Still absolutely mind-boggling that the CGI looked this good in 2009. It shows what a good director and buckets of money, time and VFX talent can produce.
If you considered Eywa a character, not devine intervention, and realize the complexity of that character, you will realize that Eywa is the one who saves Pandora, and Jake. Jake becomes an interface into the human aggressors for Eywa. Jake technically causes the Na'vi to loose a lot more then they gain, and doesn't even take out the main antagonist at the end. Jake raises the Na'vi's spirit when they feel hopeless, but even that was influenced by Eywa. Eywa's biggest weakness is that it loves all life, even the humans, and learned the most difficult lessons from the humans, fighting for it's own preservation.
I love this explanation for it. It feels like a Na'vi perspective or take on it where we would tend to see it through the scope of our own species first or some sort of divine act.
There is a deleted scene where the ritual to bond with the (forgot what the flying dragons are called) requires a moon hunt in which they use an insect to go on a psychedelic trip and see what vision Eywa wants them to see. And Jake goes on this trip and in the end Eywa grants him the ability to become the prophecied one who rides the biggest flying thingy.
@@Wuffskers I think they were more trying to suport the idea of Eywa's sentience. Probably a reason that scene didn't make it to the final cut. The scene is unfinished, so I think it was more of a conception. Also, Eywa does make the Thanator mountable for Neytiri.
When cgi takes you out of the immersion it’s bad cgi The best cgi is the cgi you don’t notice. I’m not disagreeing with you I’m just adding to your comment.
@Thick Ely agreed, CGI that takes you out of it is bad. Even Avatar has some bits that look wrong. Some things are oddly shiny, walking on things looks odd sometimes, when humans and avatars touch is odd. But you have to look specifically for them and they are at the edge and dont detract from the movie.
my favourite scene is the "if you are one of us... help us" scene. even the few seconds shown here brought tears to my eyes. you can feel the pain and helplessness in her voice and see it in her face. gets me every time
The funny part about "Humans mocking Na'vi religion" is that in kinda happened in real life. I mean, I know this is a movie, this is fictional, but what I'm saying is that despite the movie heavily HEAVILY implies it, a lot of people didn't catch that Eywa is real, that the Na'vi are not worshipping some made up godess trying to explain unexplainable things, but that they can conect and directly comunicate with the literal self aware consciousness of the planet. For example, the scene when Neytiri is about to kill jake and a Woodsprite lands on her arrow, I've seen people saying it is too convenient or a dumb coincidence and don't realize it was Eywa literally telling her not to shoot him.
I mean, a literal army of dangerous animals support the Na’vi in the final battle with Neytiri screaming “Eywa has heard you!” all of this after Jake directly prayed for intervention. It’s…….kinda obvious
@@BlueJaguarRanger There are so many bad movies out there with deus ex machina endings that I think a lot of people didn't even think about it, and just accepted that a random thing happened and that the animals were randomly fighting the humans now. Because of... fire and explosions or something pissing them off. Think about all the movies you've seen where this actually happens because of bad story telling, and it's not that hard to see how people would just accept that type of ending, and not think any more about it.
Another thing I noticed in this movie --- during the final battle, the face paint that the Na'vi wore resembled their ikrans, or mountain banshees. Jake wore orange and black to resemble toruk. Neytiri wore green/turquoise and yellow to resemble Seze, her ikran. Just thought that was a cool detail
Win 177. One just had to admire how Neytiri's facial expression actually shows the connection. Eventhough the audience is terrified of the creature, Neytiri has this glimpse of agreement in her pupil and just goes for it. Genius.
I always liked the theory that it was Grace behind all the animals coming to the Na'vi's aid. She died before her conciousness could enter her avatar, but she merged with Pandora's neural network, merging with Eywa.
I always likes how the big “slimy pupper” offers Neyteri a ride, but still looks super angry and annoyed like mom forced him to… lol “Get on.” “No, I’m good… thanks anyway.” “Shut up… and GET ON! Mom said I HAD to help you… let’s get this over with!” “Uhhh..” “I’m going to bite your arm off if you don’t get on my back NOW! My friends are coming and if they see me carrying a blue person… just get on!” “Okay… okay… relax… sheesh.” Hahaha
The more I think about Jake conveniently being "the chosen one" the more it starts to make sense when you realize that Eywa is Pandora's consciousness. Grace points out that the moon is basically sentient and that what the Na'vi call Eywa is its consciousness, it's "source". Eywa 'chose' Jake to be Toruk Makto because he wasn't just another scientist but actually someone with battle experience. She knew that he'd know how to defeat the RDA and that he'd teach the Na'vi if he would come to care enough to fight for them. Jake's decision to become Toruk Makto is then not because he wanted to be a hero, or even just because he wanted Neytiri back, but because he'd actually come to love the culture he'd integrated into, and realized the many wrongs of humankind on Pandora. He regretted his choice of agreeing to do Quaritchs bidding. If anything, risking his life to tame Toruk was just to prove himself that he actually changed and that he could be trusted. The only thing I don't like about Toruk Makto is that according to the story, he or she was the only one who'd unite the clans in times of great sorrow. The Na'vi are as intelligent as humans are if not more so, so why wouldn't the Na'vi themselves venture out to the other clans for help? Why would they need a legendary hero riding the mightiest of beasts to persuade the clans to fight against a common enemy?
I think the Na’vi didn’t try to find other tribes was because of their loses. Many of them had just recently lost someone important to them, so their mindset were not set right, instead they were just grieving. I’m sure Tsu’tey or Neytiri would’ve eventually thought of a plan, but they too had to have been traumatized by the amount of friends and families they’ve lost, including the chieftain’s death, Eytukan.
I've watched a lot of avatar related stuff in the past couple hours, so my best guess is (according to the lore) the Na'Vi are peaceful people. They have no need to fight each other or anything, and so far, the Omaticaya (the people that Jake become apart of, sorry if the spelling is wrong) were the only ones who were being bothered by the RDA, as far as I can tell. So that's probably why they didn't reach out to other clans
This is always how it struck me when he went out to get Toruk. He wasn't trying to become a savior, or trying to one up past heros, he felt like a dead man walking. He loved the Na'Vi and the culture and the people, and it felt like he was embracing the win/win situation of risking his life. Become Toruk Makto and save his beloved planet, or eventually die trying and not having to live in a world where he knew Pandora was real but couldn't live in it. I mean hell people in real life get withdrawal symptoms from watching the movie imagine, what he felt it would be like if he let Pandora get destroyed.
Love this comment, when you take in the fact that in canon, eywa is real, and she chose Jake because she knew he could do what was needed and she knew he was falling in love with Pandora and the na'vi. My theory for why toruk makto is needed to unite the clans is because the na'vi know that if there is a toruk makto, that it's because eywa chose them to be toruk makto, they see toruk makto as a sign from eywa that it's time to unite and overcome.
I was watching 2009 Avatar with my friend last week after I saw Way of water and I realized a big part of Jake is how he was a Marine before he came to Pandora. So yes I agree with you about Ewya knowing he had battle experience. I’m so excited for Way of water to come out on blu ray 💿
Also there was one win you missed…when Jake was falling after he took out the RDAs plane he used the big leaves to fall safely to the ground just like Neytiri taught him during his training! Edit-wow! So many likes! Thanks so much everyone!
Some of the deleted scenes in this movie were really interesting. There were scenes that REALLY played into how conflicted our tech bro was over everything and how Ranger Rick essentially pulled a coup in order to launch the attack on the Navi. There was also some stuff with the scientists in the human base jumping into avatar bodies and capturing it, too. Wish it stayed in, but maybe they're saving those story beats for Way of Water.
I actually want tech bro to come back. The look he gave Jake at the end as basically pleading. I think he knew, at Hometree, what he had become. And I'd like to think he refuses Cryo on the way back, and has turned his whole life and effort around to try and promote positive impact expansion, and run into beurocracy on earth. Like... Even before the end, once quaritch rolled, he regretted it all. He was sorry. I want to see him prove it, and earn forgiveness.
This is one of those movies that has so much extra layers that you could tell had to be brought down by someone saying "we can't make it too complicated". That is why I am excited to see the next one is a full three hours.
@@icedreamer9629 An aspect I always found interesting is that one could lift the character of Quaritch, entirely as is, out of this movie and paste him into any one of a thousand other movies - same character, same lines, same beliefs, same actions - and he'd be *_THE HERO._* Off the top of my head, I'm thinking about the Michael Bay Transformers movies, or Independence Day - stuff like that. Movies where you aren't exactly encouraged to sympathise with, or understand the 'bad guys.' Think back to a lot of the eighties action movies Chuck Norris or Stallone or Schwarzenegger are famous for - That's Quaritch all over. Tough, strong, macho leader who cares about his people and stomps the bad guys. Think of the first Delta Force movie, and imagine one of Chuck Norris's troops abandoning the mission and deciding to work for the terrorists instead - That's how Quaritch see's Jake's actions, as a betrayal of everything they're there to do. Like I said, it's interesting how such unambiguously and historically 'heroic' or 'villainous' archetypes can be played with like that.
@@icedreamer9629 In one of the deleted scenes, tech bro Parker actually tris to stop Colonel Quaritch when he tries to stage a coup. By that point he has kind of realised that they were going *way* too far in trying to get ahold of unobtainium. IIRC, he sees all the explosives and weaponry being loaded up and realises Quaritch isn't doing this for the sake of the company, he has an actual vendetta against the Na'Vi. He tries to stop it all, but Quaritch essentially puts a gun to his head and threatens him until he stands down. It's a shame it got left out of the movie proper.
This. I really hate how this dumbed down his character to "corporate guy that cares about nothing". That one scene that got delete makes his character far more interesting alone.
That being said, should movies be made for IMAX considering there are less than 30 in America and movies are only out for a limited amount of time. Like Dune. Any other release including other non IMAX theatre releases have the movie in ultrawide by cutting off a lot of the screen. Makes the composition in a lot of scenes worse. And there's no way to rewatch it in its original square format unless it's re-released or you have a time machine
The depression after Avatar wasn't caused by simple "withdrawals that Pandora doesn't exist" though. It was caused because this is where humanity is headed. The concrete jungle, needing to parasite off another planet. Avatar makes the terrible trajectory were on all the more apparent, and the power that common citizens lack to do anything about it is depressing
I really don't think that's why? The movie wasn't the same for a lot of people once it was on their tiny screens at home (which were much smaller back in 2009). Lots of movies look at the bleak future we're heading toward but don't take the same kind of dip that Avatar did. Ultimately I think it boils down to the fact that it's not exactly a groundbreaking story and the visuals, which were groundbreaking, just didn't hit the same on an 18" TV at home back when it was released to DVD.
Jake Sully is one of the most creative protagonists imo with how he transitions from being paralyzed in the legs to having the new body, and how he transitions from being a normal human to bonding with the Na’vi. I just cannot believe how ahead of it’s time this is O.o
@@heatherrockwell9012 Uh, my boy, one of the first movies to outdo Avatar was Force Awakens. "Not a revolutionary story" is a bullshit criticizm to have.
@@joelshajan8706 lmao, that comment is so dismissively reductive.. jake's character is called an archetype, and beyond that, like almost every blockbuster three act action film, it's a version of the 'hero's journey' .. the story of "a stranger in a strange land" is a prehistoric tale, as old as humanity itself.. it's not copy paste, it's classic.. it was probably the first time they encountered the storytelling template in their life, of course they would appreciate it, it's a powerful tale, it's why it's told again and again in every culture throughout time..
You can't imagine the relief I felt when I understood that this was the Avatar movie, and not that one movie (what movie?) based on Avatar the show, getting a part 2 of everything great
That movie is just called "The last airbender", without the "Avatar" is its title. And he's already made a EGA about the airbender movie, almost six years ago
Having just seen this film for the first time here’s two things that stuck with me: 1. You mentioned the specific wording of one of the military guy’s lines but there’s an even earlier mention of the “hearts and minds” which also comes from the same historical event. 2. I love how Jake’s words about toruk also apply to the military “he’s the baddest cat in the sky and he knows it. Why would he look up?”
@@KoobyYin It's a George W. Bush-ism. The Americans had invaded Iraq because people from Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia (with significant support form the governments of both countries) had launched a series of terrorist attacks on the US, eventually culminating in 9/11. Why Iraq? We're all still fuzzy on that. So was Bush. So was Cheney. No one could give any real justification for it, especially since Iraq was a sworn enemy of both of the governments who'd actually attacked the US. In the end, Bush had personal reasons to attack Iraq (Saddam Hussein had tried to assassinate Bush's dad, Bush Senior), and 9/11 gave a convenient excuse to attack, especially since the US already had a lot of troops and equipment in the area since they were attacking Afghanistan already (that attack actually had some reason and justification behind it, even though it went very poorly in the end). Anyway, Iraq would be easy! They'd be in and out in a few weeks! They'd win the hearts and minds of the people by bombing them into oblivion, installing a pro-American government, and letting American corporations take over the natural resources of the country! People would literally throw rose petals at the feet of incoming American troops who were "liberating" them! Mission accomplished! Suffice to say it didn't turn out like that. It never does.
I figured it was the gesture of Jake risking his life to fly in on Turok Makto that convinced the Na’vi of his sincerity. It was his bravery they respected. Not to just tell them of the danger, like he first did. But to also be promising to fight with them.
Yeah for me a lot of movies have a third act problem for me. I will enjoy rewatching them but I lost interest in the third act. Not avatar tho I think is because the third act is so massive in scale that you can focus on different aspects of it on each rewatch.
Zoe Saldana's emotions come through really well here and as Gamora... both convincing situations that define their respective movies/universes Probably the best motion capture performer after Andy Serkis
She's a beautiful and amazing actress. Funny enough, in her audition for neytiri, she didn't have an accent. So it was interesting to see her use her normal voice
The message that I take from this, is that if even if your own group is the problem, it's not an excuse to not be part of the solution. As has been stated so eloquently by many people, "The only way for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." The Navi COULDN'T save themselves, because they weren't in a position to. They didn't understand the threat. How could they. And when Jake recognized that humans were the problem on Pandorah, he decided that he didn't want to be part of the problem anymore. So he became part of the solution instead. So I don't see Jake as the white savior so to speak. I see him as a good man who woke up and decided to be part of the solution.
That's such a lovely interpretation and I agree with you and it fits Jake's own turn against the humans on Pandora so eloquently! I especially love how you said "I see him as a good man who woke up and decided to be part of the solution" since that, in a nutshell, is what Jake did.
plus, his whiteness imo has very little to do with his savior-ness. Jake could have had a black actor cast to play him and he'd still be a "white" savior, just not white. when crossing species lines, ethnicity and skin color comparisons fall away IMO
that's kind of a weak take? Understanding why Jake IS the White Saviour archetype means to understand how and why the movie was written the way it was (as the video mentioned). Your entire argumentation is based on uncritically taking the events and circumstances the movie portrayed as factually granted, which is the opposite of the entire point of examining how the plot and character are constructed
@@chandlerh2408 because trying to keep a distanced and critical gaze on media that portrays literal colonialism from the perspective of the oppressors is such a bad thing huh
In retrospect, yeah, this movie is actually very good. It has a very simplistic face, but underneath there's a lot of subtext and food for thought for our world today. That's a good movie right there.
How you point out the business boss guy even seems effected seeing the tree destroyed. There is a deleted scene (just found this out) where when the general guy is planning the big attack against them at the Tree of Souls with the bomb packs, business guy (sorry candy remember his name) actually tries to stop him. The general (again I suck at names) basically tells him he’s not in charge anymore and he’s going to eliminate the Na’vi. And boss guy actually looks like he’s gonna cry. As smarmy as he is even he doesn’t want literal genocide.
Sam Worthington is imo one of the most convincing and dedicated performers out there. Everything he does I forget that he isn't just some dude working for the government. He gets mildly type cast, but he is excellent at everything he does.
Tsu’tey isn’t Neytiri’s “Ex” he was promised to her older sister who died when the humans attacked the school. He’s upset because he doesn’t truth Jake cause his a human, and doesnt want what happened to Neytiri’s sister to happen to her.
Man, I can't wait to see 2 next month. I don't care that it was popular, I liked seeing it in my last year of High School on DVD. It was spectacular and fun, I didn't remember anyones names, I just remember the feelings. Feelings are dope. Movie good, movie fun, movie overrated, movie still fun. Nuff said. Formally requesting Everything Great About R.E.D. Retired Extremely Dangerous! You'd love it almost as much as me I'll bet
I just realized and could be late to the party but Grace saying "Or what ranger Rick? You gonna shoot me?" to Quarch then him responding "I can do that," is foreshadowing her death from his gun
It’s amazing how good the 2009 CGI is. I love this movie so much. Pandora temporarily gets my mind off everything negative in my life. IMO that’s the best thing about good movies: How they effectively distract you from reality.
This movie came out when I was like 13ish but for some reason I never thought about Grace living in the tree like that until he said it in the video just now? Obviously we all saw the tree absorb her life energy or something after she died but I love knowing now that her consciousness is now living in the tree, that’s so beautiful 💕😌
This is literally my favorite movie. Period. Even over a decade after it came out. The characters, the music, the GORGEOUS visuals, the story, I love it all. I truly can’t wait for the sequel, and I’m truly grateful that you have chosen to review it. I recognize and acknowledge that it isn’t the best movie ever made, but it is still THE movie that remains closest to my heart. Thank you.
1:53 I remember learning in our botany/dendrology class that when the large Coastal Redwoods and Giant Sequioas were being harvested, the fact that their wood was softer compared to most other trees sometimes resulted in a 300ft tall, 20ft wide tree shattering into thousands of pieces upon impact. It must have been an awesome and terrifying sight.
As Cinema Therapy once said about another James Cameron film, there’s a difference between telling a simple story and telling a simplistic story. Avatar has a very simple, straightforward plot, but it’s an enjoyable one that an audience can understand and come to care about.
9:40 the scene where she holds him after he nearly suffocated and says: "I see you" is like ppl meeting with each other again in person after two years of zoom calls, and they turn out completely different than expected.
I went on the Flight of Passage ride at Animal Kingdom this summer and it took me back to seeing this movie for the first time, watching it in 3D multiple times, realising it doesn’t hit quite the same on a TV… sort of forgot about it in the time since, but now super stoked for the Way of Water!
I am both relieved and distraught you didn't include Eytukan's passing of leadership to Neytiri and Zoe Saldana's utterly HAUNTING real-sounding sobs,,, her acting there was absolutely gorgeous but also actually really heartbreaking bc. yk
I’ve heard it said this movie is as subtle as a sledgehammer, and maybe that’s true. But here’s the thing about sledgehammers: they might not be subtle, but they hit damn hard. For the Way of Water, I really hope they give the Na’vi more agency in the story. They could have kept Jake’s redemption arc without leaning so hard into white saviour territory if they’d just given the Na’vi characters more to do. I think Neytiri should have been Toruk Makto, among other things - wouldn’t that have been awesome to see?
This is an interesting thought, I think you're right that it would have made the movie feel less "white saviour" if Neytiri had been Toruk Makto. Even if they gave Jake the role as inspiration, telling her about his idea that Toruk wouldn't look up since it's the apex predator. It still gives us the idea that he's offering a new perspective without making him the all important chosen one here to save us all blah blah.
In a time where so many movies are dark and gritty, I very much appreciate things like Avatar as I'm colorblind and it's one of the few times where I actually get to see a world that doesn't look like mud.
I have absolutely loved this movie since I first watched it. It's a whole paracosm in itself and it makes me so glad to know that I am not the only person who puts that much effort into a movie/show
Could you do "The princess bride"? it's my favorite movie, I'd really appreciate it, it's got a lot of interesting characters and inside stories within the movie and I think you'd really enjoy it.
I've never really LOVED the film, but I adore James Horner's score for it as well as the main theme that's integrated throughout. Fun fact, 'I See You' was sung by the winner of a series of X Factor over here in the UK. Always found that kinda neat, because it's a beautifully powerful song.
Oh boy if you love the score, you should look up the true odyssey it was to get it to where it ended up. It was a serious journey and it had the potential to be something unique and for the ages, but instead we got (for as good as it is, and it is very good) "just another Horner score".
I think people under appreciate how compelling the motivation is for the humans in this conflict. The unobtanium is actually a very important resource for sustaining human life. It's like oil: if they don't get it then humans back on earth suffer. In that calculus it's pretty easy to see why humans are okay with pushing aside what is only a small portion of all Na'Vi on the planet in order to get at such a vital resource. It makes you appreciate how much of a leap of faith it is for Jake to switch sides, and that he could only do that after literally becoming one of the Na'Vi and seeing first hand that their "tree god" is actually real.
I'm so excited for TWOW, more than I thought it would be. I also feel like it'll be a big movie this Christmas. Let's hope it does well because I really want to see these remaining sequels.
I've never really agreed with the white savior criticism of the movie, Jake Sully never really taught the Na'vi anything really about life, or strategy, or anything, all he really does is give them some inside knowledge about the timing of when humans will attack and the fact that they won't back down. There really just isn't a single way in which he's better than the Na'vi at anything, the only thing he really brings to the table that they lack is inside knowledge about humans. He didn't even come up with taming the big red dragon thing, he got that idea from Neytiri when she said others have done that in the past.
1:56 reminded me of one of my earliest memories: During an ice storm in Alabama when I was about five or so, one of the trees in our yard fell right through the ceiling of my room and the branch was extremely close to my bed.
you’ll be pleased to know that jake and neytiri are 22 and 18 years old, respectively. since jake didn’t age the 6 years he was in cryo. it could’ve been much worse 😭
Yeah. Could be like leonardo and his gfs or madonna and her lovers. Man or woman, if you date anyone more than 4 years younger than you or underage. You're someone that deserves to be gutted and hung
Ayo, CinemaWins dude (I believe your name is Lee), I gotta thank ya for doing this movie, so many people love to bash this movie but this was one of the movies I loved as a kid.
Minor Way of Water spoils i love that in the new movie, it’s cleared up that the colonel isn’t racist, in fact his main squad is very diverse. idk, i feel as though it makes his character much better; more real and less stereotypical. he cares for his own species, not for the na’vi. he problably only used “racial” as he isn’t supposed to be a super smart character or care about labeling them correctly. he’s a soldier, through and through
One of the "Little touches" that I loved was when Quaritch was bailing out of the Dragon and getting into his mech, his arm is on fire (and he puts it out). After he lands and as the Dragon comes crashing down behind him, His Mech's arm is also similarly on fire. Little touches.
Man I would love to play a MMO game set in the avatar world it would be so freaking cool just imagine how fun that would be and to make it even more immersive they can make it a VR game
As a kid I loved this movie and I still do, the start up of the scorpions blades for the final fight and leaving the compound is burned into my memory after so many rewatches. I’m excited for the 2nd one icl
I remember seeing this in IMAX 3D when it first released in 2009. I was still in HS and my mom took me. We were both really excited because James Cameron is a visionary. My mom is terrified of heights and there were quite a few times I saw her white knuckle her chair arms and lean back because the 3D and VFX were so immersive. It’s still the best 3D experience I’ve ever had. At least until WoW comes out.
I was so glad to have seen it in IMAX 3D in September. I was almost 12 when Avatar came out, and I never knew about it at the time. Having only seen it on Blu-Ray at home, it was an experience that I really appreciated. A film where the IMAX ratio is maintained throughout, and the breathtaking 3D visuals.
I'm an arborist, and that tree falling would show up on the richter scale to say the least. It would also make a crater under the tree twice as wide as the trunk and deep to match, no tree I've ever fallen has broken off like dry pasta the way pandora trees do.
I don't necessarily agree with the "White savior" thing for a few of those movies that have that issue leveled against them. If anything, the Omatikaya saved Jake. He was a forgotten, poor (money-wise) veteran living in a cruel, dying world. When he entered the world of the Na'vi, his entire perspective and way of life was changed. Very similar to The Last Samurai, where Capt. Algren was a drunkard former soldier suffering in the pain and regret of what he did. When he was taken by Katsumoto and the samurai, HE was saved by THEM.
16:18 I can't be sure, because I didn't see the film, but I think that next week is going to be EGA Top Gun: Maverick? Well...Here's a list of suggestions to consider for an EGA video the week after: -Atlantis:The Lost Empire -Jurassic World: Dominion (Extended Edition) -MARVEL's What If...? (Disney+ Series) -Night at the Museum -The Rugrats Movie -Home Alone 2: Lost in New York -Arthur Christmas -The Santa Clause -The Polar Express -A Christmas Story
I worked for a guy whose personality is EXACTLY like Giovanni Ribisi's character. They exist, and G nailed it. No overacting imo. People like that exist.
"He really leaned into the world-building in this movie." What we got is actually the conservative version. There's so much unused world-building that was either cut from or never made it into the original movie. Once you learn how much prepro there was, it's almost criminal how little we first got.
No kidding! I saw a video on the astronomy of Pandora and it blew my mind how much thought went into the lore behind the planet itself. There’s so much to work with!
it will ALWAYS be the way that the light reflects/bounces off of their skin that strikes me about Avatar. or when Jake is tied up and Mo’at comes up to him with the knife and cuts him down, the tears in Mo’at’s face when she says “help us” NEVER MISSES
I remember when I was a kid (probably 7-8 (so in about 2013-2014)) my family had a viewing of Avatar and I remember seeing "the blue people" and having one of my first panic attacks, they looked SO real that child me freaked me out. I only watched it a few months ago when the second movie was announced and I just think about it all the time, the visuals, the story, the music omg I just love everything about this movie and I can't wait for the second movie
A super important deleted scene that I think should have been in the final cut - is the one where we see that Parker Selfridge is actually entirely against the final attack on the Well of Souls, but Quaritch overthrows him in what is essentially a coup, and then gives a very obvious implication that he will kill Parker if he tries to stop him. A lot of deleted scenes involving Parker really make him more of a balanced Grey character who has both a job to do, but also is genuinely sympathetic to Grace’s efforts. He just can’t afford for her to keep failing like she has, because he’s got workers and soldier’s lives that he’s responsible for
One thing I wish you mentioned, during Tsu’tey fighting the group of soldiers you can see one dragging his injured buddy away from Tsu’tey. It was good to show something so human as protecting your fellow man in such an inhumane massacre. Shows not all the humans are scumbags like Ranger Rick or Get Some guy
I'm stoked to see Way of Water. I saw this in 3D and it was ground breaking tech. So immersive. Looking forward to seeing what the new tech is going to be.
I remember seeing this in theaters and enjoying it. My late cousin kept a copy of the dvd in his backpack for several years and always wanted to watch it at family get togethers. It's sad he wont get to see the new one, but I'll watch it for him.
Saw Avatar in theaters when it was released and it blew my mind how beautiful it was. Neytiri was, by far, my favourote character. She was not afraid of expressing her joy, her rage, her sadness and betrayal. My friend I went to see the movie with, who had had a very difficult childhood, said as we left the theater that she loved how she wasn't afraid to be so open with her emotions, and she wished she could be like that. Simple story, yes, but so well done. I didn't expect to be excited for TWOW, but I'm absolutely frothing. Can't wait to take my son.
Tsu'tey speaking for Jake is also a very powerful moment. When you know so little of a language that you need a translator, this person could esily pervert what you say and screw you over. Tsu could have just as easily told the people Jake would, like, exile himself when it all was over.
random disturbing thought: if the ikrans try to kill people who try to mount them is it really "choosing their rider?" or are they really trying to defend themselves from getting mind puppeted? the whole dragonrider bond thing kinda seems messed up. at least hiccup and toothless were genuine friends, the navi border on non consensual mind control
It's the tail thing for me. I know they try to explain it as something else but I'll never not think of it as beastiality considering what other things the Na'vi do with their tails.
Not sure how many movies are coming exactly but if you google avatar 2,3,4,5 they all come up with titles and plot summary’s and release dates, that’s pretty fuckin dope
My only regret is not watching this in 3D at the time, my co-workers wouldn't shut up about how amazing it looked in 3D and even one of them even bragged about seeing it twice already. I never saw it in theatres, but definitely got the DVD (still didn't have a blu-ray player at the time) and I actually enjoyed it, despite being... Well, Avatar. I don't care about it not being original and all the usual spiel being preached over in the last decade, I still have a hard time finding a near 3 hour movie (that isn't Lord of the Rings) that's still as rewatchable as this one.
You should check out the extended cut, it adds some much needed context and expands upon some existing scenes. More context about the school, Netiri's sister, Tsu-te's death and much more. You even get to see jake on earth at the start of the film. (forgot how to spell the navi names)
I love this movie. I love this movie so much that I have to skip past the destruction of Hometree because it hurts too much to see it, and even seeing the clips of it here nearly made me cry.
One thing about the "white savior" stuff that I think tends to get lost is that a lot of cultures DO have mythology or even actual history of exceptional outsiders (not necessarily white) coming in and becoming highly influential. You call him "blue messiah" and...a lot of the messiahs in mythology and prophecy ARE outsiders. And it's great fodder for stories too, because you get the exceptional individual as the protagonist, you get the interest in other cultures (from either side of the story), you get the complexity of cultural contact, you get the mixed status of the hero - they're able to have an exceptional influence, but they're also never REALLY one of the people. This video points out that it's weird that an outsider was the one who learned to ride Toruk, but that was the whole point - the movie literally says the logic: he was the only one crazy enough to try. And at the same time, Neytiri isn't wrong when she says he will never be one of them - he has a place among them, but it isn't the same place that they were born into, that they grew up into. These stories are all over the place too. That's WHY we have so many stories to compare Avatar to, like Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves. But that extends far past white saviors. Look at something like Othello. Which is not to say that there's nothing problematic about "white savior" stories, but I feel like this aspect just gets completely ignored. Sometimes, with great irony, you even see people saying "there's some problematic stuff here, but our culture really does have stories like this in it", and then people who aren't from that culture will say "shhh, I'm trying to save you".
Since we've had Avatar now, are you planning to do the other god-tier visuals franchise of the last few decades that is the Planet of the Apes trilogy? Those three films also had some fantastic writing, especially in the second and third ones, and Andy Serkis gives one of the best performances I've ever seen as Caesar.
15:20 There's a deleted scene where Parker, thinking things are going too far, actually tries to stop Quaritch from conscripting all of the workers, but Quaritch basically stages a coup. It's a shame it was left out.
One thing I do love about Avatar is it’s world building aspect, at face value you would wonder why the Na’vi never technologically advance and basing on the fact that everything in Pandora is connected, unobtanium is a resource for superpowered microchips and the fact that Eywa pretty much won the war between the humans and Na’vi, it’s safe to assume that Pandora itself is a giant biomass planet and Eywa is the brain of it and the every living creature including the Na’vi are it’s auto immune systems to keep everything in check. So basically imagine if HALO’s flood succeeded in ruling at least a planet and it decided to host an ecosystem instead of starting a galactic conquest
Glad to see this movie get the defense it deserves. Haven’t seen anyone praise this movie in years, always thought that odd. So thanks for sharing it!!
I would like to point out that the trill Homer constantly uses is the Dies Irae. Which brings a lot more weight to the piece especially when it plays when the Navi’s tree home falls and the carnage that plays out afterwards. Just SO impactful.
we heard that little trill first when jakes brother was being cremated and then we hear it over and over again when the forest is being burned and i just adore that parallel
I can’t believe that after 10/11 years I’ve missed this beautiful masterpiece! Marvel, Avatar, and the Planet Of The Apes franchise are franchises that I 💙 to every single fibre of my body. I hate how this movie was put down for its message of pro environmentalist and anti imperialist views. I love nature and await for more franchises like these. Great job!
Personally, the thing that stayed with me were the absolutely breath-taking visuals. I remember seeing it at the movie theater, thinking how beautiful it looked and how it felt so magical exploring this new world. Had forgotten about most of the plot, until your videos. But will never forget how nothing else has ever felt as visually stunning as Avatar, for me.
I always loved this movie. I never got the "Pandora PTSD" or anything like that either, but I have seen the full movie like 10-12 times. And ABSOLUTELY loved the "turd nuggets" jokes, so funny.
I watched this with my Pop for the first time not long before he passed, and that alone makes it hold a special place in my heart. The fact that the CGI is so amazing as well, and the worldbuilding is so intricate, it just is a movie i love so much. Thank you for pointing out all of these scenes and still know the issues behind parts of the plot. It's wonderful.
Still absolutely mind-boggling that the CGI looked this good in 2009. It shows what a good director and buckets of money, time and VFX talent can produce.
Gonk
Dear god, it’s Justin Y
its been a while since ive seen your ass on this platform
Also helps when the CGI is most of things.
@@ZergOverlord9374 what
If you considered Eywa a character, not devine intervention, and realize the complexity of that character, you will realize that Eywa is the one who saves Pandora, and Jake. Jake becomes an interface into the human aggressors for Eywa. Jake technically causes the Na'vi to loose a lot more then they gain, and doesn't even take out the main antagonist at the end. Jake raises the Na'vi's spirit when they feel hopeless, but even that was influenced by Eywa. Eywa's biggest weakness is that it loves all life, even the humans, and learned the most difficult lessons from the humans, fighting for it's own preservation.
I love this explanation for it. It feels like a Na'vi perspective or take on it where we would tend to see it through the scope of our own species first or some sort of divine act.
There is a deleted scene where the ritual to bond with the (forgot what the flying dragons are called) requires a moon hunt in which they use an insect to go on a psychedelic trip and see what vision Eywa wants them to see. And Jake goes on this trip and in the end Eywa grants him the ability to become the prophecied one who rides the biggest flying thingy.
@@rawrisiloveuindinify I feel like that really improves the white savior argument tbh, sounds like a cool scene wish it stayed
@@Wuffskers I think they were more trying to suport the idea of Eywa's sentience. Probably a reason that scene didn't make it to the final cut. The scene is unfinished, so I think it was more of a conception.
Also, Eywa does make the Thanator mountable for Neytiri.
@@Wuffskers "white savior" ..hah... back in my day, we called it 'the hero's journey' ..
this movie is actually just about "no, CGI isn't bad, bad CGI is bad."
When cgi takes you out of the immersion it’s bad cgi
The best cgi is the cgi you don’t notice.
I’m not disagreeing with you I’m just adding to your comment.
Accurate
@Thick Ely agreed, CGI that takes you out of it is bad. Even Avatar has some bits that look wrong. Some things are oddly shiny, walking on things looks odd sometimes, when humans and avatars touch is odd. But you have to look specifically for them and they are at the edge and dont detract from the movie.
my favourite scene is the "if you are one of us... help us" scene. even the few seconds shown here brought tears to my eyes. you can feel the pain and helplessness in her voice and see it in her face. gets me every time
I love that detail.
The funny part about "Humans mocking Na'vi religion" is that in kinda happened in real life. I mean, I know this is a movie, this is fictional, but what I'm saying is that despite the movie heavily HEAVILY implies it, a lot of people didn't catch that Eywa is real, that the Na'vi are not worshipping some made up godess trying to explain unexplainable things, but that they can conect and directly comunicate with the literal self aware consciousness of the planet. For example, the scene when Neytiri is about to kill jake and a Woodsprite lands on her arrow, I've seen people saying it is too convenient or a dumb coincidence and don't realize it was Eywa literally telling her not to shoot him.
I mean, a literal army of dangerous animals support the Na’vi in the final battle with Neytiri screaming “Eywa has heard you!” all of this after Jake directly prayed for intervention. It’s…….kinda obvious
@@BlueJaguarRanger There are so many bad movies out there with deus ex machina endings that I think a lot of people didn't even think about it, and just accepted that a random thing happened and that the animals were randomly fighting the humans now. Because of... fire and explosions or something pissing them off. Think about all the movies you've seen where this actually happens because of bad story telling, and it's not that hard to see how people would just accept that type of ending, and not think any more about it.
Another thing I noticed in this movie --- during the final battle, the face paint that the Na'vi wore resembled their ikrans, or mountain banshees. Jake wore orange and black to resemble toruk. Neytiri wore green/turquoise and yellow to resemble Seze, her ikran.
Just thought that was a cool detail
Win 177. One just had to admire how Neytiri's facial expression actually shows the connection. Eventhough the audience is terrified of the creature, Neytiri has this glimpse of agreement in her pupil and just goes for it. Genius.
Time stamp?
@@eileensnow6153 7:32
@@vakama9053 thanks!
I always liked the theory that it was Grace behind all the animals coming to the Na'vi's aid. She died before her conciousness could enter her avatar, but she merged with Pandora's neural network, merging with Eywa.
That theory was correct appart
I think their merging is sort of implied in the second movie.
I always likes how the big “slimy pupper” offers Neyteri a ride, but still looks super angry and annoyed like mom forced him to… lol
“Get on.”
“No, I’m good… thanks anyway.”
“Shut up… and GET ON! Mom said I HAD to help you… let’s get this over with!”
“Uhhh..”
“I’m going to bite your arm off if you don’t get on my back NOW! My friends are coming and if they see me carrying a blue person… just get on!”
“Okay… okay… relax… sheesh.”
Hahaha
And then it dies
only to be brutally slaughtered by a Fortnite mech
The more I think about Jake conveniently being "the chosen one" the more it starts to make sense when you realize that Eywa is Pandora's consciousness. Grace points out that the moon is basically sentient and that what the Na'vi call Eywa is its consciousness, it's "source". Eywa 'chose' Jake to be Toruk Makto because he wasn't just another scientist but actually someone with battle experience. She knew that he'd know how to defeat the RDA and that he'd teach the Na'vi if he would come to care enough to fight for them. Jake's decision to become Toruk Makto is then not because he wanted to be a hero, or even just because he wanted Neytiri back, but because he'd actually come to love the culture he'd integrated into, and realized the many wrongs of humankind on Pandora. He regretted his choice of agreeing to do Quaritchs bidding. If anything, risking his life to tame Toruk was just to prove himself that he actually changed and that he could be trusted.
The only thing I don't like about Toruk Makto is that according to the story, he or she was the only one who'd unite the clans in times of great sorrow. The Na'vi are as intelligent as humans are if not more so, so why wouldn't the Na'vi themselves venture out to the other clans for help? Why would they need a legendary hero riding the mightiest of beasts to persuade the clans to fight against a common enemy?
I think the Na’vi didn’t try to find other tribes was because of their loses. Many of them had just recently lost someone important to them, so their mindset were not set right, instead they were just grieving. I’m sure Tsu’tey or Neytiri would’ve eventually thought of a plan, but they too had to have been traumatized by the amount of friends and families they’ve lost, including the chieftain’s death, Eytukan.
I've watched a lot of avatar related stuff in the past couple hours, so my best guess is (according to the lore) the Na'Vi are peaceful people. They have no need to fight each other or anything, and so far, the Omaticaya (the people that Jake become apart of, sorry if the spelling is wrong) were the only ones who were being bothered by the RDA, as far as I can tell. So that's probably why they didn't reach out to other clans
This is always how it struck me when he went out to get Toruk. He wasn't trying to become a savior, or trying to one up past heros, he felt like a dead man walking. He loved the Na'Vi and the culture and the people, and it felt like he was embracing the win/win situation of risking his life. Become Toruk Makto and save his beloved planet, or eventually die trying and not having to live in a world where he knew Pandora was real but couldn't live in it. I mean hell people in real life get withdrawal symptoms from watching the movie imagine, what he felt it would be like if he let Pandora get destroyed.
Love this comment, when you take in the fact that in canon, eywa is real, and she chose Jake because she knew he could do what was needed and she knew he was falling in love with Pandora and the na'vi.
My theory for why toruk makto is needed to unite the clans is because the na'vi know that if there is a toruk makto, that it's because eywa chose them to be toruk makto, they see toruk makto as a sign from eywa that it's time to unite and overcome.
I was watching 2009 Avatar with my friend last week after I saw Way of water and I realized a big part of Jake is how he was a Marine before he came to Pandora. So yes I agree with you about Ewya knowing he had battle experience. I’m so excited for Way of water to come out on blu ray 💿
Also there was one win you missed…when Jake was falling after he took out the RDAs plane he used the big leaves to fall safely to the ground just like Neytiri taught him during his training! Edit-wow! So many likes! Thanks so much everyone!
Because Jake learns from his mistakes.
@@tinnyoscar24Good point…but it was just a win I noticed!
Some of the deleted scenes in this movie were really interesting. There were scenes that REALLY played into how conflicted our tech bro was over everything and how Ranger Rick essentially pulled a coup in order to launch the attack on the Navi. There was also some stuff with the scientists in the human base jumping into avatar bodies and capturing it, too. Wish it stayed in, but maybe they're saving those story beats for Way of Water.
I actually want tech bro to come back. The look he gave Jake at the end as basically pleading. I think he knew, at Hometree, what he had become. And I'd like to think he refuses Cryo on the way back, and has turned his whole life and effort around to try and promote positive impact expansion, and run into beurocracy on earth. Like... Even before the end, once quaritch rolled, he regretted it all. He was sorry. I want to see him prove it, and earn forgiveness.
This is one of those movies that has so much extra layers that you could tell had to be brought down by someone saying "we can't make it too complicated". That is why I am excited to see the next one is a full three hours.
@@icedreamer9629
An aspect I always found interesting is that one could lift the character of Quaritch, entirely as is, out of this movie and paste him into any one of a thousand other movies - same character, same lines, same beliefs, same actions - and he'd be *_THE HERO._*
Off the top of my head, I'm thinking about the Michael Bay Transformers movies, or Independence Day - stuff like that. Movies where you aren't exactly encouraged to sympathise with, or understand the 'bad guys.'
Think back to a lot of the eighties action movies Chuck Norris or Stallone or Schwarzenegger are famous for - That's Quaritch all over. Tough, strong, macho leader who cares about his people and stomps the bad guys.
Think of the first Delta Force movie, and imagine one of Chuck Norris's troops abandoning the mission and deciding to work for the terrorists instead - That's how Quaritch see's Jake's actions, as a betrayal of everything they're there to do.
Like I said, it's interesting how such unambiguously and historically 'heroic' or 'villainous' archetypes can be played with like that.
@@icedreamer9629 In one of the deleted scenes, tech bro Parker actually tris to stop Colonel Quaritch when he tries to stage a coup. By that point he has kind of realised that they were going *way* too far in trying to get ahold of unobtainium. IIRC, he sees all the explosives and weaponry being loaded up and realises Quaritch isn't doing this for the sake of the company, he has an actual vendetta against the Na'Vi. He tries to stop it all, but Quaritch essentially puts a gun to his head and threatens him until he stands down. It's a shame it got left out of the movie proper.
This. I really hate how this dumbed down his character to "corporate guy that cares about nothing". That one scene that got delete makes his character far more interesting alone.
I never got to see this in theaters when it first came out but when they re released it seeing it in IMAX 3d was unimaginably amazing
Same, it was really cool and loved it.
That being said, should movies be made for IMAX considering there are less than 30 in America and movies are only out for a limited amount of time.
Like Dune. Any other release including other non IMAX theatre releases have the movie in ultrawide by cutting off a lot of the screen. Makes the composition in a lot of scenes worse. And there's no way to rewatch it in its original square format unless it's re-released or you have a time machine
The depression after Avatar wasn't caused by simple "withdrawals that Pandora doesn't exist" though.
It was caused because this is where humanity is headed. The concrete jungle, needing to parasite off another planet. Avatar makes the terrible trajectory were on all the more apparent, and the power that common citizens lack to do anything about it is depressing
"There 's no green there. They killed their mother."
I really don't think that's why? The movie wasn't the same for a lot of people once it was on their tiny screens at home (which were much smaller back in 2009). Lots of movies look at the bleak future we're heading toward but don't take the same kind of dip that Avatar did. Ultimately I think it boils down to the fact that it's not exactly a groundbreaking story and the visuals, which were groundbreaking, just didn't hit the same on an 18" TV at home back when it was released to DVD.
Solarpunk, that is all.
Jake Sully is one of the most creative protagonists imo with how he transitions from being paralyzed in the legs to having the new body, and how he transitions from being a normal human to bonding with the Na’vi. I just cannot believe how ahead of it’s time this is O.o
Bro,it's just copy paste
I like it too, but it's not exactly a revolutionary story.
@@heatherrockwell9012 Uh, my boy, one of the first movies to outdo Avatar was Force Awakens. "Not a revolutionary story" is a bullshit criticizm to have.
for ppl who are like "hurdurrr it just pocahontas" uhh did john ever join pocahontas tribe and learn to be one of them? no
@@joelshajan8706 lmao, that comment is so dismissively reductive.. jake's character is called an archetype, and beyond that, like almost every blockbuster three act action film, it's a version of the 'hero's journey' .. the story of "a stranger in a strange land" is a prehistoric tale, as old as humanity itself.. it's not copy paste, it's classic.. it was probably the first time they encountered the storytelling template in their life, of course they would appreciate it, it's a powerful tale, it's why it's told again and again in every culture throughout time..
You can't imagine the relief I felt when I understood that this was the Avatar movie, and not that one movie (what movie?) based on Avatar the show, getting a part 2 of everything great
I believe he’s actually done a cinemawins for that other movie
That movie is just called "The last airbender", without the "Avatar" is its title. And he's already made a EGA about the airbender movie, almost six years ago
There is no movie in Ba Sing Sae.
@@darkslayer709 Here we are safe. Here we are free.
He did that video 5 years ago for the Last Airbender
Having just seen this film for the first time here’s two things that stuck with me:
1. You mentioned the specific wording of one of the military guy’s lines but there’s an even earlier mention of the “hearts and minds” which also comes from the same historical event.
2. I love how Jake’s words about toruk also apply to the military “he’s the baddest cat in the sky and he knows it. Why would he look up?”
its a vietnam reference right?
“Hearts and minds” was from Afghanistan, but Vietnam was similar.
@@KoobyYin It's a George W. Bush-ism. The Americans had invaded Iraq because people from Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia (with significant support form the governments of both countries) had launched a series of terrorist attacks on the US, eventually culminating in 9/11. Why Iraq? We're all still fuzzy on that. So was Bush. So was Cheney. No one could give any real justification for it, especially since Iraq was a sworn enemy of both of the governments who'd actually attacked the US. In the end, Bush had personal reasons to attack Iraq (Saddam Hussein had tried to assassinate Bush's dad, Bush Senior), and 9/11 gave a convenient excuse to attack, especially since the US already had a lot of troops and equipment in the area since they were attacking Afghanistan already (that attack actually had some reason and justification behind it, even though it went very poorly in the end).
Anyway, Iraq would be easy! They'd be in and out in a few weeks! They'd win the hearts and minds of the people by bombing them into oblivion, installing a pro-American government, and letting American corporations take over the natural resources of the country! People would literally throw rose petals at the feet of incoming American troops who were "liberating" them! Mission accomplished!
Suffice to say it didn't turn out like that. It never does.
I figured it was the gesture of Jake risking his life to fly in on Turok Makto that convinced the Na’vi of his sincerity. It was his bravery they respected. Not to just tell them of the danger, like he first did. But to also be promising to fight with them.
I still hold that this movie has one of the best "final battles" of any movies I've seen 😊
Yeah for me a lot of movies have a third act problem for me. I will enjoy rewatching them but I lost interest in the third act. Not avatar tho I think is because the third act is so massive in scale that you can focus on different aspects of it on each rewatch.
Approve!
Zoe Saldana's emotions come through really well here and as Gamora... both convincing situations that define their respective movies/universes
Probably the best motion capture performer after Andy Serkis
Neytiri is a full CGI character where Gamora is just her with makeup so I'm even more impressed with how well they captured her performance here
She's a beautiful and amazing actress. Funny enough, in her audition for neytiri, she didn't have an accent. So it was interesting to see her use her normal voice
The message that I take from this, is that if even if your own group is the problem, it's not an excuse to not be part of the solution.
As has been stated so eloquently by many people, "The only way for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." The Navi COULDN'T save themselves, because they weren't in a position to. They didn't understand the threat. How could they. And when Jake recognized that humans were the problem on Pandorah, he decided that he didn't want to be part of the problem anymore. So he became part of the solution instead.
So I don't see Jake as the white savior so to speak. I see him as a good man who woke up and decided to be part of the solution.
That's such a lovely interpretation and I agree with you and it fits Jake's own turn against the humans on Pandora so eloquently! I especially love how you said "I see him as a good man who woke up and decided to be part of the solution" since that, in a nutshell, is what Jake did.
plus, his whiteness imo has very little to do with his savior-ness. Jake could have had a black actor cast to play him and he'd still be a "white" savior, just not white. when crossing species lines, ethnicity and skin color comparisons fall away IMO
He went super SJW in this video, like holy shit.
that's kind of a weak take? Understanding why Jake IS the White Saviour archetype means to understand how and why the movie was written the way it was (as the video mentioned). Your entire argumentation is based on uncritically taking the events and circumstances the movie portrayed as factually granted, which is the opposite of the entire point of examining how the plot and character are constructed
@@chandlerh2408 because trying to keep a distanced and critical gaze on media that portrays literal colonialism from the perspective of the oppressors is such a bad thing huh
In retrospect, yeah, this movie is actually very good. It has a very simplistic face, but underneath there's a lot of subtext and food for thought for our world today. That's a good movie right there.
Takes a watching like no problem. That's a good movie right there.
Not many movies have an entire language fully constructed for a new world. The Na’vi language is fascinating
Is impressive how far James Cameron had gotten without going to film school
Yeah, he could have been so much better. I also weep that the Beatles never went to music school. They could have been legends.
@@mightisright this comment 😂 I fully agree
wow
To be fair, he got a pretty good education in film making working for Roger Corman. Not from Corman mind you, more like in SPITE of Corman
its almost as if you dont NEED to go to a fancy school to become great in a skill 0.o
How you point out the business boss guy even seems effected seeing the tree destroyed. There is a deleted scene (just found this out) where when the general guy is planning the big attack against them at the Tree of Souls with the bomb packs, business guy (sorry candy remember his name) actually tries to stop him. The general (again I suck at names) basically tells him he’s not in charge anymore and he’s going to eliminate the Na’vi. And boss guy actually looks like he’s gonna cry. As smarmy as he is even he doesn’t want literal genocide.
Sam Worthington is imo one of the most convincing and dedicated performers out there. Everything he does I forget that he isn't just some dude working for the government. He gets mildly type cast, but he is excellent at everything he does.
Just wish he played more Australians cause he can’t do an American accent
His recent performance in Under the Banner of Heaven is so good.
Tsu’tey isn’t Neytiri’s “Ex” he was promised to her older sister who died when the humans attacked the school. He’s upset because he doesn’t truth Jake cause his a human, and doesnt want what happened to Neytiri’s sister to happen to her.
Man, I can't wait to see 2 next month. I don't care that it was popular, I liked seeing it in my last year of High School on DVD. It was spectacular and fun, I didn't remember anyones names, I just remember the feelings. Feelings are dope. Movie good, movie fun, movie overrated, movie still fun. Nuff said.
Formally requesting Everything Great About R.E.D. Retired Extremely Dangerous! You'd love it almost as much as me I'll bet
Huzzah! A man Of Quality! R.E.D is a must watch.
Love R. E. D such a fun romp
I just realized and could be late to the party but Grace saying "Or what ranger Rick? You gonna shoot me?" to Quarch then him responding "I can do that," is foreshadowing her death from his gun
Have to say, regardless of the faults, I love this move to death
These people come up with any reason to trash this movie. It's not overrated. Its overhyped.
It’s amazing how good the 2009 CGI is. I love this movie so much. Pandora temporarily gets my mind off everything negative in my life. IMO that’s the best thing about good movies: How they effectively distract you from reality.
This movie came out when I was like 13ish but for some reason I never thought about Grace living in the tree like that until he said it in the video just now? Obviously we all saw the tree absorb her life energy or something after she died but I love knowing now that her consciousness is now living in the tree, that’s so beautiful 💕😌
This is literally my favorite movie. Period. Even over a decade after it came out. The characters, the music, the GORGEOUS visuals, the story, I love it all. I truly can’t wait for the sequel, and I’m truly grateful that you have chosen to review it. I recognize and acknowledge that it isn’t the best movie ever made, but it is still THE movie that remains closest to my heart. Thank you.
1:53 I remember learning in our botany/dendrology class that when the large Coastal Redwoods and Giant Sequioas were being harvested, the fact that their wood was softer compared to most other trees sometimes resulted in a 300ft tall, 20ft wide tree shattering into thousands of pieces upon impact. It must have been an awesome and terrifying sight.
As Cinema Therapy once said about another James Cameron film, there’s a difference between telling a simple story and telling a simplistic story. Avatar has a very simple, straightforward plot, but it’s an enjoyable one that an audience can understand and come to care about.
9:40 the scene where she holds him after he nearly suffocated and says: "I see you" is like ppl meeting with each other again in person after two years of zoom calls, and they turn out completely different than expected.
I went on the Flight of Passage ride at Animal Kingdom this summer and it took me back to seeing this movie for the first time, watching it in 3D multiple times, realising it doesn’t hit quite the same on a TV… sort of forgot about it in the time since, but now super stoked for the Way of Water!
Seeing this film in 3-D with 7.1 Surround Sound, on Blu-Ray?! *chef’s kiss* It was CRAZY! It felt like you were actually there!
I am both relieved and distraught you didn't include Eytukan's passing of leadership to Neytiri and Zoe Saldana's utterly HAUNTING real-sounding sobs,,, her acting there was absolutely gorgeous but also actually really heartbreaking bc. yk
I’ve heard it said this movie is as subtle as a sledgehammer, and maybe that’s true. But here’s the thing about sledgehammers: they might not be subtle, but they hit damn hard.
For the Way of Water, I really hope they give the Na’vi more agency in the story. They could have kept Jake’s redemption arc without leaning so hard into white saviour territory if they’d just given the Na’vi characters more to do. I think Neytiri should have been Toruk Makto, among other things - wouldn’t that have been awesome to see?
This is an interesting thought, I think you're right that it would have made the movie feel less "white saviour" if Neytiri had been Toruk Makto. Even if they gave Jake the role as inspiration, telling her about his idea that Toruk wouldn't look up since it's the apex predator. It still gives us the idea that he's offering a new perspective without making him the all important chosen one here to save us all blah blah.
In a time where so many movies are dark and gritty, I very much appreciate things like Avatar as I'm colorblind and it's one of the few times where I actually get to see a world that doesn't look like mud.
I have absolutely loved this movie since I first watched it. It's a whole paracosm in itself and it makes me so glad to know that I am not the only person who puts that much effort into a movie/show
Doing a stupid thing and occasionally coming out on top is a very human trait.
Yep, chaotic neutral energy right there.
Could you do "The princess bride"? it's my favorite movie, I'd really appreciate it, it's got a lot of interesting characters and inside stories within the movie and I think you'd really enjoy it.
He really should deploy it
I've never really LOVED the film, but I adore James Horner's score for it as well as the main theme that's integrated throughout. Fun fact, 'I See You' was sung by the winner of a series of X Factor over here in the UK. Always found that kinda neat, because it's a beautifully powerful song.
Oh boy if you love the score, you should look up the true odyssey it was to get it to where it ended up. It was a serious journey and it had the potential to be something unique and for the ages, but instead we got (for as good as it is, and it is very good) "just another Horner score".
I think people under appreciate how compelling the motivation is for the humans in this conflict. The unobtanium is actually a very important resource for sustaining human life. It's like oil: if they don't get it then humans back on earth suffer. In that calculus it's pretty easy to see why humans are okay with pushing aside what is only a small portion of all Na'Vi on the planet in order to get at such a vital resource. It makes you appreciate how much of a leap of faith it is for Jake to switch sides, and that he could only do that after literally becoming one of the Na'Vi and seeing first hand that their "tree god" is actually real.
I'm so excited for TWOW, more than I thought it would be. I also feel like it'll be a big movie this Christmas. Let's hope it does well because I really want to see these remaining sequels.
Week 101 of asking for Everything Great About Dead Man's Chest!
Agreed!
I second this. We need a “world’s greatest/worst pirate” series haha
Week one in joining you for these requests
Thank you
Savy 💯
I've never really agreed with the white savior criticism of the movie, Jake Sully never really taught the Na'vi anything really about life, or strategy, or anything, all he really does is give them some inside knowledge about the timing of when humans will attack and the fact that they won't back down.
There really just isn't a single way in which he's better than the Na'vi at anything, the only thing he really brings to the table that they lack is inside knowledge about humans. He didn't even come up with taming the big red dragon thing, he got that idea from Neytiri when she said others have done that in the past.
1:56 reminded me of one of my earliest memories: During an ice storm in Alabama when I was about five or so, one of the trees in our yard fell right through the ceiling of my room and the branch was extremely close to my bed.
you’ll be pleased to know that jake and neytiri are 22 and 18 years old, respectively. since jake didn’t age the 6 years he was in cryo. it could’ve been much worse 😭
Yeah. Could be like leonardo and his gfs or madonna and her lovers. Man or woman, if you date anyone more than 4 years younger than you or underage. You're someone that deserves to be gutted and hung
Na'vi children mature more rapidly than humans
@@groxiverde yes, based on their culture HE would be the teenager or young adult there and she would be the adult.
Ayo, CinemaWins dude (I believe your name is Lee), I gotta thank ya for doing this movie, so many people love to bash this movie but this was one of the movies I loved as a kid.
Minor Way of Water spoils
i love that in the new movie, it’s cleared up that the colonel isn’t racist, in fact his main squad is very diverse. idk, i feel as though it makes his character much better; more real and less stereotypical. he cares for his own species, not for the na’vi. he problably only used “racial” as he isn’t supposed to be a super smart character or care about labeling them correctly. he’s a soldier, through and through
It's still so beautiful, and the sequel will change film technology, just like the first one
One of the "Little touches" that I loved was when Quaritch was bailing out of the Dragon and getting into his mech, his arm is on fire (and he puts it out). After he lands and as the Dragon comes crashing down behind him, His Mech's arm is also similarly on fire. Little touches.
Man I would love to play a MMO game set in the avatar world it would be so freaking cool just imagine how fun that would be and to make it even more immersive they can make it a VR game
I think they were planning a game at some point.
there's a game coming out in 2023-2024 called Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and it looks really cool so far
There was a somewhat short Wii Game back in the day, which is just a classic RPG. Still was definitely fun to play
there was also your classic open world far cry/ac/ghost recon alike from ubisoft..pretty good for that time, but still lacked anything special
@@DieloTai it had an interesting multiplayer since both sides played so differently
16:18 It's Top Gun: Maverick, I called it! After this, I'd like a EGA video of either Bullet Train or Don't Worry Darling!
As a kid I loved this movie and I still do, the start up of the scorpions blades for the final fight and leaving the compound is burned into my memory after so many rewatches. I’m excited for the 2nd one icl
I remember seeing this in IMAX 3D when it first released in 2009. I was still in HS and my mom took me. We were both really excited because James Cameron is a visionary.
My mom is terrified of heights and there were quite a few times I saw her white knuckle her chair arms and lean back because the 3D and VFX were so immersive. It’s still the best 3D experience I’ve ever had.
At least until WoW comes out.
I was so glad to have seen it in IMAX 3D in September. I was almost 12 when Avatar came out, and I never knew about it at the time. Having only seen it on Blu-Ray at home, it was an experience that I really appreciated. A film where the IMAX ratio is maintained throughout, and the breathtaking 3D visuals.
Avatar The Way of Water did become a huge thing. Writing this as of the week that it surpassed 2 billion in the box office.
I’m so excited for this one, I absolutely loved avatar and it’s insane how good it was, especially for its age
I'm an arborist, and that tree falling would show up on the richter scale to say the least. It would also make a crater under the tree twice as wide as the trunk and deep to match, no tree I've ever fallen has broken off like dry pasta the way pandora trees do.
I don't necessarily agree with the "White savior" thing for a few of those movies that have that issue leveled against them. If anything, the Omatikaya saved Jake. He was a forgotten, poor (money-wise) veteran living in a cruel, dying world. When he entered the world of the Na'vi, his entire perspective and way of life was changed. Very similar to The Last Samurai, where Capt. Algren was a drunkard former soldier suffering in the pain and regret of what he did. When he was taken by Katsumoto and the samurai, HE was saved by THEM.
My favorite Trudy line: right when she shoots up the Dragon Ship, she says “Oops.” In a “Sorry, not sorry” way. I love that delivery!!!
Yay! Part 2!
Weekly request for Mean Girls.
Mean girls would be great
16:18 I can't be sure, because I didn't see the film, but I think that next week is going to be EGA Top Gun: Maverick? Well...Here's a list of suggestions to consider for an EGA video the week after:
-Atlantis:The Lost Empire
-Jurassic World: Dominion (Extended Edition)
-MARVEL's What If...? (Disney+ Series)
-Night at the Museum
-The Rugrats Movie
-Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
-Arthur Christmas
-The Santa Clause
-The Polar Express
-A Christmas Story
I worked for a guy whose personality is EXACTLY like Giovanni Ribisi's character. They exist, and G nailed it. No overacting imo. People like that exist.
Still my all-time favorite movie!
Awesome to see you finally covering it! 😄
"He really leaned into the world-building in this movie."
What we got is actually the conservative version. There's so much unused world-building that was either cut from or never made it into the original movie. Once you learn how much prepro there was, it's almost criminal how little we first got.
No kidding! I saw a video on the astronomy of Pandora and it blew my mind how much thought went into the lore behind the planet itself. There’s so much to work with!
it will ALWAYS be the way that the light reflects/bounces off of their skin that strikes me about Avatar. or when Jake is tied up and Mo’at comes up to him with the knife and cuts him down, the tears in Mo’at’s face when she says “help us” NEVER MISSES
I remember when I was a kid (probably 7-8 (so in about 2013-2014)) my family had a viewing of Avatar and I remember seeing "the blue people" and having one of my first panic attacks, they looked SO real that child me freaked me out. I only watched it a few months ago when the second movie was announced and I just think about it all the time, the visuals, the story, the music omg I just love everything about this movie and I can't wait for the second movie
A super important deleted scene that I think should have been in the final cut - is the one where we see that Parker Selfridge is actually entirely against the final attack on the Well of Souls, but Quaritch overthrows him in what is essentially a coup, and then gives a very obvious implication that he will kill Parker if he tries to stop him. A lot of deleted scenes involving Parker really make him more of a balanced Grey character who has both a job to do, but also is genuinely sympathetic to Grace’s efforts. He just can’t afford for her to keep failing like she has, because he’s got workers and soldier’s lives that he’s responsible for
One thing I wish you mentioned, during Tsu’tey fighting the group of soldiers you can see one dragging his injured buddy away from Tsu’tey. It was good to show something so human as protecting your fellow man in such an inhumane massacre. Shows not all the humans are scumbags like Ranger Rick or Get Some guy
I'm stoked to see Way of Water. I saw this in 3D and it was ground breaking tech. So immersive. Looking forward to seeing what the new tech is going to be.
I'm reporting you not because you're a scammer, but because you got my hopes up that someone liked what I said >:(
I remember seeing this in theaters and enjoying it. My late cousin kept a copy of the dvd in his backpack for several years and always wanted to watch it at family get togethers. It's sad he wont get to see the new one, but I'll watch it for him.
Saw Avatar in theaters when it was released and it blew my mind how beautiful it was. Neytiri was, by far, my favourote character. She was not afraid of expressing her joy, her rage, her sadness and betrayal. My friend I went to see the movie with, who had had a very difficult childhood, said as we left the theater that she loved how she wasn't afraid to be so open with her emotions, and she wished she could be like that.
Simple story, yes, but so well done. I didn't expect to be excited for TWOW, but I'm absolutely frothing. Can't wait to take my son.
Part 2 posted just as I finish part 1... perfect timing!! Great content as always Lee, keep it up dude =)
4:00 I love that when he lands, he DOES look into the Toruk's eyes.
This is my favorite movie and I've watched it more than any other three movies combined. I'm just glad the sequels are finally coming out!
Tsu'tey speaking for Jake is also a very powerful moment. When you know so little of a language that you need a translator, this person could esily pervert what you say and screw you over. Tsu could have just as easily told the people Jake would, like, exile himself when it all was over.
random disturbing thought: if the ikrans try to kill people who try to mount them is it really "choosing their rider?" or are they really trying to defend themselves from getting mind puppeted? the whole dragonrider bond thing kinda seems messed up. at least hiccup and toothless were genuine friends, the navi border on non consensual mind control
It's the tail thing for me. I know they try to explain it as something else but I'll never not think of it as beastiality considering what other things the Na'vi do with their tails.
@@darkslayer709 Then think of it as a Vulcan mind meld instead.
fun fact: in the comics, Kiri (a new character from the sequels) gets her ikran by walking up to it and asking it to be her friend.
Not sure how many movies are coming exactly but if you google avatar 2,3,4,5 they all come up with titles and plot summary’s and release dates, that’s pretty fuckin dope
My only regret is not watching this in 3D at the time, my co-workers wouldn't shut up about how amazing it looked in 3D and even one of them even bragged about seeing it twice already. I never saw it in theatres, but definitely got the DVD (still didn't have a blu-ray player at the time) and I actually enjoyed it, despite being... Well, Avatar. I don't care about it not being original and all the usual spiel being preached over in the last decade, I still have a hard time finding a near 3 hour movie (that isn't Lord of the Rings) that's still as rewatchable as this one.
You should check out the extended cut, it adds some much needed context and expands upon some existing scenes. More context about the school, Netiri's sister, Tsu-te's death and much more. You even get to see jake on earth at the start of the film. (forgot how to spell the navi names)
I love this movie. I love this movie so much that I have to skip past the destruction of Hometree because it hurts too much to see it, and even seeing the clips of it here nearly made me cry.
One thing about the "white savior" stuff that I think tends to get lost is that a lot of cultures DO have mythology or even actual history of exceptional outsiders (not necessarily white) coming in and becoming highly influential.
You call him "blue messiah" and...a lot of the messiahs in mythology and prophecy ARE outsiders.
And it's great fodder for stories too, because you get the exceptional individual as the protagonist, you get the interest in other cultures (from either side of the story), you get the complexity of cultural contact, you get the mixed status of the hero - they're able to have an exceptional influence, but they're also never REALLY one of the people. This video points out that it's weird that an outsider was the one who learned to ride Toruk, but that was the whole point - the movie literally says the logic: he was the only one crazy enough to try. And at the same time, Neytiri isn't wrong when she says he will never be one of them - he has a place among them, but it isn't the same place that they were born into, that they grew up into.
These stories are all over the place too. That's WHY we have so many stories to compare Avatar to, like Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves.
But that extends far past white saviors. Look at something like Othello.
Which is not to say that there's nothing problematic about "white savior" stories, but I feel like this aspect just gets completely ignored. Sometimes, with great irony, you even see people saying "there's some problematic stuff here, but our culture really does have stories like this in it", and then people who aren't from that culture will say "shhh, I'm trying to save you".
Since we've had Avatar now, are you planning to do the other god-tier visuals franchise of the last few decades that is the Planet of the Apes trilogy?
Those three films also had some fantastic writing, especially in the second and third ones, and Andy Serkis gives one of the best performances I've ever seen as Caesar.
15:20 There's a deleted scene where Parker, thinking things are going too far, actually tries to stop Quaritch from conscripting all of the workers, but Quaritch basically stages a coup. It's a shame it was left out.
I see this in the same vein as The Last Samurai, since the culture saves the man more so then the man saving the culture
One thing I do love about Avatar is it’s world building aspect, at face value you would wonder why the Na’vi never technologically advance and basing on the fact that everything in Pandora is connected, unobtanium is a resource for superpowered microchips and the fact that Eywa pretty much won the war between the humans and Na’vi, it’s safe to assume that Pandora itself is a giant biomass planet and Eywa is the brain of it and the every living creature including the Na’vi are it’s auto immune systems to keep everything in check.
So basically imagine if HALO’s flood succeeded in ruling at least a planet and it decided to host an ecosystem instead of starting a galactic conquest
Glad to see this movie get the defense it deserves. Haven’t seen anyone praise this movie in years, always thought that odd. So thanks for sharing it!!
11:46 The one with his ears and tail reminds me of cats when they are angry or upset and i think that´s a kinda cute detail :3
Should add a "racism counter", you love to mention it enough that the tally on it would be higher than the win counter.
I would like to point out that the trill Homer constantly uses is the Dies Irae. Which brings a lot more weight to the piece especially when it plays when the Navi’s tree home falls and the carnage that plays out afterwards. Just SO impactful.
Every time he said “Turok” I died a little on the inside 😂🫣💀 Toruk* 😢😂
we heard that little trill first when jakes brother was being cremated and then we hear it over and over again when the forest is being burned and i just adore that parallel
I can’t believe that after 10/11 years I’ve missed this beautiful masterpiece! Marvel, Avatar, and the Planet Of The Apes franchise are franchises that I 💙 to every single fibre of my body. I hate how this movie was put down for its message of pro environmentalist and anti imperialist views. I love nature and await for more franchises like these. Great job!
Personally, the thing that stayed with me were the absolutely breath-taking visuals. I remember seeing it at the movie theater, thinking how beautiful it looked and how it felt so magical exploring this new world. Had forgotten about most of the plot, until your videos. But will never forget how nothing else has ever felt as visually stunning as Avatar, for me.
I understand all the critiques this movie gets, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who shamelessley adores it!
Jake was better at catching Toruk Maktou because he didn't grow believing a chosen one had to do it.
I always loved this movie. I never got the "Pandora PTSD" or anything like that either, but I have seen the full movie like 10-12 times. And ABSOLUTELY loved the "turd nuggets" jokes, so funny.
I watched this with my Pop for the first time not long before he passed, and that alone makes it hold a special place in my heart. The fact that the CGI is so amazing as well, and the worldbuilding is so intricate, it just is a movie i love so much. Thank you for pointing out all of these scenes and still know the issues behind parts of the plot. It's wonderful.