Avatar

This is our last movie in our summer series where plants have a starring role in the movie. This time it is the 2009 movie, Avatar. This sci-fi movie takes place on the moon Pandora, where a corporation is interested in mining valuable resources at the expense of the indigenous humanoid population, the Na’ vi, and the natural environment. A military presence enables the corporation to proceed with mining. Marine Jake Sully infiltrates the native population, embedded in a genetically-built Na’ vi, to gather information. Conflict ensues as he falls in love with one of the Na’ vi, and sees life from the Na’ vi perspective.

Movie poster for James Cameron's, Avatar

Say what you will about the plot, 3-D, character stereotypes, and storytelling, you have to admire the botany. The plants are varied and imaginative, and seem to ring true (a University of California, Redlands botanist consulted). The mysticism may be hard for some to take, but science is finding that nature is interconnected, and that some trees do “communicate” chemically, especially where their roots have grafted together. You may not agree with the movie's characterization of nature, but at least check out the botany! Take a look: http://youtu.be/GBGDmin_38E.

Over the last month we have taken a look at a few movies where plants play a key role. We’ve seen plants control humans, attack humans, defend themselves and their world against humans, and even live in harmony with humans. Sometimes the science is a little dubious, sometimes the science is recognizable. Typically the movies tell us more about ourselves than about the botanical world – our fears, our failings, our hopes, and our imagination.