The special effects were amazing and the 3-D exceptionally well done, but the story and characters were nothing new or original. The “noble savage” concept with the Na’vi was especially tired. The movie was good, and I wanted it to win the Oscar because science fiction films never do, but I disagreed with most of its messages and conclusions.

The biggest problem I had with Avatar, the most troublesome thing, is that we lose. The humans get sent packing, back home to the polluted planet with nothing to help them. No consolation prize. I agree that humans did indeed do all the damage and destruction in the film, but I am a human. The only human who won in the end was the hero, and he was eventually put into a Avatar full time.

I don’t want our kind to be a dead species. Some humans may be evil, but then again some Na’vi are bad too. I don’t believe killing all the humans, or making them extinct is the right thing to do. I can imagine myself in the movie. I would not be in an Avatar. I would probably either be stuck on Earth, and therefore doomed, or be one of the anonymous military types brought back to Earth to die.

Humans are capable of great things, and just as capable of bad things. But I don’t believe either side has the right to commit genocide against the other, by direct action or inaction (in the case of the Na’vi).

There’s no compromise or agreement at the end. The Na’vi are the only ones who win. That bothers me.