By Ellie Hurst — Group A, Ctrl+Alt+Delusion
Despite being released in 2009, did you know that Avatar was originally written in 1995? James Cameron’s masterpiece is not just a film; it is an experience. This sci-fi, cinematic journey revolutionised filmmaking through its incredible technological advances, bringing a whole new type of cinema to the film industry. Cameron has described Avatar to be a depiction of his whole life, how he spent his childhood in the woods, loved critters, and grew up with a sense of wonder about nature. Capturing everything by physical performance to reproduce full human emotion in CGI makes this film even more fascinating. Exploring themes of love, immigration, racism, and corporate greed, Avatar has brought real-world themes to the film industry with its clear depiction of ecological conservation and its consequences. Grossing $2.924 billion worldwide, Cameron’s film created an ethereal world for all ages to love and immerse themselves in. In 2025, Avatar is more important and appealing than ever as people desire a cinematic escape while encountering and examining issues still prevalent in the ‘real world’.
Avatar is set far in the future after humans have destroyed Earth and are looking to migrate to a newly founded, beautiful planet called Pandora. The planet’s environment is toxic to humans and is dominated by a blue-skinned indigenous group called the Na’vi. Humans have created Na’vi/human hybrids, called avatars, allowing them to explore and live on Pandora. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) finds himself volunteering for the avatar programme after the death of his twin brother opens the opportunity for him. Jake must learn, connect with, and earn the trust of the Na’vi so humans can harvest the valuable resources Pandora provides. However, his mission quickly changes as he learns to love Pandora and connect with Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña).
One of the main goals of Avatar is to raise awareness of the powerful yet disturbing conflict between humans and nature, as well as the constant desire for money and domination. In 2025, it is more evident than ever that a change needs to happen to help save the planet from global warming and human destruction. From the outset of the film, it is clear there is a definitive friction between the Na’vi and the humans, based on the human invaders wanting to obtain the natural materials from Pandora. This mirrors real-world issues, such as deforestation and indigenous rights, portrayed in a more cinematic, emotional, and explicit way. Moreover, the humans prioritise material goods and wealth over the well-being of the Na’vi, showing how corrupt and consumer-focused humans have become. Cameron uses Avatar as a demonstration of what our actions could cause if steps are not taken, showing war, countless deaths, and destruction of the Na’vis home. These are events that are taking place in conflict zones internationally today, showing how Cameron’s Avatar is still relevant.
Cameron is an artist and has always been drawing and painting alien creatures and worlds. One of the creatures in Avatar is a ‘banshee,’ described as an alien eagle, which took two years to create from Cameron’s drawings and designs. Moreover, Cameron describes how the Na’vi were always going to have blue skin, an alien colour but still visually beautiful. He made the Na’vi to look tribal, soft, and organic as they couldn’t look as if they were made on Earth. Paired with the orchestral melodies, composed by James Horner, Cameron’s artistic visions come to life, creating a colourful and majestic world viewers can only dream about being a part of. This music elevates the key moments, enhancing wonder and loss.
The acting performances of Sam and Zoe are nothing short of award-worthy. Cameron said that Sam had all the qualities he had in mind for the role, despite him not being the most well known actor at the time. Sam perfectly delivers Jake Sully’s powerful journey of self-discovery, while Zoe embodies Neytiri’s strength and vulnerability as if actually being a Na’vi. Zoe had archery, dance, horse-riding, and language training to get her this role, evident through her emotionally compelling performance. No duo complements the other more, with both performances sending the audience head over heels rooting for their relationship.
Ultimately, Avatar is so beautiful because it is more than just a film; it is a journey, a statement about the future of our planet, and a blooming love story. The impact this film continues to have on cinema is futuristic and revolutionary, from the technology to the gorgeous artistic scenery and environment. Cameron created history in the art of filmmaking, not only by constructing the incredible world of Avatar but by achieving the distinction of Avatar becoming the world’s highest grossing film of all time.
