Since it opened last week, James Cameron's much-anticipated film "Avatar" has won praise from movie critics and been a juggernaut at the box office. But some who have seen the film say that it contains hidden messages that are anti-war, pro-environment, and perhaps even racist.
For the benefit of those who haven't seen the film, a little nonspoiler background might be useful. The story is set in the year 2154 when Earth's inhabitants, having used up most of their natural resources through decades of living in excess, plan to use military force to conquer Pandora, a moon roughly the same size as Earth. Pandora, inhabited by a wise, peaceful, and nature-respecting people with blue skin called the Na'vi, is rich in a resource that the people of Earth desperately need.
Follow up:
The earthlings send in a crew of special-forces mercenaries armed with guns, bombs, and other sophisticated weaponry to attack and conquer the Na'vi (who some think resemble American Indians and Africans), despite the fact that they represent no direct threat to the inhabitants of Earth. Since humans can't breathe in Pandora's atmosphere, the military employs mind-controlled avatars that resemble the Na'vi in every way to venture out from their landing craft and explore the landscape. Sympathizing with the Na'vi after becoming acquainted with them and their customs, one of the human-controlled avatars becomes a turncoat and helps lead the people of Pandora in the defense of their homeland.
Are you beginning to get a sense of why some viewers noticed what they believe are underlying messages in the film?
Some prominent members of the media who screened the film certainly took note. In a glowing review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert noted that "Avatar" "has a flat-out Green and anti-war message" that is "predestined to launch a cult." Meanwhile Ben Hoyle, writing in the Times of London, noted that the film "contains heavy implicit criticism of America's conduct in the War on Terror." Further, Will Heaven of the Daily Telegraph said that the plot line involving people of color who wear "tribal" jewelry while sporting dreadlocked hair, being saved by a noble white man gave the film a "racist subtext" that he found "nauseatingly patronising."
But are these hidden messages really all that hidden? James Cameron himself hasn't been shy in publicly proclaiming the fact that he's an environmental activist who believes that humans and "industrial society" are "causing a global climate change" and "destroying species faster than we can classify them." In a recent interview with PBS' Tavis Smiley, Cameron admitted that he made "obvious" references in the film to Iraq, Vietnam and the American colonial period to emphasize the fact that humans have a "terrible history" of "entitlement" in which we "take what we need" from nature and indigenous peoples "and don't give back."
Further, one of the film's stars Stephen Lang told CNN that he is "not surprised at all" that some people have taken note of the film's political messages, mainly because the central theme of humans "destroying" a "pristine world" out of "blindness and greed" is so "overt."
Despite the obvious political undertones in "Avatar," at least one right-leaning critic doesn't think people who disagree with the film's ideology should totally dismiss it. In his review on the website Hot Air, Ed Morrissey writes, "Conservatives have more or less primed themselves to hate this film because of the presumed anti-war politics of the movie. It's there -- in fact, it's unmistakable -- but it's not as bad as one might presume." He goes on to note that "Avatar" is "entertaining" though "hardly a deep intellectual exercise."
Comment feed for this post
You know at this point my mind set for my great nation is to bring back all of our troops, kick out all of those not born here legally, no foreign visas for any reason, develope our own resources, kick out all the Liberals and let them live in the other countries they are so concerned about, heavily defend all of our borders, rebuild our manufacturing base, build our Military and thenleave the F&%cking world on it's own for 5 years too see how they fair without the USA to help.
All of us EVIL Americans, we are soooo bad!!!!
I am Freekin' sick of that SStick! Why can't Holiwood sack lickin' Liberals just make a movie for the entertainment value and leave world politics to the professionals and our brave military! If Liberals are so concerned, why don't you see them living in the areas of the world they are so concerned about??? What a bunch of hypocritical assholes.
You know at this point my mind set for my great nation is to bring back all of our troops, kick out all of those not born here legally, no foreign visas for any reason, develope our own resources, kick out all the Liberals and let them live in the other countries they are so concerned about, heavily defend all of our borders, rebuild our manufacturing base, build our Military and then leave the F&%cking world on it's own for 5 years too see how they fair without the USA to help.
All of us EVIL Americans, we are soooo bad!!!!
I am Freekin' sick of that SStick!
Why can't Hollywood sack lickin' Liberals just make a movie for the entertainment value and leave world politics to the professionals and our brave military! If Liberals are so concerned, why don't you see them living in the areas of the world they are so concerned about??? What a bunch of hypocritical assholes.
As far as the Green message, it doesn't hurt to remind folks to take care of the land every now and then. Conversly some folks will have to be reminded that "taking care" of the land does not mean "leaving it totally alone" no more than taking care of your legs means using a wheelchair so your legs won't have to carry your weight.
As for the likening of the Na'vi to the American Indians and Africans; running over peoples who are not as powerful or as advanced as you is a fault we have had since the dawn of time. Put another way, Americans have no monopoly on greed. It was around before the USA, and will be here as long as people are.
Also, I think the idea that 'the plot line involving people of color who wear "tribal" jewelry while sporting dreadlocked hair, being saved by a noble white man gave the film a "racist subtext" ' is totally manufactured. I would put it right next to the homosexuals who are boycotting the movie because there is no "gay element". I haven't heard of any women's rights groups screaming because what happens to Sigourney Weaver's character is not the way I would have written it. At least some people are being reasonable.
I'll go see the sequel when it comes out, and enjoy the movie without necessarily paying attention to any hidden messages. After all, I doubt the hidden messages in movies will be the same in 2154.
For the record, i wish I was a Avatar. =)