sob sob* “I can’t take it anymore”, says the obsessive movie watcher.
A few days ago I wrote a blog about the ultra immersive experience of the new Real D 3D and the fantastical world of Avatar.
While I was drawn into the action in a way I had never imagined, a few movie goers have taken the “alternate reality” a step further and are feeling Avatar movie withdrawals. Yes, like a frigging druggie coming off the crack!
Avatar depression: it’s the real deal.
Avatar depression, Avatar blues, 3D cold turkey…I’ve heard it all in the past few days. The fact of the matter is that a very large percentage of the people who go to experience Avatar in 3D, have a hard time adjusting once they leave the cinema.
While you may raise a quizzical eyebrow at the idea of being so fully sucked into a 3D world, for many people the 3D world of Pandora represents a utopian world that we will never experience here on Earth. Likewise, we will never be able to run like the Navi or fly on amazing reptilian beasts.
For many people who live a mundane life of “wake up, sit in cubical, go to pub, pass out”, the Avatar escape is something new and unbelievable.
Personally I did not feel the same level of separation that these poor men and women experienced. Yes, it is so real as to be physically tangible…but to be truly depressed?
On a certain level I can understand how they feel, at one point during the movie they were flying over a beautiful part of the Pandoran jungle with beautiful alien landscape. I have to say I sighed inside at how impossible such a world will ever be for me, but then I realise I have a real life to lead and that our reality is filled with just as many wonders…just different ones (3D cinema being one of them LOL).
Supposedly Avatar depression has even driven people to thoughts of suicide.
WoW, I mean seriously, I know the world we live in hasn’t the wonders of an alien world, but to feel such “lack” as to contemplate death? There are some seriously sad people out there!
Getting out there and turning off your damn TV screens is my home remedy to you.
This world of ours may be ravaged by greed and insane population growth. However there is still amazing beauty out there to experience. Life is abundant enough to saturate yourself in it a thousand times over.
Obsession over a movie, no matter how good, is rather sick. In a way you are turning your back on your own humanity and the life your parents gave you. It’s up to you to make the very most of it.
Take up surfing or mountain climbing…you will soon forget all about James Cameron and his magic ball of tricks 
Avatar depression: beat it with the BIG stick of reality!
Duncs.
Duncan,
I do agree with you whole heartedly.
Up until I read the lower portion of your post I was already drafting my response as to how those Avatar addicts should try mountain biking or just a walk in the wilderness.
I also interpreted Cameron’s movie as a fable on how we should actually do just that, get out onto our own amazing planet’s surface and *see* it of all the infinite amazingness it is. Then learn to preserve it.
Um, sorry Simon that last post was me (Duncan) not Mehul