(no subject)

[rinlin]

On Sunday, everyone in the house went to see Avatar in 3D. I was left with mixed feelings.

On a purely surface level, the movie is fucking gorgeous. The planet's scenery is beautiful. The Na'vi were animated so well that they almost seemed real. They were definitely the best part of the movie and I wanted to know even more about them. However, all of the movie's pretty visuals couldn't improve the movie's story. Cliche plotline was cliche. It was kind of like Pocahontas, if it had been set in the future, in space, with blue cat people. It also left me with a feeling of uneasiness. Do we really need to rehash the same old 'white man saves the indigenous natives' story? Are we sure that the natives wouldn't have been able to save themselves without the help of the white man? Clearly, the movie is on the side of the Na'vi. But, I also feel like there is some racism in the movie, where Jake, the main character, who just happens to be a white male, is the only one who can save the Na'vi. Therefore he must become their leader. There is the interesting twist that he has to switch forms, and become one of the Na'vi in order to join them. At the end of the movie he even ends up forsaking his human body to truly become one of the Na'vi. I just don't know though. Something about the movie just continues to sit uneasily with me. 

Sunday night we ended up having a cosplay prep party at the house. immelmanturn came by and stayed the night, while Ohayocon costume making went on. We watched Star Trek (2009), Star Trek: The Voyage Home (aka the one with the whales), and Land Before Time. One of these things is not like the other. It was a fun time though. Kristi got a start on her Al armor. Yes, Al from Fullmetal Alchemist. She's making the armor out of Wonderflex. If this thing gets finished in time, it's going to be pretty awesome. I am getting super excited for the con and our huge FMA cosplay group.

Comments

[memorial-sky.livejournal.com]

it's a very cliche plot... people have been calling it pocahontas with blue cats instead of native americans XD
I wanted to know more about the na'vi too, I thought I was just being a nerd like that though :x

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yaten_kou_/]

The Na'vi were most definitely the most interesting part of the movie! I wish we could have seen even more of them in it.

[memorial-sky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I want to know more about the planet and the biology and everything XD

[anibunny.livejournal.com]

I agree so much with a lot of what you said. It is very shiny, I love the visuals, and I love the wildlife that pandora had. I would love to learn or know more about the Na'vi and other animals. ( Though, a friend of mine made a very good point that the Na'vi are a lot like D&D elves. )

The story, yes. Very cliché. Have you seen the animated movie Ferngully? Avatar is a lot like Ferngully mixed with Pocahontas in terms of the story line I think. And characters falling into the same old drab stereotypes and so forth. Like the Colonel and whoever that guy was obsessed with getting Unobtainium. Both boring an unoriginal, though the Colonel. . .that guy. He wrestles with bears for fun and eats glass for breakfast, I swear.

I know it can't happen for obvious reasons, but I keep musing myself with the idea that Tsu'tey becomes clan leader as planned just Neytiri becomes their spiritual leader. Even though Tsu'tey and Neytiri can't be a "mated pair", I like the idea that they still work together to lead the clan. I just. . .keep forgetting that that can't happen.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yaten_kou_/]

I have not seen Ferngully, but my friends did mention that the story line was somewhat similar to Avatar.

The Colonel was super hardcore (and I don't mean that in a good way). I was glad when they finally killed him off.

Poor Tsu'tey. It's too bad that they killed him off.

[meepalicious.livejournal.com]

Driveby comment: check out Ferngully. It's pretty fun, if incredibly anvilicious, but evil/pollution has never been cooler looking and there's fairies dancing to weird 1960s rock.

[melody1228.livejournal.com]

I've seen it twice now -- thanks to Mariah wanting to see it as her birthday request. I liked it, but the first time I saw it, behind the liking was always this thought that I'd seen this movie before. On the way home I figured it out -- Dances With Wolves! Although I must say, the guy who played Jake is way more attractive than Kevin Costner was, lol.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yaten_kou_/]

Lol. Jake was pretty attractive.

[meepalicious.livejournal.com]

There is the interesting twist that he has to switch forms, and become one of the Na'vi in order to join them.
I had never thought of it like this, but it just occurred to me that he basically has to put on black face to save the day. Oy.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yaten_kou_/]

I can definitely see where you'd draw that comparison. Each time he enters the avatar form would be like putting on black face (at least it would be until the very end of the movie when he decides to keep his Na'vi form).