Why are the avatar blue?

Answer 1

The indigenous race to the moon Pandora are called the Na'vi, which means "the people."

In Hebrew the word means "prophet" which is to give the impression that this race has "divine wisdom".

Note the significance of the name chosen for the planet as well.

The movie actually shows the Earth people as totally idiotic and unable to use the technology that they have. If the Earth people were really interested in "destroying" the Na'vi (and were as ruthless as claimed), they could have just dropped an asteroid on the site of the "Unobtainium" and mined the devastated area with no resistance.

Given the cloning technology they could have appeared as the "gods" of the natives and had them give the metal as a donation.

They could also have dug the mine from the side with no conflict involved whatsoever.

The final scene (that was not shown) should have been a meeting at Earth Headquarters in which the Earth leaders discuss the fact that the plan was a success and that the natives have now been given the push needed to start them on the way to reaching space. When they finally reach space, they would be convinced that the "Earth people" had died out because of the lack of "unobtainium" and that the people that they do meet are friendly and would be able to act as their peers. They would also have learned the lesson required to create a civilization while maintaining proper control and avoiding some of the possible mistakes. Having had an outside enemy, they would be more likely to stay unified.

Note the name for the magic metal was chosen to hint that it did not really exist.

Answer 2

It's their race, they live on a completely different planet and are like twice our size.

Answer 3

Because they're not 'people', they're Na'vi

Answer 4

They are called The Na'vi.

Answer 5

because James Cameron likes blue