AVATAR’S PANDORA IN BANGKOK

Say what you will of Avatar, James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi epic. Almost a decade since it was released, the film remains the highest-grossing in terms of worldwide box office revenue, with four upcoming sequels and even its own themed area in Disney World, alongside such titans as Star Wars and Marvel. In other words, Avatar is a big deal to a lot of people.

While the release of the first planned sequel is still quite a ways off (the projected date seems to be around December 2020), Lightstorm — the studio behind the films — welcomes you to re-familiarise yourself with the film’s setting with “Avatar: Discover Pandora”, a theme-park-style exhibition that offers an intimate look into the flora, fauna and general way of life on Pandora.

The exhibition recently arrived in Thailand earlier this month at the Mall Bangkapi, where it will continue to be displayed until Sept 3. Tickets cost 490 baht per adult, while children’s tickets cost 390 baht. There are also various discount packages for students, elders, the disabled and families. Famous Thai dessert café After You will also be offering special-themed desserts.

Previously held in Taiwan, where it pulled in more than 300,000 visitors over a 90-day period, the exhibition is filled with life-size replicas of wild Pandoran animals along with interactive exhibitions and small games (some even involving smell) designed to immerse guests in the sights and sounds of the fictional planet.

“Two years ago, we began to explore the idea of allowing people to walk into Pandora, because so many of our fans have always expressed their desire to go back to that wonderful planet,” said Cathy Franklin, head of franchise development at Lightstorm. “This is our opportunity to bring the franchise to life, for anyone who is interested in Avatar, science or just a good time in general.”

While most film-based exhibitions of this nature focus mainly on exhibiting props and behind-the-scenes information, Avatar — being largely made in CGI — does not possess the wealth of physical props most films normally would. According to Franklin, the exhibition is also a chance for fans of the film to experience its wonders in an actual form.

“This is the opportunity for us to make all these things physical and tangible, and let you go someplace that was really in your imagination,” she said.

“People can come and learn about how we relate to Pandora, and how Pandora relates to Earth. So they won’t just leave with a better understanding of the world of Avatar, but of Earth as well.”

Divided into 10 zones, each focusing on a different aspect of Pandora or the Earthborn Avatar Project, the exhibition not only brings the plants and wildlife of Pandora, but the science behind them.

These can range from biological-anthropological information on animals to the explanation for the floating Hallelujah Mountains.

“Jim Cameron and the team really did an outstanding job when they made the film, which was largely based on real science,” said Robin Stapley, vice-president of design and creative for GEC, the company responsible for designing and constructing the exhibition.

“I’m not saying that has made the research for this exhibition any easier, just that a lot of the work was already done.”

Upon entering through what seems like a spaceship portal, visitors are ushered into a small space where a staff member speaks over a video primer of sorts made up of footage from the film. After that, the first several exhibitions feature the flora and fauna of Pandora, as well as the local Na’ Vi and their culture. Other exhibits highlight the floating Hallelujah Mountains and the Tree of Souls, while another heavily features the robot suits used by the human soldiers. Each exhibit features highly detailed, studio-level replicas of props and animals, as well as interactive activities like a camera that translates your face into a Na’ Vi.

“We are very excited about the four planned sequels for Avatar, but we are just as excited to bringing Avatar to the world while we’re waiting,” says Franklin.

“We hope this can be an exciting event for Bangkok, one that brings in visitors from other places as well.”