AVATAR PALAVA – Fiction Stranger than truth?



I was walking along the office corridor one day when I bumped into Bayo, one of my colleagues. As usual, a word of greeting would ensue followed by small gist.

 

‘Have you seen the movie, Avatar’?  Bayo asked.

 

‘What about it?’ I asked in response. I hadn’t seen it then but I was interested in hearing views about it.

 

‘Man, that movie was disturbing.’

 

‘Disturbing? In what way?’

 

‘I don’t know how to explain it. You need to see it for yourself.’

 

I dismissed his claim with the thought that Bayo was probably not a Sci-Fi enthusiast. At least that was what I felt was the reason until another colleague, Biodun who had just watched the movie gave me a similar report.

 

‘Did you watch Avatar?’

 

‘Nope. Not yet. What’s with the movie?’

 

‘That film is some how scary…strange…weird’

 

Now Biodun was an avid and intelligent movie watcher, and for her to talk this way meant there really was something about the movie ‘Avatar’.

 

I got hold of a copy of the film (a downloaded version since I didn’t have time to check it out at the cinemas) and watched it. I was enthralled and caught up by what I saw. And after going online to check out info on avatar, to my shock I got to realize that thousands of people were disturbed one way or the other just like Bayo and Biodun were. I wasn’t disturbed because I have already been deep into research on the media and the movie industry and how they can use movies, sitcoms or shows to program or brainwash people.


 


Accoridng to info I collected online:

 

James Cameron's completely immersive spectacle "Avatar" may have been a little too real for some fans who say they have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora.


A user named Mike wrote on the fan Web site "Naviblue" that he contemplated suicide after seeing the movie.

"Ever since I went to see 'Avatar' I have been depressed. Watching the wonderful world of Pandora and all the Na'vi made me want to be one of them. I can't stop thinking about all the things that happened in the film and all of the tears and shivers I got from it," Mike posted. "I even contemplate suicide thinking that if I do it I will be rebirthed in a world similar to Pandora and the everything is the same as in 'Avatar.' "

  

Another fan, Ivar Hill posted on the "Avatar" forum page under the name ‘Eltu’, wrote about his post-"Avatar" depression after he first saw the film earlier this month.

 

"When I woke up this morning after watching Avatar for the first time yesterday, the world seemed ... gray. It was like my whole life, everything I've done and worked for, lost its meaning," Hill wrote on the forum. "It just seems so ... meaningless. I still don't really see any reason to keep ... doing things at all. I live in a dying world."

  

Another fan using the name ‘Elequin’ on the forum expresses an almost obsessive relationship with the film.

 

"That's all I have been doing as of late, searching the Internet for more info about 'Avatar.' I guess that helps. It's so hard I can't force myself to think that it's just a movie, and to get over it, that living like the Na'vi will never happen. I think I need a rebound movie," Elequin posted.


 

The James Cameron movie, which has pulled in more than $1.4 billion in worldwide box office sales and could be on track to be the highest grossing film of all time, is set in the future when the Earth's resources have been pillaged by the human race. A greedy corporation is trying to mine the rare mineral unobtainium from the planet Pandora, which is inhabited by a peace-loving race of 10-foot tall, blue-skinned natives called the Na'vi.

Source

 

One thing that I have come to notice is how this movie is achieving good results at blurring the lines between reality and fictional fantasy. It only goes to show the power of movies and how potent they are when used as propaganda tools. 

This also applies to music videos as we see in the case of Rihanna’s latest release ‘Russian Roulette’ which raised fears that it encouraged fans to commit suicide.

A lot of people learn and live their lives according to what they see in movies. Unfortunately, many seem to fail to realize that they themselves are more real than movies.

  

Avatar is a powerful movie that explores themes we can relate to. It is also a dangerous movie, most especially for those who can’t draw the line between fiction and reality.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



15 Screamer(s):

Enkay said...

But I absolutely loved the movie! I was amazed at how creative and imaginative the makers of the movie were.

It never made me want to commit suicide or feel depressed. I guess people are different. I still think it's a great movie.

Sugarking said...

Chai, I need to go see this movie then!

jhazmyn said...

I'm wit Enkay on this one o, cos i totally enjoyed the movie. I related wit the joy the guy felt each time he felt alive in a world where he could use his legs, i related with wanting to use diplomacy rather than force, i related with trying to make a better world...i'm wondering where the suicidal feelings came from

Dee! said...

Naturally, I am not a sci-fi person, so I never contemplated watching the movie! However, I suggest that those who are unable to separate 'fiction' from reality, should not watch any movie! How person go wan kill himself because hin look film! Na wa o!

From its 3D execution, it's a nice movie.

It's crap on plot & dialogue. Crap!

Jennifer A. said...

Human beings can be so excessively exaggerating...LOL. It is ONLY fiction and nothing more. Anyone who plans to commit suicide to go to the "other world" with a different language is insane. They should rather work with what they have and try to live in the world they're in.

By the way, that movie was INCREDULOUS...I loved it!!! :)

Harry said...

I love the movie man...and it was really amazing... Americans can commit sucide when there is no food in d refigerator (jus kiddin)... People should learn to draw the line bte fact and fiction...

LucidLilith said...

My advice...DO NOT SEE IT IN 3D!!!

It is soooo real and yes weird. See it in regular 2D and it may not be as realistic.

its so amazing that a movie can have that sort of effect on people, but movies do that all the time, to one extreme or another.

Nice post. How's the fam?

Parakeet said...

People need to develop their minds more rather than get carried away by the movie. To me the whole point of Avatar was to showcase how technology can dramatically change the media hence the crap plot and dialogue. On that level it worked perfectly.

To me the one important message I got from that movie is that it takes the West to make and destroy the world.

Anonymous said...

Finally saw it 2 days ago and loved. THe whole time I was just comparing it to historical events.

Myne said...

I think the people depressed by the movie are already disturbed and should seek help. Avatar is a great movie that makes you think.

hi Kush,
came across your blog at Blogcatalog..
And ur review on Avatar has clicked with me completely..I didnt find it such a gr8 experience watching the movie with those 3D glasses on..
And the content in the movie was definitely way off my expectations..
Thanks for the good read..
Please feel free to visit my blog and tell me what you think about any of my posts?
Will be obliged..
tc..
keep blogging..cheers

Afronuts said...

@Enkay…Of course it wouldn’t make you want to. You’re a Nigerian! How many Nigerians do you hear of getting depressed after watching a movie? We’re too thick skinned for that! lol.

@Sugarking…See it. Its not bad.

@Jhazmyn…lol. I guess the same stuff I said to Enkay applies to you.

@Dee!...My sister na so we see am oh!

@Aloofar…I don’t totally agree on that. Maybe the fact that it’s sci-fi didn’t go well with you?

@Jaycee…I liked the movie too. Some people need to be smacked over the head and told, ‘get real! It’s only a movie!’

@Harry Rami…LOL! That’s a good one Harry, that’s a good one!

@Lucidlilith…did something bad happen to you watching it in 3D? Maybe that’s what made it too real for people?

@Solomonsydelle…They do…and always will. Fams doing good sis. How’re urs?

@Suru…yeah. Some good lessons to learn from the movie.

@Myne Whitman…lol. Abi? They should really seek help.

@Vibhuti…hmm. You’re the first to comment after locating me thru blogcatalog. That’s cool. And I guess you’re making a point like Lucidlilith said concerning watching it in 3D.
Will check you out, cheers.

HI Kush you've made my day bu visiting and appreciating my blog..Since you ask 55 fiction is fun but not easy. at least for me!
I found out about that only recently too..to know more check out my blog link which links further to Wikipedia and you'll know all about this genre of writing..
http://klishmaklaver.blogspot.com/2010/01/55-fiction.html
try it!!
And if you do write one urself I'd love to read it..So plz dont 4get 2 let me know...cheers all d way!!
Vibz