I saw the 3D version of Avatar last week.  Sci-fi is not normally my kind of movie but I enjoyed it.  The special effects are incredible!!  I did not enjoy the Hollywood anti-military and political agenda that is prominent in the story.  I did appreciate a few lessons from the movie that I thought were worth passing on. 

#1:  It's impossible to love people if you are not with them.  In the movie, the main character infiltrates a tribe of people to gain secrets for an attack from the military.  However, once this man meets the people and spends time with them then his heart gets in the way of his spy agenda.  This reminds me that to "love my neighbor" I have to spend time with my neighbor.  It is not enough to be a good neighbor or leave invitations to my church on people's doorsteps.  I must strive to build relationships and actually know my neighbors to the best of my ability. 

#2:  The main character in Avatar goes through a "rite of passage" with the tribe.  Our culture is sadly missing "rites of passage".  Young people are confused as to when they are finally into adulthood.  Is it 18 years old?  Is it 21?  Is when they really financially support themselves?  The movie shows a powerful rite of passage process that parents could look closely at and somehow duplicate in the lives of their children. 

#3:  In the movie, the tribe has their own religion including Mother Earth.  The writers seem to show great respect for the religious beliefs of this tribe.  They even depict the "military" as mocking the religion as stupid.  It's amazing that the writers would explore this theme, as Hollywood constantly treats Christians with this type of disrespect.  What would happen if Hollywood at large respected believers and their beliefs?  I don't think it will happen but interesting to ask why so much respect would be shown to the religion of a remote imaginery tribe.  And while the movie makers bash American military and seemingly our government they seem to take no responsibility for how they treat people of faith. 

Again, I liked the movie.  It deserves the PG rating for language and some scary scenes.  I had hoped to be able to take my son to see it in 3D, but it is not a movie I can allow him to watch at this point.  Let me know your thoughts if you have seen it.