Here is an intriguing quote from the NYT's review of James Cameron's latest blockbuster, Avatar:
I have read this critical review knocking the movie as an "anti-war politic[al] movie". But after watching the film, I walked away thinking I agreed with the movie's "agenda" as I understand it. It really was more of an anti-colonialism movie, which I can proudly say America does NOT embrace this ideology. Yes, we have a history of it, but not anymore. And as we look back and see the destruction that colonialism had on a native people, this movie portrays that well. No one group of people has the right to enslave or exile another group for the first group's own benefit - no matter how you slice it. That was the political message I got. Additionally, the "anti-war" agenda that was present was more tied to this use of the military, more than a pure "anti-war" theme. Of course, there were the stereo-typical strawmen comments/arguments in the movie. But overall, they are easily over-looked for the benefit of the rest of the movie.
As I saw it, it was a brilliant and redeeming portrayal of an ugly historical theme. World history has reflected the battle of colonialism countless times. The movie portrayed it in a future setting in another world. Aside from that, it was fascinating, creative, beautiful, and moving, as well as scientifically curious related to the "avatar" technology. I overlooked the pantheism the movie presented - it actually reminded me of a Native American culture, which was not offensive to me. I highly recommend this movie. It's great eye candy.
"Religion exists, in part, precisely because humans aren’t at home amid these cruel rhythms. We stand half inside the natural world and half outside it. We’re beasts with self-consciousness, predators with ethics, mortal creatures who yearn for immortality.It is interesting to hear such thoughts expressed in the NYT. Maybe I'm not as critical a thinker as I need to be, or I'm secure in my world view, but this neither bothered me, nor seduced me while I was watching it. I actually found the movie quite amazing and well-worth the watching in the theater.
This is an agonized position, and if there’s no escape upward — or no God to take on flesh and come among us, as the Christmas story has it — a deeply tragic one.
Pantheism offers a different sort of solution: a downward exit, an abandonment of our tragic self-consciousness, a re-merger with the natural world our ancestors half-escaped millennia ago.
But except as dust and ashes, Nature cannot take us back."
I have read this critical review knocking the movie as an "anti-war politic[al] movie". But after watching the film, I walked away thinking I agreed with the movie's "agenda" as I understand it. It really was more of an anti-colonialism movie, which I can proudly say America does NOT embrace this ideology. Yes, we have a history of it, but not anymore. And as we look back and see the destruction that colonialism had on a native people, this movie portrays that well. No one group of people has the right to enslave or exile another group for the first group's own benefit - no matter how you slice it. That was the political message I got. Additionally, the "anti-war" agenda that was present was more tied to this use of the military, more than a pure "anti-war" theme. Of course, there were the stereo-typical strawmen comments/arguments in the movie. But overall, they are easily over-looked for the benefit of the rest of the movie.
As I saw it, it was a brilliant and redeeming portrayal of an ugly historical theme. World history has reflected the battle of colonialism countless times. The movie portrayed it in a future setting in another world. Aside from that, it was fascinating, creative, beautiful, and moving, as well as scientifically curious related to the "avatar" technology. I overlooked the pantheism the movie presented - it actually reminded me of a Native American culture, which was not offensive to me. I highly recommend this movie. It's great eye candy.