Avatar: cinema's epic, eco-sermon

Avatar: 1. the incarnation of a Hindu deity (as Vishnu). 2. a: an incarnation in human form. b: an embodiment (as of a concept of philosophy) often in a person. 3. a variant phase or version of a continuing basic entity. (Dictionary definition)

In the slip-stream of Director James Cameron's mega-film 'Avatar', world cinema will never be the same again. Regaining their proper senses, after reeling from the film's first stunning impact, people will dizzily look around to see what actually hit them. It is then, that the process of discovery will begin to dawn upon them.

The story-line of Avatar is driven primarily by human cupidity. In 2514, the year in which the film is set, an expedition arrives in Pandora - an earth-like moon - in the Alpha centauri star system. The expedition reinforces the human colony on Pandora, which has been targeted upon by an avaricious group of explorers, drawn to it by its mineral wealth. Their keen preoccupation is to mine this material which is described as unobtanium. Pandora's native inhabitants are the Na'vi, a species of blue-skinned humanoids, who are about nine-feet tall.

The Na'vi possess skills that earth-people have not been able to master. The Na'vi are seamlessly integrated into their eco-system, through their cult of nature, symbolized by the worship of a mother goddess called Eywa.

As I see it, one specific reason for the unprecedented attraction of film-goers in worldwide masses, to 'Avatar', is its reveting cinematic eco-discourse. On earth, we are threatened by impending environmental disasters, on a global scale, as a direct outcome of our denigration of mother nature. But, here in Pandora, all forms of organisers are brought together by a neural network, that links all life, like the tracery of fine nerves in the brain.

James Cameron

In the story, the human scientists discover the process to achieve incarnation, to resemble the Na'vi. Those who develop the physical form of the Na'vi are described as Avatars. These Avatars possess two forms. The Na'vi body and the human personality, that controls one's avatar.

These avatars are sent on missions to learn the secrets of the Na'vi, to enable the miners to establish harmonious relations with the indigenous beings, as a means to facilitate the exploitation of unobtanium deposits.

Jake - one of those expedient avatars - develops a love - interest towards a Na'vi maiden - Neytiri. Eventually, Jake abandons his mission and espouses the cause of the Omaticaya - the clan of his girl-friend Neytiri.

At the final confrontation between the evil forces from Earth and the Indigenous beings of Pandora, the Natives suppress the oppressors and re-affirm the faith in the survival capacity of ecological harmony.

The film, made available globally through a worldwide release, compelled attention on yet another level. The unique technology that went into its creation, acquired mythological proportions.

No other film in the whole history of cinema, has utilized these advanced systems of cinema-creation, until Avatar came along. In those areas of the world, that possess sophisticated theatres, Avatar was projected in 3-D and IMAX-3D formats.

In Sri Lanka, cinema-goers had to be happy with their traditional and familiar 2-D projection system. If the mere 2-D projection could whip up the wide-spread enthusiasm displayed by Sri Lankan film-fans, one can only imagine the experience of those who paid substantially high prices to view it in 3-D.

'Avatar', triggered a tsunami of shekels, that toppled box-office records that had dominated the industry, over a long period of time. In the process, Director James Cameron's own achievement, registered through the vast market commanded by his 'Titanic' of 1997, too, was surpassed by Avatar, almost as a matter of course.

Cinema historians will continue to trace the odyssey of his "Avatar" phenomenon, for quite some time to come.

In the immediate aftermath of Avatar, innovative film technologies will undoubtedly dominate the world of cinema. The star-gate sequence in "Space Odyssey 2001" ushered in a slew of space films. But, after Avatar, that era may seem an age of tentative explorations.

'Avatar', has a universal appeal on many levels. The title may have a mystique aura for some.

But, to many, 'Avatar's' Pandora is a portrayal of celestial regions, as visualized by Director James Cameron and brought into life by his technological wizardry. Underneath all that there is the celebration of an aggressor who turns saviour of his would-be victims, when he is appalled by the injustice of his own people.

Then there is the indigenous language of the Na'vi, which was developed by the eminent linguist Dr. Paul Frommer, with a vocabulary of 1000 words. Through all this mind-boggling efforts what comes through loud and clear is the ecological plea: "Man beast, bird and plant are all interlinked.

If this realization does not dictate the love of ecological harmony, man's future could be gloomy.

That's 'Avatar.'