Beyond Avatar, The Movie
 

We're really caught up in this story, Avatar, well told in one of the greatest movies of our time. What good comes of this?

It allows us to hold up a mirror and look at ourselves. To re-evaluate our values. And to grow.

So what do we do with this growth? Do we use it as a cause for celebration, for unity, for love, for friendship? Certainly. ToS wouldn't be what it is without it.

Is it a reason to completely change our lives because of one fictional character, one fictional planet, one agenda? A good question - we'll all have different answers to that one.

I think I'm only trying to make one point here, and a small one, and hopefully a gentle one.

There's a wonderful world right here on Earth. We've done horrible things to the planet, but there's lots of room left and time left to change at least some of the bad that we've done as a species. And we should. But there's no reason that in the process we cannot still see what's so doggone good about this little rock, third from the sun. And to do something entirely Earthbound to enjoy it, and love it, just as much as the wholly imaginary world of Pandora. We can never go there. We know that. We get worked up over the fact that we can't. But there's so many very cool places right here on Earth we can go that are worthwhile. Like what this kid from southern California did....

Getting High On Earth

Jordan Romero is one very cool kid. I wish I had whatever it is that's made him able to do what he's already done by 13 (Besides a helluva lot of cash and family support, that is!!). Movie heroics are one thing, but if you want to be inspired to be something more than you are, here's a good example to use from The Real World (tm).

Oel ngati kameie, Tree of Souls.

:D

PLUR on my brother!

Indeed, there is still much beauty and potential on this planet, it's just hard for a lot of us to find it. I plan on planting a tree (haven't found a good spot yet) and traveling around the world to personally meet a lot of my family here. Irayo for this thread ma tsmukan

that. is. amazing.

There are some true natural wonders on this planet, if only more people could take a minute to appreciate what we have:(

Just curious Stanley, what does PLUR mean?

I should probably specify this more, it's an amazing "motto" to live by and I apply it to my daily life. PLUR stands for Peace Love Unity and Respect

I see, not a bad motto to apply to daily life:)

There's an interesting variant to "PLUR" I found whilst trying to learn a bit about the rave movement....PLURR. It adds Responsibility, largely due to the inappropriate use of recreational drugs. However, it makes sense beyond that. Accepting responsibility for many things is what differentiates adults from kids. An aspect of maturity. (Tristan, don't let this go to your head, but the raver movement has it allllll over the flower children of the sixties.) Peace, love, and all that crap...yeah sure. ;) But ravers appear to be a bit more mature than their sixties brethren. PLURR on, brother!! :D

Of course, I have to admit a long standing preference for my favorite golden rule. "Be Excellent To Each Other." Bill and Ted....icons of the better side of humanity. LOFL!

Interesting.

I agree with Taw Makto about Avatar, partly. It truly taught me to See, to appreciate what there still is on Earth, and I am a completely different person. However, I do still think I'll never feel 'at home' anywhere other than Pandora :(

I agree.

I indeed also see what we have on earth now, even the seemingly everyday things can become beautiful if you see them in such a way. Yet I too feel this world is a corrupted one, almost unsalvagable, a marred beauty that - no matter how hard you try to seek purity - can never provide what Pandora could.

Anyone remember Ferngully? Okay hold on, Im not here to troll I just want to say something in response to the OP's statement on the fact that we still have time left to change.

This movie [Ferngully] also promoted the idea that humanity must change to save Earth, I remember the last line in the movie was "Where are you going?". It too promoted against destroying our planet. It was made on my birth year, 1992, almost 20 years ago.

So what Im saying is, it doesnt matter if we have 10 years or 100 years. Those 100 years will continue to tick away unchanged if there isnt a global attitude alteration.

Humanity must change, and it should've done it in 1992.

HIGH FIVE, when I saw Avatar I immediately associated it with Ferngully, which was my FAVORITE movie as a kid.
But we can't ALL change at once. It's going to take a while to get everyone to change. To promote this, more media with environmentally positive messages!

*high fives back* :D Also I must point out that Batty is freakin' halarious in the movie. :D

More on topic, I think it might be too late if humanity gradually changes, because that's what we've been doing for the past two decades and there hasnt been enough done.

There should be some real motivation if anything major's going to be done; either a climate change-related disaster or something like the Space Race between US and USSR, some competition to be the country that saves the planet y'know. :)

Same here. I grew up with Fern Gully too.

Surely the fact that this forum exists, the way people behave on it and that films like Avatar and Fern Gully promoting a strong environmental care message shows that the generation of the future are being taught that care for the environment and a general feeling of love and respect on all counts is important. As I said somewhere else, we are the generation that can change things, the next generation to inherit the Earth and there are a lot of us looking for a change.

Beyond Avatar, The Movie
 

Thanks! :D

Actually, Jon, I was pretty much in the Avatar groove back when I was in college in the mid 70's. Cameron and I are very close in age, so perhaps our appreciation of environmental concerns echoes through my generation. The movie didn't change me as much as it resonated with a lot that was already important to me. The open mindedness you speak of comes from the social agility afforded by being a lifelong bachelor. Kids are great, but family is an exceptionally time consuming and focusing responsibility. The life experiences that I've been able to enjoy have far eclipsed that....at least in my own mind. That tends to broaden one's perspective. But in the end.....I'm just me. This is how society left me after all this time.

As for Bill and Ted? Icons of American Culture. The simplest solution is usually the best. Why bother with 10 commandments when one will suffice? ;)