the Iconic Floating Mountains

Thomas Souder

The first scene in Avatar in which the audience sees the iconic “floating mountains” is possibly one of the most beautiful uses of CGI to ever reach “the big screen.” At the point where we first see these floating mountains we are overwhelmed with emotions and a sense of the raw beauty of the fictional world. The mountains bear a striking resemblance to the nature scenes we viewed in class and on the Moodle site. The visual appeal of such artwork oftentimes gives the viewer a sense of awe and almost a sense of discovery. It appeals those with curiosity for what may or may not “be out there.” The film as a whole reminds many of childhood imaginations of exploration and discovery. There is a strong desire for me, and likely many other viewers of the film, to discover. For me and many others (likely the same people who go out and “play in the woods” to quote Robin) there is a strong desire for adventure and a strong appreciation for natural beauty. The first floating mountain scene rekindles that childhood imagination for me. The orchestral music that plays during the scene is very intense and gives a stronger sense of the “epicness” of the foreign planet of Pandora. The strings and brass section have soaring tone which reflects the mountains and the emotions evoked in the scene.

The argument that such a beautiful scene makes is, in context with the rest of the film, an argument for the preservation of natural wonders. Throughout the film there is a strong argument made for preservation of the environment; granted in the film the environment is a hostile one in which humans cannot even breathe the air. The fact remains that the film as a whole makes an argument that living in balance with nature is the way that the beings that are vastly superior physically and mentally to humans live. This argument is supported by the vast beauty of the CGI world of “Pandora,” the trees, ponds, waterfalls, rivers, animals and mountains all literally glow with beauty, and this is because the native people have not “killed their mother” like the humans have. The “natural” beauty of this CGI world is exemplified perfectly by the “floating mountains” they are literally shrouded in fog and mystery; the corrupt humans cannot even fly within the mountains because they’re instruments will not function. The film makes an argument that living a life in balance with nature can yield massive benefits for the people and the overall “health” of the world. This argument is beautifully embodied in the “floating mountain” scene.