Comments on: A Few Thoughts on “Avatar” http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/2010/a-few-thoughts-on-avatar-548 Ruminations on biblical studies, technology, economics, and sports from Jason A. Staples Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:40:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tim http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/2010/a-few-thoughts-on-avatar-548#comment-141 Tim Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:00:29 +0000 http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/?p=548#comment-141 anyway, the unobtanium is pictured and talked-about as "a rock in the ground." but whatever. another interesting thing is usage of "born again" language - "every Na'vi is born twice" (the second time when they become a full member of the tribe). anyway, the unobtanium is pictured and talked-about as “a rock in the ground.”

but whatever. another interesting thing is usage of “born again” language – “every Na’vi is born twice” (the second time when they become a full member of the tribe).

]]> By: Tim http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/2010/a-few-thoughts-on-avatar-548#comment-140 Tim Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:41:53 +0000 http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/?p=548#comment-140 Agree with everything in the review except for the critique of "unobtanium." It's a reference to 50's sci-fi, and works fine as a placeholder for "something valuable in the ground." I doubt Cameron is trying to specifically represent oil here. Obviously the general analogy holds to oil-rich areas, but it's more general than just oil, which is presumably the way that Cameron wants it. Agree with everything in the review except for the critique of “unobtanium.” It’s a reference to 50′s sci-fi, and works fine as a placeholder for “something valuable in the ground.” I doubt Cameron is trying to specifically represent oil here. Obviously the general analogy holds to oil-rich areas, but it’s more general than just oil, which is presumably the way that Cameron wants it.

]]> By: Mea http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/2010/a-few-thoughts-on-avatar-548#comment-139 Mea Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:46:29 +0000 http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/?p=548#comment-139 Definitely the most spiritual film I've seen in quite a while... perhaps ever. I would agree with your statement about it seeming to grow more "powerful" about 45 minutes into. That's around when I actually started to "feel" something. I found it ironic that a movie that was basically centered around the worship of nature had absolutely no nature in it. Everything was computer animated. A nature lover/tree hugger myself I was disappointed that there was no natural beauty in the film. I was also disturbed that, once again, we see Hollywood demonizing humans and glorifying everything else. Reminded me of Wall-E - you leave the movie hating the lazy, evil, humans and sympathizing with robots/creatures that don't even exist. Ridiculous. Definitely the most spiritual film I’ve seen in quite a while… perhaps ever. I would agree with your statement about it seeming to grow more “powerful” about 45 minutes into. That’s around when I actually started to “feel” something.

I found it ironic that a movie that was basically centered around the worship of nature had absolutely no nature in it. Everything was computer animated. A nature lover/tree hugger myself I was disappointed that there was no natural beauty in the film.

I was also disturbed that, once again, we see Hollywood demonizing humans and glorifying everything else. Reminded me of Wall-E – you leave the movie hating the lazy, evil, humans and sympathizing with robots/creatures that don’t even exist. Ridiculous.

]]> By: Jason A. Staples http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/2010/a-few-thoughts-on-avatar-548#comment-138 Jason A. Staples Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:20:45 +0000 http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/?p=548#comment-138 I suppose he made it ambiguous enough that one could interpret it as coal, but my thinking was that his biggest political point was about going to war for oil, given all the other political comments. I suppose he made it ambiguous enough that one could interpret it as coal, but my thinking was that his biggest political point was about going to war for oil, given all the other political comments.

]]> By: Joel http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/2010/a-few-thoughts-on-avatar-548#comment-137 Joel Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:12:10 +0000 http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/?p=548#comment-137 Excellent thoughts, Jason. Question - why did you think that it was oil and not coal? Of course, I have a different perspective, as I live the middle of the area fighting to and fro about mountain top removal. Excellent thoughts, Jason.

Question – why did you think that it was oil and not coal? Of course, I have a different perspective, as I live the middle of the area fighting to and fro about mountain top removal.

]]> By: Kyle Leaman http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/2010/a-few-thoughts-on-avatar-548#comment-136 Kyle Leaman Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:03:17 +0000 http://www.jasonstaples.com/blog/?p=548#comment-136 Interesting insights Jason. Even after nearly two years of hebrew I didn't catch the 'Navi' reference. Interesting insights Jason. Even after nearly two years of hebrew I didn’t catch the ‘Navi’ reference.

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