After Avatar: The Way of Water

Potential spoiler alert, I just watched Avatar: The Way of Water. Below is my brief afterthoughts along with a summary of my experiences in 2022.

Those that have struggled enough, those that haven't struggled enough. What even is enough? There never really is an enough except for the limit we place in our minds. The limiter in our mind is determined by our purpose. Why do we keep going? This seems like a topic I've already spoken about.

The soldiers in their hierarchy, colonel, general etc. they seem to really value loyalty or what seems like loyalty for loyalty sake. Or for the Sully's, family ties because family ties; blood is thicker than water. The message seems to be clear, family and true comradery through the heart will trump surface level loyalty and yearning for power.

What I found interesting was the delicacy between the equilibrium point and discourse. Pride or ego, fueled by fear ultimately, floods humanity. There is a fine, very delicate point of truth and purity. No words can describe how remarkably easy it is to fall short or too far from this equilibrium of true agency. One step too short of your true, unconditioned 'self' and you may be too fearful to act and be immobilised. One step too far and you may have a false sense of security through egocentricism and you may be blinded to what is in front of you or what you truly desire. And these moments repeat endlessly til death; the eternal search for truth and balance.

Does finding this perfect bullseye each time matter? No, I don't think that is realistic and would be an exhausting search. Chance sits on the fence and can shift the favour at any point. Rather, it is a combination of strong morality and staying true to yourself consistently.

On another note, Avatar: The Way of Water showcases the disgusting nature of humanity. Driven by all forms of uncontrolled elements of the human condition, we are undoubtedly the largest perpetrators of this planet's destruction. Humans are so innately delicate and so easily sinful. Although society and its talks become more about being kinder, curious and open minded, within us lies the capability for destruction so easily. Even if we are trying to be good. The population is increasing rapidly. I'm concerned that despite education, the survival of the kindest will inherently become the survival of the fittest. I'm concerned that alongside the rapid advancements of technology, we are getting more distracted. Everyday, I see more about A.I. and that makes my imagination run wild. Where will society go? Just because humans have the capability to reason, think and hold the dominant cards on Earth, does this make us better than any other species? Deep down, most humans do truly think we are the best and matter the most. Perhaps these are byproducts of our intrinsic instinct to survive and procreate. We consume too much and give back far too little.

For some immediate film regurgitation: some interesting themes explored (although not in too much depth in my opinion) were blood/family ties vs. conscience. The underwater jiujitsu in the end was an unexpected but pleasing surprise, albeit short. I enjoyed watching this movie as a more mature adult this year. I feel I have grown as the younger me would have once tried to emulate the 'coolest' protagonist whereas now, I interpret my own meaning and apply it into my life. Pride, ego, fear. As cliche as it sounds, they can be a huge bang through a gun fight... or a very quiet whisper, poisoning the mind to unrecognition.