Cameron's big blue ego trip
Eric Shapiro
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Occasional attempts at social commentary (he references, what else, the war on terror!) don't go beyond the usual liberal talking points that are so ubiquitous in Hollywood these days. "Lets fight terror with terror," says the tough-as-nails military brute that heads the equivalent of an intergalactic Blackwater, to the cheers of his redneck soldiers.
Film critics would no doubt be a lot less forgiving of Cameron's juvenile political posturing if he were spouting conservative ideas. Cameron also, perhaps deliberately, botches every opportunity to add any sense of real drama or complexity to his film.
If he had any sense in either department, he would portray the protagonist's fellow humans as a bit more relatable so his choice to join the Native Americans- sorry Na'vi (who, coincidentally, are as pure and innocent as the smurfs they resemble) wouldn't be such a given. This is only one of many opportunities the director/screenwriter bungles to add a real sense of tension and suspense to a narrative that is for the most part utterly predictable.
The Disney version of "Pocahontas" has a lot more to say about culture clash than "Avatar," as do many other movies from which Cameron clearly drew inspiration ("Dances With Wolves" comes to mind).
All criticism aside, film is obviously a visual medium and films that break new visual ground deserve recognition; just not necessarily as all-around classics.
Film critics would no doubt be a lot less forgiving of Cameron's juvenile political posturing if he were spouting conservative ideas. Cameron also, perhaps deliberately, botches every opportunity to add any sense of real drama or complexity to his film.
If he had any sense in either department, he would portray the protagonist's fellow humans as a bit more relatable so his choice to join the Native Americans- sorry Na'vi (who, coincidentally, are as pure and innocent as the smurfs they resemble) wouldn't be such a given. This is only one of many opportunities the director/screenwriter bungles to add a real sense of tension and suspense to a narrative that is for the most part utterly predictable.
The Disney version of "Pocahontas" has a lot more to say about culture clash than "Avatar," as do many other movies from which Cameron clearly drew inspiration ("Dances With Wolves" comes to mind).
All criticism aside, film is obviously a visual medium and films that break new visual ground deserve recognition; just not necessarily as all-around classics.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
dustin
posted 2/06/10 @ 7:15 PM EST
I mean its sorta a racist flick. Not to mention its ideas are conservative and not liberal, unless you mean neo liberal....
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