The message from Hollywood

Avatar has some strange messages for a hollywood blockbuster. Trees are good (because they network) digging up stuff to make money is bad (because you kill the trees) minds can move between bodies (so the mind/body distinction is alive and kicking) and indigenous people have a right to self determination (especially when they fight back).

The US war machine is clearly painted as powerful but misguided however the irony of a having a crippled US marine lead the insurrection is a bit of a bet both ways. Science waxes lyrically over the mysterious web of life on Pandora while extolling the virtues of an unmolested biology, meanwhile the military and the miners continue business as usual. I’m sure a million words have been wasted on this piece of film, its messages aren’t real subtle nor are they very convincing. Its entertaining but the good guy wins everything, gets the girl and becomes king. Yawn…

Special effects make up for an otherwise predictable plot, the dominant idea seems to be if you cram enough stupid notions and whiz bang visuals into a narrative enough people will identify with it and bingo you have a blockbuster. I am just grateful John Cameron doesn’t write books. Oh and a screen grab I suppose…did anyone else wonder about the blue skinned big eared tree huggers with their tails? Who thought that one up or was it a committee?

Do yourself a favour, download the pirate edition. Hollywood really shouldn’t be encouraged to make this sort of crud. But they will, Avatar 2 is probably already in production.