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Avatar Performance Comparisons in a New Video Featurette

by Alex Billington
December 3, 2009

If you're still hesitant about Avatar or just want to see a cool behind-the-scenes video, then you need to watch this. I'm not sure how I originally missed it, but thanks to Brian (@fuelbot on Twitter) I've decided to feature it. Hulu is hosting a behind-the-scenes Avatar video that in the middle features some side-by-side comparison shots between the final rendered look of Neytiri and actress Zoe Saldana acting out her scenes on the sound stage. I'm trying to limit how much footage I see of Avatar at this point, but I still suggest checking this out, as you will be impressed with how perfectly her emotions were captured. Take a look!

Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine on the planet Pandora who, as an Avatar - a human mind in an alien body - finds himself in a desperate fight for his survival and that of the indigenous beings called Na'vi.

Avatar is both written and directed by Oscar winning visionary filmmaker James Cameron, of Piranha II, The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, and Titanic previously. He has been developing the technology to make this movie for the last 10 years. 20th Century Fox is bringing James Cameron's Avatar to both IMAX and regular theaters in 3D around the world on December 18th.

Explore tags: Cool Stuff, Featurettes, To Watch

usonnychiba1

As per usual not available in the uk. Tossers.
tankmaster

wow!....this is going to be amazing!
Jaf

Same here, our igloos in Canada doesn't allow for hulu (kidding about the igloos of course)
Lazarus from Sparta...DETHKLOK RULES!!!!!

no HULU in montreal Alex! Just another day Hulu is winning...again and loosing millions of folks outside the US!
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Sorry guys, it's a Hulu video, that's the only way I can show it on here.
xerxex

Zoe Saldana seems to be at her best in this film...in all honesty I haven't bought into the hype and I'm glad I didn't. I'm still not 100% sold on the effects it looks out of place, but will I see it? Yes, but in Imax? Iffy.
Marty Martin

Much more impressed now. Excited to see the final result.
Governor

More like voice acting performances.
pjs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHPCI_9-eQ For all the rest of us
Q

thx @ #9
Florian

A full video of Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), in action, and interviews : http://www.allocine.fr/video/player_gen_cmedia=18937458&cfilm=61282.html Enjoy it ! I personally CAN'T WAIT to see this film !!!!
Hedgehog

Still excited. This will be the FIRST movie I've ever seen in IMAX. Sure hope its worth the cash.
Nikhil Hariharan

OH MY GOD. I cant wait for this movie anymore, only 2 weeks away!!!!!!! I really hope the 3d is as amazing as everyone says. That comparison with the real time footage and the actors was really interesting to see.
OCP

they truly are Avatars while making this
http://thinkhero.com Fuelbot

Thx for the nod Alex.
http://thinkhero.com Fuelbot

#11 - I think the one you posted is my favorite featurette released so far.
CookieMonst4

Thanator chase exclusive clip: http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1627534/story.jhtml
Mark

I'm impressed, but it's still not good enough. The rawness of Zoe Saldana's performance is completely missing on the CG version. There's so much more going on in her face.
Lazarus from Sparta...DETHKLOK RULES!!!!!

Well after watching all the featurettes...I'm scared this movie will sink Titanic, Harry Potter, Dark Knight, Twilight saga, Star Wars, Matrix saga, LOTR saga...in one swoop of box office orgasm...Damn you James Cameron for making me hope your " Dances with Wolves " sci-fi remake will actually be good and thematically entertaining... I sure hope the Gods of the 7th art will send you bazillion of dollars and dozens of Oscars. Because if that doesn't happen...You wasted 13 years for 3hrs of failure!
Xerxex

well said #19 well said.
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf Shero

.... you guys are full of shit .....!!! You are speaking about CGI without having the smallest idea what does CGI means ... and what is take to make that performance appears from human being into a 3D world .... ( Morons I am not speaking about 3D glasses ...I am speaking about 3D programs ).... By the way it is the best can be done until now ... and for a alien face and body it is realistic ... and it can't be done better than this ... ! ...You impressed or not it is your problem ... One other thing you still remember Cameron's work even after 25 years .... that is a big prove that you have no idea what are you talking about ....You point as his movies as a historical changes in movie making ... but ... in the same time... you are not sure if this one will come out good !!!! You proved it ... you are morons ... Go have a life now .... Wait 2 weeks and then speak ...as much as you speak now it will be harder for you guys to find your chin later ... After all those nice words that you deserve ... Don't take it personally ... take it with you and go to your mommy .. she may can help you ... ................................. Thanks #9 pjs .... By the way what is the problem with Hulu !!??? why it is just for USA !??? ................................. Alex thanks for the updates and hope you changed that Hulu clip to the Youtube one ..
David Banner

Fuck HULU, they claim they have been 'working on' a way to show vids outside the US for years now. Well, company issnt that old, but I am angry! Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry!
suresh

Alex... Could you pls post some screenshots from the video atleast... Pls...
giraffic

Oh yeah I saw this! It was freaking amazing. I really didn't think they'd use the actors for real, but I'm even more excited that they did.
http://thinkhero.com Fuelbot

#18 - What the hell are you talking about not good enough? Watch it. Frame by frame. It's catching everything, literally, EVERYTHING going on with her face from the furrow of her brow to her gritted teeth. That's 100% facial capture.
SkaOreo

The more I see this, the more I'm impressed with this movie. Seriously the only way you're going to get the most out of this film is to see this in Imax.
judas

just 2 weeks to go.opening day for me,no dout.
http://myspace.com/risksinrip Ambient

Even if Shero is just a little rude, I have to say I kind of agree with him/her/it(!). I know it's going to be amazing.
Cody

Lazarus comment:I sure hope the Gods of the 7th art will send you bazillion of dollars and dozens of Oscars. Because if that doesn't happen…You wasted 13 years for 3hrs of failure! Omfg I couldnt of said that any better thinking about it for a few days first....the day this movie releases may be the day of the biggest truly epic fail ever seen anywhere.
xerxex

Shero are you done? People have opinions let them have one.
evilnik

thanx #9
http://MYSPACE.COM/ESOPHUS esophus

hen i WATCH PARTS OF THIS FILM THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY...THEIR NOT. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT HUMOR IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT FOR A BLOCKBUSTER AND ALTHOUGH i WILL OF COURSE SEE THIS FLICK THIS IS SO FAR ONE OF MY PET PEEVES.
Lar

The music in this is gorgeous. The behind the scenes features make me more and more excited. Knowing what went into the movie sometimes takes away from it, but I don't think that'll be the case with Avatar.
Cody

Lol Shero you mentioned that we have no life yet you probably spent 10 minutes thinking up that post of correcting and insulting people...thank you for proving your hypocritical stupidity. Btw those smilies dont make it any nicer they make you come off as more of an asshole.
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf Shero

#34 Cody Hey "LOL" teenage moron ... who hate I think about what I write even more than 10 minutes ... By the way and just for your information it is not a bad think a human being do before writing ... at least in the end I add something new ... I give something people will think about it ... even they think I am "little rude"... (which I am not) ... but they are still agree with me ... ! Tell me what you give ? ... as you wrote ( ... thinking about it for a few days first ) !!!! and what you got ? Maybe ... wish ...hope ... !!???? are you here to write a blog about your life ... and what you are afraid of ... and what you wish to get in Christmas ? .... or .... to give a real opinion and information about the topic !!???? Give a bit more real information based on resources or at least personal experience and knowledge !!! .. If you have any ! ... tell me what you know about CGI ? tell me what you know about directing ? tell me what you know about giving 10-15 years of your life trying to make a dream come true ? tell me what wrong you see in the movies Cameron made until now !!??? ... You can answer one question Don't hate me because I tell you and people like you ... who you really are ... !!! .. No disrespect but it is better to know who you are today than tomorrow ... ... Come on .. I am kind a helping you here . and as I said don't take it personally ... you know where to take it ... and .... ................. #30 xerxex .... I respect others opinion based on facts and resources ... they are just opening their holes without knowing what are they saying or doing ... or even thinking why they are writing it !!!! ... I believe when you hate something you must know what is it first !!! just information about it ... Hope you understand what I mean ... And in the end .. I have my opinion too ...
"David Webb"

hulu sucks, unless you live inside Planet United States. Why bother? Just upload the damn video to YouTube so we an ALL enjoy the video. Sheesh...
Catilengua

I was on the premiere of the movie in my country...(dominican republic)... and i can tell to all of you... that this movie is the best film of all time.... not just the CGI, the music and the history..... is the performance .... YOU CAN FEEL THE CHARACTERS SADNESS, HAPYNESS, SORROW, PASSION.... whe i saw the Na'Vi people...OMG...i dont have words to explain ....they are like real people...the technology that Cameron used to make this movie is beyond imagination.......... this movie required a standing Ovation....... A PIECE OF ART...... i LOVE IT !!!!