One of the most memorable scenes from Avatar (in my opinion) is when Jake Sully emerges from his life-changing "surgery" as an avatar. This scene is significant in several ways and plays a key part in foreshadowing events that happen later in the film. As a paraplegic in his human form, Jake awakens and reacts extremely enthusiastically to his new legs as an avatar. For Jake, his new legs signify a new beginning. In this scene, viewers are witnessing Jake regain a strong appreciation for life, which resonates throughout the entire film. Ultimately, Jake's appreciation of life helps him to quickly realize that the military pushing the Na'vi off their land for a mining venture is extremely unfair and inhumane. The effect of Jake’s dedication to the helping the Na’vi fight against the military on the viewer is that of support. By the end of the movie viewers are, in most cases, seeing the military as the “bad guys” and Jake as the “good guy.” A second notable element to this scene is the height difference of an avatar to a human. When Jake stands for the first time in the operating room, doctors attempt to make him sit back down. In the process the viewer is able to see that an avatar is nearly twice the size of a human. Though it may seem like a minor detail, the difference in size signifies the fact that an avatar could overpower a human. The effect this has on the viewer is the hero-like aura Jake develops over the course of the film. Lastly, Jake’s disobedience of the doctors when he first awakens from his “surgery” is a major signifier of what is to come in the film. Just as Jake disobeys his doctors, he ultimately ends up disobeying the military, as he ends up helping the Na’vi fight off marines as they attempt to push the tribe off their land. Because a majority of viewers support Jake and the Na’vi by the end of the film, they in turn are supporting Jake’s disobedience, which in most other cases would be viewed negatively (disobedience is generally frowned upon). To sum up, this scene foreshadows Jake’s actions and the reasoning behind them. Nothing of what Jake does is out of cold-blood; his best interest is in helping the Na’vi go on living life to its full potential.
I really appreciated your connections between Jake disobeying the doctors at first, and then later disobeying the entire military.
ReplyDeleteI don't read this as an intentional disobedience for the sake of upsetting others. He couldnt walk -- so when given the chance, he RAN.
And after your post -- I think of the Na'vi in that light as well. They couldnt walk [freely, w/o fear] -- so when given the opportunity, they, too, RAN.
THanks.