Death of Hometree

One of the most powerful scenes of Avatar, in my opinion, is the complete destruction of Hometree. The music takes a very solemn and ominous tone as the Omaticaya watch their beloved tree fall at the hands of the humans. It effects our mood entirely; from a revved up and ready-for-battle feeling, to a feeling of misery and vulnerability. Immediately, you can feel the intensity of the scene from a mere change in music. The view point is that of the Omaticaya-helpless against the weaponry of the humans. We see the human's aircrafts enclosing in on the tree, and, without spoken word, one can foresee the atrocity about to unfold on Pandora. As the tree goes up in flames and plummets to the ground, the audience can sense the inner turmoil and disbelief of the Omaticaya. A look of awe and pain spreads from face to face and a realization of just how cruel and vile the humans are sinks in. By presenting the scene from the ground level, it is easier to feel overwhelmed by the power, which is a good thing for the cinematic experience. From an environmental standpoint, this scene provides a message about just how fragile the natural world can be. It also shows just how great of an impact we as humans can have on nature. The home tree is the very center of the lives of the Omaticaya, and the destruction of it is catastrophic. The lives of the people are drastically changed, and not for the better. This could be compared to modern-day deforestation. By destroying forests and other natural resources, we are directly affecting the lives of many different organisms. Usually these effects are negative because we are destroying their habitats. This scene is a prime example of people taking the environment for granted, and doing as they please without considering the lasting effects.