Thanator Attack

[ScottWashburn]

When the thanator attacks Jake early in the movie I have to feel that this must have been a pretty unusual event. Grace looked really surprised and Jake's machine gun seemed pretty useless. For that matter, suppose that the thanator had attacked Trudy's helicopter instead of Jake? Wainfleet and Trudy would have been lunch for the thanator! If those beasties were roaming around a lot, the humans would have been much more cautious, I'd have to think. It would be tempting to say that Eywa had sent the thanator there specifically to separate Jake from his friends, but I think that's a bit of a stretch, especially considering just how close the thanator came to killing Jake's avatar.

[Emil]

I wish they kept the scene where the Thanator absolutely destroyed Wynfleet. "Yeah come get s..."(Thanator bites his head off)

[Ja'k Dawsiin]

I wish they kept the scene where the Thanator absolutely destroyed Wynfleet. "Yeah come get s..."(Thanator bites his head off)

^ this...and the utterly savage warcry and snarl from warpainted Warrior Neytiri made me jump off the couch yelling,'HELL YEAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

[Xenolius]

Neytiri and the Thanator killing Wainfleet was a carryover extra from the Project 880 script. In that version Jake straight up beats Quaritch on his own but Jake lets a direwolf pack do the job of finishing him off. I'm sure most people prefer the changes and greater emotional interactions that were in the film.

[Ashen Key]

Hmm, I almost feel like Trudy and Wainfleet would be keeping an eye out anyway, being in the thanator's territory, and would know what to expect - after all, they are both old Pandora hands. Wainfleet could also have more of a chance to aim than poor old Jake who was just firing and hoping.

[ScottWashburn]

Hmm, I almost feel like Trudy and Wainfleet would be keeping an eye out anyway, being in the thanator's territory, and would know what to expect - after all, they are both old Pandora hands. Wainfleet could also have more of a chance to aim than poor old Jake who was just firing and hoping.

Yeah, but even if they were on alert, what could they DO? Those puny little assault rifles aren't going to seriously hurt a thanator ("Don't shoot him, you'll just make him mad") and with the helicopter sitting on the ground with its engines off, even the missiles in the missile pods were useless. If the thanator just appeared out of the forest Trudy and Wainfleet are both dead.

[Ashen Key]

The 'don't shoot' comment was for the Hammerhead, not the thanator - I haven't read anywhere that the thanator has armour. And there is a chance that with a better aim, they could hit the back of the throat, or an eye.

It's a long shot, though, yes.

[ScottWashburn]

The 'don't shoot' comment was for the Hammerhead, not the thanator - I haven't read anywhere that the thanator has armour. And there is a chance that with a better aim, they could hit the back of the throat, or an eye.

It's a long shot, though, yes.

Actually, the "Don't Shoot" comment in my post referred to "Blazing Saddles" and Mongo

[ShavedTailLouie]

Actually, the "Don't Shoot" comment in my post referred to "Blazing Saddles" and Mongo

"Telegraph for Mongo!"

[_Omaticaya_]

Interesting mate, i'm not sure what to think either, but i think it could have been Eywa's will to depart Jake from his group through the Thanator attack, and start his adventure... But as you said, that was close!