Avatar, the James Cameron flick, is a visual marvel. That's to say the least. The technology and effects are incredibly convincing and awe-inspiring. Stats have it that it is the 2nd highest grossing film of all time, worldwide. And that, in just three weeks after release. Everybody loves it. I, frankly, was utterly disappointed. It was just too eff-ing predictable- unimaginative dialogues, mono-dimensional characters, a mish-mash of done-to-death plots. For, creativity's sake, even the creatures on Pandora seemed out of Jurassic Park, so vividly colorful that I thought they were having a rave party. Well clearly I had too high expectations and/or I am missing the point.
At one level, it also seemed like a perverse tribute to all the native civilizations and tribes ousted and destroyed by invaders, traders, saviors and others of imperialistic leaning. Instead of falling prey to the technologically superior, singularly self-centered and obstinately uncompromising enemy, the underdogs are victorious. Reality check - it happens only in movies. The rest happens all the time, for real.
An example of a real-life Avatar happening on our very planet. Here are the parallels:
LOCATION- PANDORA, a satellite of a fictitious planet: EARTH, in a remote part of the mineral rich state of Orissa in eastern India
SPECIES of concern: the NA'VI- blue-skinned, pointy-eared, 10-foot feline humanoids : the DONGRIA KONDH- brown, lean, 5.5-foot simple human beings
COMPANY: RDA Corp. : Vedanta Aluminium Ltd.
PRIZE: Unobtanium : Aluminium
Check out this video by Survival International: http://www.survivalinternational.org/films/mine
The incidents are frighteningly are similar. The fact that it is far from over and how real life usually turn out, makes this numbingly scary. It also doesn't help knowing that this is not an isolated or a singular event at any given point in time.
I think I actually appreciate the ending of Avatar.
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