The geniality of the love story

[redpaintednavi]

Just read something on Camerons fan site about how the love story in Avatar is not only an ordinary love story but also a smart move to close the gap between Jake and the Navi culture:

The love story was a secondary story that among other things helps illustrate Jake's increasing understanding and appreciation of the Na'vi. It helps establish that there's no such thing as a barrier between "us" and "them". There were other elements in the story meant to achieve that, but the love story makes it that much more personal.

And it is also something one can relate to here on Earth too. How much easier is it not to understand and above all emotionally come more close to another culture if you fall in love with one of its members and establish a relation with that person. I know several people that have come very close to cultures and peoples they would never even have noticed if they had not met someone from there and fallen in love.

Avatar Return of Great Storytelling

It also reminds me of a book by anthropologist Kenneth Good about how he found love among the Yanomami people in Venezuela and how that changed him and his understanding about that people. One can read about it in his book Into the Hearth.

Anthropologist Kenneth Good went to the rain forests of the Amazon to study the Yanomami. He found more than one of the few remaining peoples untouched by modern "civilization." During more than a decade of observation, Good found himself accepted, indeed virtually adopted, by the tribe and eventually fell in love with a young Yanomami woman. In the process, he made exciting new discoveries about the tribal people and about himself. Into the Heart is the fascinating story of his journey of discovery.

Amazon.com: Into The Heart: One Man's Pursuit of Love and Knowledge Among the Yanomami (9780673982322): Kenneth Good, David Chanoff: Books

[neytirifanboy]

Yes, the love story is not just there to appeal to romance afficionados, it actually has a purpose in contrasting the Na'vi and human lifestyles. Plus it helps in character development.

[Moco Loco]

Without the human/na'vi romance, Jake would've basically had no character at all But I'm not one of those who thinks that was a mistake, Jake is just a really boring average guy most of the time.

[neytirifanboy]

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

Without the human/na'vi romance, Jake would've basically had no character at all But I'm not one of those who thinks that was a mistake, Jake is just a really boring average guy most of the time.

It's only a mistake in the sense that Neytiri deserves someone better...perhaps like me for instance.

[Moco Loco]

Originally Posted by neytirifanboy

It's only a mistake in the sense that Neytiri deserves someone better...perhaps like me for instance.

Who knows. I just hope Jake gets a lot cooler in the sequels.

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

Without the human/na'vi romance, Jake would've basically had no character at all But I'm not one of those who thinks that was a mistake, Jake is just a really boring average guy most of the time.

IMO, the core of Jake's character is the "greatness cut short" device. Since Cameron's wrote that out, I'm really curious as to what he'll do next.

[Rainbowhawk1993]

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

Without the human/na'vi romance, Jake would've basically had no character at all But I'm not one of those who thinks that was a mistake, Jake is just a really boring average guy most of the time.

In the dealeted opening, it showed the characteristics of a hero in the dark. He is just sick of bullies but on the turf of corprate domination and a harsh, 'strong pray on the weak' envirnment, his options were limited and he was in the dark.

When he goes to pandora, where there is never a lightless night, he finds a place where he can be someone. The love story and his journey with the Na'vi came to light from the Marine part of himself. I think I can see how Neytiri would love him, from the determination and commitment to causes, although I'm no expert on the phsycology of love. And you can say that Neytiri is Jake's saving grace because she unlocks the part of Jake locked away inside of his soul.

[Moco Loco]

Originally Posted by Clarke

IMO, the core of Jake's character is the "greatness cut short" device. Since Cameron's wrote that out, I'm really curious as to what he'll do next.

Originally Posted by Rainbowhawk1993

In the dealeted opening, it showed the characteristics of a hero in the dark. He is just sick of bullies but on the turf of corprate domination and a harsh, 'strong pray on the weak' envirnment, his options were limited and he was in the dark.

When he goes to pandora, where there is never a lightless night, he finds a place where he can be someone. The love story and his journey with the Na'vi came to light from the Marine part of himself. I think I can see how Neytiri would love him, from the determination and commitment to causes, although I'm no expert on the phsycology of love. And you can say that Neytiri is Jake's saving grace because she unlocks the part of Jake locked away inside of his soul.

I'm not saying he has no role or function in the story, just that he's quite bland

[Human No More]

I think everyone thinks that... and some people think Jake should be with them instead too. ...but that goes for every character people find attractive

[Human No More]

He did lose a bit in the deleted scenes going, but he really never has much at all. I think that was also at least partly an active decision though, to make him really apathetic to the point of not even being defined that well. He doesn't define himself by much either.