tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744146056017236319.post6710092500376864402..comments2013-09-26T10:01:57.540-07:00Comments on Sunshine Mugrabi: Avatar - A ReviewSunshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355540035019363654noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744146056017236319.post-18868330776645545002009-12-29T11:26:07.405-08:002009-12-29T11:26:07.405-08:00Great write up. You could do movie reviews for a l...Great write up. You could do movie reviews for a living!<br /><br />Seems that a lot of films about the future of Earth / Man I've seen recently cast a shadow on my outlook. Most recently, I was surprised when 2012 took the time to point out how superficial and selfless we are. Even Wall-E and Astroboy made points about humans being worthless. sigh ...<br /><br />Still, I have to see Avatar ASAP .. and in 3D!Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06315827663457268902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744146056017236319.post-37696680972632592612009-12-27T09:39:18.631-08:002009-12-27T09:39:18.631-08:00Thanks for the comment, Derek. I guess I'm com...Thanks for the comment, Derek. I guess I'm coming in somewhat more cold as I haven't seen these other movies. You're right, the scientists in Avatar are portrayed in a more positive light, though they ultimately come off as weak, myopic and naive--no match for the guns and bombs of the military men. That particular Hollywood stereotype of scientists really hasn't changed in 50 years. I suppose you're right that there is some kind of dichotomy set up between them, but the overarching message is still the same--technology, progress, anything and everything we've done on earth is evil and bad and wrong, even when we have good intentions. I suppose I've become spoiled by the more subtle plotlines in Who, which recognize the dangers of progress, but also honor its potential. And this matches the real world more closely--right now in Silicon Valley, there is more money and effort going towards clean tech (including all manner green IT efforts) than to almost anything else. Clean tech isn't just about cleaning up the mess we've already made--it's actually about using technology to improve our lives without the cost we've paid thus far. This is where we are headed as a culture--towards a synergy of respect for the planet and a modern world that allows us to learn, prevent and cure disease, and broaden our horizons. That's the message I'd like our children to hear.Sunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07355540035019363654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744146056017236319.post-74233731106113206502009-12-27T01:45:24.686-08:002009-12-27T01:45:24.686-08:00That's an interesting angle on the movie's...That's an interesting angle on the movie's portrayal of technology and our culture. I found it a little more hopeful, since the technology laden scientists and their avatar lab were good forces within the movie, and the main human character goes all out to try and save the natives. Corporate greed and military over zealousness seem to be the more specific targets of the movie, and that's easy to get on board with.<br /><br />Over the last decade, I have watched a lot of animation with my children, and so has James Cameron obviously. The plot line borrows heavily from <i>Pocahontas</i>, <i>Fern Gully</i>, and a lesser known movie called <i>Battle for Terra</i> (available on Hulu), and if I wasn't still so wowed by Avatar and it's own unique touches, I would be embarrassed by Cameron's outright story thievery. <br /><br />In <i>Battle for Terra</i>, the giant, heavily armed ship full of humans has been floating in space for a long time and is on it's last legs, so the humans have to settle on the planet or die, which adds a nice moral twist. In Avatar, the humans just want a precious rock and have no desire to inhabit the planet, making them clear villains (except for the scientists). You would like the resolution in <i>Battle for Terra</i> better, although the big fight still happens and there sadly isn't a single TARDIS landing.Dereknoreply@blogger.com