Avatar

First off, it was pretty cool. The 3d was amazing, and the story was alright, too. Now, I'd like to give an analysis to the concept of the movie. That being said...


SPOILER ALERT!

Aside from the obvious "nature should be lived with rather than abused" theme that goes on, I noticed another theme running in the undercurrent. This would be that Avatar is basically MMO: The Movie.

The title alone is enough to postulate on this theory, but there are other factors as well:

- The main character starts at level 1, and gets stronger.
- I can think of two characters that first get land mounts, then flying mounts, and finally epic mounts.
- The process of mating, which is akin to having a wedding in an MMO.

There are also some paralells between the main character in real life, and in the "game".

- In real life, the character is handicapped, which sets up the theme that he likes the "game" world more than the real one.
- His slow detachment from reality.
- The fact that he is either sleeping, or "playing the game".
- Finally having what is essentially every MMO nerd's dream fulfilled: actually becoming his character.

The movie actually included pretty much every nerd-fantasy element, such as giant Starcraft-like mechs, the Pelicans from Halo, Dark Elves, the Mana Tree, the list goes on.

Any thoughts on this?



Oh, and the dragon rape part was a little disturbing.

I agree with all of it haha. I thought it was a bit corny at parts - as I was probably one of the few people that didn't really know anything about this movie before I went to see it - but all was well and I definitely enjoyed this movie from start to finish. As far as for the characters in the movie, it seemed odd to me just watching the relationship take place between the main hero and the woman he's been flirting with/learning from. Though I understand that over a period of 3 months of being in a body that you can actually use and basically having that much fun or like how you said "Finally having what is essentially every MMO nerd's dream fulfilled: actually becoming his character" makes sense that over that transformation you would develop a attraction for that race/species, as they're not human.

I agree 100% that the flying vehicles in this movie are literally Pelicans from Halo. Both my roommates and our friend said that at the same time as we were leaving the theater. I was disappointed that I didn't get to see the 3D version as I heard it was amazing. I am planning on seeing it again shortly after I see Sherlock Holmes in the next few days.

Also, if I were the main hero of this story, I would have done the same thing as him. Hell, he didn't have usable legs.

OH and those wiggly things in the end of their hairs that allows them to connect with nature I thought TOTALLY going to be how they mated or something, but as we saw, it is not lol.

And I don't recall a dragon rape scene o_O ?

Based on your stunning recommendation, Holk, I watched it.  I think your comments actually kept me laughing through more of the movie than I should have.   

The movie is really like a WoWers wet dream.  The Cornball Marine (henceforth he shall be called) seriously is like a combination of Arthas and Kilgore (from Apocalypse Now).

The feeling I get by the end though, is kind of freaky.  I'm not sure how to juggle that.

I saw it in 3D tonight, I thought it was amazing, I don't remember a dragon rape scene though. Also I kept forgetting how big they were compared to the humans.

That analysis is awesome Holk. I never even thought about it, but you're totally right. It's like watching somebody play an RPG.

That said, I enjoyed the movie.

Also, I think by dragon rape scene he just means the part where he had to bond with the flying beastie.

Avatar was very entertaining and very beautiful. And the MMO thing does fit rather well. The only problem I had with the movie is that it was predictable. It had the same basic plot as Pocahontas and Fern Gully. In other words, it was a dazzling air-head fantasy that kept me fully immersed, but I would have appreciated a more complex message than what it gave.

Agreed, Avatar was a good movie.... but as said above, predictable, predictable, predictable.
Within the first 10-15 minutes or so, I had a good portion of the storyline figured out... go figure

If it wasn't James Cameron and it wasn't in 3D, it would have seen mediocre success and lukewarm reception.


Just sayin'.

I doubt that. I didn't even hear about it until a couple days before seeing it.

I doubt that. I didn't even hear about it until a couple days before seeing it.

Okay, but hearing about it and liking it are two entirely different things.

I liked it too.

Pocahontas.

It just occurred to me that Jake Skully rhymes with Fern Gully.

I did expect tim curry's voice to come out of the big tree clearing machine when they rolled over that first sacred tree.