I saw James Cameron’s new film Avatar this weekend. It’s wonderful.

Much has already been said about the film. Response is mostly positive. Of course, the film has left some fans disappointed as well.

I fall into the group of fans who loved the movie with a passion, and I’d like to see it again some time. Here some personal thoughts of mine that I hope are not just a restatement of the above consensuses…

You can’t run away from trouble. There ain’t no place that far. - Uncle Remus

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Don’t do it!” He said, “Nobody loves me.” I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?”

He said, “Yes.” I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?” He said, “A Christian.” I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, “Me, too! What franchise?” He said, “Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?” He said, “Northern Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”

He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.” I said, “Me, too!”

Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.” I said, “Die, heretic!” And I pushed him over.

- Emo Phillips

In your most painful moments – when only the sorrowful notes of a song are audible – who comforts you?

Steve Jobs gave a small private presentation about the iTunes Music Store to some independent record label people. My favorite line of the day was when people kept raising their hand saying, “Does it do [x]?”, “Do you plan to add [y]?”. Finally Jobs said, “Wait wait — put your hands down. Listen: I know you have a thousand ideas for all the cool features iTunes could have. So do we. But we don’t want a thousand features. That would be ugly. Innovation is not about saying yes to everything. It’s about saying NO to all but the most crucial features.”

- Derek Sivers

A mini-fridge and low shelves with dishes so that little kids can get themselves snacks (with parent permission if that’s your thing).

What is the secret to internal invincibility?

Do you seek the wisdom of the Survivor but fear (and therefore avoid) the hardships he must survive?

You can’t shake it. The feelings of suspense, warmth, anger, sadness, and terror are so strong in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire that I was on a post-film high for hours after the showing.

What makes Slumdog Millionaire different from other Dickensian “journey” films is that Jamal’s story is presented with such intense sights and sounds that you are transported to India and are therefore witness to a wide array of imagery unseen on this side of the world.

The pawns, man – in the Game – they get capped quick. They be out the Game early.

Unless they some smart-ass pawns.

- The Wire