Avatar - IMAX 3D

There is a cliche that some movies are more than cinema, they are events. Things to be experienced so one can participate in the human conversation. I dare say this film lives up to that hype. In short, it is a glimpse at the future of cinema.

The 3D effect in IMAX was spectacular. I occasionally noticed the glasses or saw imperfections with the 3D, but I can live with that. I won't bore you tyring to describe it. It is simply amazing to behold and must be done in IMAX 3D. Watching this at home will not even be close. One note about the design of the world - if you are a big fan of the band Yes and feel like Roger Dean was hosed, check this out:

http://io9.com/5426120/did-prog-rocks-greatest-artist-inspire-avatar-all-signs-point-to-yes/gallery/ now, go chain yourself to something and protest.

Which brings me to the controversial plot of the film. Hollywood used to make epic religious movies such as the 10 Commandments, Ben-Hur and The Greatest Story Ever Told. Things have not changed, but the religion being taught has. Soylent Green was a pioneer of sorts, but the green religion has gained full acceptance and is now taught in principle by such films as Wall-E, Avatar, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Day after Tomorrow... the list is long http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/green-movies.html. Preaching or cautionary tales? Probably somewhere in between and I can live with that. But the green stuff was minor. This movie was more about manifest destiny and cultural superiority. Here are some of the usual jabs at Republicans and Conservatives:

• A future where corporations run everything, ruin everything and are total idiots
• Americans and the military are the bad guys
• Scientists are the altruistic good people who only care about love and hope (not funding)
• While Americans are totally evil, the natives (other cultures) are portrayed as completely good
• American culture seeks "unobtainium" or happiness in unobtainable ways/means. The real way to achieve happiness is a return to nature and no bathing
• Tons of blue humanoid aliens running around essentially naked in nothing but loin-cloths.
• Total rejection of America by exiling nearly all humans and then the main character sheds his humanity to become alien and live the green life.
• Machine guns that far into the future? Please! tell me we've figured out some better weaponry if we can fly across the galaxy (not a political thing, just stupid IMHO).

The filmmakers seem to be suffering from tremendous guilt by association as Americans for all of our atrocities against African American slaves and Native American Indians (the blue Navi people seem to be a combination of the two). Not to mention lack of socialistic systems such as universal health care and the future destruction of the planet.

The Rooster made a good observation that perhaps more than guilt, the film was about the desire to escape sin and its consequences. The final sequence of the main character sending the humans away and giving up his body to become alien (and whole) are supreme symbols of Mr. Cameron's loss of faith in humanity thanks to George W. Bush and his desire to have his sins by association forgiven. Or he just feels real bad about his carbon footprint. OK. Maybe that's a bit extreme, but interesting to think about.

IN FAIRNESS - We need cautionary tales. Its why we study history, scriptures and sometimes fiction to avoid repeating the same mistakes. While I may not be thrilled with the political overtones of the film, is it so terrible to show people fighting for other's life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Even if it is different from our own?

The Rooster also pointed out this movie has some similarities with the Ender Series written by Orson Scott Card (highly recommended). Ender appeared to be the only human willing to understand and even love apparently hostile alien species. Because of his work to understand others, he saved humanity from committing horrible atrocities. This movie seems to follow a similar theme and its a good message if you can ignore the political trappings.

So why must current filmmakers continue to envision a future where corporations destroy the planet and hate all other alien cultures? Especially ourselves? Could it not be argued that capitalism has done tremendous good for the standard of living across the world? Given tolerance to things that used to be intolerable? If anything we are on the right, not the wrong track. At least the folks at Star Trek hold out a relatively positive view of the future for humanity and so do I. Perhaps I could say our current relationship of spirit and body is like the Avatar experience? So rather than shed my humanity and seek life as something else; I'll trust the Gospel ideals of repentance, forgiveness of sin and resurrection as the true way to have the burdens of guilt and sin lifted and find true happiness.