Saturday, 16 January 2010 11:30
I’ve seen the hit movie Avatar twice now and expect to see it at least once more, particularly in 3D and ideally on the big IMAX screen. I highly recommend it. It’s more than a movie; it’s an event. In spite of the magnitude of the cinematography, it was also a very personal and intimate experience, particularly around the relationship of the two main characters.
I’m fond of good sci-fi movies. There have been some of these that are reflective of whatever’s going on in the society and culture at large. Some of you may remember Them! about the giant ants that had been created as a result of the nuclear bombs that were being test. Then there was the first Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Excellent and scary movie which still holds up today, a metaphor for the massive fears of lifeless, atheistic communists taking over our country and the populace. The first remake of the same movie that occurred in the 70’s was reflective of the alienation many felt following the disillusionment of the promise of the 60’s.
There are certainly other examples in this genre, and now we have Avatar, expressing through this story a respect and reverence for indigenous communities and how they are so intimately associated with their world and all the inhabitants. The insatiable drive for power and domination of this world is represented by the corporate/military attempts to control the inhabitants of this world called Pandora. No accident that the planet carries such a name. I recall the story of Pandora’s box and how once it was opened all sorts of evil was unleashed on the Earth.
Go see the movie if you haven’t. I’d love to hear your comments as it relates to what we see happening in our world.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
I, too, have seen Avatar a couple of times and hope to see it again in the theater. It is a must have for my personal library as well.
I was struck by Spiritual connection that the indiginous people of Avatar had with their home. It is the connection that all of us are looking for; well, at least those of us who aren't too busy to be seekers or so socially programmed that we already think we have the answers.
It is the connecion that I believe the indiginous people of the American continents had prior to their indoctrinization by invading forces.
I was appalled by the commanding officer's scoffing tone when talking about the Natives relationship with their God and horrified to consider how easy it is to stir up that type of disdain within the ranks of invading forces. I was horrified to consider how many times those tactics have been used already.
It seems that it is far to easy to forget that there is only one source of creative power. Once we think we've got it all figured out it is quite difficult to be open to other's ideas of what that Source might be called, how that Source might manifest to different populations.
I hope you do get the opportunity to see Avatar again. It is definitely one that will stay with me.
I was amazed by this film and the visual dance that it carries you through. It is the closest thing to a journey (shamanic) that I have seen.
However, I see a different message also occurring alongside the connection to all things natural. Notice the betrayal of the soldier during the mission. He chose to change his Cause from moving/removing Pandora's people to defending them. This can be a metaphor for anyone who "wakes up" from the fascist veil that is around all of us in the last several years.
I LOVED Avatar. It is my favorite movie of all time. I saw it 3 times in the theatre. James Cameron is truly a visionary for reflecting the changing spirituality on Earth.
It made me even more weary and suspicious of mainstream religions like Catholicism when the Catholic church blasted it for promoting "paganism." I thought that was hilarious! The church needs to stop telling people how to think and take care of their business like dealing with the thousands of priests who molest children. If the mainstream Catholic church had a stronger connection to nature and animals, and remembered the work of saints like St. Francis, they would probably would be able to truly hear and feel God, and be real beacons of light in this world, instead of promoting oppressiveness.
