Final Scenes - Unit 2

Maya Building Images

Images of UV mapping lintels and starting the pillars, after doing these couple of videos I now have a better understanding of Maya and UV mapping.

Unit 2 - Space / Presentation

Unit 2 – Space

Avatar - Review

Fig one - Poster

Avatar is a 2009 epic science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron, the film is set in the mid 22^nd century, when humans are mining an expensive mineral called unobtanium on Pandora, a wonderful habitable moon in the alpha centauri star system.

“So the writing is clunky, and even lacking in the crackling one-liners that have often saved Cameron's scripts in the past. But that's always been a problem for a man who fancies himself an auteur when he should just accept that he's simply a brilliant visual technician and storyteller”.           (Buckwalter, 2009) The film has the same basic story we have all seen but “Avatar” makes you see it like never before with groundbreaking visuals and stunning scenery to match. The vibrant colours of Pandora, whether it’s the 12 feet Na’vis or the lush’s greenery with magical flowers.

The emotion roller coaster Jack sully goes on this film massive, first off, his brother is murdered, then he takes his brothers place and goes to unfamiliar world, being paraplegic and then having the freedom to walk and run again through the Avatar system and then to fall in love with another race jack really does experience it all throughout the film. “Spiritually moving, visually daring and emotionally stirring, Avatar is classic storytelling at its very best”. (Shaffer, 2010).

The creatures within the film are stunningly designed, taking a basic animal and adding extra legs and vibrant colours to give some relation to earth’s animals, so the audience can relate even more to the film.

The Na’vi themselves are the most interesting thing about the entire film, typical tribunals but being 12 feet tall and shiny blue tiger skin. With amazing skills in climbing and hunting no wonder why the Na’vi have survived the horrors on Pandora.

The acting in avatar isn’t going to be the best you seen but aren’t that bad Jack sully’s character is mainly motionless throughout the film, maybe this is on purpose due to his brother’s murder to show depression or just plain lack of acting skill.

“A spectacular visual experience unlike anything you've seen before.” (Miller, 2010). The environment of Pandora is breathtaking in every way, beautiful glowing plants, trees glowing when touched and the lushes bright colours at night from the surroundings making it look like neon night club. Even though Pandora is a natural world it has a unique system what connects of living things and the deceased together which work like a computer data system.

Illustration - http://www.screenhead.com/reviews/avatar-wins-and-wins-the-box-office/

http://blog.tokyololas.com/avatar/

Bibliography –

http://dcist.com/2009/12/avatar.php 

http://uk.bluray.ign.com/articles/113/1134354p1.html

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/reviews/review-avatar-neilm.php

All Thumbnails (100+)

Second Scene 2 (Update)

First Scene Progress (Update)

Second Scene Progress

 

First Scene Designs

Just a few images of my first scene designs, playing around with objects and where there being placed.

Edward Scissorhands Review

Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 Romantic fantasy film directed by Tim Burton. The film is about an artificial man named Edward, an unfinished creation, who has scissors for hands.

“The well-behaved, lonely and freakish looking lad (adorned with an electric-shock hairdo and a black leather outfit, and an appearance that is a cross between Michael Jackson and a punk rocker.” (Schwartz, 2008) Probably the most eye catching thing in the film is Edward Scissorhands himself with his fuzzy hair and gothic suit what makes him stand out from the dull suburbia scenery. The scares on Edwards face are simply scares from his scissor hands but maybe have reason to show that Edward has scares on the inside and that might be why he acts nervous and shy at the start of the film.

“Fine performances all around, particularly from Depp and the immensely sympathetic Wiest.” (Guide, 2008)The acting in the film is great, especially from Johnny Depp, his character becomes very easy to believe and understand, Edward has a mind of a kid and has only socialised with his inventor but his inventor dies before finishing him so Edward has spent a lot of his time on his own so he hasn’t had a chance to grow up and act correctly with other people until the Avon lady takes him to live with her family in the suburbia environment. Where Edward learns to socialise with other people and becomes a celebrity within the neighbourhood as he has amazing cutting skills with his hands which can be skilful or deadly.  

“Yet I loved the film simply for the character of Edward, who is Burton's purest achievement as a director so far.” (Gleiberman, 1990). The film is probably mainly remembered not for the story of how the film looks but for the character Edward Scissorhands simple because the character is unique. The innocence of the teenager who is so calm and in control of his actions with deadly scissors for hands that could easily go on a mascara but instead the shy teenager keeps himself to himself.  

Illustrations-

http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_poster/edward_scissorhands_1990.htm 

http://www.cosplayisland.co.uk/costume/view/48096

Bibliography

http://homepages.sover.net/~ozus/edwardscissorhands.htm

http://movies.tvguide.com/edward-scissorhands/review/128196

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318762,00.html