They can bill me.
and
Anybody not wearing 2 million sunblock is gonna have a real bad day.
but there is nothing remotely approaching this caliber of dialogue in Avatar. Although at knitting yesterday Marian did remind me there was one memorable word.
Unobtanium.
Obvious, much?