We watched Avatar last night
Feb. 22nd, 2010 05:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theatokosIt was annoying and fabulous, but mostly it was GORGEOUS. As Adam said half way through the film, "I can't believe we only get to spend 2.5 hours here." It was also very typical James Cameron - simplistic, stock characters, visually impressive, and also emotionally engrossing. Anyone remember Titanic? It came out when I was in college and I saw it three times in the theatre. I was engrossed, despite its cheese, and I sobbed my eyes out at the end every time. Sheesh.
I was really put off in the beginning with the heavy-handedness of the science v business v military stuff. I dislike the shallow caricatures: muscly bone headed war mongering military dudes (Michelle Rodriguez saved the day), profit at all costs business man, and 'everything for my data/subjects' scientist. And..... then there's the Jesus/white guy/saviour. And the Na'vi - peaceful, nature loving, simple tribal folk.
Anyone else notice a Jesus motif? He comes from the Sky People. He's two essences in one body. He's saves them. He was (briefly) hung on a 'cross.' The tree spores descend on him (like the dove of the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism) as a sign of his choseness. In a witty flip, though, Eywa reminds me of an anagram of Yahweh.
And I have to say, I loathe the papyrus font, which is what the subtitles were in. It's a font that people seem to think says "I'm spiritual!" But really, it's just overused and way passe.
But in spite of all that I was engrossed. I cheered for the Na'vi and wanted the love story to work out. I loved the beauty of the world that was created, from the graphics, to the animal and plant design, to the spiritual poignancy of being able to 'plug in' to the Tree of Souls. The most moving part for me was when the main female character (whose name I never caught) goes after Jake's human body, cradles his (in comparison) tiny and frail body, and seeing him for the first time, says "My Jake." Choked me right up, that did.
I will so watch this again. Bennett loved it too. It was a more than a bit violent in parts (oops) but the plants and animals and Na'vi people entranced him.
I was really put off in the beginning with the heavy-handedness of the science v business v military stuff. I dislike the shallow caricatures: muscly bone headed war mongering military dudes (Michelle Rodriguez saved the day), profit at all costs business man, and 'everything for my data/subjects' scientist. And..... then there's the Jesus/white guy/saviour. And the Na'vi - peaceful, nature loving, simple tribal folk.
Anyone else notice a Jesus motif? He comes from the Sky People. He's two essences in one body. He's saves them. He was (briefly) hung on a 'cross.' The tree spores descend on him (like the dove of the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism) as a sign of his choseness. In a witty flip, though, Eywa reminds me of an anagram of Yahweh.
And I have to say, I loathe the papyrus font, which is what the subtitles were in. It's a font that people seem to think says "I'm spiritual!" But really, it's just overused and way passe.
But in spite of all that I was engrossed. I cheered for the Na'vi and wanted the love story to work out. I loved the beauty of the world that was created, from the graphics, to the animal and plant design, to the spiritual poignancy of being able to 'plug in' to the Tree of Souls. The most moving part for me was when the main female character (whose name I never caught) goes after Jake's human body, cradles his (in comparison) tiny and frail body, and seeing him for the first time, says "My Jake." Choked me right up, that did.
I will so watch this again. Bennett loved it too. It was a more than a bit violent in parts (oops) but the plants and animals and Na'vi people entranced him.