Not So Hidden Agendas
We started seeing Avatar trailers in the theatre months ago. From the beginning I had no interest in seeing the film. I'm not an action movie fan. I'm not a fantasy or Sci-Fi buff. For me, there was nothing attractive about James Cameron's blockbuster.
After the premiere there were complaints, mostly from right wingers, the film had an anti-war agenda. Then it was an obvious pro-environment motive. Oh no, not the evil environment again! Last week came accusations from the left of a racist plot. How can one film offend so many people on the right and left? When the Roman Catholic church condemned the movie my apathy turned to curiosity. I had to see it for myself. James wanted to see it so we took in the 3D version this evening.
I went in with eyes open looking for the anti-war, environment, racist and false God messages that have all the uber-sensitive-turd-for-brains whining. The only agenda I see running through the film is the pro-environmental theme that all living things on Pandora are interconnected. This is not a bad thing and it's not the first film with this idea.
Avatar is more war movie than anti-war. The fact we humans are the bad guys is making people squirm. Introspection is not always comfy. Racism? I don't think so but you could easily see the Navi people as representing native Americans, exploited for the wealth of their land. The Catholics are just pissed Avatar's spiritual message is not God centric. Nature is respected and worshipped.
Since the dawn of film making serious films have held social or political messages. I don't understand why people get upset when a movie takes one side of an issue. I suspect the offended are the usual suspects looking for offense in the public square. They seek offensive material and will find it even if it's only in their pointy little heads. Sometimes they're correct. A writer or director has an agenda and a story was told with one side in mind. So what. Don't read the book. Don't see the movie.
The only offensive agenda I see in the Avatar controversy is the simple minded thought police trying to control what we consume in books and movies. STFU.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Avatar. James Cameron gave us a visual masterpiece. If that's not enough for you maybe you'll enjoy the spirituality of the natural world. I recommend this film, especially if you like fantasy adventure with a moral message and plenty of action.
At $12.50 the 3D version was pricey but worth the extra few bucks.