The Sad Reality of Avatar 2 | Way of Water | Dhruv Rathee - Summary

Summary

The article discusses the movie Avatar 2, directed by James Cameron, and how it reflects real-world issues, particularly colonialism, capitalism, and environmentalism. The film's depiction of imperialism and crony capitalism is compared to the East India Company's exploitation of India. The article also highlights the environmental themes in the movie, such as the destruction of natural resources and the importance of preserving the planet.

The article also explores the inspiration behind the film's visuals, including the floating rocks, bioluminescent plants, and the Tree of Souls, which were inspired by real-life locations and natural phenomena on Earth, such as the hills in China and the bioluminescent lagoons in Jamaica.

The article also delves into the world-building in the film, particularly the depiction of the Metkayina people, who are inspired by the Sama-Bajau tribal folk of Indonesia and the Philippines. The article also discusses the film's portrayal of whales and dolphins, which are depicted as intelligent and emotional creatures, and how this is inspired by real-life research on these animals.

The article also touches on the issue of whaling and how it is depicted in the film, particularly the hunting of Tulkuns, which is inspired by real-life whaling practices. The article highlights the connection between the film and the real-world issue of whaling, particularly Japan's continued support for commercial whaling.

Overall, the article argues that James Cameron's film Avatar 2 is not just a work of science fiction but also a commentary on real-world issues, particularly environmentalism and colonialism, and that the film's visuals and world-building are inspired by real-life locations and natural phenomena on Earth.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text:

1. James Cameron's film Avatar 2 broke all records and earned more revenue in India than any Bollywood film in the last year.
2. The film's collection in India has crossed ₹3.6 billion.
3. The film is projected to earn over $2 billion worldwide.
4. The film's visual effects, particularly the animation, have been widely appreciated.
5. James Cameron is an environmentalist and drew inspiration from real-world issues and locations when creating the world of Pandora.
6. The Tree of Souls in Avatar is inspired by a 150-year-old wisteria tree in Japan.
7. The bioluminescent creatures in Pandora are inspired by real-world bioluminescent organisms found in Jamaica and other locations.
8. The Northern Lights are also depicted in the film as a natural phenomenon.
9. The Metkayina people in Pandora are inspired by the Sama-Bajau tribal folk found in Indonesia and the Philippines.
10. The Sama-Bajau people have evolved to live near water and have developed unique physical adaptations, such as larger eyes and a specialized eye membrane.
11. The Ekranoplan, a Soviet-era vessel, inspired the design of the hovercraft in Avatar.
12. The Bagger 293, a massive construction machine, was used as a reference for the mining machine in the film.
13. The film's depiction of whales and dolphins is inspired by real-world marine animals and their intelligence.
14. The mirror test, used to measure animal intelligence, shows that dolphins and whales are among the few animals that can pass the test.
15. Whales were heavily hunted in the 19th and 20th centuries for their oil and meat.
16. The International Whaling Commission imposed limits on whaling in 1946, but it was not until 1982 that commercial whaling was banned.
17. Despite the ban, some countries, including Iceland, Norway, and Japan, continue to hunt whales.
18. James Cameron has spoken out against whaling and has used his film to raise awareness about the issue.
19. Cameron has also explored the ocean in a submarine and has reached the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench.
20. Cameron's love for the ocean and Earth's biodiversity is reflected in his films, and he aims to convey a message about saving the Earth.