Comments on: Deconstructing Avatar – Part 1 of the Story

By: Scoke

Scoke — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:18:42 +0000

I think the alien species the avatars copy is the Na’vi, not the Naveed.

Loving the deconstruction posts. Keep them coming.

By: paisano

paisano — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:15:49 +0000

Love the deconstruction series Larry. Found you via Darren Rowse. Have you ever read STEAL THIS PLOT? Great book for any writer. It covers the finite number of plots that exists and how everything’s been done before, it’s just the spin we put on it as writers that make it our own.
For example, the book compares the legendary Moby Dick with Jaws…and the comparisons were hilarious. The revenge seeking sea captain vs the great white fish….blah blah blah.

I will come back to this blog often. Good stuff sir.

Pai

By: Larry

Larry — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:40:19 +0000

@Martijn — that’s a good observation, this story is indeed a recycling of a very basic mythic fable. It’s a messiah story, a reluctant savior thing. Nothing wrong with that, it’s the timeless nature of this prototypical concept that prompts its return, over and over. We’ll see it agian, and in another setting.

By: Jeannie Ruesch

Jeannie Ruesch — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:50:38 +0000

One of the “ah ha” moments I’ve gotten out of your story structure series is understanding what Part 1 is all about. Understanding how all those first scenes through Plot Point 1 are setting up the world, the stakes, the characters, etc for the “real” story to begin.

Can’t wait to read the rest. And I’m going to totally spoil this movie for myself, but I plan on reading all of this before watching it.

By: Monica

Monica — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:47:30 +0000

Thanks so much for this, Larry.

Seeing the plot points identified, stakes identified (why is that one so hard for me?) – and what they are NOT – helps so much. I should have a much easier time in identifying these when I try again to break down a movie on my own.

Plus, it’s great to hear your take on Avatar. Everyone else is putting in their two cents. Might as well put in yours – and yours is actually _helpful_.

By: Martijn Groeneveld

Martijn Groeneveld — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:43:23 +0000

Hi Larry,

I must admit I love deconstructed stories. I’m a person who learns by example, so I’m looking forward to the next post. And I’m a sci fi buff ever since I saw Star Wars as a kid, so…

I had another question about Avatar concerning not the structure of the story, but I think it’s about theme. Isn’t Avatar in its essence the same movie as Dances with Wolves, or The Last Samurai?

A man comes to live with a “primitive” people, at first as a spy, or a captive, but his intentions aren’t exactly noble. He then learns starts to appreciate and love the ways of the tribe, hooks up with a local woman and ends up fighting with them against the very people who had sent him in the first place.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

Greetings,
Martijn