My thoughts on James Cameron’s Avatar

Since my post about the Avatar trailer was popular, I might as well say something about the movie itself. If you’re afraid of SPOLERS, stop reading.

First off, whoever made the trailer to Avatar deserves a big Christmas bonus. Because I hated the trailer so much, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the movie. One day later though, there’s not much that stands out to me, in stark contrast to my experiences with Terminator 2, Aliens and The Abyss. The best praise I can give Avatar is that the 2.5 hour run time didn’t bother me (which, I’ll be honest, does say a lot for how good James Cameron is at keeping things moving), and that after a while I got over how much the color scheme owed to badly airbrushed vans.

From the trailer I also pointed out how much Avatar looked like Ferngully. It seems a lot of people agree with me. Here’s a list of all search results that brought people to my website over the course of one hour, just two days after Avatar was released.

After seeing the movie though, I think Avatar is really much more like Dances With Wolves.

The Na’Vi, Avatar’s indigenous population, have a lot in common with Native Americans, while the invading, technologically advanced humans bear a striking resemblance to the U.S. government. Because of this, many people claim Avatar is anti-American.

But nothing could be further from the truth. Avatar is actually deeply anti-Native American.

In Avatar, the Na’Vi defeat the humans because their God is real and helps fight against the helicopters and mech-suits. But in American history, the Native Americans lost. Which, by Avatar’s logic, means Native Americans believe in fake Gods or else right now they’d be playing Blackjack against European immigrant run casinos.

That’s a pretty harsh message James Cameron is selling, but I guess that’s what happens when you give your movie an ending as unrealistic as the Titanic sinking an iceberg.

My thoughts on James Cameron’s Avatar trailer

Thoughts of Mike Haggar from Final Fight

Trailer for new Robert De Niro movie

Thoughts of a Stand-Up Comic

Tags: Avatar, Dances with Wolves, FernGully, James Cameron

History, Movies | Adam | December 26, 2009 5:59 pm

8 Comments

By Paul O., January 6, 2010 @ 9:53 am

“Increase your log size today!”
By Paul O, January 6, 2010 @ 10:36 am

Also, I just realized how totally 80′s the whole movie was, as I was sitting in a movie theatre wearing wayfarer 3-D sunglasses in the dark, watching two 3-D dudes play with a day glow orange slap bracelet.
By Jerry I., January 15, 2010 @ 10:44 am

I agree with you, Adam. I didn’t like the trailers and I loved the movie. I thought the whole tail thing was a bit queer though. I give it a 4/5 stars.

“Dunbar, not Dumb Bear.”
By Jeff V, January 16, 2010 @ 1:10 pm

Actually, Adam, I’m sure what this movie showed is only the beginning. The Native Americans undoubtedly won a few early battles, but just give it time. In “Avatar II: The Jarhead Clan Stikes Back” well see the kind of wrath earthlings will unleash upon the blue tribes in their never-ending thirst for un-obtainium.
By Cynthia L, February 10, 2010 @ 8:05 am

Laughed in delight when I found your blog. When we left the theater, my husband said “Dances With Wolves on another Planet.” I replied, “The plot is the same as Ferngully.” I liked the movie, but love your blog about it! VERY creative.
By Hanan, February 16, 2010 @ 3:33 pm

Hi Adam,
i guess Cameron didn’t mean to convey this message, that the Gods of the Native Americans were not real, but in reality unfortunately miracles don’t happen. and what happened in the film was by far a miracle.

For me, I didn’t go back to the slaughtered Native Americans, what about today’s Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine? what about colonialism, the World Wars, the Crusades? in the film only the material gain from this ore was too obvious, while in real politics, politicians sugar-coat their winnings, and curse the natives as terrorists and savages.
And again: the Na’vi were united, in real life you would always find that leaders from the Natives is willing to betray his own people for personal gain.
By ikke, March 4, 2010 @ 9:02 am

@Adam,
Your ability pinpoint similarities like these, is just mind boggling. God, I am so glad I found this site.

@Hanan

“When people are sitting on shit that you want, you make’em your enemy. Then you’re justified in taking it” made me immediately think of the whole I/P issue. Apparently the Palestinians picked up on the similarities as there was a protest in Bilin where people were dressed like the Na’vi a few weeks ago.