Avatar: Rambo in Reverse
— Friday, December 18th, 2009 —
If you can get a theater full of people in Kentucky to stand and applaud the defeat of their country in war, then you’ve got some amazing special effects.
I just left opening night of James Cameron’s gazillion-dollar epic film Avatar. The reviews were right. The plot is laughably cliched. And the special effects are the most jaw-dropping you’ve ever seen. What I wasn’t quite ready for was the preachiness of the propaganda.
The medium was George Lucas; the message Che Guevara. At one point in the movie, Southern Seminary student Daniel Patterson turned to me and said, “This is Perelandra meets Jurassic Park.” Yes, and then it became Rambo… in reverse. 
First of all, from the preemptive war talk to the “blood for oil” theme to the napalm in the jungles to the “shock and awe,” the film couldn’t have been less nuanced. The American military was pure evil, while the Pandoran tribespeople were nature-loving, eco-harmonious, wise Braveheart smurf warriors.
Now, when it comes to issues of war and peace, I don’t mind a message to the movie. American citizens can and do disagree about whether Vietnam or the Iraq War were right. Christians disagree about whether these wars were just (and many would argue they were just but unwise).
Some who believe the wars were warranted and just still oppose some of the tactics used. And most who oppose going to war in some of these places, still hope for their country to win those wars once they’re entered.
For this film, there was no argument here, no appeal, no real narrative though. Just propaganda mediated through some “shock and awe” technology.
And in the end, a group of people (including some, I’m sure, who love the counter-propaganda on their local country music station about such things) stood and applauded as the “wicked” U.S. military went down, quite literally, in flames.
Of course, James Cameron is the same man whose moving images and music caused theaters full of “family values” Christians to tear up and cheer two teenagers fornicating in an abandoned car on the RMS Titanic.
Despite my eye-rolling here, I’m not really all that bothered. Propaganda isn’t dangerous, after all, when we know it’s propaganda.
Still, movies of all sort ought to remind us of the power of images, and what they can lead us to think and feel. Wonder how much propaganda we’re latching on to without ever even knowing it’s there?
Official movie poster image courtesy of reelmovienews.com
Thanks, Dr. Moore.
This review is hysterical- and unfortunately, true on many levels. I’ve thought exactly the same thing about Titanic. Looking forward to seeing the film especially after having read this.
@Melissa Fitzpatrick, you will enjoy the special effects. They were truly amazing. I think they could have done two hours of flying through the landscape and the film would have been worth seeing! Probably more worth seeing!
Propaganda I can handle. $300 million worth of science fiction special effects I can’t miss. Thanks for the review… looking forward to it. : )
In total agreement!
When I forgot that Avatar was preaching at me, or that Cameron promised it would “revolutionize” the film industry, I really enjoyed Avatar, especially in 3-D. Otherwise, I got frustrated with the message of the film. It really bothered me that the aliens were obviously based on African tribes.
Thanks for posting this. My son is begging me to take him. I wonder, though, if it’s cliche is just a shortcut to save time on exposition for sfx. Ironman was more nuanced in that there were good and bad elements of the military-industrial complex and that with a change of heart one can use one’s powers for (destructive) good.
Sorry that the plot was a hackney cliche, but then are we watching this movie for plot? The Incredibles used cliche to good effect, parodying it well and making a character-driven family film. Is Cameron subtle enough that he is using the cliche as cliche just so he doesn’t have to bother with a plot and can focus on sfx?
Saw a poster that said, “What lies before us and what lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies directly to our faces.” The title of the poster was “Propaganda”. You are correct in much of this, especially how we probably have NO CLUE how much propaganda is being poured into our minds on a daily basis.
As a US Army vet, I would never pay for a movie based on the idea that one of our own soldiers joins the enemy and fights against his own country and brothers in arms, then is applauded. Does James Cameron cheer for Russia over the US in the Olympics as well? Im sick and tired of mainstream movies portraying the US as a whole and US military as evil.
@Mark Chaney, Agreed. And sickening beyond words.
@Mark Chaney, So you are saying that if the US military is killing an entire race of humanoids for absolutley no reason, then you would support it just because you’re a part of the military?
Thanks Russ, Good review. It was the first (non-kid) movie we’d gone to see in a long time. We were impressed with the visual effects - but didn’t like the cussing or the blatant agenda. Hope you’re doing great! Merry Christmas!
But the American armed-forces were going in to destroy a tribe of people in order to acquire something which did not belong to them in the first place. I hardly think that that is something to be admired. The American soldier who “turned against his country” was defending the weak and oppressed - a godly attribute, no?
The movie mirrored what the English did in coming to America, when it was occupied by Native Americans. I certainly wasn’t cheering for the oppressive and destructive Americans in this movie. And who would? Destroying the homes and lives of people for sordid gain is hardly something to defend.
Since this script was created over 15 years ago, it is hard to imagine that Cameron’s motive was based on a reaction to our place in Iraq. Neither do the events in Avatar mirror-image the events which led up to our place in that country. I’m not seeing the connection.
I see this review as yet another over-reaction by Christians who missed the mark.
@William Birch,
Well then Billy, you should go see Avatar. I bet you would really love it. It would give you two plus more hours to ruminate over all that in horrible and evil about America. Then afterwards you could go hang out at Starbucks and run the country down some more while you sip your 4 dollar cup of coffee and feel morally superior.
Say, can you think of anything good that this country has stood for and represented? Do you suppose that the Christian people of this country have ever done anything good? My 93 year old grandmother would love to show you the tatoo inside her forearm and tell you what she thinks about the US military and how grateful she is that they saved her life. But you probably have a problem with that US military action too.
How about the generosity of this country? How about the schools, hospitals, food deliveries, that have been give at unprecedented rates since this nation was founded.
I wouldnt give James Cameron one thin dime of my money to run down this country and its military while he sits on his yacht that American capitalism purchased for him. I have had it with the entire entertainment industry.
@William Birch, he never said he had a problem with the US military… he said he would have a problem with ANY military (including the US) if they were murdering innocent people for no reason.
Mark,
As a US Army vet, I would never pay for a movie based on the idea that one of our own soldiers joins the enemy and fights against his own country and brothers in arms, then is applauded.
What if the US Army began to oppress and murder innocent people (as is portrayed in this movie)? Hypothetically, what if the US Army began to murder Jews, for example. Would you then “fight against your own country and ‘brothers’ in arms”?
Murdering innocent people is not acceptable in any country - not “even” in the United States of America. Comments such as this one, from one who has yet to see the movie, is what concerns me most about Christians today, especially Southern Baptists. Here there is zeal without knowledge.
@William Birch,
Oh, I completely agree that Americans shouldnt being doing such things and they dont (unfortunately there are isolated incidents of crime, but your going to have that with any large population anywhere in the world with any nation, were all human). Its more that a film was made to portray them that way that I am arguing against.
William Birch:
“Since this script was created over 15 years ago, it is hard to imagine that Cameron’s motive was based on a reaction to our place in Iraq. Neither do the events in Avatar mirror-image the events which led up to our place in that country. I’m not seeing the connection.
I see this review as yet another over-reaction by Christians who missed the mark.”
Really? Try this:
[Quote]
However, it also contains heavy implicit criticism of America’s conduct in the War on Terror…Cameron said yesterday the theme was not the main point of Avatar, but added that Americans had a “moral responsibility” to understand the impact that their country’s recent military campaigns had had.
“We went down a path that cost several hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives. I don’t think the American people even know why it was done. So it’s all about opening your eyes.”
This is where the politics comes in.
The hero is with the Na’vi when the humans attack their homes. The fusillade of gas, incendiary bombs and guided missiles that wreck their ancient habitat is described as “shock and awe”, the term popularised by the US military assault on Baghdad that opened the Iraq war in 2003.
The humans’ military commander declares: “Our survival relies on pre-emptive action. We will fight terror, with terror.” One of the more sympathetic characters preparing to resist the human invasion bemoans the need for “martyrdom”.
After the Na’vi homes collapse in flames the landscape is coated in ash and floating embers in scenes reminiscent of Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks.
Cameron, who was born in Canada, said he had been “surprised at how much it did look like September 11. I didn’t think that was necessarily a bad thing”.
Referring to the “shock and awe” sequence, he said: “We know what it feels like to launch the missiles. We don’t know what it feels like for them to land on our home soil, not in America. I think there’s a moral responsibility to understand that.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/war-on-terror-backdrop-to-james-camerons-avatar/story-e6frg8pf-1225809286903
@steve hays,
Well said, I couldnt have said it better myself.
I like to watch movies for entertainment, but when movies have a liberal political motive (as we have seen a lot of lately with movies made my people that live in la la land), I am completely turned off by them. I completely understand that the movie is fictional, but as previously stated, Cameron did have many political motivations with the movie that were not based on truths.
Also, I hate to get off topic, but multiple people have brought it up, so I felt the need to respond. I also can say with 100% certainty that the US military has not killed hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq. I am not saying that there hasnt been any innocent civilians killed (unfortunately their has been and always will be mistakes in war, etc), but a large percentage of the casualties in Iraq (id safely bet on 95%+) have killed by bathists and al qaeda linked networks (many from Yemen and Iran).
NOTE: I served in Iraq for a year and my brother has been there numerous times so I actually have a good understanding of reality of what is going on over there versus getting information off blogs and so called journalists with agendas.
Thanks for the warning! Perelandra + Jurassic Park? (Is that Eden on Thulcandra at it’s dawn + “you cannot attempt to control nature because it is unpredictable?” Or one mad greedy astronomer + one mad world-dominion-desire-geneticist-and-paleontologist? I think you mean the latter with a Titanic-sized love story added. Pam and I will try to catch it this week.
Have a great Christmas!
Chris,
Well then Billy, you should go see Avatar. I bet you would really love it.
I did see it and loved it. Thank you.
It would give you two plus more hours to ruminate over all that in horrible and evil about America. Then afterwards you could go hang out at Starbucks and run the country down some more while you sip your 4 dollar cup of coffee and feel morally superior.
You are failing to distinguish between a fictionalized view of the American forces in this fictional tale with the American forces as they really are. I assessed the data in the film as it was presented. Why do you suppose that the military had the right to go into that village, destroy the homes of the villagers, and even war against the Nav’i?
I support our troops (and Bush’s - for whom I voted twice - decision to be in Iraq). My reaction to the military action in Avatar would have been the same had Cameron used the British military or any other military in the world.
Say, can you think of anything good that this country has stood for and represented?
Did I state anywhere in my comments that this country is horrible? Or are you vilifying me without having all of the sufficient data necessary for passing a judgment?
Do you suppose that the Christian people of this country have ever done anything good? My 93 year old grandmother would love to show you the tatoo inside her forearm and tell you what she thinks about the US military and how grateful she is that they saved her life. But you probably have a problem with that US military action too.
Nice. So, because I disapprove of the actions of the fictionalized American forces in this film, I am anti-American (or as Hays has ineptly caricatured me: Osama’s little helper)? I appreciate our American military forces around the world. I breathe the free air of this country because of their sacrifice. I do not share Cameron’s worldview spiritually or politically, but was able to enjoy the movie for what it was.
Ok , surprise ,surprise Cameron has an agenda to grind against the US as it represents capitalism and military aggression against the world. All the while benefiting from both of them monetarily and having the freedom to put out a movie that takes a broad swipe at the military, that protects that freedom. Can we say hypocrite anyone. . Then he veils it in a movie that borrows or takes from numerous movies . He has always been a bit heavy handed in all his movies .
But this type of movie propaganda will only feed those who already buy into this view. For the rest it will be a movie . Nothing groundbreaking .
Plus who can take this guy serious anyway ,after he attached his name to the whole Jesus Tomb foolishness.
Geez…Can’t people just watch a movie for entertainment for once instead of rushing off on all sorts of weired angles? I’m looking forward to watching this film in 3D and simply be blown away by creative talent. Any thoughts of moralism, Iraq or Afghanistan would be so distant from me, it’s not funny. You Americans make me laugh at how messed up you can sometimes become.
If I watched the film correctly, I believe Jake says at the start that the soldiers belong to the US Army simply in name, and are more akin to mercenaries being paid by the mining corporation (which points to some fictional future where corporations are evil entities who wield substantial political power).
@William Birch, “The movie mirrored what the English did in coming to America, when it was occupied by Native Americans.”
Um, “mirrored” is a bit much, seeing as the Native Americans were hardly peace-loving, nor were they living in harmony with nature, etc. Real history is far more complicated than good guy / bad guy. Furthermore, why single out the English? It seems a bit simplistic to categorize all Europeans as “English.”
You’re correct that it would be immoral to conquer a people to steal their resources. By implying that this is what the U.S. military does, Cameron is defaming them (and according to his interviews, this was his intent). You seem to be suggesting that the film’s message is a-okay, because Cameron’s story is fictional and has no relation to the real-world US military.
This makes me wonder: what if the film was about, say, missionaries hoping to convert the Na’vi, and the Na’vi called on their nature spirits to slaughter the missionaries? Would this just be another interesting story? (Yes, it’s a bit hypothetical, b/c the existence of sentient extraterrestrial life would raise all sorts of soteriological questions.) Or would you recognize it as a bit of clumsy leftist propaganda?
People here are arguing that stories have real-world consequences, and fiction is no exception. I don’t see why you find this objectionable.
btw, I’m not a Southern Baptist.
Andy,
You seem to be suggesting that the film’s message is a-okay, because Cameron’s story is fictional and has no relation to the real-world US military.
No, I’m trying to suggest that the actions by the military in this film were wrong, no matter which military was portrayed (American or otherwise).
This makes me wonder: what if the film was about, say, missionaries hoping to convert the Na’vi, and the Na’vi called on their nature spirits to slaughter the missionaries?
It isn’t right to do such things, period; wether the actions come from the Nav’i, the American military, or whoever else, and that is my point.
I guess that I really didn’t see the military guys as representing the U.S. They seemed more like mercenaries, ex-soldiers, recruited by a corporation for the corporation’s gain? Do corporations ever hire ex-soldiers as “security” forces? Hmmm.
I did not see any federal command structure, generals, president, legislatures. Only a single corporate executive. If anything, it appears to be more of a put down on corporations. YMMV.
Dr. Moore, I completely agree. This is what I posted on Facebook after seeing the movie on Friday:
Avatar: Stunning visuals; liberal, tree-hugging, worship-mother-earth story. I don’t like watching a movie where I’m supposed to root against the American military.
The idea portrayed in Avatar that should leave a bad taste in your mouth is what the portrayed military action stood for. Is it not the duty of every American to determine the moral virtue of the decisions of its leadership? Different levels of immorality require different levels of opposition; a point exists where one has to be more aggressive, even to the point of physically fighting against the powers that be, rather than blindly giving unquestioned allegiance. That is a basic American premise.
“Propaganda isn’t dangerous, after all, when we know it’s propaganda.”
I disagree. Marxists/Communists don’t Propaganda isn’t dangerous, and they see it their primary tool.
Thanks for the review!
I am a pretty conservative, pro-soldier fellow… but did people here see a different movie than I? If a person of US military background did nothing while a profiteering corporation (with no accountability) committed the acts portrayed in the movie, that would be the scandal. What is scandalous is not that two (pilot and protagonist) members of that military force disobeyed orders and worked against their superiors. The scandal is that no others appeared to have the courage to do so. The lesson of Nuremberg, amonst other things, should at least establish that “simply” following orders is not a defense of reprehensible acts.
If your political in-reading has blinded you from discerning between evil acts and good acts, something has gone terribly wrong.
If the cheerleading of any military organization requires that you be blind to what is clearly an atrocity and must protect/approve of those that commit them, something has gone terribly wrong.
Avatar doesn’t present us with a scenario teaching the lessons that some of you have accused it of teaching. The “bad guys” are, in fact, truly despicable. The story is not, by any means, a complicated one nor does it present us with an ethically difficult situation where it becomes hard to choose sides. It worries me that people, Christians even, seem incapable of seeing and discerning virtue because they are unable to remove their political lenses and label anything as “propaganda” that challenges them to think beyond the last decade.
I can only imagine the hysteria that would ensue if Frank Herbert had written and released “Dune” in this environment. Maybe some of you are victims of another kind of propaganda. Maybe we all would do well to consider that.
Thanks for the review. I had many of the same thoughts as you as I watched it with my 21-year-old daughter. She and I also discussed after the movie the pantheism, new age/old age, green earth, mother-goddess-earth concepts laden throughout the film. I know in some ways some might say that Lewis and Tolkien did something similar, but I think in their allegories “the earth forces” were in “service” to “the One true God.” I’m not expecting modern Hollywood to get it right spiritually. But I am curious what other people thought about the religious “overtones” of this movie. It’s especially scary when a movie is some well done and the message some powerfully present–subliminally does the earth-goddess message have even more power this way?
I understand that movies do have an effect on the national psyche, but I would have to say that some of you are really taking it way to seriously. Feed the fire and you will get burned. It’s a MOVIE. Lets never forget that. Entertainment. What do we care if Cameron has an agenda or not. Parents, dont let the kids see it if the “hidden” message concerns you. And if you do, let them know that 1) its a MOVIE for entertainment 2) sit down and explain to them that the “hidden” message does not necessarily convey the reality of the world we live in.
Explain “Rambo in reverse.” Call me culturally ignorant, but I’ve seen Rambo and don’t understand how it plays backwards…
Thanks for this article, however, and for watching the movie with worldview goggles on.
Robert Simmans nailed it.
This is an indictment of Blackwater, not the armed forces. This is a black and white tale of redemption. It is Pantheistic (Panintheistic to be more specific). It is full of the religion of Hollywood. Ok. So? I’m simply surprised that so many people are surprised by this.
I’m going to read some Allison and study the gospel of Matthew (and maybe watch Harry Potter later :)
As a recently new reader to your blog, and one who has enjoyed and agreed with almost all of your blog articles, I must say this review sickened me. Sure, your talk about the great special effects was correct, and is one of the reasons the movie is amazing. But the rest? (I also want to note this is also a response to many comments I found to be in error.)
Avatar is in no way the American military that is fighting and defeated in that movie. It is a mercenary force. A mercenary force that is willing to do whatever it takes - including killing other living beings - in order to make a quick buck. Since when has that been right? In Avatar a mercenary - NOT a member of the United States military - decides to abandon his bloodthirsty army and help a defenseless and innocent race to survive. Is that a bad thing?
Sure, people will try to draw parallels to America’s military efforts in Iraq (a war I supported) and in Vietnam (a war that happened before I was born, but as a semi-historian, one I do disagree with), but they aren’t correct parallels. It isn’t even a point James Cameron is trying to make. Anyone who is at all familiar with James Cameron should know he is a huge environmentalist. He is also against a lot of the advanced uses of technology, especially in warfare. This is shown in the Terminator series, where humankind creates a computer that evolves to rule over humanity, and in Titanic, where the newest technology ultimately fails to do the job it was meant to do. And in Avatar, James Cameron brings these two messages again. The movie is very pro-environment. (Is there anything anti-Christian about liking the outdoors?) It is also anti-war. Shouldn’t Christians strive to bring peace to this planet and not war? James Cameron’s movie is in no way a personal attack on America, though.
Avatar, with a plot that is somewhat cliche, manages to have a touching love story between two very different people. It also tells the story of a hero who decides to stand up against the greed and immoral attitudes of his own people. James Cameron himself said that his primary goal with the movie was entertainment, but he wouldn’t mind people taking a lesson or two out of the movie with them. Lessons of saving the planet and peace are two noble ones to take out of Avatar with you. This is not a propaganda film. Watch this movie and root for the Na’vi. By doing so, you won’t be rooting against the American military. You will be rooting against an evil entity that is immoral to its core.
Meh. I disagree to a pretty good extent. I’ve not heard one person mention anything about “evil troops” or the like, until I read this opinion piece. I watched an entertaining movie with cool special effects. I really liked it.
I found the movie to be a lot like Dances With Wolves. Nobody said anything about that movie and the “evil military” then.
It’s just a movie.
@Joe Tindle,
I’m a lifelong liberal and I was disturbed by the anti US military message in Avatar. Hollywood must have its good guys and bad guys, but making U.S. military veterans the bad guys undermines our fellow citizens who have served their country.
Dances with Wolves mitigated its impact by telling a 100 year old story. In Star Wars the bad guys wore white armor. But, getting set-up to cheer against American servicemen as they are shot through with arrows is sickening, even after they’ve been depicted as sexist, blood-thirsty corporate mercenaries.
Avatar is a technological masterpiece. Thankfully, Cameron is so clumsy in the delivery of his “message” that most viewers don’t give it a second thought.
We get easily excited with amazing special effects and awesome music. Someone mentioned going to see it so that they would be blown away by it. Christians let us be careful what we worship!! Our flesh is easily satisfied with the stunning achievements of men. Let us remind ourselves of the awesome wonder and beauty of God.
Psalm 27:4 - “One thing I ask of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
96:5-6 - “For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”
Zech 9:17 - “For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty…”
Proverbs 6:25-26 - “Do not desire her beauty [the evil, adulterous woman] in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.”
Yes the immediate interpretation is to Solomon’s sun about real women. But in the plan of God it is no coincidence that the evil systems and religions of the world of men are called a prostitute in Revelation 17-18. Could movies like this that entice us so to marvel at their beauty be “eyelashes” of the adulterous woman where we live. There is always a spiritual prostitute roaming the streets where we live and work. Beware brothers. Be vigilant!
I’m not banning movies. I watch some. This is just a loving call to examine your hearts. Why do you want to see it? For it’s beauty? For how it makes you marvel at God? Be careful what you nod your head to. There is so much we affirm that is not a reality in our lives. How often have I said I wanted to do something for the “glory of God” or to “redeem” something, etc. How deceived I have been at times by the enticement of the flesh.
Maybe you should see the movie. Maybe not. Don’t take this lightly. What we really enjoy, we worship. Worship God, Christians, in the splendor of his holiness. Examine your hearts. Know your weakness.
Wanting to be more captivated (with you) by the wonder and beauty of the God of creation who gave himself up for me that I might be a true worshipper,
Joshua
I believe that Mr Moore’s observation of the crowds in Kentucky apploding the defeat of America’s military are not correct. The people were, I believe, chearing for the underdog
depicted as a peace loving people who were being robbed of their property. The mighty people from the sky were not identified as American’s but as a large corporation bent on greed to take what it wanted no matter the cost. The military were, I believe, identifed as mercenaries (guns for hire). Historically, this has gone on for a very long time. Faith, Captain John Smith wrote of the Virginia Company, was”their color, when all their aim was nothing but present profit”. This is in referance to the document ( Virginia Charter )given by King James 1 in 1606. This document is 3805 words long, 98 words speak about God and sharing the Christian religion with the native Americans. The rest of the document is concerened with the methods of making profit from the land. The company was to take possession of ” all the Lands, Woods, Soil, Grounds, Havens, Ports, Rivers, Mines, Minerals, Marshes, Waters, Fishings, Commodities…” They were instructed to ” dig, mine, and search for all Manner of Mines of Gold, Silver, and Copper. They were also told to defend what they found and pursue with hostility all who would try to take it from them.
Any student of history can find numerous examples just like this one. Wether Cameron is using propaganda is a question someone can ask him. In and of itself, it was a good movie for enteraiment purposes. But it was very much like Dance’s with Wolves, at least I thought so. Praying over the killed animal for food was right out of Last of the Mohican’s (sp).
It was a good movie, enjoy it, talk about it, but some of you guys take your selves way to serious.
Those of us who have served our country, dont need to have our loyalty questioned. We feel quite comfortable with what we believe and know. And I know this, My God is Sovereign in all things, not a single particle of dust floats through the air with out his direction, not a single bird falls to the ground with out his knowledge. I put my trust in Him.
I have to agree with a few of the other posters. Nowadays, it seems like people are going out of their way to nitpick movies. Transformers, for example, presented the military in a positive light, but that doesn’t mean the audience is suddenly going to wave pro-American flags just as I don’t think the audience who sees Avatar will harbor anti-American sentiments. The movie is merely a case of good versus evil. And, propaganda… well it is everywhere. From the minute you get up in the morning to the minute you lay back down, you’re exposed to differing views and images.
Avatar (the name) is related to a Hindu reference and rated PG-13. So, I believe it is also ridiculous for people to complain about the content when the official MPAA rating already lists the warnings - “… intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.”.
Do people completely ignore the ratings system or what?
I research any and all movies I wish to see - inspiration for the title, rating, cast, etc. Seriously, I believe less moans would be heard of if many other people would start doing the same.
Hello, I stumbled upon this website while looking for reviews of the movie Avatar, which I just saw the other day. I think its purely coincidental that the army in question is consisting of Americans. Actually, it can be that this is in the plot because the actors are american and speak american english. It is an army from Earth, and also NOT an official army of any country, but a group of contractors used by the company operating the mines on Pandora (how did you miss that?).
The story line may seem superficial to those who see it superficially. I personally think that the difference between the Sky people and the Navi in the movie is that the Sky people do everything at distance: the killing, the acquisition of food, communication…The Navi kill personally, provide for their food in person and communicate face to face. They are in direct contact with the world that is surrounding them, and thereby able to enjoy it profoundly, understand it. There is no romantisized vision: they kill animals which they eat, they don’t think the world surrounding them is a fairy tale where everyone is good, they fight with each other…So if this is propaganda, well what isn’t? Any vision of a world different than the one we have today and here would have to fall into that category. But it such visions we rely on guide us on our quest for a different future. Different, because the future is never the same as the present, its just a question of what the difference will be.
Oh and about those of you fearing the planet-goddess aspect fo the movie: we live on this planet, people. Would it be SO wrong to regard it as sacred? Do you think a place created by God in such a divine form can be anything but sacred?
#25 Bob Kelleman
[I had many of the same thoughts as you as I watched it with my 21-year-old daughter. She and I also discussed after the movie the pantheism, new age/old age, green earth, mother-goddess-earth concepts laden throughout the film]
Agreed. Rather than get bogged down in the politics (for the record I am neither American nor Southern Baptist), the *real* issue is the panentheism. As C.S. Lewis put it during the 1950s, “The last battle will not be fought between Christianity and atheism, but Christianity and pantheism”.
Saw the movie poster. Weird. Saw the trailer. Really weird. Christians should not go and watch this movie. It’s wicked.
Phil. 4:8 says,
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Just a quick question. I kind of agree with the concept of the movie being anti-american. However, wouldn’t the movie get slammed by everyone as racist if it had portrayed any other nation? White American’s are in a loose-loose situations politically right now… For whatever we do we are being labeled racist. Even if we save them they call us that, like some tried too when The Blind Side came out… Any thoughts?
Niggling point perhaps, but I just wanted to point out that the military in the movie were not the American military, but rather mercenaries hired by the corporation running the mining operation. The protagonist comments on his arrival to Pandora, saying that they used to be “army dogs and marines, fighting for freedom, but now they’re just hired guns, taking a paycheck”, or something similar.
#25 Bob Kelleman
#36 Ross Clark
Complaining about the lack of or admission of Christian based concepts in H-o-l-l-y-w-o-o-d based movies…?
I’m not sure where you two are coming from. Maybe it is just me, but you two seem a little behind the times.
Why not just move on to another medium of entertainment then?
# 37 Alan
Sorry, but I have to disagree. You shouldn’t label a movie unless you’ve physically seen it with your own two eyes. Your stance reminds me of the religious folks who say the Harry Potter Series is evil, despite the fact that they’ve never even read a single page of the books.
@kat, Hey kat, I sincerely and respectfully tell you that you do not need cyanide test to know it’s destructive. In the case of Harry Potter, just enough to investigate who is JK Rowling to know if you’ll see something worth watching (I’m a fanatic of Narnia, a history of fantasy, because first I was a fan of C.S. Lewis, a real
Christian)
As the Bible teaches you must examine it all and keep the good. Also says that everything is lawful but not everything is convenient.
P.S. I fact, I saw a couple Harry Potter’s movies with my own two eyes. I didn’t like it.
I think Avatar it’s not the first nor the last movie in which the U.S. Army set as the enemy. But you must understand two things: 1) Avatar is Science Fiction. 2) In year 2154 (according to movie) humans have destroyed the earth and are desperate for new sources of energy. If America is the most powerful country land is not illogical to think that would be led that mission. I love America, I think is a great country and I have nice friends there. But no society in the world is exempt from corruption and ambition for power and wealth. We live in the same world, right?
Honestly I did not see that Avatar would advance a fight between Americans and aliens (I’ve seen it twice, but I’m not a fan of the movie or Cameron), rather, between “human” and a primitive tribe. Perhaps something like Pocahontas of Dances With Wolves, Probably Rambo… in reverse, as the blog’s autor says. I think it’s a nice story that entertains you and have a happy ending. I do not deny that has good effects, etc..
BUT… What I really don’t like is that exalts ‘animism’. Natives
think Eywa (their god) is in every being in nature is a collective and impersonal force with which you can connect … Oh, Please, this is Hinduism. Christians can not see it?
This is the only thing I dislike about the movie … and the success that it has had. As a Mass Communicator, I can’t deny that this is a artistic and technological phenomenon, but we must be careful what they see at the movies.
Blessings to all!
I think Avatar it’s not the first nor the last movie in which the U.S. Army set as the enemy. We must understand two things: 1) Avatar is Science Fiction. 2) In year 2154 (according to movie) humans have destroyed the earth and are desperate for new sources of energy. If America is the most powerful country
land is not illogical to think that would be led that mission. I love America, I think it’s a great country, actually I have nice friends there. But no society in the world is exempt from corruption and ambition for power and wealth. We live in the same world, right?
Honestly I did not see that Avatar would advance a fight between Americans and aliens (I’ve seen it twice, but I’m not a fan of the movie or Cameron), rather, between “human” and a primitive tribe. Perhaps something like Pocahontas of Dances With Wolves, Probably like Rambo… in reverse, as blog’s autor says. It’s a nice story that entertains you and have a happy ending. I do not deny that has good effects, etc..
BUT… What I really do not like is that exalts animism. Pandora’s natives thinks Eywa (their god) is in every being in nature, She is a collective and impersonal force with which you can connect … O Come on, this is Hinduism. Can not any christian see it?
This is the only thing I dislike about the movie … and the success that it has had. As a social communicator can not deny that this is a artistic and technological phenomenon, but we must be careful about what we see at the movies.
Blessings to all!
I think Christians lose sight of something in all of the Hollywood bashing we do. It’s possible that James Cameron doesn’t have a political agenda. Maybe he’s writing stuff he thinks is universally believed. Clearly he’s wrong. Maybe he needs to get off Hollywood Boulevard and get a breath of fresh air in the real world, but that may be all the man is guilty of.
Let’s not pretend that a lot of Christians aren’t guilty of the same limited vision. I live in the bible belt, and it’s a dramatically different world from what’s outside. A lot of Christians here think that this is the American norm. They’re wrong too.
I’m not saying the film shouldn’t be criticized, but Hollywood isn’t an evil hive-mind. They aren’t here to destroy Christianity or burn every bible. They’re an industry. They’re out for the money, just as surely as the wicked corporation Cameron portrays in Avatar, and every bit as exploitative as the American government has been in it’s ugliest hours. But that’s all.
People are always so critical of us Christians because we “don’t understand”; yet, those same people do not understand Christianity or Christians. I’m amazed (as a Christian) as to how many times I am told I must “read something” before I can offer intelligent critique or debate; yet, these are people who themselves never once read the Bible cover-to-cover. As the Bible itself says, if you do not want to understand the Bible you will not be permitted to.
Adding to this problem are Christian’s themselves who fail to effectively live out and communicate the true gospel message. In these cases, they are Christian in name only.