Mastery

Mastery isn’t a destination.

Work while they sleep.

Study while they party.

Save while they spend.

Live like they dream.

It’s an every day journey, a way of living.

Avatar – the Same Villain?

There will be four Avatar sequels to Avatar. That’s exciting. But I can’t wrap my head around having the same villain in all four movies. Stephen Lang will be reprising his role as the tough sumbitch Colonel Miles Quaritch, that much is confirmed. But why?

I don’t see the appeal of having the same villain in four movies. Granted, Cameron is taking his cue from Peter Jackson in his aim for shooting all four movies with one overarching story a la Lord of the Rings style, but I think it’s a mistake. James Cameron, who can defeat his own blockbuster achievements, is the right man to pull something like that off. And he has enlisted four additional screenwriters to help him on Avatar II, III, and IV. There must be a good reason for this, I hope. But I’m skeptical.

Stephen Lang was a great villain in Avatar, but we know that Colonel Quaritch was killed in battle when he tried to snuff out Jake Sully. He took two in the chest from Neytiri’s bow, effectively ending his life. Will Cameron resort to the ol’ “unless you saw him die, he didn’t really die” tactic?

Cameron explained it this way:

“Steven was so memorable in the first film, we’re privileged to have him back. I’m not going to say exactly HOW we’re bringing him back, but it’s a science fiction story, after all. His character will evolve into really unexpected places across the arc of our new three-film saga. I really look forward to working with such a gifted actor, who’s also become a good friend.”

So, it’s science fiction you say, eh? Maybe it was a clone. The Colonel had survived Pandora long enough with beauty marks to show – three scars to the head – that he learned to have safeguards in place. I hope we don’t get cheated here. It feels cheap to have the same villain back, again and gain. Yes. All four movies, can you believe it?

I would rather a new villain appear. Let’s follow Jake Sully and Neytiri, and the whole Na’Vi as they encounter new challenges, either more humans arriving with new dangers or threats from indigenous warlords or beasts.

Become the Person You Want to Be

Think a lot on what you want to be or what you want. Act like this person, think like this person. Make decisions like this person. Consider how they approach problems, and find solutions, and teach or help. What kind of advice would they give? If you’re not armed with that kind of advice, learn the subject.

See yourself as this person. Like the things they like and eat the food they do. Make their friends, your friends. Introduce yourself like this person.

Walk like this person. Have this person’s posture. Wear this person’s clothes.

You can’t wait for this to happen, you must take action. Every day, make a deliberate effort to shape yourself into the kind of person you want to be.

What Does It Mean to Grow Up?

Someone asked me recently when it was that I felt I grew up.

She was concerned with her teenage son, DJ. DJ loves everything fictional from fantasy to sci-fi, in games, movies, books, etc. He especially loves Lord of the Rings, Deadpool, and going to comicons. This makes her worried because he’s reaching the age where she’s trying to have a discussion about his next step after high school. There’s been talk about joining the US Armed Forces, or attending a college or university, I think I recall something even about a firefighting career. DJ is undecided about his future and is evidently content with living in the present rather than putting effort into steering his path towards a bright, lucrative future. No doubt. And not entirely unique to him.

Understandably, DJ’s mother is very preoccupied with this and wants him to grow up. Our discussion about this was mostly her fretting over the way he spends his time sketching heroes, playing video games, and keeping up with the current vein of super hero movies.

“So, when did you feel you finally grew up?”

Continue reading “What Does It Mean to Grow Up?”