A story as old as the human race

Rating: 9/10 (5 August 2010)

The special effects are overwhelming and may cloud most people's judgment as to whether this is a worthwhile film or not. Let us eliminate that factor first and examine the story first because it is important.
The story is really a poorly disguised analogy of a story that has oft been repeated time and again throughout human history. Will we ever learn? One race, species, or form of life wants something that happens to be at a place that another race, species, or form of life is already occupying. The solution? Move the indigenous civilization! If they won't go willingly then they will be forced. In today's world it is called eminent domain. To put a perspective on this it is easy to draw a parallel between the indigenous Na'vi of this film and Native Americans even down to a horse-like creature that they ride and their weapon of choice: bows and arrows. Once again Western civilization encroaches in the form of Earthlings. In the film Earth is apparently a dying world because of the very problem that we are now bringing to the Na'vi world, Pandora. We want the resources that just happen to exist underneath the most sacred real estate for a Na'vi forest clan. To draw another parallel we are essentially destroying the forest much like we are doing today to our own Amazon rain forest in order to mine the Hell out of it. If the natives, animals, or anything gets in the way that's just too bad. There is really very little sympathy for the dying Earth's plight here and most likely this is justifiably so. Since the viewer will readily identify with the human side of things in this story there is very little need to do a lot of character building or motive explanation.
Most of the story attempts to convey the Na'vi point of view and their way of life. Attempts to be diplomatic and woo the Na'vi have failed because the Na'vi really don't need or want anything the Earthlings have to offer. These are some very seriously spiritually grounded people and the viewer will find themselves wishing to be like them and feel sorrow that we as a race have veered away from the things that ultimately matter. The Na'vi world is very beautiful and respectful of all living energy. They have all they need and see no reason to trade it all away for 'lite beer, video games, and Nikes'. So, now you should have the general idea here.
As noted the story is not new but it is handled very well. It is compelling and never boring. Much of this did indeed have to do with the special effects which are nothing short of amazing. I kind of fear that while the movie espouses a non-technological theme it is ironic that the human actors are completely usurped by the CGI actors. Alas, it appears to be the shape of things to come. I also found it a bit askew that while the human race has acquired all of this technology that allows us to spend 6 years in space to get to Pandora in the first place that we have failed to advance spiritually as well nor have we been able to find the natural resources we need without resorting to destroying other planets to get them.
Bottomline: Not a new story but handled very well. Excellent special effects!! This is a movie well worth watching a number of times if only to once again try to feel some of the original commonality and respect for this planet we once shared with the lesser clans of this world.