“Avatar” Depression
Avatar leaves audience depressed. James Cameron’s 3D sci-fi epic may have been a little too real for some fans, who say they’ve experienced depression –even had suicidal thoughts– after watching the movie Avatar. Thousands of Avatar fans are complaining that they are uncomfortable with the state of reality after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of Pandora, the enticing utopia featured in the movie, CNN reported this week.
Thoughts on this?
On forum websites, like “Avatar Forums,” throngs of fans express disgust with the human race and disengagement with life. A topic thread entitled “Ways To Cope With The Depression of The Dream of Pandora Being Intangible,” has received more than 1,000 posts from people experiencing depression after seeing Avatar and fans trying to help them cope. The topic has become so popular that forum administrator Philippe Baghdassarian had to create a second thread so people could continue to post their thoughts about the movie.
A Naviblue user identified as “Mike” says he contemplated suicide after seeing the movie.
“Ever since I went to see ‘Avatar’ I have been depressed. Watching the wonderful world of Pandora and all the Na’vi made me want to be one of them. I can’t stop thinking about all the things that happened in the film and all of the tears and shivers I got from it,” Mike posted. “I even contemplate suicide thinking that if I do it I will be rebirthed in a world similar to Pandora and the everything is the same as in ‘Avatar’,” he added.
Avatar has grossed more than $1.4 billion at the international box office since its release last month and is on track to surpass Cameron’s Titanic as the Highest-Grossing Film of All-Time.
Written by Castina on January 13th, 2010 | Tagged as: Movies
On January 13th 2010, Kim wrote:
If people are depressed and suicidal after watching a movie they are pathetic. It's NOT REAL!
On January 13th 2010, rais wrote:
These people were clearly mentally unstable before watching the movie or they're faking it to get their name in the media… take your pick. Either way, it really says a lot about the state of the media now when this story is considered "news."
On January 13th 2010, heph84 wrote:
Play WoW, it's been the Avatar world for the last 5 years. There's no perfect, you'll always want something else. I'm glad I don't have to run from things that want to crush and eat me on a daily basis.
On January 14th 2010, Sarah Michelle wrote:
I have depression. Is it very unwise of me to see this Movie?
On January 14th 2010, James wrote:
gay
On January 14th 2010, Gabriel wrote:
Wow, how incredibly stupid. I have depression and saw the film, not for a second did I think it was real. I just thought of it as a movie and not another world. Those must be some pretty obsessive/depressed people.
On January 14th 2010, Sama Lama Ding Dong wrote:
Movie was pretty sweat but depression… I think that's going a little far. I agree what rais said. People with no lives are just trying to get their name out there because they have nothing else to do. Get a job you lazy depressed idiots.
On January 15th 2010, Ryan wrote:
If someone is that unstable, let em kill themselves, it's called Darwinism…survival of the fittest.
On January 15th 2010, Chris wrote:
I just looked this up because I didnt beleive it, but I just have to say this is pretty crazy. If your depressed from this movie you have some other trending issues in your life. I guess detaching from something perfect when you have extreme issues in your life can cause depression, but its not the movies fault. For the love of God the US already looks bad enough don't post anything else at that forum to attract more media attention see a therapist and treat your "real" life problems.
On January 15th 2010, SilverEagle wrote:
The movie Avatar was beautiful and inspiring. But to take it out of the theater into real life is comparable to someone thinking they are a cowboy after seeing a cowboy film or a hitman or an action figure. It's something particular people have to deal with because they have a hard time separating reality from fantasy. These same people probably belief in dreams, UFO's and horoscopes as a means fo dealing with life. My advise is to look at it for was it is, a well done movie with a poignant story about how we need to change the way we think about the way we obtain valuable resources.
On January 15th 2010, spencer wrote:
I think most of everyone's reaction to this is depressing. Who knows why someone might find the film to be depressing, and just because we don't understand their emotions doesn't mean they are insane. If you were having a rough time in your life, saw this movie and were so immersed that you lost yourself in it… it could very much be like waking up from a dream that you don't want to wake up from; the weight of reality rushing back in could very well lead to depression. Individuals could possibly be affected by this movie very much like the way Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (a.k.a. Ecstasy) affects the brain- and quite like the effects of Ecstasy wearing off- the real world seems dull and is just not quite good enough without the drug.
This could be a real problem, and I think it should be taken seriously and not scoffed at- it could lead to suicidal tendencies in certain individuals.
On January 16th 2010, Albert Craton wrote:
Well, if you guys depressed about this movie, it just because your real life doesnt seems to be nice. So, why dont you just do an effort to make your life better. This movie is a brilliant technology to showed us something new and magic.. Just live this cool experience and stop crying about your life…
On January 16th 2010, Mihai wrote:
The truth IS this : OUR WORLD, as it is right now, IS depressing (human nature, poverty, war, greed, etc…). You'd better open your eyes. The movie itself only makes us notice that…
On January 16th 2010, greg wrote:
people are unhappy with the way society is today. you need money for a lot of things and money does not buy happiness. avatar is perfect in every sense because the na'vi live their life without money or greed or hate, they are all family and live life in the most simplistic enjoyable ways. its kind of like buddhism almost. i for one am unhappy with how there are starving people in africa and haiti and widespread poverty in other places of the world while i can go to the store and buy bottled water, the system is flawed.
On January 16th 2010, Mike wrote:
I believe that the depression has nothing to do with the feelings you get from watching Avatar, but from the realization of what the world has become. When you watch Avatar you see how lush and brilliant nature is (over-exaggerated in the film of course). people want Avatar to be real because they want the connection to 'life' exhibited in the film. That everything that lives, lives for eachother. They want to open there eyes to nature…not the concrete jungle. Of course, the contemplation of suicide over this movie is stupid, but the grounds for which these thoughts occurred to some I think isn't being properly addressed. We are constantly pushing to be "greener" to the environment, but the fact is we shouldn't have ever had to come to this. As a race we lost our connection to nature some time ago and some people just want that connection back.
On January 16th 2010, tmac wrote:
Wow what a bunch of unoriginal, inauthentic cunts you all are posting on this comment thread. I'd think the same Goddamn person posted the same response over and over. None of you pricks are capable of some original content to post here? The people are depressed after seeing the film because people like you assholes are incapable of empathy and because a bunch of fucking leftard progressives have run this country into the ground, because assholes like you all make this world a SHITTY PLACE TO LIVE. In all fairness to them, reality in this fucking country sucks. Reality sucks, and people are depressed, because of people like you below.
On January 16th 2010, Forward Thinker wrote:
In all reality, the reason why people have had such a profound reaction to this film is nothing to do with them being unable to 'deal with reality' or 'accept life' at all. Avatar resonates with profound and fundamental differences to our supposed modern culture. The way that the Na'avi live is extremely similar to many indigenous cultures that have existed, and been wiped out by the 'progressive' European culture. To desire a meaningful connection to your planet and some semblance of ritual and culture is not insane, by any means. Actually, to live in a culture that exists only to farm you is more insane to me. To be happy about the illusions of happiness that it gives to you is even more insane. Marriage, doesnt work, proven. Work? Career? If youre very lucky you might enjoy it and also do well. Na'avi life is opposite to this and people want something other than the endless run around the mill, only to scratch out an existence affluent enough to pump another human into exactly the same bad situation. And yet nothing changes in our society, we continue to wage war for resources, to smash indigenous cultures in favor of a substance that kills our very planet. It is the human race that are insane, not those of us who do not want any of it, money, oil, advertising, tower blocks, its all poison, if you were to look at the globe from afar and saw humanity's 'progress' it would look like the planet had a grey cancer. Or mold. We are closer in terms of how we operate to a virus than to any other species. I for one, wish that being Na'avi was a possibility and long for a return to something purer than this nonsense we ve surrounded ourselves in. Pandora is what this earth could be, if we let it, and let ourselves.
On January 17th 2010, lil black cloud wrote:
i am depressed and suicidal now because of the growing idiotic nerd population in this world
On January 17th 2010, Liam wrote:
i think that we should act stronger and faster to our earths problem that we create. its true we could live like the na vis but in stead we pave down our forest and destroy cultures and animals. any government do jack shit for this earth! "oh we cut down our pollution by 1%" well congatulations assholes your one millionth closer to saving the planet! i think that avatar is a great movie and a great eye opener for people that havent seen this coming.i agree with many of the smart people that have commented like this like the comment above me. in order to save this planet we will have to either stop fucking around and make greener electricity and to cease cutting forest and instead of destroying the enviroment learn to work with or to revert back to living like the na vis on pandora. its a large choice that the world has to make and a giant act to the earth but is all worth it to save the earth.
On January 18th 2010, Shauna wrote:
Im personally offended by what people have said on here.
Im 13, Im depressed to the maximum. Look outside, from where I am. Its a cold, dead tree, brown grass, gray sky & ugly house world. People are terrible, trust me. I've had 9 years of experiences with..depression. Ever since I was little I've always wondered, "What's up there daddy?"
after I took off my glasses, its like someone just pulled me away from EVERYTHING, & I was put into this black & white place of nothing.
I feel brainwashed. & all I feel I know is Pandora & Avatar.
The people up their that are saying all this junk about how their just insecure, no..
It's a serious problem. "They killed their mother." (Jake Sully) & thats exactly whats happening. We're killing our Father, God, too. He's supposed to be holding your hands as you cross the road. & everyday, his hand seems to be slipping, loosing its grip.
Dont tell me what I know and do not know, and dont speak for other people. We're not mental, we just have hearts. & believe that theirs more we deserve..we NEED..than..Earth has to offer, which unfortunatley, is only depression.
On January 18th 2010, .... wrote:
this is soo stupid. ppl r just saying these stuff to et attention.after i watched avatar my life waz perfectly normal. i forgot about it after a day.get a life u jerks
On January 18th 2010, secret* wrote:
really? a thriteen year old? C'mon. isn't that a little young… "shAunA"?
On January 18th 2010, Our world, compared wrote:
i think "shauna" has a point. when you look outside to you see anything close to Pandora? I do, i see trees getting cut down. and i think taht is as close as anything in this world will be.
On January 18th 2010, lula wrote:
People need to enjoy this movie for what it is. It is well written, it is well shot and made. It is an escape. It is amazing art. If you are depressed afterwards and want to kill yourself then you need some serious help. It is not the movie's fault, it is something in your life. And it is turning into a pandemic ridiculous hysteria like the swine flu. Get real. Please go get help if you feel so bad, or decide to try to make your existing world as good as you can. There are lessons to be learned in this movie, ie how to treat people, how to love. It's beautiful. So please do not blame this movie, find out what is really wrong in your life before you start pointing fingers. thanks
On January 18th 2010, Shauna wrote:
No matter how old you are, you shouldnt be judging me. & I want to get attention? I believe that THIS SITE IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPRESSED AND HAVE A SAY IN THIS. Not people for rude comments. Explain to me how your helping in this situation? If all your doing is making the people even more depressed? We're not jerks..
its honestly a deep feeling. & im not saying that I dont appreciate the movie, or I dont appreciate my life that God has given me, Im expressing my feelings and HELP. unlike what some of you are doing.
from what I know, you seem to not really be interested in whats outside of your own little world.
telling people who are depressed about this to a get a life, is extremely hypocritical. we? dont have lives? what are you doing commenting this? if you have "such better things to do?"
your also making stereo types.
Like people who are depressed are some nasty thing off the streets that lives in the woods. im a young girl with a great family, i love to sing & i hope to be a singer one day, & also be scientists for space & such.
i think that you should stop, because what some of you are saying is really hurtful. some people dont know what to do, so maybe they are posting these because they hope for someone to find them on here, and help them.
in these situations you must think big, & beyond yourself.
On January 18th 2010, Shauna wrote:
&.. someone reminded me that people like myself shouldnt just want to give up & want to die.
But, its hard. it just honestly..sucks that we cant have such amazing lives like they do.
But anyways, I think that getting help would be a good solution. crying even, but, you never know what our future is going to be..
[:
On January 18th 2010, Shauna wrote:
Avatar is the most amazing movie ever created.
I'm in love with it. [:
On January 18th 2010, secret* wrote:
i don't believe it "shauna". i really thought the movie was great, but i don't understnad how it can be depressing. really, this is your opinion, your not writing an essay about it. got it? besides, your too young to understand. ^^^
On January 18th 2010, secret* wrote:
also you dont have to tell us about your hobbies, its aabout AVATAR RIGHT? then stick with it. got it? good.
On January 18th 2010, Jay wrote:
People are depressed due to the parallels it draws to todays western society. The saddest part is the thought of us acting the same in how many years ahead the movie is set in. Capitalism = fail
On January 18th 2010, Anon wrote:
I can see what people mean. It just makes the world seem like a shitty place after leaving the theatre, but It's nothing to really get depressed over.
On January 18th 2010, someone wrote:
Lol you people are culture-less:
When I saw Avatar, I was like: "Damn the movie was good but it's over! Too bad!" You don't need to make a whole fuss about it, and there're much more terrible things going on in life you idiots, stop getting brainwashed by the minor sad details Avatar is showing to make people forget about the REAL TRUTH (the crisis etc…).
When I finished reading The Lord of the Rings, I was much sadder than when I finished watching Avatar.
The Lord of the Rings was much more amazing than the movie Avatar. Ok James Cameron spend 15 years making Avatar? Tolkien didn't even have time during his whole life to create his world, his son Christopher had to finish it for him.
Seriously, you people are ignorant in everyway.
On January 19th 2010, Shauna wrote:
My words didnt come out right obviously..
I'm not wriing on here to be ignorant, or anyway negitive at all.
Lets start this over..
Avatar was the most amazing movie ever, & I understand how people can get depressed or..sad about it for a little while, because I felt it too. :/ & I think that we should ALL work together to make our world a happier place while we can.
Avatar= <33333
On January 19th 2010, deeply beautiful wrote:
I have lived in a place as beautiful as Pandora on this earth…it was truly paradise and I loved it. I found that most city people have no clue as to how beautiful life is ot there and they don't really want it or they would have found it like I did.
Your life is what you make it, so if you have a dream of making the world better, just do what you have to do…grow a plant, be kind to people, love others, be the advanced human being you would lov to see as an ideal. This ideal has to start with you; no one else can do it for you.
I found it…it's out there…it's lonely, though because no one else wants to be out there. People get depressed out there, too, so think for yourself and live a good life!
On January 20th 2010, nathan wrote:
I will summarize my comments prior to them. Depression at our failures as a race is understandable. But there is no need to despair. A good compromise? Lets demand an AVATAR MMO! The very concept of the movie screams for an MMO.
lets make some other comparrisons, shall we? The Na'Vi are perfect, every single one of them. In fact, all the creatures of Earth are to, save 1 creature, us. Why? natural selection, for humans it no longer applies. There are two types of tigers, perfect tigers, or dead tigers. Thanks to civilization; fat, weak, lazy, short, lanky, lopsided, bowlegged, whatever people can not only survive, but they can even vote. Are you perfect? if not maybe you should be thankful to even get to live at all. Don't let hollywood fool you, goto your local grocery store and see if you can tell the difference between human and Na'vi.
God Vs. A wah. Our god is master and creater of all the universe. P.S. he may not even exist. We can't confirm if prayers have been at least heard, or if there is even anyone there. it doesnt take more than 1 visit to a holocaust meseum, or a year of astronomy to feel that god may have decided to focus his efforts elsewhere. Its a depressing thought I admit. So lets down grade god, make him actually be scientificly verifyable. Readily connectable. Maybe he can't help you but you at least know he heard you. And he cant leave home either, he is as stuck there as we are. Maybe not omnipotent, but at least stuck in the same boat we are in. That would be A wah. Is that worth it? Should we really wish to demote god in order to make him more reachable? reminds me of a favorite movie quote " My god is the everlasting sky, your god, lives underneath him".
On January 20th 2010, someone wrote:
Just to quote Shauna:
"Avatar was the most amazing movie ever[...]"
Ok lol, you need to see more films before talking, even if you're young, don't talk when you don't know…
On January 21st 2010, Tom wrote:
Honestly, I do not understand all the violence in this thread.
If someone is depressed after seeing Avatar why mock her or just be plain insulting?
Shauna can be young, but what if she thinks Avatar is the best movie ever (so far)? What's the best movie ever according to you, someone?
Sure, it can't be denied that media inflated a bit of an Avatar bubble: after the first ten minutes of the movie I was a hint disappointed because I really expected something that would blow my mind. Then it did, but that's another story.
The media persuaded the American people to vote for Obama, why should we be surprised if the whole Avatar thing is a bit of an exaggeration?
It is funny to notice how most of the users labeling as ignorants, nerds, unworthy those who actually caught the Avatar blues can hardly type in decent english. I would also encourage people misquoting Darwin and his Theory of Natural Selection to go to their local library and widen their culture: the Origin of Species and the Descent of Man would be a great starting point. Or they could do themselves a favor and turn to Creationism and Intelligent Design. But again, it's a further proof that ignorance and violence go hand in hand.
Avatar is not depressing per se, Avatar gets you the blues like when you come back from a holiday in a beautiful, faraway place. Like Alaska, or the South West, or Africa, or the Caribbean's Islands. Should we say because of this that holidays are depressing? Nay. Besides, it's a matter of individual sensitiveness. Some people made a connection with the movie in a different way than others. It's the same with everything, no need to call each other names.
A little bit of thinking would help everyone. There are many factors to consider: we are in a value-less historical period; all debates are necessarily polarized, it is hard to understand which way will society go (if any way at all). We've had this economic crisis who brought our morals below our feet and last but not least it's winter. Most of the northern hemisphere has been plagued with ice, snow, rain, fog and frost for the last couple of months. Had Avatar been released in the summertime, the effect would have been much different. Just do the math!
On January 21st 2010, Kalgeras wrote:
I find the repeated use and narrow-minded commentary by of the vast majority of posters here rather pathetic in and of itself. I'm willing to bet that if a behavioral study was done on the majority of you who post comments such as "get a life", "they're shut in losers" etc, a good many of these individuals are the same types who feel they are "entitled" or "deserved" of some form of better life or that they have some special privilege in life and should be respected simply for existing at all. Respect isn’t deserved beyond basic respect for being alive, beyond that you earn it though daily action and life endeavor.
Let me give you a glaring opposite fact about one of just many of the individuals affected by depression this movie as caused based on its varying message and mental impact factors that I either have encountered or in this case know personally. My long time friend who is a very prominent lawyer in his early 40's went to see this film during the midnight opening. This group of us also included his wife, 2 teenage children as well my own girlfriend and her teenage daughter. None of us have any form or history of mental illness.
My friend called several days later and complained of feeling depressed. Upon further discussion it wasn't his seeming need to go live on Pandora but rather the blatant impact of humanity's bad habits, egotism and self destructive nature to our own world. Yes there have been documentaries, TV programs and even other movies and shows that address this issue but Avatar's technological wizardry took a regular message of "save the planet", "protect your world before it's too late" and has in more than just a few ways brought that message slamming home to many viewers.
It's taken several generalized overly used messages we hear every day and brought them hammering face first into many viewers. Is this unexpected? I'd like to say yes but at the same time I’m not at all surprised in all honesty. Let’s look back at the film Schindler's List. The release of that film brought about a sudden resurgence by a large numbers of the American populace seeking to relearn about the horrors and travesty of the German death camps of WW II. So why should after affects from a film such as Avatar be any different. Many of us don’t listen to what is spoken around us but I personally happen to pay close attention to those around me where I go, some would call this eve’s dropping but for me it’s about being situationally aware of what’s happening around me at any given moment, so call it what you wish I could care less. The vast majority of discussions I have heard that revolve around or generated by viewers of Avatar seem to grab onto only the shallowest elements of the film rather than looking at deeper interpretations that are reflective of our own human behaviors and habits. So thus in reaction the vast majority of posters and in far more cases the ridiculer’s of these posters simply seek to verbally smash down the thoughts and emotional misgivings of those who are speaking out. The McCarty witch hunts worked the same way to some degree. So who are the bigger fools for these postings? The varied individuals willing to post about their feelings of emotional emptiness after viewing Avatar regardless of what that seeming loss is, or rather the blathering idiots who would rather ridicule them than stop to consider “what exactly would motivate this individual at a deeper level to feel as they do?”
Yet here is one more question to add to this list of things posed by the multitude of viewers out there who have and have not been affected by the movie. The world of Pandora has in many ways become a virtual metaphor for our own world we continue to destroy blindly. Yes we can have all the great things we have now and stand to gain in the future but it can be done rationally and with restraint to ensure balance. So that being said what exactly does “Save the Planet” really mean to you beyond a social concept you act out each day? What have you really done personally to make a difference beyond simply daily routine or donating your $30 a year to some environmental group? Or are you just going the same old route every day and not really giving a rat’s ass and just selfishly fulfilling your materialistic wants & needs with senseless abandon and self induced ignorance?
On January 22nd 2010, Adam wrote:
Well done James Cameron! Your film has attained a critical and emotional resonance uncommon among contemporary blockbusters. Now if only people would recognize their 'depression' as a symptom of social alienation in the increasingly de-humanized and de-humanizing world that WE CREATED. Rather than feeling blue, it would be much better to work towards the world/existence we long for.
On January 22nd 2010, someone wrote:
Wow. Now people are taking this seriously.
As Tom said: "The media persuaded the American people to vote for Obama, why should we be surprised if the whole Avatar thing is a bit of an exaggeration?", this is absolutely true, I'm not stating that Avatar is over-rated (nor by the media than by everyone) but that those who feel depressed after seeing Avatar are ignorant. Even James Cameron said about the Avatar blues: "Go in the woods and f*ck a tree or two, and you will feel better about the planet… if only for while, but you will".
Oh ok, then since James Cameron said it, I believe we shall all do it?!? No, not me. Now this is ‘’Natural Selection’’ : Idiots will go have s*x with a tree and will obviously die anyhow (viral infection maybe). With all idiots doing this, they will dissapear and only the "high" class of people will remain. I'm sorry but this is Natural Selection : those who arn’t created to live in certain conditions die and those who were created to live in certain conditions remain. Here, the idiots are simply messing a brain (to put it simply). Get some books.
Other than that, everyone is entitled to say that Avatar is THE best movie EVER. Yes, amazing, that's what we call: "liberty of speech". That's exactly why out society doesn't work, because all the idiots are entitled to vote for a dictatorship under the aspects of a superficial democracy.
At least, when Hitler had the power, things were made clear by him and the population wasn't lied to (though I'm not saying that what he said was right). He clearly said what he would do, and he did it: Give work to everyone, kill jews and TRY TO make Germany the greatest country of Europe, he did all what he said. No I’m reading in your mind that Germany didn’t become the greatest country of Europe, I never said it became, but Hitler tried to make it that way, he failed (thank God), but he didn’t lie.
Is it better having a puppet that keeps lying to the world? "What a luck it is to rulers that men do not think" – Adolf Hitler
By going back on the subject, everyone is entitled to say that Avatar is the best movie ever, but I'm entitled to say that those who affirm this do not know much about cinema (please, make liberty of thought work in both ways).
But obviously, by watching Citizen Kane, you won't understand how much this movie is amazingly superior to Avatar (in my opinion), and if you want a terrific portrait of our society, read 1984 and drop Avatar.
Oh, and maths doesn’t have anything to do with this. Find me the deriverate of sqrt[1/(x^3)].
Do the maths !
P.S : Yes, I understand that my english is not amazing, I’ve lived in France almost my whole life, but I guess you can still understand the meaning of what I say and stop being so egocentric.
On January 23rd 2010, Alicia wrote:
All I have to say anyone that clams suicidal thoughts and or any kind of Depression – after watching the movie Avatar is just CRAZY or looking for a payout of some kind!!!
On January 23rd 2010, Anon wrote:
Nobody is claiming this to be real. Not one person. What people are depressed about is the current state of the world, and society. The general mass of people like the ones commenting here don't seem to see the absurdity in our world. The day to day 9-5, the neverending need to keep going so that one day we can retire have some grand kids and then die. Most people seem to be totally accepting of this fact, and just live in their absurdity.
The thought of being able to exist as Na'vi do is truly wonderful. The depressed individuals can't find a way out. You will always have bills, you will always continue to contribute to an ultimately meaningless system that destroys our planet and ourselves.
Its fine to accept the absurd, but I for one am applauding these people coming forth with their current state of mind, its means that people are starting to truly reveal what they've always known but just haven't really let it get to them.
I am fortunate enough to be very secure financially, and I live very close to nature, and I tell you, I have never been happier. My fantasies/imagination allow me to escape to adventurous and wonderful places, even if I do have (what I consider to be) a beautiful and truly "real" life.
The suicide stems from the thought that in death we may be able to control our afterlife, reincarnate, create our own dreams and live in them. I think thats a much better thought than there simply being nothing after we die, or joining the forces of heaven.
I love my life, but yet I do long for something like Pandora. To experience the beauty. The adventure. Please people, don't say "its just a movie" movies make us think, and with avatar people are reflecting on life. Its wonderful, and its only destructive to society which is failing. And more people need to realise this.
On January 24th 2010, harry wrote:
i have this so called depresion and its not wanting that world its realizing that we dont need cars or houses we dont need any of this but our greed consumes nature and WE HAVE TO CHANGE OR WILL ALL DIE IN THE END btw to everyone saying its just a movie i no that but it would be real look at the rainforests they are just like pandora exept bonding our minds with animal earth would be so beutiful it would be a huge forest full of life but we killed it
On January 24th 2010, Notinsaneperson wrote:
Seriously? pathetic
On January 24th 2010, Minamu wrote:
Shauna is one of the few who makes sense on this board, and it would do well for folks to listen. Out of the mouths of babes, they say.
There was a point in the film when Sully, on his tapes, notes that the Na vi are not going to be bargained out of their world. He says, "We have nothing that they want." He also chooses to go and live with them. Meanwhile, you have Amercans in the movie who are destroying something they don't come close to understanding in order to get at some reserves to makes some . . . . money. Perhaps depression comes from realizing that the soul of America has some, er, issues, to say the least.
I have been heartened to see the outpouring of wealth to Haiti, it shows that there's some compassion left, but let's face it. Our society revolves around money, and if you have a society that values money so much, you lose morality unless you are careful. We have all sorts of folks these days who basically think that if you can't afford health care, it's ok if you die. This is even though we all know that medical costs are not manageable to someone without insurance; you see how the insurance companies negotiate them down on each statement you get. It's all an illusion, probably a tax write-off for the provider, I don't know, but it's a fairy tale.
Mother Theresa once said that in India, they have massive poverty, but in the U.S., we have spiritual poverty that is much greater.
Invading countries and killing innocents for oil and the like. Like how our nation's birth meant slaughtering people who at first had been friendly to us, because we wanted their land. Like how luxurious plantations and associated wealth that still exists today was built on the backs of people stolen from their country, who had their kids and loved ones taken away and sold like cattle, and who were forced to work for NOTHING. And how the descendants of slaves and slaveowners live together to this day and try to tiptoe around the herd of elephants in the room. How people who have benefitted from both of these atrocities defend their wealth by asserting that "I worked hard for what I have," implying that anyone who isn't rich must be lazy.
The events of Avatar were obviously symbolic of what happened with Native Americans, though on a much smaller scale and with different ending. We go on destroying things we don't begin to appreciate or understand to make a buck, including our own world. How many cures for our diseases are lost to us as we continue destroying the rainforests? We continue to "kill our mother," and until we come to grip with that, and not only stop it but actually atone for it, I think that things will look grey to many for some time, maybe generations.
Some people are better able to numb themselves with fleeting pleasures and the sense of superiority that having shiny things can bring. Those who aren't are labeled insane.
Real happiness comes from connection with others, and in an environment in which there is trust and love, not selling each other down the river to make a buck. Other countries don't respect us nearly as much as we seem to respect ourselves, and there are valid reasons why.
On January 25th 2010, Patrick Tomsha wrote:
I'm 47 year old male, construction wkr / artist. And I was deeply effected by the film Avatar. And I don't think it had anything to do with not being able to stay in the reality of Pandora. It's just that the story that James told was so close to the truth of what mankind is. Fucking greedy. And the story of Pandora has been played out on Earth, for over a thousand years. The U.S. is doing it right now in the Middle East. Don't you think maybe that is the story that is really being told.
On January 25th 2010, Bob wrote:
"Invading countries and killing innocents for oil[...]" – Minamu
If this reflects your degree of understanding toward our society, I would suggest you do not say anything.
Many theories about war exist, but this one, being an absurd one, is approved by the mass.
On January 26th 2010, AFan wrote:
i kind of understand how the man of the artical feels,
Its just people (not all off them) try to sometimes find a way to flee out of reality because they have a bad thinking about the human race. So ectually i can understand him. When i saw the movie i also had a feelin like "wow would be awesome if i could go there, because we messed up this place (earth)"
But it didnt gave me any suicidal toughts. It just brings me beautifull dreams xD
On January 26th 2010, AFan wrote:
i really also understand PATRICK
Im also doing art (lol)
And i understand what he tells on this topic, we are killing mankind in some ways. Not that i wanna talk about that there has to be peace from now one (there will always be war) but its just, We are speeding up global warming and we aren't helîng it.
If we could all work together for like one month it would make a big difrence at the end.
PS: our society is based on to many cash going around.
thanks for giving my opinion
On January 26th 2010, observer wrote:
The criticism of those who feel depressed after having seen the movie is ill-conceived and destructive. We are all wired differently and that should be respected.
Those who claim to know better are displaying an arrogance that, if unnoticed by them, can be rectified after an honest dose of deep self-reflection.
On January 27th 2010, Bob wrote:
And this is how obscurity tries to show its only beam of lighting, reflecting ones education.
On January 27th 2010, Jax Teller wrote:
I am gonna agree with all the people that agree the movie is pretty kickass.
I LOVED the movie, it made me wish that i did live in Pandora along with all the other NaVi (not sure how to spell it :P).
After thinking about the responce that i felt after seeing this film, i realized that this is exactly what James Cameron is wanting us to see.
We as a race have fucked up the planet.
We as a race have lost that connection to nature that the NaVi posess.
We cannot fix what we have done. Our lives are doomed to suffication because we have no trees left to make Oxygen and we absolutly CANNOT give up our H2/H3s.
Im glad that James Cameron showed us this movie. Were all gonna die, and this is what we gave up in order to die this way.
Oh, and if people are jumping off of buildings because they truly want the illusion that James Cameron has painted us, i say, let them jump. Its Darwinism. Filter out the Weak.
On January 28th 2010, observer wrote:
Even Darwin might agree that the most gentle and fragile among us can also be the most creative. Eliminating them from the gene pool leaves humanity worse off.
On January 28th 2010, forrest wrote:
Most people don't understand… which is fine.
But for those of you who can relate, it is a fictional story that both inspires and points out certain truths of our human condition. Corporate greed, corruption, animal cruelty, racism, physical disabilities, and the frailty of the human body – these are all real issues that we face everyday. Pandora, in a sense, represents utopia, paradise… For those of you who are gamers, you understand that sometimes video games (WoW, etc.) provide an 'escape' for us. It is definitely nice to escape our human form and live in an alien form that allows us to do the things that the Na'avi people were able to do in Pandora.
On January 28th 2010, forrest wrote:
Most people don't understand… which is fine. But it is wrong to pass judgments on others and put down others when they express their honest feelings and reactions to a movie.
But for those of you who can relate, it is a fictional story that both inspires and points out certain truths of our human condition, and our condition here on Earth. Corporate greed, corruption, animal cruelty, racism, physical disabilities, and the frailty of the human body – these are all real issues that we face everyday. Pandora, in a sense, represents utopia, paradise… For those of you who are gamers, you understand that sometimes video games (WoW, etc.) provide an 'escape' for us. It is definitely nice to escape our human form and live in an alien form that allows us to do the things that the Na'avi people were able to do in Pandora (i.e. athletic abilities, tame and mount on flying dragons, connect deeply with the spiritual and natural world).
On February 1st 2010, Clay Morrow wrote:
Although you do make a point about pandora beeing a game and people looking for escape, pandora symbolizes much more than that. for example as Jax Teller said above, we have fucked up the planet.
James Cameron is using not only the perfect timing with the movie, with everyone beeing afraid of global warming and all, to show that this is what we gave up/turned to instead of keeping our primitive instincts and staying connected to nature.
The only reason that we love pandora is because the natives there are practicly nude the whole time, and because we dont have that planet, we dont have that sence of connection to nature that the navi posess. its like taking a toy from a baby. even if they arent playing with it, they will want it back because they dont have it.
Once again, agreeing with Jax Teller, let em jump. Darwinism strikes again.
On February 2nd 2010, Ash wrote:
Forward Thinker and Shauna – I'm glad there are people like you. You know what is real problem. I agree that some depression is caused by "empty life" or other social problems. I love my family and I have very good job. So I should be pretty happy… Yes, but. I'm really disgusted with our kind. And I agree we act as virus. But we have safety pin – our behavior. We will regulate ourselves with conflicts, wars, HIV etc. Model of our democratic community is wrong. Main driver is the power and money. Child are born and they don't have any choice. I have to buy some place where you can live and you have to live in system. Root cause of my depression is real freedom. Do you think we are free? NO. This is not freedom. You can see real freedom in Avatar. One community living together, you are really free but you are part of the big family. I know avatar is only movie with lot of questions or "stupid" parts but forces you to think about quality and course of your life. I really wish to be a na'vi together with my family. This wold sux and it is not possible to change it because we can not change our internal behavior. We are only stupid humanoids… All the time there will be someone who will fight for power, money or god …
On February 5th 2010, Josh wrote:
I didn't even like this movie. I saw it because it seemed like the most potentially watchable thing on the board, because I had read that it was popular in the news, and because I randomly decided to watch a movie. The CGI was impressive, but I felt ready for it to be over when the credits started rolling. I could list a host of other films which I consider more fun and watchable than Avatar. That is just me, though. I can relate to the feeling of immersion in or connection with a movie world. I felt this way toward The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. In each case the essence of the film/characters/story stayed with me long after the film was over, and I continued to enjoy re-watching them. It is normal to be impressed and moved by a story, though – as with anything – extremes usually aren't good.
On February 7th 2010, cathal wrote:
This has to be one of the most pathetic and hillarious things I have heard in a while. I've seen it three times myself, and really enjoyed it. But for christ's sake, I didn't feel depressed or want to top myself! My advice to those Navi obsessed losers…GET A BLOODY LIFE! IT'S ONLY A FUCKING MOVIE!
On February 8th 2010, dkwljkldcnjfnk wrote:
survival of the fittest is exactly what the nazis wanted with the master race eg white blonde haired people its a shame that our grandfathers died to let scum say some of that bullshit now and yes the system the us europe the whole word and humanity is fucked fighting pointless wars in afghanistan and iraq for what to impose our way of life capitilism that doesent bring peace and we dont have a clue what to do to fix it avatar shows this and thats why people are depressed
On February 8th 2010, dkwljkldcnjfnk wrote:
and no im not depressed a nerd insane or a terrorist lol or suicidal i
just see the world for what it is and the sad thing is people get killed tortured arrested and labeled insane for saying this
On February 8th 2010, think about it...... wrote:
none of u understand, yes maybe some people r depressed bout avatar but that doesn't give us a reason to insult them.
in my opinion the film was great and it made me think that if pandora world is so beautiful and amazing then imagine how beatiful heaven is. this doesnt mean if you die now youll go heaven and experience wat pandora is like, who nows you might go hell but all im saying is its time to change your ways if you dont want to go hell because soon it might be too late, when judgement day comes all of u will say i wish i would have listened to that girl that told us about this day and i wish that i would have listened to her.
in some ways shauna is right the world does seem crappy compared to pandora but GOD gave us this world we were all placed onto this world for a reason and those people who are thinking about suicide are kind of stupid…think about it satan wants you to feel this way so you kill yourself and go hell.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On February 8th 2010, toruk makto wrote:
all you ppl that have notin better to say than, aww use r patheric and other insulting things just f@ck off you cold basterds, this movie has also touched my heart, honestly i wish we all cood live like them all loving peace all perfect have beautiful,glowing , exotic rainforests that is the right way of living now everything is medioca bullsh@T everything is materialistic sh!t, money, possesions, cheap sex there in no love in the world anymore, i wish i cood be exactly like them, seriously, no more materialistic crap, tvs, fones, money f@ck em all off, this movie has opened many ppls eyes and all use assholes have to say is were pathetic, ur just rich money hungry pigs, after watching this movie, it has also depressed me coz, thruth is and it really hurts to say this…. we cant live like the na'vi, i want to be blue with blue strips dont need to wear cloths coz no one else does be 10 feet tall and have this amazing network with eywa and the tree of souls, and live in massive tree's, the na'vi are amazing…fictional :( :( :( :( :( :( people that i wish to be, we cant live like this coz we need 6,500,000,000 people to change this really f@cked up world and then if we did start to live like them again in tree's, we coodnt handle it, i mean alot wont be able to, coz they r not strong enof or old sick coz we r so used to this grey dull greedy money hungry world and sucking all the resources out of this world, we can not turn back to that way of life, some ppl can i wood love to, be one of a na'vi in a tribe, plz see what is obvious, it is quite obvious if you look around see all this pollution see all this killing for what, see that this will be a dead end for us, if we dont try to fix this while we can, toruk makto out
On February 11th 2010, Jack Of All Trades wrote:
goddamn posers
On February 12th 2010, Dedalus153 wrote:
It is rather funny. The very definition of schizophrenia is the inability to tell the difference between a real world and a fabricated one. Creating a world and then falling into it, unable to get out again, is what it's all about. Of course, the symptoms vary, as do the degrees, but that's what it's about.
Now one could very easily point fingers and argue that people growing depressed or even suicidal because they want to go and live on a fantasy world like Pandora is somewhat schizophrenic. The thing is, most of them seem at least aware that the fantasy world is a fantasy world. Earth may be duller and grayer, but it is the "real world."
Okay, but here's the thing. Schizophrenia went air-born. It's infected the whole of civilization. We, as a species, can no longer distinguish between the real world and the fantasy worlds we've created. And by fantasy, I mean the religious, political, economic, and social systems we've devised for ourselves. Do you really think capitalism or communism is "realer" than Pandora? How? They only exist on paper, much like a film script. Do you think nation-states exist? They exist on a globe, but when seen from space, where are all those straight lines and borders and boundaries? They don't exist. We've conceptually chopped and cut up the Earth in our heads, and we're completely unaware that we've done so.
Anyway, the good news is, the "real world" that people are so depressed about exists only as an intangible representation of reality. Just like humanity as it exists right now is a caricature of humanity. Not the real deal at all.
Life is beautiful. Earth is beautiful. Even humanity is beautiful.
We're just really, really confused at the moment.
On February 13th 2010, Audrey L. wrote:
I actually think that these people might have some tendencies to depression and suicide even before seeing the movie.
A person who is very fragile and has mental disorders could have more chances to feel depressive or attempt suicide after seeing the movie. A person who is mentally troubled can even mess reality and fiction.
Maybe if we could have check in the medical history of those people we would have seen records of mental disorder eposides or depression. A person that has a good psychological balance is subjet less vulnerable I think.
I have cried when I saw this movie because I was speechless in front of the beauty of the movie. But I never thought my life was worthless.
The society here is to blame for stealing us the beauty of a real life with the nature. They stuck us in a shell of morosity.
On February 15th 2010, Elmo wrote:
Toruk:
Obvious troll but I lol'd
On March 19th 2010, rob wrote:
these people can't deal with a little something called reality….plain and simple…..I mean to want to kill urself and want to b reborn in the pandora world????? lol wow that sounds pretty fuckin loony to any sane person. I'm sure a lot of these people have other more important problems….my advice go get professional help and if u still long for pandora after that go play world of warcraft
On April 25th 2010, GW wrote:
WOW! Are people missing the real message here. Our planet, the planet we live on, a real planet, EARTH! Is going to sh*t and we need to do something about it. Recycle, drink water from the tap, get rid of your huge lawns that you have to water and mow every week, buy better cars (Not Hummers), and clean up after yourself. Is it really that hard for people to understand? Humans are sad!!!
On April 28th 2010, Pat wrote:
I understand how people could get upset after watching avatar. I was. I have been depressed for years now and emptiness is consuming me. Just like emptiness has destroyed the human race.
What are we now? Not civilized. Not in synch with our minds and body and lands. The native americans had it right. We have fucked up our own species.
On May 3rd 2010, Treejunky wrote:
What’s not to like about the movie? Its a perfect escape from reality to a place where one person fnd true love, can live in an idylic place, not go to work and do nothing but seek adventure every day in a perfectly fit body next to an idealized perfect person of the opposite sex. If you are an extra life is not so good as you get killed. For those of you thinking we humans have messed up the real world – take a biology class or two!!! Life in teh trees was not that great as you were constantly faced with starvation, gnawed at from the inside by parasites, and in terrible pain if you suffered an injury or a bad tooth as there was no modern medicine to help and although the turtle shell ratle and incantations may have distracted you, the cure was not there. Life in nature was and is hard, which is why third wolrd countries want what teh U.S. and Europe has and nature is respected because it will kill you in a heartbeat. Yup, I too was depressed after watching the movie because reality is not the same as fantasy, and never will be. if you want to connect with nature go spend some time working in nature. Nice days are limited and most of the time you are up to your a** in mud, snow, dust and bugs looking forward to when you can go into a clean home and take a hot shower and have a warm meal. Finding a balance with nature and conserving it is and should always be a goal, but can only happen if you understand it first and don’t confuse it with a fantasy. For a reality check go try to kiss a croc or grizzly bear to show it that you care……
On May 6th 2010, ryan wrote:
I saw the movie last night for the first time. I can honestly say it is the best and most eye opening film I have ever seen.
The best part about the movie to me is the fact that it makes me realize how messed up our world really is today. Who knows if we have afterlife or if we’ll ever be anything close to what they had in the movie, but all I know is if I had the choice of a time period to live in, it would be way in the past before capitalism was brought at its finest.
No matter what the people say on this message board, good or bad, we as humans are not headed in a good direction. Things need change. We need to change
And no, I’m not depressed from a fuckin movie.
On May 13th 2010, Kate wrote:
I read all this and almost want to cry, I thought people had lost their humanity then I read these comments and I realise they haven’t at all.That fundementally we are still want the same thing.
On May 13th 2010, Kate wrote:
Treejunky you could’nt be wrong indigenous people were highly contented by the life they lead, and it was only via those who murdered them [otherwise called in more reasoned and therefore less emotionally powerful terms - colonialism/imperialism] it was only through it that they came to value material comforts which make life easy but rarely meaningful.Certainly they didn’t need depressants in the epidemic way we do, nor commit suicide at the level we do.Young white males make up the highest suicide rates at 75%/.
I have accounts by my own ancestor who was indigenous to south africa, in which he rails against the murder and destruction of his people by the dutch after almost 30,000 years of having lived there.30,000 years.
He was a leader [who learnt dutch and english] akin to jake in the film,he led approx five hundred people to try and have his country returned, when the british tried to persuade him out of it he told them as was noted by missionaries;
“we lived very contendedly before the dutch plunderers molested us and why should we not do so again if left for ourselves,has the great master not given us plenty of roots and berries for our use and until the dutch destroyed them an abundance of animals to hunt and will they not return and multiply when these destroyers are gone”
Thank you mr cameron for your simple fable, I have read all the theories,and all the anthropological and historical books – all of it up there in the head .What I needed was our older deeper symbolic language with it’s all its dream like metaphors to see the real moral tale, which is our lack of morality.
On May 21st 2010, cleveland wrote:
I SAW AVATAR MOST OF IT WITH FAMILY ITS A REAL GOOD FILM HD YA ITS SO DIGITAL THIS HOW ALL GAMES WILL BE YOU CAN SEE IT ON DVD ITS SO CRYSTAL CLEAR AND GOOD STORY ITS STILL MAKING MONEY ITS MADE OVER 3 BILLION US GLOBAL WITH DVD AND MERCHANDISE NOTHING CAN BEAT IT NOW IN USA UNLESS THE NEW MATRIX PRELOADED THEY THINKING ON DOING RUMORED ALSO MATRIX REGENERATION WITH JAMES CAMRON HELP THESE COULD MAKE TONS OF MONEY
On May 21st 2010, cleveland wrote:
AVATAR TOOK 15 YRS I HEARD TO MAKE ITS A NEW ONE THEY THINKING ON DOING IT TAKE LESS TIME CAUSE THIS FILM MADE ALOT OF CASH IT COSTED ALMOST 400 MILLION TO MAKE BUT MADE OVER 3 BILLION ALSO ALMOST 800 MILLION IN USA WHEN JAMES CAMRON WON AWARDS YA SAW HOW GEORGE LUCAS WAS SHOCKED
On July 1st 2010, Dasun Nirmitha wrote:
Human Nature :-
We ALWAYS want what we DON’T HAVE..
On July 29th 2010, dm18 wrote:
i understand how people might feel this way. This movie was extremely good. the first time i watched it i was amazed, from the visual to the adio effects (& i watched it on my laptop on a normal dvd not blue ray).
ANyway…. i feel that most of the people who go through depression or have suicidal thought after watching this movie are people who”s lives are not that interesting to begin with.. they go watch this movie, feel as if they are “In” it and once its done they get a snap back into reality and realize life on earth is’nt as good as living in Pandora.
ITS A MOVIE. Not everyone gets their princess or prince… no happily ever after…. and no flying around the world on a dinasour.. I LOVED the movie.. a little obsessed with it.lol but no depression or suicidal thoughts.
On March 6th 2011, michael wrote:
The human mind is programmed for a tribal sociaty like theirs. We live in unnataral world that we tweaked to far.
Our minds are not ment to be in a world like this, our minds are ment to be in a wild enviroment.
perhaps they are not so insaine.
On March 29th 2011, Tori wrote:
They feel depressed because Avatar made them see how corrupt and imperfect the real world we live in is. It’s not really about the movie, but more about the topics and messages it brings up. No, it’s not pathetic, or stupid. I felt similar emotions after seeing the movie, because I wanted to live in a world like that where people worked together and lived in peace with the environment. That’s how the world should be, in my opinion. Without war, greed and exploitation of our natural resources. I didn’t really feel depressed, but it did get me thinking about that.
On April 8th 2011, SARS wrote:
some of these comments are disgracefully ignorant, and you can really see why people are disgusted with the state of our planet, our mundane lives, and the terrifying, barely sentient vacuousness of the majority of our species.
yes, the story was pure balls but the visual content was practically palpable. i watched this film for the first time at the weekend, on acid. if you want visual excitement i can safely say sod the 3d. three hours of total wonder. i woke up the next day and cried at the beauty. but i’ve got the dvd and there’s always more acid. the only film i’ve enjoyed more on acid was Labyrinth.
so here’s my message, and it may well not be a popular one but sod it: if you’re contemplating suicide having seen Avatar at least wait to see the full trilogy before you do it. as for me, i’m waiting to see how Dexter ends. cheerio.