Plot
In 2154, the RDA corporation is mining Pandora, a lush, Earth-like moon of the gas giant Polyphemus in the Alpha Centauri system, some 4.4 light years away from earth.[16] Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), the administrator, employs former marines as mercenaries to provide security. The humans aim to exploit Pandora’s reserves of a valuable mineral called unobtanium, which is worth an estimated $20M per kilogram back on Earth.
Pandora is inhabited by the Na’vi, a paleolithic species of sapient humanoids with feline characteristics.[17] Physically stronger and taller than humans, the indigenes have sparkling blue skin and live in harmony with Nature, worshiping a mother goddess called Eywa.
Humans cannot breathe Pandora’s atmosphere for long without passing out and dying. In order to move about Pandora, human scientists have created human-Na’vi hybrids called avatars, which are controlled by genetically matched human operators. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic former marine, is recruited to Pandora as a last-minute replacement of his twin brother, who was trained to be an avatar operator but killed in a random mugging before he could report to Pandora. Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), the head of the Avatar Program, considers Sully an inadequate replacement for his brother, who had undergone three years of training for the job, relegating Sully initially to a bodyguard role.
While Jake escorts Augustine and biologist Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) on an exploratory mission in their avatar forms, the group is attacked by a large predator, and Jake becomes separated and lost. Attempting to survive the night in Pandora’s dangerous jungles, he is rescued by Neytiri (Zoë Saldaña), a female Na'vi. Neytiri brings Jake back to Hometree, which is inhabited by Neytiri’s clan, the Omaticaya. After encountering initial hostility from the clan, Mo'at (C. C. H. Pounder), the Na'vi shaman and Neytiri's mother, shows interest in this first meeting with a warrior "Dream-walker" (the term they call the Avatars), and she instructs her daughter to teach him their ways.
Meanwhile, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), leader of the security forces for RDA has his own plans for Sully. Quaritch promises Jake his "real legs" back in exchange for intelligence about the natives and what it will take to make them abandon Hometree, which rests above a large deposit of unobtanium.
Over the course of three months, Jake grows close to Neytiri and the Omaticaya and begins to prefer the life he lives through the avatar. Jake's attachment gradually erodes his loyalty toward RDA's agenda. He is initiated into the Omaticaya through a number of tests, and (having passes those tests) he and Neytiri choose each other as mates. Jake's change of loyalty is revealed when he disables a bulldozer's cameras as it destroys the tribe's sacred Tree of Voices. Col. Quaritch disconnects Jake from his avatar and presents Selfridge and Augustine with a vlog in which Jake admits that his mission is fruitless; the humans have nothing the Omaticaya desire, and the latter will never abandon Hometree. Selfridge is convinced that negotiations will fail and orders Hometree's destruction.
Augustine argues that the destruction of Hometree could affect the vast bio-botanical neural network that all Pandoran organisms are connected to, and Selfridge gives Jake one hour to convince the Na’vi to leave Hometree. When he reveals his mission to the Omaticaya, Neytiri accuses him of betraying them, which results in Jake and Augustine's imprisonment. Jake’s time runs out and Quaritch’s forces destroy Hometree, killing Eytucan (Wes Studi), Neytiri's father and clan chief, and many others. Jake and Augustine are disconnected from their avatars and detained for treason along with Norm. Trudy Chacon (Michelle Rodriguez), a security force pilot who is disgusted by the violence, breaks them out but Augustine is wounded by Quaritch. With Augustine dying, Jake turns to the Omaticaya for help. To regain their trust, he tames the Toruk, an immensely powerful flying beast that only five Na'vi have ever tamed. Jake flies to the Omaticaya, who have gathered at the sacred Tree of Souls, and pleads with Mo'at to heal Augustine. They attempt to transplant her soul into her avatar, but her injuries are too severe.
With the assistance of Neytiri and Tsu'Tey (Laz Alonso), the new leader of the Omaticaya, Jake assembles thousands of Na'vi from other clans. Jake prays to Eywa to intercede on behalf of the Na'vi in the coming battle. Quaritch, seeing the Na'vi's growing strength, orders a preemptive strike on the Tree of Souls; as it is the center of Na'vi religion and culture, its destruction would leave the Na'vi too demoralized to continue resisting.
As the humans attack, the Na'vi fight back but suffer heavy casualties, among them Tsu'Tey and Trudy. As the Na'vi are on the verge of defeat, the Pandoran wildlife suddenly attacks the humans, overwhelming them. Neytiri interprets this as Eywa answering Jake's prayer.
Jake destroys the main bomber before it can reach the Tree of Souls. However, Quaritch escapes in an AMP (Amplified Mobility Platform) suit, finds the avatar interface pod where Jake's human body is located and attacks it, exposing Jake to Pandora's atmosphere. Neytiri kills Quaritch and saves Jake, seeing his human form. With the attack repelled, Jake and Neytiri reaffirm their love, repeating the phrase "I see you.", a culturally significant phrase for the Na'vi.
The humans are expelled from Pandora, while Jake and his closest co-workers remain. Jake is seen wearing the insignia of the Omaticaya leader. The film ends with Jake's soul being transplanted into his Na'vi avatar.
Cast and characters
Humans
Sam Worthington as Corporal Jake Sully, a disabled Marine who becomes part of the Avatar Program. Cameron cast the Australian actor after searching the world for promising young actors, preferring relative unknowns to keep the budget down. Worthington auditioned twice early in development,[5] and he has signed on for possible sequels.[18] Cameron felt that because Worthington had not done a major film, he was "game for anything", giving the character "a quality that is really real. He has that quality of being a guy you'd want to have a beer with, and he ultimately becomes a leader who transforms the world".[19]
Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine, a botanist and head of the Avatar Program. She mentors Jake Sully, and was an advocate of peaceful relations with the Na'vi, setting up a school to teach them English.[20] Weaver dyed her hair red for the part.[21] The character was named "Shipley" at one point, a reference to the character she played in the Alien series of films.[22] Augustine reminded Weaver of Cameron, being "very driven and very idealistic".[23]
Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy Chacon, a Marine fighter pilot assigned to support the Avatar Program. Cameron had wanted to work with Rodriguez since seeing her in Girlfight.[24]
Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge, the corporate administrator for the mining operation and one of the film's primary antagonists.[25]
Joel David Moore as Norm Spellman, a biologist who studies plant and nature life as part of the Avatar Program. He arrives on Pandora at the same time as Jake Sully, and assumes control of an avatar.
Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch, the ruthless head of SecFor, the mining operation's security detail, and another main antagonist. Lang had unsuccessfully auditioned for a role in Cameron's Aliens (1986); the director remembered Lang and cast him in Avatar.[24] Michael Biehn, who was in Aliens, read the script and watched some of the 3D footage with Cameron,[26] but was ultimately not cast in the role.
Dileep Rao as Dr. Max Patel, a scientist who works in the Avatar Program.[27]
Matt Gerald as SecFor Corporal Lyle Wainfleet.[28]
Na'vi
Zoë Saldaña as Neytiri, princess of the Omaticaya, the Na'vi clan central to the story, who is attracted to Jake because of his bravery.[29] The character, like all the Na'vi, was created using performance capture, and is entirely computer generated.[30] Saldaña has also signed on for potential sequels.[18]
C. C. H. Pounder as Mo'at, the Omaticaya's spiritual leader, Neytiri's mother, and consort to clan leader Eytucan.[31]
Laz Alonso as Tsu'Tey, heir to the chieftainship of the tribe, and Neytiri's betrothed, prior to the events of the film.
Wes Studi as Eytucan, the leader of the Omaticaya, the husband of Mo'at and Neytiri's father.
Peter Mensah as Akwey, leader of a plains clan of Na'vi.
