"I See You"

I went to see James Cameron's movie "Avatar" this past weekend. I was blown away, and not by the surround sound system. I admit that my expectations were low, considering the amount of hype this film has generated. In my experience, the amount of publicity surrounding a work of "art", cinematic or literary, is inversely proportional to its enjoyment by me. This is not the case in regard to this film. It is visually stunning. The computer graphics blend seamlessly into the live action. The plotline, especially for a sci-fi movie, is plausible and comprehensible. I give it a "thumbs up." In fact I rate it among the top 5 sci-fi movies that I have seen. (The others? "2001", "Blade Runner", "Star Wars (Episode IV)" and "Outland".)

There has been some speculation, in the press and online, as to the film's "meaning." I understand that whatever someone might read into a work such as this is affected by that person's beliefs and experiences. Some speculate that it is an ecological paean to biodiversity or a religious parable. Others see a tale of imperialism, an allegory, perhaps, of the recent war in Iraq. Still others see a love story, Romeo and Juliet on a grand scale set on a distant planet, or a simple "one man can make a difference" story. I do not pretend to know what this film might elicit in anybody but me.

The central message I saw is best expressed by the three words above: "I see you." Without giving away too much to those who have not seen the movie, this simple declaration means much more than an acknowledgement of presence. It is "I get where you're coming from" taken to the next level, or higher. It is the ability to "walk in another's shoes"......on steroids. It is understanding and empathy. It is the ability to love another for what they are, not what we see them to be. It is something that is sadly lacking in this time and in this place.

There is only one Earth, and on it only one people. It is all interconnected, and the divisions we have created are only fictions devised to make one feel superior to another. There are no "sky people" nor are there any "Na'vi." There is only "us." And the sooner we come to this realization, the sooner we can live without the fear and hatred consuming our societies.