The Amazement that is Avatar

A must-see 3D sci-fi epic

by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Divine Feminine

It’s about waking up to our connection with nature, each other, and the planet.

I didn’t know much about Avatar before going to see it. Friends kept telling me it was a story about the return of the Divine Feminine, so I couldn’t resist. I knew I wanted the whole experience—in an IMAX theater with 3D glasses. When I went a couple of weeks ago, I was shocked that even here in Maine there was a long line waiting to get in—and on a Thursday night in January. This never happens. Something special was going on. I just didn’t know what—yet.

Then the show began. And everyone gasped. I mean, wow! This movie experience is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. I mean ever. I knew that I was witnessing history in the making. The 3D experience was like being in the movie. At times it felt like the actors were walking right beside me. There are scenes that are so breathtakingly beautiful I thought I’d burst into tears—especially the ones in which the natives of planet Pandora are soaring on the backs of birds. The trees and plants are also extraordinary. And so is the hero Jake (played by Sam Worthington), a former Marine, who has lost the use of his legs and is called to be part of the Avatar Program after his twin brother is killed. (Jake’s DNA is the right match).

Sigourney Weaver is the chief scientist on the Avatar Project. The story line is this: A company from Earth has gone to the planet Pandora to obtain a valuable industrial mineral known as “unobtainium” (a wonderful play on words). But the natives of the planet aren’t happy about this at all. The environment of Pandora is also harsh and unwelcoming to air-breathing humans, who need to wear special oxygen masks when there. The humans have developed all kinds of weapons and systems to exploit Pandora’s resources and defeat the natives.

Signourney Weaver becomes fascinated by these beings and their amazing connection with each other and with their environment. She creates artificial life forms known as avatars, who resemble the natives of Pandora. Meanwhile, the human who is enlivening the avatar is in a comatose state in a specially-designed tube. These animated avatar “body doubles” can engage freely with Pandora’s natives (while their human form remains in a hibernation-like state).

The stage is set early for conflict not only between the Pandora natives and the humans, but also between the scientists and the industrialists who are there to exploit the natives. There is violence, and lots of it. But overall, the message is about waking up to our connection with nature, each other, and the planet. Avatar is a redemption story, writ large.

It’s also an incredible cinematic achievement that will set the standard for years to come. James Cameron, who wrote, produced, and directed Avatar even had linguists invent an entirely new language for Pandora. When we emerged from the theater, my friends and I felt as though we had just visited an entirely different world.

I don’t want to tell you anything more. But I do want you to see Avatar in 3D at the very least and at an IMAX theater if at all possible. It’s definitely worth the price. And it will not be the same on DVD. Avatar is a must-see sci-fi epic, the likes of which you can’t imagine. See it while it’s still in a theater near you! I promise you will be awestruck and inspired.

 

Last Updated: February 15, 2010

Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Christiane Northrup, M.D., is a visionary pioneer and a leading authority in the field of women’s health and wellness. Recognizing the unity of body, mind, and spirit, she empowers women to trust their inner wisdom, their connection with Source, and their ability to truly flourish.

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