The movie was great but I think it just felt really real because they were mixing live action with CGI graphics really well which blurs the line between real and fake.

I think the movie did a really good job at making pandora a utopia, as if the navi didn’t have any problems of their own before the humans came.

The reason anyone develops feelings of longing for one thing or another is because of a absence of that quality in real life. Most who become infatuated or ingrossed in a concept or alternate reality(like avatar) feel it fills a void. In fact most people who are considered depressed probably aren’t. In fact they are probably the most sain of us all. I say this because they are aware of all the problems society has but are not able to ignore them. They simply can’t bring themselves to think “Oh well, its not my problem. It doesn’t effect me. Why should I care?” We live in the most corrupt nation in all of history, we enforce double standards in practically every area of life. Many see the changes in our society as spiraling out of control with corruption at every corner and freedom dissappearing at every turn. Unless you live with your head in the sand, there is plenty to be seriously concerned about. Its the people of society that see the seriousness of its problems and are still able to ignore them, without remorse, that really do have a problem. While this seems cold hearted, it isn’t entirely their fault, it is a symptom of living in a large society. For example if in a navi tribe of 100 persons, a single death would be a serious issue. In a city of 500,000 people, sirens can be heard constanly, and people die daily, but unless you know them it is not a serious issue. This is a perfect example of “Its not my problem, it doesn’t effect me. Why should I care?” But on the other hand you can’t get all emotional over every death or injury of every person or you would spend your entire life in mourning, and rightfuly so. I honestly believe our culture was never intended to grow to the level it has making this paradox possible.

People teasing the depressed about their desire for a ficticious existance is similar to people making fun of those that commit suicide, and call them weak. Instead of trying to shame a person into not commiting such an act, why don’t people ever ask… What made this seemingly normal person do this? What was so bad about their life that they wanted to end it? Its possible that these two groups are the division of the dreamers and the pragmatacists.

I’m told that those with the biggest imaginations are often the most unsatisfied. Its because they can see “outside the box”, that they realize the potential of what is possible and feel discouraged because they know how far we are from it. Those without that imaginative trait don’t have this feeling because they don’t see the disparity between what is and what’s possible. As a result they don’t exhibit the traits of depression others do. People often make fun of an a quality in others that they themselves lack to feel better. We rarley have the humility to compliment someone elses gifts in the face of our own inadequacies. All because someone else has, and i don’t. We agree that we’re different, and say our differences strengthen our unity, but we rarely live that sentiment.

For those that think this desire for alternate existance is silly, let the dreamers dream, and remember this. Most of the technologies and convienences that our modern world has that makes your life so depression free was conceived by one of these creative dreamers that have the ability to see outside the box. It seems hypocritical to condem the very source of your depression free life.

For those wishing they could ride a dinsaour or sit by the tree of souls in the company of loved ones to commune with Eywa, take heart, this is frighteningly similar to what the bible says heaven will be like. Where God will live among the people, “…and I will be their God, and they will be my people and there will be no more crying or nashing of teeth”(Rev21:1-7) While it may be a little different in format or appearence the qualities that make it so appealing are so very very similar, i wonder if Cameron did this knowingly. When Grace finally went with to be with God(Eywa), “she” is shown as a warm bright light. What a coincidence, that is exactly what the bible says about God. He has no form or shape, that is why we are not to worship idols, falsely imprinting some form in our minds. The historical figure of jesus was only a man so he could interact with us. Blame organized religion for making the realities of spiritual things seem cartoonish and quite frankly… silly, boring, and trivial. Moses spoke directly with and saw God on many occasions, in every instance “he” was a … warm bright light !!!