I finally got the see the movie that everyone has been raving about. Avatar is James Cameron long awaited cinematic return after the hit movie Titanic, which I saw 5 times. It was certainly worth the wait. Although he conceived the idea of Avatar way back in the early 1990s he had to wait until the technology was available for him to realize his vision of Pandora. There’s already been talk of a sequel but I personally think if not done correctly, it will be ruin. Take for example the Matrix trilogy, both reloaded and revolution movie was not as good as the original. The story line changed and the ending was horrible. Then again James Cameron made of one of the best sequel to an original movie. Terminator II surpassed every one’s expectation. With that to go by let’s hope history repeats itself.
What’s intriguing to me is how the Avatar arouses some conservative issues of the day while entertaining the masses with some ground breaking artistry, cinematic genius and a love story. The typical movie goers are indulged with political subtexts staring them right in the face. It’s clear that Avatar portrays the American military contractors as barbarous mercenaries, willing – nay – eager, to wipe out innocent natives in their pursuit of Pandora's precious natural resources. This draws direct comparison to the Iraq war and probably other US wars before it. Buts what's is more interesting is how the American people, who have almost always show strong support for their foreign wars, is showing support and embracing a film that portrays their military characters in such an unsavory manner. Does this show a change of time? Or merely a creatively disguise subtle social message? My guess is that the audiences are seeing past the obvious because the movie is set in a faraway, interplanetary future and not in present-day America. One of the references to Iraq was their “Shock and Awe” tactics used against the Na’vi. In the end the movie ask the audience to root for the defeat of American soldiers at the hands of the insurgency.
Besides Iraq, another reference was religion. In my research of various religions, one found was very interesting, Pantheism. It is a faith that equates God with Nature. In other words, the universe, including nature on Earth is the only true entity deserving divinity, and calls humanity into religious communion with the natural world. This is heavily reference in the movie. So is James Cameron a Pantheist? Or maybe like me who just find it interesting.
Avatar is more than a green epic about despoiling the environment, and an attack on the war in Iraq, it has an incredible spectacle and technology and great filmmaking to capture people's attention. It's a triumph of visual imagination and the world's first great 3-D movie. Trust me for those who haven’t watch it in full 3-D, they haven’t watch anything yet.
