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Avatar: Unveiling Its Stunning Hidden Messages
In Avatar, the previous Titanic, Alien and Terminator blockbuster movies’ director, James Cameron, has delivered powerful hidden messages to the world with an attempt to merge science fiction with issues like the lack of respect for living beings, corporate schemers and private military contractors who prone to destroy nature for profit and the pursue of failure diplomacy to voice environmentally related problems. The story plotline as well as the messages of Avatar is both greatly moving, especially upon seeing how technology-worshipping has led environment-ravaging humans to suffer afflictions under the weight of mind-boggling hypocrisy.
The movie Avatar, James Cameron’s latest blockbuster movie, is absolutely entertaining, stunning, inspiring and gorgeous. I watched this movie yesterday and was amazed by its fantabulous 3D-visual effects. The characters appear so real and as impressive as any real actors I’ve ever watched on the screen.
In Avatar, the plot begins with humans travel to a distant moon where they encounter with the Na’vi, the indigenous cobalt-skinned species. These humanoids Na’vi live in a place where precious natural resources are found. The predatory groups are led by a coalition of corporate schemers and private military contractors who want to destroy the Na’vi’s land for a precious mineral but Na’vi want to protect it from destruction. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Norm Spellman (Joel Moore) are both selected to be a part of government program to bring them a precious metal from Pandora, where indigenous tribes are uprooted here due to their ancestral dwellings.
Jake Sully is a person who has his consciousness put in an “avatar”- a body that is half-Na’vi and half-human. There is a compelling love story that develops between a beautiful Na’vi girl Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake Sulley. In the ending of the story, Avatar has chosen to go against the will of his superiors to help Na’vis to live in peace by fighting alongside with them with his own people in order to save Na’vi’s sacred place from being mined.
Avatar’s story clearly brought a theme of anti-technology which curses on the proliferation of human technology. The science, technological and machinery accomplishment of mankind, has undoubtedly, led to cruel destruction and soulless violence, which is portrayed in Avatar as a way to pollute the pristine paradise of Pandora. That is to say, technology-worshipping has led environment-ravaging humans to suffer afflictions under the weight of mind-boggling hypocrisy.
It’s extremely sad to learn that technology advancement has progressed to the point that it’s powerful enough to destroy the beauty of the Mother Nature, causing immeasurable loss of the ecology by disrupting its harmonious atmosphere. The possibilities after this destruction are unimaginable and are a bit frightening actually, putting inhabitants on the Earth at a disastrous platform.
Behind the scenario of the nature destruction, capitalism and corporations are shown to be a culprit of environmental destruction, both on the lovely Earth and on the sacred world of Pandora. Indeed, it’s heart-wrecking to see bulldozers knock the trees down cruelly, which of course, resulting in an emotional response.
In Avatar, the vibrant and beautiful life of the Na’vi and the forest is enhanced with the use of color, in contrast to that, military appears to be dull, lifeless and cool.
The message from this movie is straight-forward. Indigenous people continue to be threatened and harassed by giant multi-national corporations, many of which are US-backed, who used the same tactics to bridge hell on drastic “eradication efforts” to make a profit and please their Boards. The plotline highlights how white men coming in, raping the lands, bringing destroy to innocent people and finally leaving them with great sufferings once the white men have obtained what they want. The urge from this movie is clear, something need to be done to stop it.
Humans who do evil things by invading other people’s peaceful lands are just insane. As a civilized inhabitant dwelling on this lovely planet, people should learn to respect other people’s culture, belief and custom. Invading somebody’s homeland without compromise is inhumane. Avatar, in other words, call to our attention to learn from the past mistake by preventing it from being repeating in today’s present situation.
Many have accused Avatar to be strongly against human technology. Nope, it’s not true at all. Only a part of humans (big corporate and military) would like to make full use of their technology to destroy as a way to obtain a rich resource that the land owns. Meanwhile, other humans as like the scientists in Avatar, would like to use their technology to know the inhabitants of the land better and immensely pay full attention to understand the way of their life. In this process, the scientists always need time to fully understand and become like the natives because they don’t use to adapt with a pure life. On the other hand, the inhabitants are those who admire the beauty of the Mother Nature, their ancestors, the purest living things surround them and they care much on their life, their people, and their heritage.
In Avatar, I don’t see James Cameron condemning race, and those critics have missed the point by seeing Avatar’s message as a retrospective condemnation of the “white man’s” treatment of North American First Nations people. He only condemns a destructive culture which has made people becoming ignorant by losing the respect for what is beauty, what is sacred and even what is a peaceful life.
The story of Avatar told us that only when the white man who learns from the natives becoming admire at their traditions, and eventually fights alongside them against his own race, with varying feelings of authenticity, commitment, sympathy and social responsibility.
We are all connected in one universe system. Humans, animals, plants and other living things which have long existed on this planet are all embodied as one ecological balance. In Avatar, all things are described to be connected. In this movie, the hair, fiber, and optic spirit are all connected from within to create one harmonious atmosphere. Neural connection fibers are interesting elements portraying in Avatar that explain how animals, humanoids and even trees can “plug in” to connect each other via neural networks. Once connected, each one can feel each other’s thinking, emotion as well as feeling in the sense of the expanded sensory awareness. We learn a crucial message from Avatar that all living things are connected and those who prone to exploit the nature rather than preserve it will finally destroy themselves.
Avatar was an attempt to reflect the cruelness of western colonialism. In this story, western nations abuse their military power to invade less developed countries, and pillage indigenous land over the world’s valuable natural resource. And the act of imperialism is obviously justified by the saying of the top military commander in this movie in response to Na’vi’s resistance their sacred place from being pillaged, “We’ll fight terror with terror!” The notable element here highlights invaders will use any military procedure to invade whatever country they want without compromise and if the locals fight against them, and later the locals are condemned as terrorists. In the name of terrorist, the invaders use it as a solid excuse to throw more bombs, bullets and more destructive weapons on the resource rich land to get back what they need without considering the life of the affected nations.
Amidst the success of this movie, many have criticized this movie as recycled and recurrent theme of previously made movies, and some even think it’s a product of historical criticism. But, I think, James Cameron did a good work by creating this excellent masterpiece, which delivers a very important message to the world. Social responsibility should be made priority by the leaders of the world, if we want to live peacefully and it’s relevant to cater the development of human civilization.
James Cameron is a movie genius in directing spectacular epic movies like Titanic, Alien and the Terminator. His movies are always brought audience to a script of actions and awe inspiring visual effects, but what makes Avatar so special than others is its hidden messages that the western world needs to grasp. He won the Oscar for a touted story plotline of Titanic, and then he made his name again with the Terminator series. The impressive phrase that always remains in audience’s mind for Titanic is “You jump, I jump”, “I’ll be back” for terminator while for Avatar, it’s “I see you”, which really grab people’s attention.
No matter how people think negatively about Avatar, I see Avatar differently as it carries positive and strong messages to the world. Interestingly, Avatar has touched the sensitivity side of life in terms of destruction versus healing, war versus peace, simple versus complexity, isolation versus connection, good versus evil and balance versus imbalance. In conclusion, Avatar is much beyond what people will think on it, and it’s indeed a stunning fantasy science fiction epic that delivers powerful and strong messages of all time. Avatar, in my opinion, is an appeal to the world to stop destroys ancient, small civilized and traditional homelands to where endless source of minerals are found, in addition to calling for a sustainable use of natural resources without destroying the beauty of the nature or people. As indicated in Avatar, if nature gets upsetting, then it’s powerful enough to strike back real bad.
You might also like my other movie review:
- Avatar’s black spot: “black lung” rating for promoting smoking
- Why Sherlock Holmes movie is one of the worst ever movies?
- The world will never be the same if you see through the eyes of Forest Gump
You can read more of my content at LiteSeek. Take care and have a good day!
29 Comments
Good review, thanks for sharing.
I saw the film, it was well made but the storyline for me, was cowboy and Indian style. Clever though.
Very well written review. I have not seen the movie,yet, probably will soon, though. Sounds really fascinating.
Perhaps it is a message about what we are currently doing in other countries on our own planet.
An in depth review. I don’t think it is my sort of film but I am sure many would enjoy it.
Christine
Going to see Avatar this week and your article makes me even more curious about the movie!
Very well composed. You did a wonderful job on this!
Chan, I am against science that destroys the planet or mankind especially for profit. Life is to be valued.
Thank you for the review. Your illustrations are stunning and the commentary makes the movie sound interesting.
This is a very good movie review. I want to go see this movie. Thanks for sharing.
I saw the trailer, and it’s not my type of movie! Also, my son doesn’t like this either after he saw it with his dad.
Great review
This is a great review of Avatar, Chan. I haven’t seen this movie, but I enjoyed reading your review of it.
Good review but I guess I didn’t see it that way. I thought it was more of the big corporation vs. the small guy. I mean, whenever you have that little family-owned business taken over by a Borders you have a little of the Avatar going on. It doesn’t have to be colonialism at all.
But the other thing I thought interesting was that this was not really a straightforward movie. The industrialized aliens were greedy and condemned for that greed, yes but it was also pretty clear that were it not for Jake the Na’avi would not have had a chance. Because the Na’avi had lived the way they had for aeons–they had not changed and for that reason were not able to really adapt enough (certainly not quickly enough) to save their own world. Just one example: Who goes to the Na’avi soul tree to ask for help of all of Pandora’s living things? Jake, the half-alien. Why? because for the rest of the Na’avi that sort if thing just isn’t done.
So it’s a great move and I recommend that you see it but as much for the message that, as we change (and change we must if we are to survive), it would be nice if we retained some of the values of the Na’avi.
Regards,
Inna
Good review but I guess I didn’t see it that way. I thought it was more of the big corporation vs. the small guy. I mean, whenever you have that little family-owned business taken over by a Borders you have a little of the Avatar going on. It doesn’t have to be colonialism at all.
But the other thing I thought interesting was that this was not really a straightforward movie. The industrialized aliens were greedy and condemned for that greed, yes but it was also pretty clear that were it not for Jake the Na’avi would not have had a chance. Because the Na’avi had lived the way they had for aeons–they had not changed and for that reason were not able to really adapt enough (certainly not quickly enough) to save their own world. Just one example: Who goes to the Na’avi soul tree to ask for help of all of Pandora’s living things? Jake, the half-alien. Why? because for the rest of the Na’avi that sort if thing just isn’t done.
So it’s a great move and I recommend that you see it but as much for the message that, as we change (and change we must if we are to survive), it would be nice if we retained some of the values of the Na’avi.
Regards,
Inna
A great review. I’m looking forward to watching the film
I found many obvious messages in this movie. For me, the really important one is our connectedness with all things. We are spiritually and biologically connected with the planet and all life on it. I think if we all honored that on our planet, ultimately, the other messages would be unnecessary. I want to say that there is a reason that the Na’vi are blue. But I would leave this for all to discover on their own, in their own time.
Sara
Excellent assessment of this movie. My husband and I saw it on Christmas Eve and it was outstanding. I have to agree with your review.
Great review. Agree with you, Avatas is a great movie.
Interesting, in depth review. Well done, Chan Lee! I keep hearing people chat about this film, but I really had no clue about it prior to this article of yours. Now I’m in the loop ; ).
good review..that was great movie indeed. thanks for sharing.
Great article..I’ve seen this movie..its really great stuff..recommended. thanks for sharing yr review.
wow! sounds like an interesting and great movie..I haven’t seen yet..wonderful review. thanks Chan!
wow, that looks awsome!
Thanks for sharing my friend. If we are true avatars of the Godhead we could certainly appreciate our fast advances on the outside and the slow progress we embody in ourselves. It does only show that we could turn our planet into wasteland after exploiting it inside out and bring such attitude to nearby planets leaving a big hole inside ourselves which will forever be empty. The question remains for you and me. Who are we? As it often is, modern ways always change the meaning of words. Now “avatar” could mean a movie.
I plan to see the movie but the reviewer is way off if they think the message of Avatar is stunning or hidden. Ferngully had pretty much the same message as to some degree did the Aliens franchise and Bladerunner hell even as far back to Metropolis in 1927. Science fiction has been delivering a similar message for decades. Cameron is not a trailblazer in this area so it’s hardly stunning.
As for hidden, it’s bloody obvious from the previews. Blue living with nature natives – good. Technological white people – bad. It’s as simplistic as the 3 little pigs story something which life is not.
And the plot is nothing new. You have a bad guy go native and then join the natives to fight for their home. Plus there’s the romance with one of the natives. Didn’t we see that already in Dances with Wolves and Last Samurai which had similar messages about modernity?
I’m sure Avatar is a good movie but sans the CGI effects, it’s certainly nothing new under the sun.
Great review!
The above reviews are excellent, however, I see another subtle message that is throughly propagated by the movie Avatar. I viewed the movie as a lesson in the superiority of Eastern (Hindu/Buddhism) religions over Western (Christianity). First. the title “Avatar” and the fact that the Na’vi are blue skinned definitely alludes to Hinduism. Look at the portrayal of Hindu deities in artwork and statues and you will see that they are most often depicted as having blue skin like James Cameron’s Na’vi. The word “Avatar” derives from sanskrit and is identical in form and function as was used in the movie in depicting the overshadowing or possession of one entity by another. Secondly, a fundamental basis in Hindu religious philosophy, is that “god” is a force that is present in all matter in the universe. This was addressed in the movie as a connection between all living things on the planet Pandora.
My assertion that this movie was a comparison and critique of two of today’s major religions is as follows. The corporation and military (U.S. Marines) depicted in the movie was a strong criticism of Western American imperialism. I throroghly agree with this point and have no problem in any honest critique in the often destructive behavior America has inflicted against many nations over the past century. However, it is well known that the United States has done incredibly horrible acts against indigenous nations of the earth in the name of “God”. This is what the “Manifest Destiny” is all about. A sort of right or purpose to reform the rest of the world in America’s image regardless of the consequences. Malignant imperialistic ambitions done in the name of god (Christianity) reflects poorly on Christianity itself.
The Na’vi in the movie are portayed as totally peaceful and in sync with “Mother Nature”. This is a Eastern religious construct. Therefore, you have the evil “Westernized/Christianized” greedy corporations/military versus the peaceful, loving, pure, “Easternized” Na’vi.
What is disturbing to me is the black and white manner in which the message was portrayed. There was no explanation, beyond corporate greed, as to why the precious resource worth killing Pandora’s inhabitants was neccessary and so forth.
The importance of such movies is always to think for oneself and not become overly swayed by powerful messages.
I simply must watch this one..
In 3D, of course 
Great review, now I really want to see this movie. Thanks for the insight!
I LIKED THE MOVIE
INITIALLY I WAS SNORING
THEN SUDDENLY WOKE UP
I FELT LIKE AN ALIEN TARZAN MECHANISED
AND TREE BASED FLIGHT WAS FANTASTIC
BUT THE BEST THING OF ALL WAS
THE INTENDED KISS
WHICH EVEN ALIENS AND EARTHEANS
CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS
LOVELY HONEYS’
EVERLASTING WISH
All of you that are haten on the movie AVATAR stop it