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Avatar and Earth Magic
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.
