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January 26th, 2010
10:00 AM ET
Critics: 'Avatar' is anti-military & anti-religion
20th Century Fox says James Cameron's 3D epic "Avatar" has officially sunk "Titanic, taking the crown for the biggest movie ever.
It has topped more than $1.84 billion so far, but some critics aren't too happy about that success. Our Jason Carroll has the report.
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Utter nonsense. Avatar speaks truth to power by depicting militarized corporate actions for historic human rights abuses, trashing of the environment for profit, etc. As for being anti-faith, this is propaganda generated by the Vatican, who has historically issued such edicts when it feels its power threatened by an idea, person, or movement. Avatar identified two persistent global themes: global climate and environmental change and respect for indigenous peoples, and it did so using spectacular special effects and stunning visuals.
It's pretty sad that conservatives see some greedy corporation killing innocent people for their resources and decry it as "anti-American". They're actually the ones connecting this ruthless behaviour to America; I didn't see a single American flag or even any mention of government sanction in the movie. it was 100% due to the actions of the corporation.
To call this movie anti-God is to miss the point entirely. Since when have spiritually and the systematic killing of a group of sentient beings weather by private enterprise or governmental military forces been equated? Being pro-life, pro-peace, pro indiginous populations vs. invading forces for profit is not anti-God. I reject the premise that the two are even compatible concepts.
Solo75 the true depth of your ignorance about the military is astounding! The military works for the Civilian Led and Elected Government. We only fight the wars we are told to fight and live up to the oath we have freely taken. YOU ELECTED the officials who send us to war. So, you too are responsible. As for James Cameron's movie, I highly doubt he is anti-military or anti-god. People today find a reason to complain about everything for no reason. I have news for you, it's a MOVIE! And, hold on to your hats, the actors, well they're no different from you!
The Pentagon is owned and operated by the Catholic Church. If you don't believe that then just look at how the top military leaders sit like toads during Obama's speech when he calls for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. You'd think someone had spat on the Pope.
George Bush would have loved to have been General Custer with Dick "Deadeye" Cheney as his Major Reno. The same type of genocidal white, christian manicas who destroyed the peaceful nature loving indigenous peoples of the New World in the name of Manifest Destiny and Corporate Greed and Racial Intolerance are alive today and having "tea parties" even as we speak . The only hope for the earth is some type of pandemic which wipes out the human "virus" completely from this beleagured planet and allows nature to recover from humanity's non-stop onslaught since apes first lwalked upright
Anti-military and anti-religion? Sounds good to me, if more people would take that view, maybe we could actually solve some of the problems in this world. Conservatives have really lost thier minds, led by self serving, illogical dimwits like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly.
Wow..this is crazy. It is only a movie so get a grip. I viewed it as "good vs evil" and good won. Anti military and anti religion is a stretch. Did I see the same movie? FYI: just because certain people say they are conservative or a Christian doen't mean it's true. For example, people like Pat Robertson don't speak for Christians like me. I've been questioning his Christianity considering all the hate he spews! The guy is a total wack-job and I wish news outlets would stop putting a microphone in his face and/or reporting all his craziness!! Don't give him any air time and maybe he will just go away.
Wow, with all that occurs around the world, and people still can't stop speaking about this stupid, infantile movie. This movie was done before in a cartoon. It was called FernGully... And furthermore, a movie is just a movie, meant to entertain. Why do people need to get so worked up about something that is nothing? Let it go!
anti-military? anti-religion? What exactly is the problem? No wonder the movie is so popular.
I consider myself “conservative” in most every way in both religion and politics and am married to a spouse in the military. I have to add as well my Faith is very Sacred to me and I hold an accredited degree in theology. I found nothing about this movie “anti-God”. Nor did my husband, A US Marine Corps pilot, find this movie “anti-military”. As some have mentioned, these were former military mercenaries being utilized by big business for selfish gain. I found the faith of the native beings of the planet very strong in just that – FAITH. Faith is trusting or having evidence in what you can’t see but knowing it’s there. While there were the typical Hollywood elements that showed things like the former military pilots blindly following the evil generals directions without question and only the one female pilot dared to follow her convictions and stray from his commands, I found the movie to have an inspiring, fantasy plot and it is certainly visually entertaining! As far as those who make one sweeping statement to describe all “Conservatives”, when you prejudge anything with the pointed finger without thinking of every facet, there’s always those three fingers pointing back at yourself.
The young people of our country seem to think that this is "only a movie". It is much more than just a movie. It is a story that a large percentage of people will see, talk to friends about, and in a small way it will make a change in our culture.
Stories, especially great stories, slowly shape who we are. Imagine if the only stories we ever heard was about how great our government is and how important our leaders are. After a few generations, our young people will believe this. This is the leftist, "progressive" mindset that is changing our culture. So I would prefer to be a conservative because I know what the status quo is, I don't like the direction the progressive movement is headed.
This movie is politically charged, like many are. In our day and age of media content streamed directly into our faces, all the time, we can choose to read Fox news or CNN news. The right and the left stay on their own sides of the debate and never really understand that the middle ground is where most people really prefer to be.
Change is good, but only change for the better. Who determines for us which changes we will make and which changes we don't make in our country? The people don't make that decision any more, it's the political leaders with the money to spread their agenda through the media. Because if it's on CNN it mist be true!
When are we going to wake up and stop this insane coddling of these religious nut jobs! Who made them "god's representitive on earth" with the power to control everything and every one, certainly not me. The USA has slipped down the slope of redical christianity to the point that there appears to be only a small window of ight at the top. The rest of us need to wake up and take our country back!
Evengellical Christianity is not so different from Radical Islam – same church different pew!
It is a great movie with awesome art, a great plot, and it does make you think about what is important where ever you are in the universes.
I'm offended by conservatives' being offended by this. Can somebody take note of my offense and write an article about it, please?
anti-military and anti-religion? huh, now I might have to see it, because i'm both of those things, too!!
since american conservatives seem to want all media to constantly reflect their very narrow interpretations of reality, and want every person on Earth to share the same beliefs, i'm totally on-board with any mass media that reflects other sensibilities.
If you are taking a life lesson from this movie, then you need to carefully examine your life, you've made some bad choices. It's ENTERTAINMENT!! It's nothing more. I liked the movie, but I don't take any deep meaning from it, sorry, I get that from real life, not fantasy.
Anti-military? They were mercenaries working for a corporation.
Anti-religious? The major plot revolved around the alien's strong belief in their religion. But this was not a Judaeo-Christian-Muslim religion so I guess it can't be a religion, huh? Any movie about intelligent alien life automatically goes against J-C-M religious beliefs simply because it causes a conflict. What does God look like – a human or a 10 foot, blue alien with a tail? My guess is that he looks like E.T.
That's right .. we should all be watching wholesome Charlton Heston movies and burn filthy films like Avatar. Just ask yourself this .. what would Hitler do? 😉
Aahhh... yes. Conservative Christians... the same folks who brought you the Spanish conquest of the Americas (a rather brutal affair), the Crusades, the recent 'Iraq Crusade' ("Iraqi families stopping at McDonald's on the way to see Joel Osteen at the Baghdad megachurch... Yes! Success!!"), George Bush (say no more), movie censorship, the Salem Witch Trials, women forced into dying from illegal abortions. The list goes on and on.
Don't get worried folks... the more they protest Avatar the more their absurdity comes to light. The children of today will laugh at them tomorrow. The more the fundamentalists cry about Harry Potter and Avatar, the more today's youth will see the absurdity of it the fundamental christian position.
The problem with art, for retards, is that art favors reality.
As things become more understood, and we learn more and more about ourselves, the more those who want a simple solution and answer will find themselves ridiculed. Eventually, they'll have to give in and think for themselves.
So don't get your blood pressure up... the more they yell the more they sink their position. BUT, do watch out for their ability to influence the politicians to approve Jack Valenti like censorship organizations. Call your representative and tell them you do NOT want a censored internet. While you're at it, tell your representative the world was probably not created 10,000 years ago, and fossils probably we're not put in place by god to test our faith. Ol' Sarah Palin would like to have creation theory put in science books!!
The problem I have as a Christian is that the worship of a tree is accepted not by just the aliens but a human (S Weaver)
To see the light through a tree. (come on!)
The only way is through Jesus Christ.
As Christians we believe it is the only way and anything else confuses
the general public. Anybody that does not understand this should read the Bible
and you will know why we feel the way we do
We are supposed to spread the "good news"
At the same time I realize we have freedom of religion in this country
Jakob Brown your message says that you are an idiot.
The people griping about this movie are morons. I'm not talking about conservatives. I tell my liberal wife the same thing when she complains about movies with pro-war themes. (Yes, I actually tell her she's being stupid. And yes, she does everything she can to try to make me regret it.) Movies are for enjoyment, period. There's nothing else to it. If you're analyzing movies while you watch, you're doing it wrong. If I enjoy watching movies about psycho killers, it doesn't mean I condone the actions of psycho killers or that I aspire to become a psycho killer. I wish media outlets wouldn't be so quick to print the rantings of morons, but I suppose reasonable people saying reasonable things would be too boring for most people to want to read.
It's a cartoon. Do you know what the message I took from it was? "You get to see this in 3-D"
Nobody cares about the plot and in fact most people have been saying that it's an old tired story that's been done to death. You get to see some pretty images, a cool battle scene, and the thing is in 3-D, so that's something new.
Start reporting news, CNN
Stop labeling everything right and left. You are falling for the mirage perpetrated against our souls from birth. Create your own Pandora. I don't think anyone is as cynical as the online posters. They're just bots, programmed to spew hate and instill doubt in our minds. It's another form of mind control that works better than TV.
I can see why people see Avatar as being anti "mainstream" religious/military. But being an American one cannot suppress any ones personal religion as dictated by our constitution. We can worship God any which way as well as made up religions such as Scientology which was founded by a science fiction writer..that ..doesn't ..worship..any..diety..however its america & we must respect/tolerate. Second the "military" were hired guns that were there to "relocate" the indiginous population and Sigourny was there to "Educate" said population also to our way of thinking which of course everyone knows is the right way and they SHOULD accept it!
Gosh! what's wrong w/ people! or ignorant aliens!
I have to tell people, but "anti-military" , "anti-corporate", and "anti-religion" have been themes used in scifi stories going back at least 60 yrs that I can think of. There is NOTHING new in Avatar with regards to those background themes. Heinlein, Bradbury, and Asimov ( to name just a few of the more "well-known" authors) all had stories that had those basic ideas used as a backdrop to the main story line. Trying to single out Avatar as being "unique" or "evil" in this regard just shows that the detractors have not been doing their homework. PS: And NO, I have NOT seen Avatar so don't write off the above as being from a fanatical fan!
I loved Avatar and it was one of the most entertaining movies that I have ever seen. It was worth it.
The conquistadors, also known as the conservatives – like nothing but conquest, wars, invasions, colonialism, imperialism. Isn't that what we have done for the last 50 years: Let's see since WWII – USA has invaded Korea, Vietnam, Middle East, Afganistan, Genada, Cuba, Philiphines, Somolia, Beirut, Japan, Germany, Panama, should I continue. Most invasions under conservative rule. The only reason we have a better image than the British empire is because the USA has helped many along the way such as in Haiti right now. Oh yes, the conservatives also like to shove their Christianity and Bible down our throats. It doesn't suprise me that the conservatives don't like Avatar because it addresses a non-Christian religious theme, it addresses anti-war and anti-imperialish theme, and it addresses an environmentalist theme as well. All of these are opposite of what conservatives value today. To them, the Iraqi people and Afgan people and the poor hungry people are savages and need to be "Americanized."
And what is wrong with that? Anti-military and anti-religion sounds like peace and quiet to me. I like that much better.
umm....there werent any military people in that movie, only EX military hired guns working for a corporation. as a matter of fact the hero of the friggin movie was an EX marine...what an idiot...
As a hard-working religious Amercian, I AM offended – not by the movie, but by people telling me that I should be offended. I saw the movie. Does it have a liberal environmental message? Sure. Do I care? No, I was entertained by the movie – the reason I go watch movies.
Is it anti-religion? Not in any way that I saw. I never once saw anything to suggest anti-Christian, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, anti- any religious point of view. The fact that the Nav'i people worship the spirit of the planet does not make the movie anti-religious, unless people are so weak in their faith that they think any depiction of a different faith in a positive way is somehow attacking or demeaning to their own.
Anyone who screams anti-military should ask him/herself, are you anti-peace? why does there need to be a military? to have war, and what is war? not peace...bottom line military is a way to create violence and destruction. as for killing people? what is the military trained for? exactly, and think about how many people lose their life every year because we want to fight with other people. military is necessary for protection but there is a fine line between militant dictation and protection. Osama bin Ladin attacked the US and then we immediately flood Iraq and take down Saddam Hussein...not saying he was a saint, but he wasn't the threat, but we sent 100 times the forces after him than we did the guy who attacked us. "You attack me and I am going after your next-door neighbor" approach makes no sense.
Yes, I was very depressed after the movie. I like the creation of the world and the special effects, but when the war started, it was anti-everything American - way too far left for me. I would never, ever want to see the movie again.
My pastor took me to this movie for my bachler's party. ( i think that is how u spell it. lol) anyway we thought this movie was great. Its definitely not anti religious.. AT ALL.
Actually, there weren't any military in the movie. They were all mercenaries working for the company that was "exploiting" the planet. Anyone who thinks the movies is anti-military wasn't paying attention.
Avatar = A movie about how foreigners (humans) try to steal from another race, but get their butts kicked by sticks and stones. Anti-war? The whole movie was a 3d race war where you're supposed to cheer against your race.
Fully complete with the usual interracial love propoganda.
All movies are OBVIOUS left-wing propoganda attempts... the only thing that made this movie different and entertaining was the 3d effects, where lotsa stuff gets blown up.
OMG!!! This is just a movie...make believe...for your entertainment. The problems of this world are far more important than trying to figure out if there is a hidden message in this film.
Who cares if it is anti-faith? That's an acceptable point of view. If it bothers you, then don't go see it. Or, if you already have, encourage your other "faithful" friends to not see it.
but you know, if it was a movie about the US heroicly killing the natives for their oil, the Conservatives would just love it.
Are we ever going to learn! People worry about global warming or a massive asteriod dooming our planet one day.
And now it's Avatar. LOL's
But us humans will destroy mother earth long before that. With our own stupidity, wars, dictators, religious beliefs, greed, and the list goes on!!! I've got to get to Pandora and escape all this madness. No wonder people are seeing it over and over again.
Just a movie folks!
Here we are in the 21st century and still talking about religion like we did back in the 1400s. Christains from Europe came to the new world and brought their beliefs with all it's problems to the people of the new world. Like the muslims today, you either believe the way I believe or you die???
This was a movie to entertain, not become a debate as to weither the aliens believe as we do or fight as we do. Looking at it now that this has come up, I think I like their way of life far better then the conflicts our way of life presents everyday.
All I can say is wow. I feel bad for people who actually waste their breathe getting worked up about a movie that doesnt take place on Earth.
The critics must be right. A military force would NEVER be used to take away a valuable natural resource from indigenous populations. Just ask the Sioux, Cheyenne, Crow, Salish, Blackfeet, Iriquois, Apache, Navaho, Zuni....and before them, the Inca, Toltec and other tribes of Cental and South America.
Wake up, knuckleheads. The history of the Western Hemisphere is a history of theft, subjugation and slavery – at the point of a bayonette and often with the complicity of religion and religious leaders who had to 'save the souls' of the Natives – and make a litte profit on the side.
If showing our history in a fictionalized setting is "anti-military" and "anti-religion", then maybe we ought to examine our history a little more. And maybe even make amends.
So what, its a movie, it might be possible, in some place far away, but its still a movie made in a guys imagination. anti-military and religion happens every and nobody makes a fuss of that
The right sees Avatar as anti-religious because the blue people's religion is tied to science and biology and actual tangible elements around them such as the trees they tie into in order to communicate with the souls of the dead, etc. They don't have to rely completely on faith in the unknown because they are presented with real proof that there's an afterlife. Religion in the real world, however, always requires faith in the unproven, even unprovable. I believe this is what religious complaints are based on, not the the characters aren't spiritual but that they lack faith without proof. Of course they ignore that proof of a soul is provided in the movie's reality, though it is treated as little more than software they way it's seemingly downloaded from one body and uploaded into another. I'm not a regligious person myself and enjoyed the movie very much, but I can clearly see why it would be unsettling to a deeply religious person, who are usually unsettled just when confronted with different Earth-bound religions! Never forget that 9/11 was as much a religious act as it was a political one, if not more.
I am a Conservative Christian and this movie didn't offend me. This wasn't anti-military because it was about military officers being hired out by a corporation as mercenaries. I believe the main character stated that fact near the beginning of the film. As for religion, I found it to be an alien world where knowledge of the Bible and such could not have reached them so a local religion is only logical. It's no different than the faiths Native Americans had when Europeans first arrived here. Also, it was an alien world where all life was literally connected through those things in their head. They viewed the overall organism that they were literally a part of as their deity. There was a biological explanation to their faith and it was the alien's interpretation that it was a higher power. They didn't overdo it in my opinion. I thought it was realistic that an alien culture would have developed an alien religion. Anyone who feels they need to start worshiping the alien god has seen the movie one too many times and needs to do some serious soul searching. Titanic didn't have the ingenuity and creativity this film had. Titanic was successful because Leonadro Dicaprio is good looking and Kate Winslett took off her shirt. A huge cop out for a film to be successful and I felt it doesn't say much about our society when a film like that was the number one for more than a decade...
IT'S a MOVIE!!! – It's not REAL. IT IS one man's dream (influenced by past and present real-life issues) put to the big screen. WHO CARES?? It's entertainment. Either you are entertained or you are not.
Whats funny is any religion without jesus is satanic. This sort of thing happended to the native americans. now people are understanding instead of making ingornant comments about the native people. Its sad a billion dollar movie had to show people what they did to a world long ago to make them notice what they did!
Why do we allow ourselves to governed and policed?
I think everyone needs to stop making so much out of a movie. Its just that, a movie. Its something to break us out of our normal grind, where we can go and escape for a few hours.
Everyone needs to stop analyzing and breaking everything down. Just watch the movie and enjoy it for what it is.
Maybe I'll just read a book... if I can find one that isn't offensive!
Leave it to the right-wingnuts to take a film such as this and find fault.
One of the first comments was very good – these people think it is alright for a large corporation to take a mercenary army and forcefully take natural resources away for a planet with an indigenous population. What does that tell you of some supports of the GOP.
Anti-religious - the only thing I can say is the same old tired montra of "If you are not Christian, you are going to hell!!" Really tired of hearing that Christianity is the only viable religion in the world - it is not!!!
No one will be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
This is the dumbest complaint ever.
How is the bible any less fictional than Avatar?
Can any of you Christians out there explain this to me?
I'm guessing that the conservatives who critiqued this movie haven't even seen it. They probably base their critiques on short synopsis and try to stir up controversy. Their arguments are meritless and are based on assumptions that they cannot provide evidence for.
First, the claim about the movie being anti-military. Like many on here have already stated, the story of the movie doesn't even include the military - it includes mercenaries who have been hired by a private company to provide security so that expensive minerals can be extracted from the area. So with this fact alone, you cannot say that this movie is anti-military because there is no military in the movie. So, while the movie may be anti-war, anti-imperialism, and anti-manifest destiny - it certainly isn't anti-military.
Second, the claim that this movie is anti-religion/anti-christianity is also absurd. First, There is plenty of religion in the movie as the entire movie revolves around the theme of animism (the belief that everything has a spirit). Also, the god of the natives is referred to throughout the movie (eywa). While this type of religion may be profound to westerners, it really isn't that different from many of the other religions that are practiced already in this world (for instance, buddhism is widely considered a religion, but they don't even worship a deity). I think that the right-wing is just upset that this movie doesn't mention christiantiy. But seriously - get over it. Everything does not revolve around christianity and some of the most populated countries in the world aren't even religious at all (take china for example, its one of the most populated countries in the world and its officially an atheist country).
Anyway, sorry for the long rant – it just really irritates me that the conservatives get offended about EVERYTHING. Maybe they should just mind their own business and not worry about what other people are doing. They have no right to tell people what they can or can't produce, sell, or watch.
Anti military AND anti religion? Maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much!
see the movie love the movie but don waste yur time gettin sentimental abt d movie............i bliv it was created jus to entertain n not to pass any msg in particular
I didn't see anti God or religious theme in Avatar. Their spiritual deity could be looked as their name for God. I remember at one point it being stated in Enwyu we trust. In God we trust. What is anti-religious about that?
As far as anti-military... I don't think pointing out the crimes America has committed in the past is wrong.
I was more reminded of how the Native Americans were treated when the government took their land and gave false promises.
Don't forget that Nazi Germany was a proud nation too and look at how that turned out. Too much national pride is a bad thing because then you don't acknowledge your own countries crimes when they occur.
I found this movie to be moving, and spiritual. Oh yeah and I am a Jesus freak.... just not one who needs an orginazation.
Good! If there are two things the human race doesn't need it's war and religion. Give up the violence and give up the fairy tales.
Very simple, look up and do a study on paganism. This movie completely represents and re-enforces the concept of self worship and that we all have the "divine spark" within us. Of course our post modern culture ate it up...
The message of Avatar was like watching what we Americans have done to the Native Americans, its was sad......................
If anyone says the Christian, Muslim and Hebrew God can't be found in nature...thats just ridiculous. It says in genesis that he created the plants and the sea and the animals. The fact that they portray one "mother" is awesome, rather than a pantheon. I'm just saying, if anything this should appease all Christians, Muslims and Hebrews.
Anti-military? Ok maybe the blue people aren't that developed. But aren't they a military in themselves< Aren't they fighting to protect their freedoms the same way we fight in Afghanistan for our freedoms? Just because they are less developed, doesn't mean they don't depict a righteous military.
I'm a conservative, and this is just stupid. Avatar is a work of fiction and its setting is more akin to the conquest of the "New World" circa 1500-1700 than any of today's current events. In fact, there are too many parallels to deny that era as Cameron's obvious inspiration. Overly sensitve people who are looking to be offended will always find something to complain about.
I actually loved the parallels this movie drew with Iraq. Especially the line, "If people are sitting on something you want, that's what you do. You make them your enemy so you can justify taking it." Yeah, that sounds familiar.
As for being anti-religious, give me a break. No, the Navi were not evangelical Christians, but the entire movie was about them protecting the Tree of Souls...their connection to spirituality and there ancestors.
What wrong with respecting all people, beliefs, animals, the earth, and peace?
jeasus freaks and right wing spongebrains see conspiracy theories in toilet paper rolls–empty toothpaste tubes–moms old bras-sinks full of dirty dishes-occupied outhouses and discarded jock straps–
get used to it–these wingnuts are just one more fact of life
Parting from the premise that conservative christian groups think a fantasy book like the Bible is real, they also probably think that the liberal left thinks Avatar is real. Surprisingly they did not think it was pro immigrant, but the again, it is the white anglo saxon humans who are the immigrants on this fantasy.
It wasnt anti-god to anyone except those who worship money. If money is your god then yes it was anti-god.
You mean greedy corporations with x-military security forces are really the good guys.
And the primitive NATIVES, who just want to live in peace and harmony with their world are the bad guys.
Thanks for clearing it up.....
The military does what they are sent to do.... but some times the political players send the military to do things that aren't right, or moral. The movie asks whether it is right to invade another for your own survival, which is an interesting moral dilemma.
People its a flipping fantasy movie....get over yourselves and let the rest of us enjoy the escape of a good movie...
Jakob, does it bother you at all that the humans in Avatar traveled 4.3 light years to another star system to take what they wanted from another demonstrably intelligent species, wiping out their environment, culture and religion in the process? Do you also cheer over the 3.5 million native peoples (est.) who were wiped out in America's Eminent Domain Westward Expansion, or the natives slaughtered by Cortez or the many other "civilized," technically advanced savages over history?
To discover another intelligent species in the universe, and indeed so close to our home system, would be the most incredible, epoch-changing event in human history. To think that our first reaction would be to conquer and exploit them says something about our moral compass that is terrifying.,
You see, Jakob, I didn't cheer because the humans in Avatar got pasted. They could have worked out an accomodation with the Na'Vi, but instead opted for enslavement and destruction. I cheered because it was morally right, in black and white clarity, for the Na'Vi to fight to save their planet from merciless invaders. I also cheered when the humans brought down the alien motherships in Independence Day and when the aliens died because they could not adapt to our environment in The War of the Worlds. A murderous, alien invader is a murderous, alien invader, after all...
You see, I understand the concepts of right and wrong, on earth or on another world. I understand that, despite thousands of bloody years of human history to the contrary, it is wrong to kill and enslave others to take something they have to satisfy your own selfish ends. Doing it "because you can" doesn't make it any more right.
Jake Sully, and the few humans who helped him, took the only moral course of action they could take. It has nothing to do with liberal or conservative ideology, unless you are arguing that the Conservative (Big "C") ideology justifies what was being done to the Na'Vi or to the countless souls on this planet who have been sacrificed for selfish individual, corporate or national interests. If that's what you are saying, then I am sorry for you.
And Bob from Florida, have you not been keeping up with current events? The whole flipping country is already off the deep end in every sphere of political, social and intellectual life. And it ain't coming back anytime soon...
Those who are offended maybe saw themselves in the MOVIE.
What If?
The role was reversed. Earth is pandora and the Na'vi were humans. Something to think about.
The critics need critics and we the public are the best people to be their critics. As one critic to another critic, "Are you whacked in the old mush melon? or Do you just stay up nights thinking this rhetoric up?" There are no subliminal messages in the movie if you play it backwards. You critics need to get a life in another profession.
Why am I not surprised that religious groups are insulted by something that opposes their viewpoint? Are they worried that a different way of thinking about the world might take away a slice of control that religion has over the dull-minded of the world? Just a thought....
You have got to be kidding me, these aren't real people making serious comments about a movie that is a fantasy???? Come on now, have we finally gone completely off the deep end?
i would use military force against aliens who think trees talk to them. I think the fact that democrats sit there and cheer for another species against their own mankind says something about them.
I guess my first attempt to wade into this morass of opinion was squashed. Too much vitriole for the average Joe? Is that it? Anyway, the truth hurts. The US has expressed themselves as the frontline imperialists for a century. What? This is new? And the Vatican is outraged...how coy. We're outraged by the vatican. It's deviant hordes masquerading as holier-than-thou christian folk. What crap. The agenda isn't hidden anymore. Control is the mission from both camps, whether it's military or religious. When someone gets too close to the truth, well, better protest. Better make sure the believers within your specific camp gets the message...Look out gang, an understander has made some noise...an understander has pointed out our unspoken agenda...take, rape, pillage, control, destroy (or a variation thereof).
Just for inflation, the top 5 money-makes of all time –>
1. Gone with the Wind
2. Star Wars: A New Hope
3. The Sound of Music
4. E.T.
5. The Ten Commandents
Source: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm
The movie was entertaining. The one about aliens in South Africa was a huge political statement, but didn't draw near the criticisms.
How many movies have been made where one group exploits another for profit? Avatar showed animism and spiritualism, social awakening and exploitation wrapped in adventure. Is this the first one?
Anti-military and anti-religion? Well, d-u-u-h. And your point is? I was disappointed in the movie, but for story line weakness. There are (were) 8 million stories in the Naked City.
Is this a movie or a political advertisement people. Last I looked it was a movie. Enjoy it as a movie and forget any "message" that you think might be in the movie.
This a very beautiful movie and is not anti-religion, just the opposite. I just loved it
It's just Dances with Smurfs meets Pocahontas if neither of those well known movies offended you neither should this. Well unless you hate computer effets.
Whoa, big news! Right-wing nuts go off the deep end over a movie. What is "new" about this? Conservatives love to be outraged victims. This movie has given them another chance to play their old, familiar role.
It is amazing to me that our media spends so much time on the views of America's least educated, least intelligent, least sophisticated citizens. We hear much more from wingnuts and teabaggers than from college professors or intelligent citizens.
Get real, know what fiction is????
The thing is, Conservatives already tried making their big movies. All we got was 'An American Carol', which bombed, and 'Expelled' which did even worse. As for Avatar, we've seen this Song and Dance Before, folks. Dances with Wolves, the Last Samurai...heck, I could think of a few Disney movies it rips off as well. Though I applaud it for beating Titanic, It just shows that our taste in movies is failing.
...and what is wrong being anti military and anti religion, seriously?
Please people it is an entertaining movie. Grow up and find something worth being upset about. Like 50,000 dollars of stimul money going to fix tennis courts, and signs in Ohio.
Those poor Indigenous people could not save themself's, with out the
help of the great white man and a crippled great white man at that.
Everyone says that it's "conservatives" making these claims.
How about extremist right wing bible-thumper nut-bars instead....you know, the ones who used to gather to burn Harry Potter books for promoting witchcraft, & that want to ban Halloween as a celebration of Satan? Hardly mainstream Republican type stuff.
Saying that these views are representative of those held by the vast majority of conservative is like calling Hugo Chavez a typical "liberal".
Give your heads a shake.
By the way, I'm neither "conservative" nor "liberal". I use my common sense & ability to think, and that determines where I stand on any given issue. I may take a typically right- or left- wing view on any given issue, depending on the issue & context.
How anyone could rigidly pigeon-hole themselves into one or the other is beyond belief.... How anyone could blindly tar group such a diverse group as "conservatives" with these nutty accusations is even more beyond belief. Especially so when it's done by people who claim to be truly liberal in thought.
Seems a bit like censorship based only on the fact that you disagree with someone else's opinion. Therefore that opinion and the right to voice it should be suppressed. Truly a hard-core, self proclaimed liberal type of activity.
Wow....
To say this movie is anti-military is an insult to the military. What is the one quality that sets the main character apart from the other Avatar-Operators? The fact that he is Marine.
In fact, the movie goes to great length to show that he has "Marine Spirit" with lines like "there is no such thing as an ex-Marine" and in the end his combat training and control of his fear, things that were taught to him during boot camp and he learned while losing his legs in battle, are what gave him to courage to do things like ride a gigantic bird, and the ability to do things like beat the crap out of the Na'vi's mightiest warrior (those were classic Marine take down moves he used in that scene)
I was actually pleasantly surprised that such an action movie could have writing so subtle that it could have anti-violent plot while simultaneously praising the military for what it does best: Give people the strength to do the right thing and succeed.
Some people just can't past their political agendas. I saw the movie three times–each time with a different group of people. No one in the groups had any thoughts about its political leanings. We agreed that it pretty much maintained the flow of a lot of movies from the past–there are good guys and there are bad guys and the bad guys lost again. It even had a love story that developed logically. It was great entertainment.
Anything which is as deeply spiritually moving and vastly popular which has nothing to do with Jesus is bound to offend the Fundies.
These are the same crazy neo cons who complained that Harry Potter promoted witchcraft....
Didn't anyone notice that it was a disabled Marine who Saved An Entire Planet! Geesh.. The Marine should be proud of this movie!
It's a movie. Get over it conservatives idiots.
Many, if not most, of the right-wing, conservative Christians cannot even imagine another planet with intelligent life on it. It goes against (in their minds) everything they have been led to believe about Earth being the the only planet with intelligent life. Remember, also, that they will be the only ones in Heaven. 😉