Pandora by John William Waterhouse 1896

So I was revisiting Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life the other day, a flick where Angelina Jolie searches for the legendary Pandora’s Box, and something tickled my brain and gave me pause. I found it interesting that both in the age of antiquity and in some of the minds of modern day, women are the vehicles responsible for the fall of man. Of course we all know the original sin story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden and the snake and apple. It is probably the most famous of all ‘women are the root of all evil’ stories. I think there is even a creation movie lost somewhere in the Hollywood archives depicting this cataclysmic moment in time.

What do Pandora's Myth, Pandora the planet, and Tomb Raider have in common?

In the Pandora myth, the story goes that Pandora was the first woman on Earth, created by Hephaestus in answer to Zeus’ command. It was a command meant to be a punishment for man’s gain of the secret of fire from Prometheus who stole fire from the gods. Zeus’ vengeance came in the form of Pandora, a beautiful ‘evil’ destined to torment…[Read more...]

Lara Croft Tomb Raider_The Cradle of Life

So I was revisiting Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life the other day, a flick where Angelina Jolie searches for the legendary Pandora’s Box, and something tickled my brain and gave me pause. I found it interesting that both in the age of antiquity and in some of the minds of modern day, women are the vehicles responsible for the fall of man. Of course we all know the original sin story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden and the snake and apple. It is probably the most famous of all women are the root of all evil stories. I think there is even a creation movie lost somewhere in the Hollywood archives depicting this cataclysmic moment in time.

In the Pandora myth, the story goes that Pandora was the first woman on Earth, created by Hephaestus in answer to Zeus’ command. It was a command meant to be a punishment for man’s gain of the secret of fire from Prometheus who stole fire from the gods. Zeus’ vengeance came in the form of Pandora, a beautiful ‘evil’ destined to torment all of mankind. (And Prometheus did not escape unscathed. He too suffered the wrath of Zeus in his own separate and terrible punishment tailor-made especially for him by Zeus himself. Prometheus is later rescued by Hercules himself, ultimately escaping punishment, but that is another story.) Many talents were bestowed upon her by the gods like beauty from Aphrodite, a talent for music from Apollo, and the handy gift of persuasion from the generous Hermes. She was also possessed of a great curiosity, a trait given to her by the long suffering and oft maligned Hera.

Prometheus having his liver eaten out by Jacob Jordaens circa 1640

Now Zeus placed in Pandora’s keeping a jar (which over time has become a box for some reason) with strict instructions not to open it, but of course she couldn’t restrain herself and she did indeed open it, to the ruin of all. All the evils of the world came pouring out of this box once opened and despite Pandora’s efforts to reseal it, it was too late. The only thing left in the box was Hope, which I find to be quite apropos since hope can be the most elusive of all emotions. But I ask, if Pandora was flawed, didn’t a dude create her based on the decree of another dude? So who really was responsible for the orchestration of man’s downfall? Can you blame Frankenstein for being Frankenstein? Or does the blame really lie with the mad doctor who created him? Hello, Zeus. It seems to me that Zeus had it out for mankind from the get go, and Pandora was a more than suitable scapegoat. Diabolical if you ask me.

I do find the antiquated theory that women seem to be responsible for everything that has gone wrong with the world a very interesting one indeed. Even more interesting is the counter-theory that all these women being responsible for original sin myths and fables are created by men and are the direct result of man’s fear and envy for the many gifts and talents of women — one of them being the miraculous power to give life. These theories have been debated hotly amongst many interested in such things, and it is a debate that will most likely continue to be debated as long as there is a battle amongst the sexes.

Pandora by John William Waterhouse 1896

Yet consider this, a wise man once said, “When you point the finger of blame there are always three fingers pointing right back at you.” Funny how that works, don’t you think? So does that mean that the root of all evil question needs to be reexamined? Anyone can see that the fight started between Zeus and Prometheus , even if you refer back to Hesiod’s Theogony . (BTW, is it just me who thinks Hesiod really seemed to have it out for Pandora? One can presume that Hesiod did not seem to hold women in very high esteem.) In the Greek Tragedy Prometheus Bound it is deduced that Prometheus does seem to be responsible for man’s plight, but that tidbit seems to have been overlooked. Blaming Pandora seems to be much more intriguing.

Yet there is another take on the origins and evolution of Pandora. There is an antediluvian belief that she is all-giving, a fecund and nurturing Earth Mother, that she is life. Isn’t it interesting then that James Cameron would name his lush Na’vi planet Pandora? The Pandora of myth was ‘a beautiful evil’. Here again on Pandora the planet we find the concept of dangerous beauty. It was no coincidence that Cameron would name one of the most memorable planets in fantasy fiction after this mythic personage.

James Cameron's beautiful Pandora.

Even though the Pandora of myth loosed all evils upon mankind, isn’t the fact that she managed to retain hope within that vaunted chest a kind of balance against those woes? And wasn’t Eywa all about balance? Eywa, the Na’vi’s female deity and mother of all things on their magnificent planet is at once both terrible and beautiful. Balance.

Jake asks for the help of Eywa.

As in the myth, the humans do indeed open a Pandora’s box of wonder and peril when they happen upon this planet and begin mixing the DNA of the indigenous with that of mankind. At points in the movie it does seem like there is no hope and that there is nothing left but to despair. Yet in the end Eywa, the All Mother and goddess of the Na’vi, bestows the great gift of her mercy and enables Jake to bring his new people to victory. And isn’t that the hope for help that Jake prayed for?

What’s your take on the original sin theory and the fall of man? Do you think Pandora is responsible? Who do you think is at fault? Do you know any other original sin myths? Regardless of whose to blame for the fall of man, the Pandora myth makes for interesting film fodder.

Avatar

Visually stunning, amazing, spectacular, mindbending, stellar, epic, absorbing, and did I say visually stunning? Amazing? Spectacular? Mindbending? Stellar? Epic? Absorbing? Well, I just cannot begin to tell you just how much I enjoyed this movie. I haven’t enjoyed a movie this much since LOTR and believe you me, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LOTR. Avatar has become in a matter of hours my second favorite movie of all time. And that is saying alot. It is a totally exhilarating 3D experience so real you’ll forget where you are and is not to be missed! So get ready, because I am about to wax poetic and totally indulge my sci-fi/fantasy lovin’ self.

James Cameron has done it again, giving us something so memorable, so believable, so fantastical that you really believe there is a world named Pandora that glows with a breath taking phosphorescence by night, peopled by the peaceful, towering yet graceful and catlike Na’vi who coexist in an almost perfect balance with equally terrifying and terrifyingly beautiful creatures. What would it be like to live in a waking dream? Well, this is a story that makes you wonder. Jake Sully, our hero, takes us on an unforgettable adventure where an unimaginable existence is possible.

Sam Worthington is brilliant as Jake Sully, bringing a childlike wonder to his newly awakened avatar, and then in the end making us believe he has the strength of character to redeem himself. Zoe Saldana is captivating, astonishingly beautiful, and full of strength and fierceness — especially when protecting her mate— infusing Neytiri with such a riveting vibrance you can barely take your eyes off her. It was very satisfying to see Sigourney Weaver, who plays Dr. Grace Augustine, in the skin of the alien Na’vi avatar. Even as her avatar her face was recognizable and it felt like coming home, like she had come full circle from her days as a**kicking Ripley. At peace at last. Who could be more perfect to play the Na’vi and nature loving scientist than her? She was delicious. And Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch was a villain extraordinaire. He was absolutely despicable in a most base and vile and detestable way. In a nutshell, he really makes you hate him. Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge (or Parker Selfish more like!) played the money grubbing exec to the tee, and if he had a conscience, he definitely checked it at the door. And nobody plays tough girl with heart like Michelle Rodriguez as the uber pilot with a heart of gold Trudy Chacon. She’s a gal you know can kick some serious a** if she had to and my only complaint was that she went down in a blaze of glory instead of seeing the battle to the end.

Avatar has been compared to Dances With Wolves, but really, other than someone empathizing with a misunderstood people who happen to have something of value that someone else wants, the similarities end there. Somebody once told me that every story has already been told, and Avatar simply tells a story worth telling.

At the heart of this story is “Jakesully’s” and Neytiri’s love story. Love is the catalyst in this movie. It confirms for me yet again the monumental changes and actions that love is capable of igniting and creating. If not for love, the Na’vi would have been doomed. In all the great stories, time and time again, it is love that makes things possible. It allows people of all races to “see“. People who can “see” realize truth, and how can we say full scale annihilation due to greed is ever the way to go? How can that not be seen as clearly wrong? How can the destruction of everything good ever be worthwhile in the end?

Woven within the tapestry of this story is the plight of Earth. Indeed in this distant future, Earth is a barren rock, humans have succeeded in “killing our mother”, and it is a sad, sad thought. So now humans deem the Na’vi to be lesser people, lesser because they seem primitive and simple to the humans in this tale who take whatever they want because they can. And woe to any and all who stand in their way. It is here that the more vile core of greed winds it’s way to the heart of the matter. The Na’vi are situated on a money pit, and the human race wants it. Against mighty war machines of metal and giant mechanical suits of armor, what chance do the Na’vi have with their bows and arrows and their all encompassing belief in the spiritual power of Pandora?

So ensues the battle for survival, and let me tell you my friends, what a battle it is! The action is riveting and filled with nail biting thrills and the terror of war. In fact, all throughout the entire movie there isn’t a single opportunity for one’s mind to wander. The tranquil lulls are enthralling and the sudden excitement is thrilling as we shamelessly watch Jake becoming a Na’vi, living his dream life with convincing realism, doing all the wonderful and freeing things the Na’vi do on a daily basis. It makes Jake long to be his “dreamwalker” avatar and leave the reality of his wheelchair bound body behind. But wouldn’t you if you could dreamwalk like Jake does? Can you imagine bonding with the very earth, the very flora, the very fauna?  I truly understood the meaning of organic watching this movie. Can you imagine what it would be like living in a perfect balanced harmony, happy just to be and respectful of all living things around you? What a wonderful world that would be.

And what a mesmerizing and wonderful movie James Cameron has created. It was more than I expected and everything I hoped that it would be. After seeing Avatar, I felt like I had been a part of something quite magical and beautiful and the three hours passed as if in a dream.

~P.S.~ James Horner scored this movie, and even tho it was reminiscent of some of his other scores, the music for Avatar is very lovely indeed and captures the essence of the joy of Pandora and the Na’vi.