tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post114052804001070214..comments2023-03-27T07:18:54.285-07:00Comments on Having Two Legs: AvatarTobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535764613687631886noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post-42128937603625767182010-01-08T09:10:24.836-08:002010-01-08T09:10:24.836-08:00I went last night to what I feel is what is, visua...I went last night to what I feel is what is, visually, the greatest movie ever made, Avatar in 3D. To see it in 3D is vital. It is easy to see that one day all movies will be made in 3D. Under normal circumstances I could never call a movie whose story is so replete with clichés the "greatest movie ever made." But Cameron does a fantastic job of overwhelming your senses to the point where the deficit of a cliché story line is positively ignored. When you go into the theater, you're thinking "this movie is over-hyped", and you walk out thinking "why isn't there more buzz about this!" The most interesting thing about the movie to me is it's spirituality. It takes every opportunity to proselytize us with a mixture of Wicca, Pantheism, and Pagan earth-worship that is both Neo and as old as mankind (without showing us a glimpse of the dark side of these philosophies)-- and yet in the end, has no way to fulfill itself without turning to the Christian God. Fascinating. Its' spiritual message is beautiful, but seems unaware of its self-contradiction. The story tells us that The All, The Oneness, is impersonal, and the heroine states directly that the deity "does not take sides". And yet, throughout the movie the characters are crying out for a personal God to walk with. When Jake bows down and links with the Uber-tree, he prays in a very personal way, asking for a very personal God to hear him, take sides, and answer his prayer. It is interesting that we want an impersonal God when we want to create our own morality, but we want a personal God when we need our prayers answered. The movie spends its entirety portraying the glory of personality and yet worships a God who has none. Cameron would say God transcends personality, but every character in the movie is crying out for more of it, not less. It is folly to think that personality could ever come from non-personality-- the lower can't beget the greater. Human personality must come from a greater personality. In the end, to make the story beautiful, and actually have a happy ending, the director has to turn to a Christian-like God who hears prayers, takes a side, and answers prayers in a big way. Not understanding the Christian God who, rather than "not taking sides", takes sides in such a sacrificial, loving, personal way that He actually comes to earth as a baby, and dies for personality. The so-called moderns think that they transcend the God of the Bible, but they don't begin to realize what they are missing, and how they continue to flail in their spiritual search.<br /><br />As a total package, had the Lord Of The Rings trilogy been shot in 3D, it would dwarf Avatar, but as such, Avatar is the next great step in movie making, and is not to be missed.Eric Engerbretsonhttp://www.eric-e.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post-61580892511158018422010-01-01T17:38:02.625-08:002010-01-01T17:38:02.625-08:00Thanks, Dad!
Remy and Joffre, thanks. Maybe I'...Thanks, Dad!<br /><br />Remy and Joffre, thanks. Maybe I'm missing your point, but while recognizing the good marines and the good scientists as heroes, the glorification of those "noble humans" ends up being a "resurrection" into Navi bodies. Aren't they heroic primarily because they become or identify with the Navi? But correct me if I've missed your point. <br /><br />And Brad, good catch on the incarnation bit. Were there specific things you/Jesse were thinking of? It does seem like the birth/re-birth theme is stressed. He's first "born" into a Navi body, then he "becomes Navi" through the laying on of hands, and finally at the end he is "reborn" yet again into his permanent Navi body, leaving his human body behind (it's his birthday). But for me, Jake Sully's "death" and victory over evil is so unsacrificial the "incarnation" feels completely nullified. And I suppose that's what you meant by "distorted."Tobyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15535764613687631886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post-30686361558088029212010-01-01T16:31:40.729-08:002010-01-01T16:31:40.729-08:00Great review, thanks, Toby. I had a lot of the sam...Great review, thanks, Toby. I had a lot of the same thoughts as I watched. I have to agree with Remy that the heroes are not the Na'vi, but the righteous humans. In fact, I'd be interested in exploring the significance of the shot where three of them are waiting in jail to be let out. I think the biggest lense through which to view this movie is the "they killed their mother" line.Joffre The Gianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01768180753189024057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post-12083669067057812692010-01-01T16:18:44.125-08:002010-01-01T16:18:44.125-08:00By the way, did you catch the striking, though ult...By the way, did you catch the striking, though ultimately distorted and almost certainly unintentional, incarnation allegory? Your brother pointed it out to me.Brad Littlejohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00098642452748513198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post-66304220575363805562010-01-01T16:16:52.933-08:002010-01-01T16:16:52.933-08:00Hey Toby,
Thanks for a great review! I felt much ...Hey Toby,<br />Thanks for a great review! I felt much the same way. Awe-inspiring visually, and really made me appreciate our Creation that much more, but the moral in the end is depressing. I'd be cool with liberal anti-war activists if that's what they really were, but this movie eloquently shows how skin-deep their opposition to violence really is.Brad Littlejohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00098642452748513198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post-13058208379016756542010-01-01T13:38:41.110-08:002010-01-01T13:38:41.110-08:00I think a lot of the noble savage talk is too much...I think a lot of the noble savage talk is too much. The Na'vi are organized militarily, everyone is a warrior, there is no agriculture or science, and it's a patriarchal society.<br /><br />To take the humans as violent and greedy misses out on the scientists and the people back on earth who wouldn't be happy if the company eradicates the locals. <br /><br />In fact the heroes are the two marines and the scientists.<br /><br />Again, not that it's a flawless movie, but I don't think it can be taken nearly so flat as the goodguys are blueskinned.Remyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12780138011303043174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post-66041820788917005462009-12-31T17:46:50.238-08:002009-12-31T17:46:50.238-08:00Son, we're having fun with Jess and Kate. Toni...Son, we're having fun with Jess and Kate. Tonight a blow-out up at the church. We've talking books, movies, music, games and yes, a little Avatar. So, we're on to you; we're tracking with you. Jess got me onto Goodreads. Kinda fun. Is there not a way to be connected nowadays? My first plan is to post up on Goodreads with the gentleman and writer, famed now, for BLUE ICE, the Canon publication. I'll try find the material on diaconal outreach, as mentioned. I really enjoy your posts here. Mom and I have more fodder for talk back and forth on your stuff. Good deal. Love and blessings in 2010. DadRIver City Pastorhttp://rivercitypastor.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com