Yesterday afternoon I saw the 16:50 showing of Avatar. Although I’d already watched a ton of official videos and clips, I was still deeply blown away. The beauty of Avatar is that it made an internet-addicted otaku freelancer like me suddenly loathe modern technology and Earth, and long endlessly for Pandora.
Title
When I knew nothing about it, the first time I saw the name Avatar, the word that flashed through my mind was Avanti (haha). The original meaning of Avatar: Sanskrit: अवतार. In Indian philosophy it is most commonly understood as relating to the physical manifestation of gods on earth. In Sanskrit, the word for incarnation carries the sense of “descending” or “reincarnating” from a higher realm through deliberate thought and for a special purpose. After watching the film it suddenly hit me — how apt it was to use avatar as the title!
Visual effects
On April 26, 2005, on that long-awaited afternoon, I stepped into World of Warcraft. I’ll always remember the emotion of first walking into Darnassus, and I’ll always remember first seeing the majestic, magnificent Stormwind, and the thrill of riding a gryphon and diving past the giant dam the dwarves built. I was completely conquered by these virtual visuals.
Several years later, effects as captivating as WoW’s finally showed up on film with even higher image quality — and this film, like World of Warcraft, gathers the strengths of many and carries features far beyond its predecessors. As a milestone in the industry, it will, for years to come, be “forever imitated, never surpassed.” Faced with these impeccable visuals, any verbal description is unnecessary, so I’ll say no more.
Director
As someone who does programming, I’m quite sensitive to how rigorous a film’s narrative is; the slightest slip makes me think much less of it. Avatar’s plot can’t be called hugely innovative, but the director really knows how to tell a story. Many details make it more coherent and its structure tighter. Not a single line of dialogue from start to finish is wasted. Well-judged shots make the main characters’ personalities full and round.
A few of my favorite scenes
Scene 1: When a Na’vi hunter kills his prey, before gutting it he says with gratitude, “I hear your pain, thank you, brother,” then quickly finishes the animal off, letting it feel as little pain as possible. Its spirit will return to Eywa; its body will remain and become part of the people. What a beautiful prayer — the karma of taking life is dissolved on the spot. This custom moved me deeply. On Pandora, people and nature are so intimately connected.
Scene 2: Earning one’s social standing and the clan’s recognition — at Jake Sully’s coming-of-age ceremony, everyone gathers in a tight circle around Jake, hearts and hands linked with his; seen from above, they form a giant internet. On Pandora, you are so in tune with others. 
Scene 3: The resurrection ceremony for Dr. Grace and Jake — everyone sits on the ground, hand in hand, chanting together, swaying with the pulse of nature. The scene is so beautiful. The only thing I can think of that rivals it is last year’s Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. The wonder isn’t in the number of people but in the power of harmony it radiates — that pure, holy power that embraces all rivers. When you truly see what the director is conveying, you’re instantly filled with strength and boundless vitality, and all greed, emptiness, slander, jealousy, and pain vanish.
Scene 4: The later part where all the Na’vi clans are summoned for battle — Jake asks Tsu’Tey, an Omaticaya warrior who succeeded Eytucan as clan leader after his death, to pass his words on to everyone. He wants the countless clans of all the Na’vi to unite, to fight for their brothers and sisters, to let the humans of Earth know that this is Na’vi territory and they won’t be allowed to do as they please. A thousand riders surge forth, ten thousand horses gallop — magnificent, and deeply satisfying; I’d only ever felt that kind of satisfaction watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Although I’d already seen tons of official videos and clips, I was still deeply blown away here.
Oh no, oh no — what am I going to do if I never see a film this good again?
Reflections
Not to mention the many excellent and wondrous natural landscapes — while similar beautiful sights on Earth haven’t yet disappeared, we should cherish resources and eliminate ignorance.
As director Lu Chuan said, what we lack isn’t technology, but a pure heart.
The planet Pandora is a complete individual. The animals, plants, and people on this planet are all closely bound to nature, tightly interconnected; this inner balance keeps it durable and strong. The planet is like an organism, nurturing the flora and fauna that live on it, and they in turn take part in the planet’s metabolism. They are one whole. Here the rhythms of nature are balanced and harmonious, and pure, holy souls fly free. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the Great Mother, leave no sorrow or pain — only love and eternity. Heaven and earth and all things are one body; you are me and I am you.
Humans know they carry many parasites, a great many of which are beneficial to the body, though some people carry harmful ones. Earth is the same: humans are essentially parasites on Earth. Who would allow pests to grow on their own body? Are we beneficial insects or pests to Earth? What gives Earth the right to meekly nourish us? Everything nature grants us is only borrowed; none of it is ours by right. What is given will always be taken back. One day “having” will become “not having.” While we must use Earth’s resources for the sake of social development, we should always remember gratitude. Nothing is something we’re entitled to.
The biological neural network setup is just brilliant! Our Earthling technology has developed to the internet information age, yet all we’ve achieved is “fingers flying over keys, sharing this moment; the far ends of the earth as close as neighbors.” Look at their alien planet — nature and people are so in harmony there that without any “high tech” they can still see each other and hear each other across time and space. That kind of communication, free of “modern technology,” is true communication — warm communication — and Earthlings will probably have less and less of it in the future.
We love sending greeting texts on holidays, but when we call, text, send QQ messages, or email, what usually gets conveyed is just a cold electronic signal — what else could there be?
As Earthlings, what we can do is this: when calling or texting family and friends, smile sincerely — the other person will surely feel it. (The detailed reasons are outside this article’s scope; put simply: 1. these are psychic waves; 2. keeping a smile over the long term will definitely make you more caring toward them.)
Though we can’t grow a braid like the Na’vi that lets us communicate heart-to-heart with all things, we mustn’t give up our ability to communicate with the world through the heart. That way, perhaps you’ll discover that on Earth, mountains, water, grass, trees, flowers, birds, and stones all have life. As long as you’re willing to see it, you can communicate with one another.
Earlier on, the RDA wanted to bring its culture and science to the locals, hoping to build schools, hospitals, and roads, and then assimilate the Na’vi. It seems the evil RDA also wants to sow the seeds of capitalism and consumerism on other planets. They ruined one Earth and now want to ruin someone else’s planet — how stupid, how shameless! In their dealings with the alien visitors — the Earthlings — the Na’vi also tried to teach them how to “see” the rhythms of nature and the harmony of all things. But the stubborn, ignorant Earthlings have nothing in their heads but annual financial reports, money, and killing. Think carefully: who is more backward and who is more civilized, who is more worth learning from?
Compared with Earth, with its highly developed material civilization, Pandora is the paradise in my heart. A decadent civilized world, a noble savage world — if you could choose, which would you pick? I’d choose to be “reincarnated” onto Pandora.
Appendix: some background material not covered in detail in the film
RDA: full name Resources Development Administration. It is the largest single non-governmental organization of humans in the universe, mainly engaged in mining, transport, pharmaceuticals, weapons, and communications. It has millions of shareholders and is the oldest and largest quasi-administrative entity.
The RDA’s rise was like that of “Silicon Valley” in the early 21st century: starting from the two founders borrowing money from their families to start the company, in just a few short decades its status soared, and it proposed building a global rapid transit system. Through this system, large populations could be conveniently transported hundreds or even thousands of miles to wherever work was needed. But this meant the RDA had to keep mining the room-temperature superconductor Unobtanium to complete a global maglev train network.
At first the RDA took huge risks exploring Pandora and, despite financial pressure, built the interstellar cargo carrier “Venture Star”. As the RDA obtained exclusive mining rights to Pandora’s precious mineral Unobtanium, along with the potential profits from biofuels and cosmetics and beauty products, the enormous investment had already paid off.
Under the permanent authorization of the interstellar industry and commerce administration agreement, the RDA has monopolized the mining, processing, and transport operations of all planets beyond Earth. However, in accordance with the agreement, the RDA is also forbidden from using weapons of mass destruction, and its military strength in space is limited (mousebomb’s note: this explains why humanity’s 22nd-century interstellar demolition crew has no WMDs). But the RDA’s power already far exceeds that of the vast majority of government organizations on Earth.
Exopack: The Exopack is equipment humans on Pandora must wear outdoors; it consists of a sealed transparent face mask and a backpack filtering unit.
Pandora’s atmosphere is full of ammonia, methane, and chlorine; the human respiratory system can’t adapt to this toxic mixture. Yet with simple filtration, the oxygen in Pandora’s atmosphere can be breathed directly by humans. An Exopack can’t be used continuously for more than two weeks; after rinsing the filter pad with tap water it can be used again.
(mousebomb’s note: this isn’t an oxygen mask, just a filter mask. This shows Pandora’s atmosphere has enough oxygen, and also explains why Earth’s missiles and incendiary bombs work normally — otherwise using incendiary bombs would be a glaring flaw.)
Pandora: scientific name “Alpha Centauri B-4”, a planet in the Alpha Centauri system, roughly the same size as Earth. The Alpha Centauri system is 4.4 light-years from us, the nearest star system. Seen from space, this beautiful planet looks just like our Earth — colorful and varied. An Earth interstellar survey team discovered this vibrant, still-primitive planet 25 years ago (2129). Pandora’s atmosphere is full of ammonia, methane, and chlorine (mousebomb’s note: not that it lacks oxygen); without other equipment, Earthlings simply couldn’t survive here. But Pandora has developed a unique ecosystem based on a biochemistry completely different from Earth’s, and its strange plants and animals are breathtaking.
The Na’vi: The Na’vi are the indigenous humans of Pandora; the word “Na’vi” means “the people” in the Na’vi language.
The Na’vi are the only known species beyond Earth with human-like intelligence; they have language and emotions. Although Na’vi society is still at a Neolithic stage equivalent to our primitive society, they have developed a unique culture and a god called “Eywa” based on a mystical spiritual connection with the moon. The Na’vi celebrate the creative power of nature through stories, songs, dance, and crafts.
The Hometree: There are hundreds of Na’vi clans on Pandora; the Omaticaya are one of them.
They live in a towering ancient tree called the “Hometree” (known in the Na’vi language as Kelutral). The tree is over 150 meters tall and about 30 meters in diameter — two to three times the height of the redwoods that once covered Earth’s Pacific Northwest coast. Its honeycomb-like natural hollows and caves serve as the dwelling places where the Omaticaya live and thrive. At the coming-of-age ceremony for young Omaticaya hunters, they can carve their own bow from the branches of the “Hometree.”
Unfortunately, just like the “Hallelujah Mountains,” this place the Na’vi hold sacred and inviolable sits right on top of a rich Unobtnium deposit, and the Omaticaya clan living here thus became a thorn in the RDA’s side.
The Avatar Program: Called “Uniltirantokx” by the Na’vi, meaning “Dreamwalker,” it is one of the RDA’s research projects.
The Avatar Program first extracts Na’vi DNA, then selects volunteers from among Earthlings, and then, in the RDA’s genetics lab on Earth, cultivates an in-vitro embryo combining Na’vi and human DNA. During the three-year journey to Pandora (equivalent to five years on Earth), the embryo is artificially grown to nearly adult size (this is because Na’vi grow faster). Once the clone has grown into a complete “Na’vi,” the human volunteer can, through a Psionic Link Unit, send his consciousness into it, merging with the clone just as if operating his own body, and transform into an “Avatar” that moves freely on the planet. However, not just anyone can control this cloned Na’vi; only someone whose DNA matches the human DNA in it has that ability. After linking, the host lives inside the “Avatar” and perceives the world through it.
Originally, the Avatar Program’s goal was to create miners who could work outside without environmental protection gear. However, the very expensive Psionic Link Unit couldn’t be mass-produced. “Avatars” are mainly used to communicate with the Na’vi and to study the Na’vi and Pandora’s living systems.
Polyphemis: Pandora orbits a huge, brilliant planet, named “Polyphemis” by Earthlings after the cyclops of Greek mythology. The Alpha system has three stars — Alpha A, Alpha B, and Alpha C — and Polyphemis orbits Alpha A.
This gas giant is about twice the size of Jupiter in our solar system, and just like Jupiter’s “Great Red Spot,” Polyphemis’s giant halo is also lashed by persistent giant storms, so Polyphemis’s very existence is like an angry eye of god watching over Pandora. In addition, besides Pandora, Polyphemis is orbited by 13 moons at varying distances, which is why two to three “moons” can usually be seen in Pandora’s night sky.
Under Polyphemis’s glow, unlike the lush daytime scenery that resembles Earth’s, Pandora’s night is bathed in a fascinating blue, which is also why the Na’vi evolved blue skin.
Earth at that time: Earth is a planet of the Sun in the Milky Way, our human home. In 2154, Earth faces a global energy crisis and environmental crisis.
During this period, through space exploration, we’ve already discovered that Earth isn’t the only planet with life. Through space programs, we’re trying to mine minerals from distant planets to solve Earth’s energy crisis.
Hell’s Gate: The official name of Hell’s Gate is “Resources Development Administration Extra-Solar Colony 01 (abbreviated RDA ESC 01).” It is the base for Earthlings’ colonial activities on Pandora; because it sits in a toxic environment surrounded by dangerous creatures, it’s called “Hell’s Gate.”
The base covers 9.406 square kilometers, surrounded by a pentagonal wall 2.3382 kilometers on each side. On the wall’s watchtowers are heavy ground-to-ground and ground-to-air weapons for dealing with Pandora’s unfriendly wildlife. In addition, every 250 meters there are small towers to wipe out incursions by smaller creatures. Outside the wall is a 30-meter clearing that machines regularly and automatically clear. The base is heavily guarded, with soldiers on watch 26 hours a day (a day on Pandora), guarding against dangerous creatures that might cross the wall or burrow in.
The base has the only spaceport on the planet; runways, landing pads, and support facilities take up a third of the entire base. Another third is garages, armories, and factories producing mining equipment and ammunition; in addition there are barracks, housing for technicians and miners, and an enclosed high-grade staff apartment building.
The base is equipped with communal recreational facilities, such as the canteen nicknamed “Hell’s Kitchen,” and there’s also a basketball court between the research labs and the landing pad.
Hallelujah Mountains: These boulders floating in the air are called the “Hallelujah Mountains” by Earthlings (also known as MontasVolans) and are one of Pandora’s great spectacles. These boulders contain a precious mineral: Unobtnium. Unobtnium is a rare room-temperature superconductor with a peculiar magnetic field; under the influence of Pandora’s magnetic field, it produces this spectacular scene of floating boulders. The tops of these boulder islands are relatively flat while their sides are extremely steep; rivers pour down the cliffs to form waterfalls hanging in midair. They float in the magnetic field like icebergs drifting in the ocean, and they even collide with each other. Pandora’s indigenous “Na’vi” call these island clusters the “Thundering Rocks” and regard them as inviolable sacred ground. Yet Earthlings came to Pandora precisely to mine the Unobtnium in these boulders and solve Earth’s energy crisis.
[2010.1.12] With Mr. Wu’s strong support, at 1 a.m. on Monday the 11th, I watched the IMAX 3D version at Dongguan Wanda. I sat in row 10, seat 37, slightly left of center, 6 channels, the effect was decent. The one flaw was that the subtitles weren’t fully displayed: subtitle alpha = .4, width = 90%, and most frustratingly the subtitles were overflow=”hidden”, and on top of that they were pure white with no inverse-color shadow — meaning that in white scenes you simply couldn’t see the subtitles at all.