Just went to see this movie in 3D IMAX. O HOLY HELL AND SHIT IT WAS AMAZING!
First of all, let’s hear it for the women of the movie. There were no screaming damsels in distress, no wide-doe-y eyed girls–every woman in this film held their own as unique people who didn’t need a man to help them wipe their noses, and I adored them.
The moment I heard Sigourney Weaver’s voice, I squeed. No, really. I had not read a single thing about this movie in advance, never seen saw the trailer, and hence didn’t know she was in it. I think I spent a good couple of minutes bouncing up and down in my seat with extreme glee and squee. As to be expected, her character Grace was awesome with several layers of awesomesauce. The only other characters who hit me with as much awesome was Neytiri, a very feisty, vivacious, and independent Na’vi woman and the Marine pilot Ana Lucia. Now, I keep calling her Ana Lucia cause my first reaction upon seeing her was “OMFGS IT’S ANA LUCIA FROM LOST EEEE <3" and I never even caught her name. I had to look it up when I got home. It's Trudy. Anyhow, she stuck in my head as Ana Lucia and of course, she also kicked ass.
That all being said, I read a few things from here and elsewhere on the whole race issue in regards to Avatar. But that's not the sole thing this movie touched upon. If you didn't at one point feel either uncomfortable or filled with rage at how ANY minority was treated, you were not paying attention.
I'll make the list:
1) Disabled. Jake Sully, a paraplegic Marine is referred to as "meals on wheels" and his condition scoffed at by others on the mission. I felt for this man and when he got a body that could stand and WALK, it nearly brought tears of joy to my eyes. That alone was a miracle for him, let alone everything else he experienced as a Na'vi.
2) Gender. Dr Grace Augustine, a smart, no-nonsense woman who stands up to the Colonel and for her pains, gets condescended to and even earned the "c" word for her remarks. Oh yes, *that* c-word. Ooh. I wanted to punch him in the face so hard.
3) Religion. When the Na'vi's deity is mentioned, there is derisive laughter and chuckles from the audience. Awww, poor souls don't got Christ? How dare they. I'm of a minority faith myself, so this one really got to me. But it was meant to; that's the beauty of Avatar–no one walks away without a huge magnifying glass on our attitudes towards differences amongst people in the world.
4) Race. The constant reference to the Na'vi as "savages", the complete disregard for them as people…this movie didn't hold back nor pull any punches. And when it pans in on the researchers' faces, their reactions to what's going on…you know that it's hitting them how unbelievably morally reprehensible the Colonel's actions are.
There will be people who will have any one of those hot buttons listed above, and may have been turned off towards seeing it because they think it's "just another Pocahontas/Dances with Wolves flick". If this is you, you could not possibly be more wrong in understanding what is really going on in Avatar. This movie is *meant* to grab you, disturb you, and thrill you. It's meant to make you think. But it goes far deeper than just race, gender, creed, or disability: it's talking about nature versus civilization–a huge irony for a movie steeped in technology just to be able to produce it, but true nonetheless. More than that, it's instructing on the dangers of human arrogance towards not just those who are different but also in our capacity to live and exist in the world around us. The Na'vi exist in harmony and symbiosis with nature whereas humans exploit, destroy, and try to control it. Humans have become so bogged down in technology, greed, metal, and warfare that they have become cold to everything and everyone around them–including those of their "own kind". What happens in this movie is both intense and chilling, but it's also very real.
It's a powerful movie, and visually it's the most stunning, gorgeous bit of art I've ever seen. Run, do not walk to go see it. Please give it a chance. I don't recall the last time I watched a more emotionally and intellectually intense movie. You will not regret shelling out the money to see it in 3D IMAX either. I'd gladly go again to view it.
Love & Magic,
Adrianne
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
