Lexi Webster
Avatar, the 2009 film by James Cameron, is rated M for mature audiences in Australia. The movie follows Jake Sully, a paraplegic former Marine who travels to the moon Pandora, where a corporate consortium is mining a rare mineral to solve Earth's energy crisis. The Avatar Program allows Jake's consciousness to be linked to an avatar, a remotely controlled biological body that can survive in Pandora's toxic atmosphere. The movie features extended sequences of action violence, battle scenes, and warfare, with minimal depiction of blood and gore. It also includes strong language and sensuality, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. The Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) provides reviews and recommendations to help parents make informed decisions about their children's exposure to media content.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2009 |
| Running time | 2 hours and 41 minutes |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Content warnings | Battle sequences, violence, warfare, sensuality, language, and smoking |
| Plot | A paraplegic Marine travels to the moon Pandora on a mission but becomes conflicted between following orders and protecting an alien civilization |
| Highest-grossing film | In Australia, Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time, making a total of $US2.9 billion ($4.2 billion) |
| Reviews | Critics have called the film "a staggering improvement over the original" and "exhilarating" |
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What You'll Learn
Plot
In the 22nd century, former Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who uses a wheelchair, is sent to the planet Pandora as part of the Avatar Program, an experimental project that transfers the conscious mind of a human 'driver' into a laboratory-grown Na'vi avatar. A rich vein of a rare mineral called "Unobtainium" has been discovered beneath a Na'vi village, and humans plan to use the avatars to either convince the Na'vi to relocate or gather intelligence to forcibly remove them.
The Na'vi are a humanoid race, the native population of Pandora. Jake is rescued by a female Na'vi warrior, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), who is the daughter of the Na'vi clan chieftain. Jake and Neytiri share a romantic connection, and eventually, Jake decides to leave his avatar body and live in Pandora as chief of the Omatikaya people, marrying Neytiri and starting a family with her.
Ten years later, in the sequel "Avatar: The Way of Water", Jake leads an attack against invading colonisers, leading to his children being captured. Jake and Neytiri manage to free most of them, except for Spider, a human boy. Jake and his family seek sanctuary with the Metkayina reef people, who are initially reluctant to take them in due to the danger they pose and their human connection. The chief of the Metkayina, Tonowari (Cliff Curtis), takes them in, and his daughter, Tsireya, befriends Jake's son, Lo'ak, teaching him the ways of the reef people.
"Avatar" and "Avatar: The Way of Water" are epic science fiction films with heavy action and adventure elements, stunning visuals, and strong female characters. The films explore themes of imperialism, environmentalism, peace, family, and spirituality, with a pantheistic approach where everything is connected through nature.
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Rating
Avatar, the 2009 film by James Cameron, is rated M for mature audiences in Australia. This rating is due to the presence of extended sequences of action violence, battle sequences, warfare, and minimal depiction of blood and gore. The film also includes strong language and sensuality, with some smoking.
In Australia, the M rating means that the film is not recommended for children under 15 years of age without parental guidance. The film's intense and dramatic moments surrounding death and warfare, as well as its long duration of 2 hours and 41 minutes, may make it challenging for younger viewers.
The Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) provides reviews and recommendations to help parents make informed decisions about their children's media consumption. They suggest that the presence of violent content in Avatar may have potential impacts on younger viewers, reinforcing the message that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution and desensitising them to its use in real life.
The sequel to Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, has also received similar ratings and recommendations in Australia. Reviewers note that the exciting and intense nature of the film, coupled with violence and scary scenes, makes it unsuitable for younger audiences. Parental guidance is recommended for children aged 12-13, and it is not recommended for children under 12.
The Australian classification system aims to provide consumers with information to make informed choices about the media they engage with, particularly regarding their children's exposure to potentially sensitive content. These ratings are designed to ensure that individuals, especially children, are protected from inappropriate or harmful content while still allowing them to experience and learn from the media they consume.
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![Avatar: The Way of Water [Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71xvXUYOK3L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Avatar Double Feature 2-Movie Collection (Avatar/Avatar:The Way of Water) [4K UHD + Blu-Ray + Bonus] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61fK2ZfZJDL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Characters
The 2009 film Avatar is a science fiction adventure aimed at a male teenage and young adult audience. It features a range of characters, both human and alien, who are caught up in an epic conflict on the distant planet of Pandora.
The main character is Jake Sully (voiced by Sam Worthington), a former Marine who is confined to a wheelchair. Jake is recruited to join the Avatar Program, in which humans have their consciousness linked to an avatar—a remotely controlled biological body that can survive in Pandora's toxic atmosphere. Through this program, Jake is able to walk again and is given the mission to infiltrate the Na'vi, a humanoid race that inhabits Pandora and stands in the way of mining operations led by humans.
Another key character is Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), a beautiful Na'vi female who saves Jake's life. Jake is taken in by Neytiri's clan and learns to become one of them by completing tests of strength and courage. As their relationship deepens, Jake learns to respect the Na'vi way of life and eventually takes his place among the indigenous tribe. Neytiri becomes his reluctant teacher, and their relationship develops sensual chemistry, with a short love scene depicted.
Other characters include Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), who appears in the original Avatar film. In the sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, Jake and Neytiri are married with three biological children—sons Neteyam and Lo'ak, and daughter Tuk—as well as an adopted daughter, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), born from Grace Augustine's avatar, and a human boy named Spider.
The Na'vi are depicted as wearing minimal clothing, with their bodies mostly covered but occasionally revealing discreet outlines of buttock and breast nudity. The film also features CGI-enhanced alien creatures that are extremely realistic, including dinosaur-like creatures and fantasy animals.
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Themes
Avatar has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA and M by the Australian Government Classification Board. The film contains themes of science fiction, environmental destruction, imperialism, genetic engineering, tribalism, spiritualism, and exploitation of indigenous populations.
The film is set on the planet Pandora, inhabited by the Na'vi, a race of humanoids who live in harmony with nature. Humans have established a military-corporate mining operation on Pandora, systematically bulldozing the planet's forests in search of a rare mineral called "Unobtainium". The Na'vi stand in the way of these mining operations, leading to conflict. The main character, Jake Sully, a disabled former Marine, becomes part of the Avatar Program, allowing him to interact with the Na'vi in his avatar body. As he spends more time with the Na'vi, Jake develops strong ties with them and falls in love with a Na'vi warrior, Neytiri. He eventually joins them in their battle against the humans, who are portrayed as invaders and destroyers of the natural world.
The film has been interpreted as having underlying social and political themes, with some critics arguing that it misrepresents facets of militarism, capitalism, and imperialism through its villainous American characters. Others have praised its anti-imperialist message, drawing comparisons to historical events such as the American colonists vs. the British and India vs. the Raj. The film has also been analysed through the lens of race, with some critics pointing out the recurring "fantasy about race" where a white male becomes the most remarkable member of a non-white culture.
Avatar: The Way of Water, the sequel to the original Avatar film, continues to explore similar themes. It depicts a stark contrast between the indigenous Na'vi people, who nurture and care for their environment, and the invading colonisers who destroy everything in their path. The film reinforces the importance of family and standing up to tyranny and oppression. It also showcases strong female leads, with Neytiri and Ronal as powerful members of their clans.
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Reception
The original Avatar film, released in 2009, received a mixed reception from critics. While some praised its visuals and special effects, others found the plot lacking. The film has been described as "stunning" and "astounding", with praise for its use of 3D and motion-capture technology. However, others have criticised it as "a punchline" and "a nosebleed".
The film has been the subject of some controversy due to its depiction of violence and its suitability for children. In Australia, the film was rated M for mature themes, which includes extended sequences of violence, coarse language, and discreet nudity. The Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) has provided a detailed review of the film's content and recommended that it is not suitable for children under 15 years of age. They highlight the frequent use of swear words, including 'shit', 'bitch', and 'dick', as well as the depiction of violence, with characters being shot and attacked with spears and blades.
The new Avatar film, Avatar: The Way of Water, has also received a mixed reception from critics. With an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has received both five-star and two-star reviews. Critics have praised the film's visuals and underwater filmography, with Indiewire's David Ehlrich calling it "a staggering improvement over the original". However, others have noted its long runtime of over three hours, which may make it challenging for younger viewers to sit through.
Like its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water has been the subject of debate regarding its suitability for children. The ACCM has recommended that the film is unsuitable for children under 10 and not recommended for children under 12, with parental guidance suggested for older children. The film features coarse language, violence, and scary scenes, although it is described as having minimal blood and gore. The main messages of the film, including the importance of family and standing up to oppression, may provide valuable talking points for parents and children.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian Government Classification Board gave Avatar a PG-13 rating.
Avatar was rated PG-13 for battle sequences, violence, warfare, sensuality, language, and smoking.
Avatar is not recommended for children under 12. Parental guidance is recommended for children aged 12-13.
Avatar is available to stream on Disney+ in Australia.
