"Awvea ultxari oengeyä, Nawma Sa'nok lrrtok siveiyi (May the Great Mother smile upon our first meeting.)"
The plot of the story discusses that the Earth's Natural resources had been depleted leading to severe energy crisis. The Resource Development Administration mines for a valuable mineral - "unobtanium" in Pandora. Pandora is a planet whose atmosphere is poisonous to humans, is inhabited by Na'vi.
To explore Pandora, scientists used "AVATAR", - a remote controlled biological body created from the DNA of the Na'vi and humans. With the AVATAR, humans are able to breath the Pandora's air.
Jake Sully is a crippled war veteran and a former marine. As a cripple, it seems that in the movie he has no ambitions; he is drunk and gets into trouble. (Campbell's – hero in his ordinary world)
When is scientist brother died, RDA asked him to replace his brother and to wear his AVATAR since his genomes are identical in to his brother. And joined RDA and travelled to Pandora. With the AVATAR he was able to breathe the Pandora's air and was very excited because he was able to walk again. (Campbell's - call to adventure)
While protecting the avatars of Grace and scientist Norm Spellman as they collect biological data, Jake's avatar is attacked by a thanator and flees into the forest, where he is rescued by Neytiri, a female Na'vi. Witnessing an auspicious sign, she takes him to her clan, whereupon Neytiri's mother Mo'at, the clan's spiritual leader, orders her daughter to initiate Jake into their society. (Campbell's – passes the first threshold)
Colonel Miles Quaritch, head of RDA's private security force, promises Jake that the company will restore his legs if he gathers information about the Na'vi and the clan's gathering place, a giant tree called Hometree, which stands above the richest deposit of unobtanium in the planet.
Over three months, Jake grows to sympathize with the natives. After Jake is initiated into the tribe, he and Neytiri choose each other as mates, and soon afterward, Jake reveals his change of allegiance when he attempts to disable a bulldozer that threatens to destroy a sacred Na'vi site. When Quaritch shows a video recording of Jake's attack on the bulldozer and another in which Jake admits that the Na'vi will never abandon Hometree, he then orders Hometree to be destroyed
While trying to warn the Na'vi, Jake confesses to being a spy and the Na'vi take him and Grace captive. Seeing this, Quaritch's men destroy Hometree, killing Neytiri's father (the clan chief) and many others. Mo'at frees Jake and Grace, but they are detached from their avatars and imprisoned by Quaritch's forces. (Campbell's – Encounters test and helpers and Endures supreme ordeal)
He wants to lead the Na'vi people to overthrow RDA. He does it with the help of friends who share the same vision. They all choose to do a rebellious act and betray the corporation at great risk to themselves in order to help the Na'vi people. Jake realized that he had to create an image that was so powerful that it would force the Na'vi to believe and trust him again. He had to earn their trust and gather as many people as possible if they were to defeat the humans.
Jake did what most Na'vi people were afraid to do, something so dangerous that only few people in the history of the Na'vi people have done. He had to capture the most dangerous creature on the planet, Toruk or "last shadow". It was called "Last Shadow" because the creature flies so high in the sky that when it comes to attack you from above, all you see is its shadow. Of course, it is the last shadow that you will ever see before you die.
The "Last Shadow" is famous symbol for the Na'vi people. It is a sacred creature that is legendary. Netyiri's great grandfather rode the creature in a time of great crisis to unify the land. He became known as Toruk Makto or "the one who rides the last shadow".
Jake says his famous words "Sometimes your whole life boils down to one insane move". So Jake flew up into the sky on another flying creature. Once in the sky, he see's the "Last Shadow" beneath him. Then he dives down and jumps from his flying creature onto the top of the "Last Shadow". He succeeds and becomes the Toruk Makto. (Campbell's – Hero Seizes the Sword)
Supported by the new chief Tsu'tey, who acts as Jake's translator, Jake speaks to unite the clan and tells them to gather all of the clans to battle against the RDA. Noticing the impending gathering, Quaritch organizes a pre-emptive strike against the Tree of Souls, believing that its destruction will demoralize the natives. On the eve of battle, Jake prays to Eywa, via a neural connection to the Tree of Souls, to intercede on behalf of the Na'vi. (Campbell's - The Road Back)
During the subsequent battle, the Na'vi suffer heavy casualties, including Tsu'tey and Trudy; but are rescued when Pandoran wildlife unexpectedly join the attack and overwhelm the humans, which Neytiri interprets as Eywa's answer to Jake's prayer. Jake and the Navi and its wildlife then defeated the humans.
With the exceptions of Jake, Norm, Max (another scientist), and a select few others, all humans are expelled from Pandora and sent back to Earth, after which Jake is transferred permanently into his avatar with the aid of the Tree of Souls. (Campbell's – Resurection and Return with the Elixir).
"Mengati Kame (I See You)"
One reason, aside from the cinematography and 3D, why Avatar moved me was because of the themes . They all resonated with me because they are all hot topic issues that we face as a country and world right now such as: war vs. peace, terror, destruction of nature, our addiction to natural resources such as oil and coal, greed, reverence for nature, demonstration of true leadership in times of crisis, acceptance that energy flows through all living things, loving someone of a different race, destiny vs. free will, lack of veterans benefits for our injured soldiers and old war veterans, private contractors for war, China's reclamation project, profiteering, redemption, and finally the triumph of good over evil.
Lessons that I learned from AVATAR:
1. Start at the bottom – Jake Sully was tasked to learn from the Navi. In order for the humans to know their weaknesses and how to get the out of the home tree. He started to learn the culture of the Na'vi. He became their warrior and a member of their tribe.
Starting from the bottom means in order for you to be better, you must know how it works in detail. You will become a good leader/employee/person if you start from learning from the bottom up and understand the details of the operations/situation. In resolving problems, we must know the root cause of the problem.
2. Be flexible – throughout the movie he transport from AVATAR to his human body vice versa.
Leaders/employee/person should be flexible to complicated changes in any level of the environment.
3. Be honest – When Jake already became part of the Navi Tribe. He then confessed his betrayal and purpose why he was there but was remorse on his actions and warned the Navi people of the upcoming takeover. Although the Navi people got angered, whats important is that he was able to tell the truth and was sorry for it and would want to help them relocate.
Always be frank with people in sharing the good, the bad and the ugly and everything in between. You need to be a person of integrity.
4. Be bold – to overcome the distrust of Navi people, to help them against the war to the humans and also to convince the Navi that he is in their side and that he can be trusted. He went subdue the Tu-ruk, overcomed his fear with courage.
Aim to do things that others think it is beyond your capabilities. Be perseverant and courageous in all task on hand.
5. Empower others/Delegation – although he can already speak Pandoran, he chose to empower Tsu Tey to translate his words in order to convince the Navi Tribe to join him in the battle.
This is very important in management. Empowering your team will allow them to be more motivated and resourceful. THis also allows them to learn about responsibility and sense of ownership. TO achieve larger organizational goals, we need to have the others buy-in. Inspire people to be leaders of their own right.
6. Lead with vision – Jake their navy people to fight for their motherland. He didn't say "fight for me". His vision was for the greater good.
People are inspired and motivated with good vision and strong message. Showing the whys will allow them to understand each roles and tasks on hand. This this, the vision allows the team to share a common goal for all to achieve. Vision dictates thoughts and actions.
7. Build on the strength of others – In the movie all tribes came together to fight the humans. When Jake prayed to EyWa, his prayer was also answered as the animals also fought with the tribes and defeated the human.
Don't be bashful about asking for help from below. The chain is stronger when you empower the weakest link and take advantage of the unique skills and strengths of the individuals.
8. Seek the greater good – human need of obtanium to
To create a healthy and longlie relationship in the organization, you must respect each other including all stakeholders.
9. Recognize that everything is connected – life in Pandora is interconnected in all creatures and trees.
Recognize that all things we do in the organization is connected. Great leadership, wholistic and long term solutions that take in to considerations the needs of organizations, the people and environment.
"Lu Hasey (It is finished)"
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