AVATAR (the movie)

[Anonymous]

OK Steele, before you delete this post for being in the wrong forum be assured that I post is a political one...

I am guessing that people on DCUM have seen the movie. What do you guys think about the chatter that the movie is anti-American. I even read one blogger who claimed that the movie was anti-white. What do you all think. I saw the movie and really loved it (plan to see it again in 3D) I saw it as just your garden variety imperialism (corporate form in this case) movie but with better special effects.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this; am debating seeing it... how is the Marine Corps portrayed?

[Anonymous]

There is not much focus on the corp. The "military" in this movie is not really official they are basically former soldiers who are working for a corporation, mercenaries if you will - Blackwater types. They are shown as basically killing machines who follow orders and the "commander" is shown as a bit of a phycho.

[Anonymous]

I saw this. I didn't think it was anti white or anti american, I thought it was pro-environmentalism more than anything.

[Anonymous]

I loved the movie. I saw it twice and it was better the second time around. Some things I missed in the first viewing I recognized the second time around. The first time I saw the movie, I was caught up in the action. The second time I recognized the anti-imperialism and pro-environment aspects. I will go see it a third time, so I guess my family is one of the families making the movie a huge success. As for the psycho Blackwater leader guy, yeah he was psycho. I don't know how one could define the movie as anti-white as all the main characters on both sides of the spectrum are white. It was interesting that the main characters of the blue people, Navi's they are called (I called them Navajo), are Black actors underneath the paint. As for the poster who asked how the marines were portrayed, in my opinion they were portrayed as soldiers who followed their orders, no questions asked. Isn't that what they are trained to do? Just asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved the movie. I saw it twice and it was better the second time around. Some things I missed in the first viewing I recognized the second time around. The first time I saw the movie, I was caught up in the action. The second time I recognized the anti-imperialism and pro-environment aspects. I will go see it a third time, so I guess my family is one of the families making the movie a huge success. As for the psycho Blackwater leader guy, yeah he was psycho. I don't know how one could define the movie as anti-white as all the main characters on both sides of the spectrum are white. It was interesting that the main characters of the blue people, Navi's they are called (I called them Navajo), are Black actors underneath the paint. As for the poster who asked how the marines were portrayed, in my opinion they were portrayed as soldiers who followed their orders, no questions asked. Isn't that what they are trained to do? Just asking.

Where the heck do you find that kind of time? How old are your kids? Not being snarky, seriously asking - with a 3 yo, we're happy to get the movide once every 4 months or so, never mind seing the same movie multiple times!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved the movie. I saw it twice and it was better the second time around. Some things I missed in the first viewing I recognized the second time around. The first time I saw the movie, I was caught up in the action. The second time I recognized the anti-imperialism and pro-environment aspects. I will go see it a third time, so I guess my family is one of the families making the movie a huge success. As for the psycho Blackwater leader guy, yeah he was psycho. I don't know how one could define the movie as anti-white as all the main characters on both sides of the spectrum are white. It was interesting that the main characters of the blue people, Navi's they are called (I called them Navajo), are Black actors underneath the paint. As for the poster who asked how the marines were portrayed, in my opinion they were portrayed as soldiers who followed their orders, no questions asked. Isn't that what they are trained to do? Just asking.

Where the heck do you find that kind of time? How old are your kids? Not being snarky, seriously asking - with a 3 yo, we're happy to get the movide once every 4 months or so, never mind seing the same movie multiple times!

Oh, you did not know, there are these people - mostly young adults - who will watch children for a few hours in exchange for money. I think that they are called babysitters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved the movie. I saw it twice and it was better the second time around. Some things I missed in the first viewing I recognized the second time around. The first time I saw the movie, I was caught up in the action. The second time I recognized the anti-imperialism and pro-environment aspects. I will go see it a third time, so I guess my family is one of the families making the movie a huge success. As for the psycho Blackwater leader guy, yeah he was psycho. I don't know how one could define the movie as anti-white as all the main characters on both sides of the spectrum are white. It was interesting that the main characters of the blue people, Navi's they are called (I called them Navajo), are Black actors underneath the paint. As for the poster who asked how the marines were portrayed, in my opinion they were portrayed as soldiers who followed their orders, no questions asked. Isn't that what they are trained to do? Just asking.

Yes, Marines are trained to follow orders. And how does that get mixed up in imperialism and anti-environmentalism I guess is my question. Just asking too.

[Anonymous]

Have not seen the movie btw, so really just asking. As the relative of a Marine though--curious how they are portrayed or got mixed into this film. Thanks.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Have not seen the movie btw, so really just asking. As the relative of a Marine though--curious how they are portrayed or got mixed into this film. Thanks.

There are no active duty Marines in the movie. The hero is a former marine and several of the "bad guys" are also former marines. Marines are referred to a number of times as "trigger happy" and "Jarheads". The "shooters" are all Blackwater-types.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that; it leaves me sort of 'eh' since I can't imagine anyone less 'trigger-happy' than the disciplined and trained Marines I know. I would like to see the movie, and probably will, for the movie making tech described.

[Anonymous]

The movie was amazing and in my heart I believe that there were some hidden messages regarding pro environment and anti war and how Americans might not get that. I never looked at it as anti american or anti white - but more anti war and that some of the americans were not looking deep under the surface. Great message and great movie all around.

[Anonymous]

Avatar to me was almost exactly like Disney's Pocahantas, which I have seen a zillion times thanks to an obsessed DC. And the aliens in Avatar are remarkably similar to native americans. (The movie also struck me as very similar to Dances with Wolves.)

In Pocahantas: The love interest is the earth-connected daughter of the chief
The hero is the alien from a rapacious invading culture
He changes his views and betrays his wrong headed people

Pocahantas was in my view also a largely pro-environmental film.

In Dances with wolves:
Former soldier joins and learns about native culture, falls in love, ultimately betrays his wrong-headed, rapacious country and becomes one of the natives.

Really nothing new about Avatar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avatar to me was almost exactly like Disney's Pocahantas, which I have seen a zillion times thanks to an obsessed DC. And the aliens in Avatar are remarkably similar to native americans. (The movie also struck me as very similar to Dances with Wolves.)

In Pocahantas: The love interest is the earth-connected daughter of the chief
The hero is the alien from a rapacious invading culture
He changes his views and betrays his wrong headed people

Pocahantas was in my view also a largely pro-environmental film.

In Dances with wolves:
Former soldier joins and learns about native culture, falls in love, ultimately betrays his wrong-headed, rapacious country and becomes one of the natives.

Really nothing new about Avatar.

You are right, the story is as old as the earth itself, but you cannot argue about the delivery? Have you ever seen a more beautifully done movie and I am speaking of the 2D version.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avatar to me was almost exactly like Disney's Pocahantas, which I have seen a zillion times thanks to an obsessed DC. And the aliens in Avatar are remarkably similar to native americans. (The movie also struck me as very similar to Dances with Wolves.)

In Pocahantas: The love interest is the earth-connected daughter of the chief
The hero is the alien from a rapacious invading culture
He changes his views and betrays his wrong headed people

Pocahantas was in my view also a largely pro-environmental film.

In Dances with wolves:
Former soldier joins and learns about native culture, falls in love, ultimately betrays his wrong-headed, rapacious country and becomes one of the natives.

Really nothing new about Avatar.

Yes, virtually the same theme, but presentation, oh so different!