Unobtainium is used in science and engineering for a material that can meet requirements but is too expensive, yet to be discovered or inaccessible by any means.
That was their point. It’s a sci-fi trope, a stand-in term that describes a thing that doesn’t exist, and Cameron decided nah, it’s not a stand-in term anymore, that’s just what this blue stuff is called. Most fictional media names it Adamantine, or Vibranium, or Stellarium, or something.
I think that’s part of the problem. It’s not a joke, it’s played completely straight. That is the name in universe of the substance. If this was a comedy named SpaceBalls 2: Pocahontas in Space, sure, that would be a cute and funny detail. But it is an action adventure drama. It’s completely out of place and displays a complete lack of sci-fi creativity.
That was their point. It’s a sci-fi trope, a stand-in term that describes a thing that doesn’t exist, and Cameron decided nah, it’s not a stand-in term anymore, that’s just what this blue stuff is called. Most fictional media names it Adamantine, or Vibranium, or Stellarium, or something.
I thought that was the joke? Someone with a sense of humour names it that and there’s people unironically calling it unobtanium.
I think that’s part of the problem. It’s not a joke, it’s played completely straight. That is the name in universe of the substance. If this was a comedy named SpaceBalls 2: Pocahontas in Space, sure, that would be a cute and funny detail. But it is an action adventure drama. It’s completely out of place and displays a complete lack of sci-fi creativity.