Special effects allow you to do things you can't do in real life. The better your special effects, the more believable you can make those things. You fairly mention a couple of problems with the effects of this movie, but the fact remains that it was still one of the most realistic looking CGI movies ever. If you don't agree with that, you're definitely in the minority. Not much else I can say on that point, though. Special effects are important for a reason, but the effects actually done are subject to individual opinion.



It was never "fleshy human vs giant blue monster," though. There'd be nothing heroic about a 1v1, in-the-skin fight. It IS heroic to dismantle a power-suit controlled by a fleshy human, though, and the same principle holds right on up the technological line. As to the environment, the humans certainly bested their own environment (so much so that they can send people billions of miles across the universe), so I don't see why they should be the underdogs in an alien one.

All those words aside though, are you really trying to say that the humans were the underdogs? Really? I feel silly even arguing this point.



Firstly, unless I remember incorrectly, the smug narrator was the main character. Of course that was his stance. Secondly, this point contradicts your last. If the humans are the underdogs, why is it wrong for the Na'avi to realistically think that they won? The answer to this is what negates this argument of yours: "the humans" were not "the united peoples of earth." It wasn't even "a government." We weren't at war with them. The humans on Pandora were a small commercial operation with a force of mercenaries to protect them.

The mercenaries, obviously, were defeated, and several billion future-dollars worth of equipment utterly destroyed. That's to say nothing of the cost of sending an expedition of that size across the universe in the first place, at a time when energy is at a premium. Given such fantastic losses, the parent company might not have the resources to make a second go of it, particularly since they'd know the second force would have to be even better armed. Other companies might or might not have the resources. If they had them, they might decide to search other planets instead of risking Pandora again. Presumably in an age when we can travel the universe, other planets with resources have been discovered.

TL;DR: The Na'avi obviously could not destroy the combined might of the human race. Their resistance might well have dissuaded future visitation attempts, however, which is certainly a win for them. Keep in mind that a porcupine doesn't have to defeat a dog, it just has to make its attack too costly.



He didn't commune with their nature-goddess any better than they could. Natiri (or whatever) explained that the goddess doesn't take sides, only protects the balance of life. Presumably, a tribal war ending in four or five Na'avi taking arrows doesn't upset the balance. The destruction of a Home tree, though, and the indiscriminate slaughter of hundreds of natives by something completely alien, probably does.

As to the rest of this paragraph, a continuation of the previous argument, I'll make one more point. The collection of mercenaries and pencil pushers that invaded may not have been sanctioned by the government whatsoever. It's entirely possible that they set out just looking for other worlds with resources. They might have found the planet and not yet been able to tell people back on earth. Even if they did tell people back on earth, the government might not have yet been involved. When they get back with stories of intelligent natives, the government might prohibit further involvement, or limit it, or whatever. Things of this nature are pretty common in sci-fi books.

So, my arguments:

1) Suffering fantastic losses often dissuades companies from pursuing a venture. If this is the case, Na'avi win.

2) An informed government might prohibit the destruction of Na'avi life and culture. Na'avi win.



First, the "bomb from orbit." Why in the world would a transport ship have weapons capabilities? Our space shuttles certainly don't. Maybe this would have been feasible and maybe not, but I don't think it requires much suspension of disbelief to assume "not." And furthermore, it was stated that "a select few humans were allowed to stay." Maybe this means only good guys. Or maybe it includes ten or twenty hostages. Bomb us (just for money, mind you, you're in no danger up there) and you kill your commanders.

Your other argument makes a little more sense. History does indeed show a certain amount of revenge fighting, or whatever. We're not just talking a hit to the quarterly reports, though. There's not a company on earth right now that could send 500ish people + advanced weaponry as far as the moon. Presumably it's easier in the future, but the distance is also far greater. Losing them was, in all probability, completely debilitating. They wouldn't have the money for revenge, and no one else would care. The government might, sure, but they might well protect the Na'avi, too. They're not really a threat, after all, and are probably some of the first aliens ever found.

In summary, the events of this movie aren't as unbelievable as you make them sound. It's not hard to believe that a force of some 5-10 thousand Na'avi + creatures defeated 200 or so mercenaries. Maybe arrows won't go through windows, but they could have dropped rocks in those absurdly exposed rotors. Whatever.

It's also not hard to believe that defeating a force like this could earn the Na'avi peace. Corporations might not have the resources to try again, or governments might prohibit involvement upon learning of what happened. Anyway, you see what I mean? I'm not trying to argue what WOULD have happened, I'm just trying to say "it's not that far fetched."