Avatar
Where do I begin?! I had a feeling that I would not like it. Yes the 3-D is cutting edge technology besides the animation alone is to drool for. But that’s about the one good thing about this movie. Cameron invested 10 years in the development of that particular technology. So I would’ve expected that the story would be equally thought of.
Since I believe I’m one of the last people to have seen it I think that my spoiler alert is somewhat pointless nonetheless be ware.
We have the Na’vi the inhabitants of the planet Pandora with its rich minerals. Now the deal is quite simple, in order to excavate the mineral the human company wants to relocate the tribe. Only it’s their sacred place and they are not as wiling to leave as they assumed they would. To further complicate the situation the atmosphere at Pandora isn’t suitable for humans. That’s where the avatars come to play.
We also have Jake a paraplegic ex-marine recruited to the Avatar program. He joins because that way he’d walk again. No need for much convincing right?! Jake is there at first to help with research. But also to spy for the security team aka the bad guys. Then, something happens and he starts to really like those natives or more specifically this one girl.
Anyhow, the way I see it, the story is about minority résistance as well as accepting those who are different. What I don’t get is why the main character is a paraplegic. Yes, at first it makes sense, this gives him something he can’t have in the “real world”. But, that motivation is not enough for the final act of the movie, when he chooses to become part of the Na’vi.
There’s no conflict for him. In my opinion, it’s as if portraying a large percent of the population as invalids. Their sole “crime” is using a wheelchair as a way of transportation.
As if saying, you’re worth something only if you’re able to walk or run.
Besides, that way it is a selfish act, it is not done from understanding of the other or choosing someone you love. It is not an altruistic act what so ever.
Furthermore, if I did get the message right how is this supposed to educate people or more specifically children to be accepting of what’s different from them? How on earth is this movie about tolerance? I’m well aware that the war at the end doesn’t quite have that final note of peace and acceptance. But still, I think it does, in a way, aim to serve that message.
On the other hand, District 9, with the main character of an alien affair officer, who is not that tolerant toward them. While evacuating the district, he is infected with some kind of a biohazard, coincidentally transforms part of him to the aliens form. As he struggles for his life, he is forced to the alien ghetto. Then, toward the end, he realizes that they are as “humans” as he is. Of course that he helps them in the prospect that they’ll be able to transform him back. However, the act at the end is quite altruistic, in my mind; it reflects acceptance and understanding of the other. He has no guarantee that they’ll be back or that they’ll be able to cure him. He becomes eventually, as is suggested, an alien and lives amongst them.
So there you have it I hated Avatar not because of bad story telling or being some kind of a Pocahontas movie. Only by the sheer stupid use of disability, in my opinion, there was simply no need for it. Even worse using it as a motivation; I’m not naïve, not being able to walk- the obvious to being paraplegic- is limiting. But from that to depicting disabled people as invalids is wrong. Maybe I’m the only one who saw it that way. Perhaps I’m wrong and too sensitive, I can’t help thinking what someone, who is a paraplegic, felt during the movie.
I wrote this before reading any reviews. A lot of them are out there, not that I have read them all. I think this one says almost all of it as far as my opinion goes.
Just to be clear, though I didn’t like the movie, I enjoyed the company tremendously. So thanks so much for coming with me and putting up with my ranting. 
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[...] trifle I made for li’l Bro. 2. Taking the GRE test… 3. The analytical//personality test. 4. How I feel about Avatar {which is really funny because I need to watch it first but just from the trailer I had a few [...]
great review
As I told you, after all that buzz you can see things in very different but reasonable way. I agree with that one, esspecially : ” I can’t help thinking what someone, who is a paraplegic, felt during the movie”…:)
Anyways, as you know i liked the picturesque of the movie….khhh….although it was 2D… for me