20 Secrets in Avatar You Probably Missed on Your First Watch
Revisiting James Cameron’s captivating classic uncovers some fascinating details. It doesn’t seem like 13 years have passed since Avatar was released. This film defied all odds to win over critics and earn Oscars. Cameron recently released a 4K remaster in cinemas as a reminder of how beautiful and well-crafted the film is. Many will revisit it before December’s sequel, no matter if they have seen the movie in cinemas. They will undoubtedly discover a wealth of hidden details they had completely missed.
Avatar is many great things. However, there are some criticisms of its lack of originality. Still, Cameron obsesses over every aspect of Pandora and its living creatures, making it one of the most detailed blockbuster movies ever made. It’s incredible to see that so many of these flourishes will be taken for granted by most viewers if they return to the movie. And also – what to expect from the sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water.
30. All The Animals On Pandora Have Six Limbs
You’d be hard-pressed to miss one thing among the many intricately designed Pandora creatures: six limbs. This renders Pandora’s wildlife all-hexapods. However, scientists have pointed out that six limbs are a common characteristic of insects and wouldn’t make sense in real life.
Fun fact: Many fans speculate that the lemur-like creature that we briefly see on Pandora at the beginning of the film may be an evolutionary “missing link,” as its characteristics appear to split the differences between the two.
29. The RDA Mess Hall Is Shaped Like An American Flag
Even the casual viewer can see that Avatar is a subtle critique of American imperialism. The Resources Development Administration (RDA), which serves as the film’s cartoonishly evil villain and is determined to mine Pandora for every ounce of Unobtanium, is the film’s most prominent character. Cameron also makes this point clearer if he gives the opening speech of Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) in the RDA mess hall before the soldiers leave for Pandora.
The wide shot of Quaritch speaking bears a striking resemblance to the American flag striped behind it. To clarify the point, if you examine the metal sheet at the top-left corner, you will see that it has the number 50 written on it. This is the 50 US states. This is easy to overlook, given Quaritch’s engaging speech. It is one of the few subtle thematic elements throughout the movie.
28. Tom Sully’s Unconvincing Corpse
Avatar opens with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) learning about Tom’s death. We also briefly see Tom’s body being prepared for cremation. The first shot shows James Cameron clearly having Sam Worthington play the role. However, when we move to the overhead shot, Worthington is bafflingly swapped out for a dummy who looks nothing like him.
Although the shot is only for a few seconds, it is easy to miss on an initial view. However, it has become a prominent feature after many years of repeated viewings. Worthington could have sat down and played the corpse. Was he busy the day before? This shot may have been added after Worthington was unavailable.
27. There’s A Random Sock Flying Around
Avatar’s first sight is Jake being thawed from cryo-sleep with seemingly hundreds of others. While your eyes are likely on Jake floating to his locker in zero gravity, you will see something bizarre.
A random sock floating through the shot just behind Jake’s head for a good amount of time, but because it shares the same cool, blue color as the rest, it blends seamlessly into the background if you aren’t looking. Presumably, someone on board the ship experienced a wardrobe malfunction. They won’t be getting their socks back.