Avatar: the most expensive piece of anti-American propaganda ever made

Telegraph Blogs (U.K.) ^ | December 25, 2009 | Nile Gardiner

[Schnucki]

There is no denying the breathtaking visual beauty of the $400 million 3-D sci-fi epic Avatar. It is already a global box office smash, taking in more than $200 million worldwide in its opening weekend. The special effects are simply stunning, and some of the action sequences are spectacular.

But Avatar is also a distinctly political work of art, with a strong anti-American and anti-Western message. It can be read on several levels – a critique of the Iraq War, an assault on the US-led War on Terror, a slick morality tale about the ‘evils’ of Western imperialism, a futuristic take on the conquest of America and the treatment of native Americans – the list goes on.

As I blogged earlier, director James Cameron has made it abundantly clear that the film is linked to both the war in Iraq and the War on Terror. In an interview with The Times he declared:

“We went down a path that cost several hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives. I don’t think the American people even know why it was done. So it’s all about opening your eyes.”

“We know what it feels like to launch the missiles. We don’t know what it feels like for them to land on our home soil, not in America. I think there’s a moral responsibility to understand that.”

The story is set in the year 2154, and centres on an attempt by a US conglomerate to exploit valuable mineral wealth on the planet of Pandora. In the background, earth is dying with limited resources, no doubt because a climate change deal could not be finalized at Copenhagen.

The American firm employs an army of marines to fight on its behalf against the Na’vi, who seem to be modeled loosely on native American tribes. Slogans such

[FlingWingFlyer]

Go see Blind Sided.

[omega4179]

35,000 Iraqis vs the 2-3 million that already perished by Sadam. Most where killed by each other anyway.

[Ransomed]

“We went down a path that cost several hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives. I don’t think the American people even know why it was done. So it’s all about opening your eyes.”

That’s right, we went into Iraq to get a-hold of the wise and kind nature-spirit Saddam’s supply of unobtainium, defiling his precious natural resources. Somebody should post those pics of the oil fields on fire.

Freegards, merry Christmas

[A Navy Vet]

“We know what it feels like to launch the missiles. We don’t know what it feels like for them to land on our home soil, not in America. I think there’s a moral responsibility to understand that.”

Hey, dumbsh**t, what do you think America experienced on 9/11/01? Airplanes USED as missles. The only difference was the speed and the means of targeting.

[muawiyah]

James Cameron has a pre-9/11 attitude.

Darned shame the A-rabs didn't burn down Beverly Hills just for funzies.

They could have, too. There's a way!

[aruanan]

Avatar: the most expensive piece of anti-American propaganda ever made

Avatar: another in a line of films to serve as political Rorschach devices for those who desperately need something ambiguous to bloviate about rather than to confront the clear and present danger that inhabits the White House and controls Congress.

[Terpfen]

Blind Sided? Don’t you mean The Blind Side?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"...a path that cost several hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives. "

Huh? 'several hundreds of thousands'? I seriously doubt Jimmy boy has any proof of that. I think he's been listening to Jimmy Carter or some other BDS whack job.

[CAluvdubya]

how?

[muawiyah]

That’s a secret ~ really big one too.

[Smedley]

As I blogged earlier, director James Cameron has made it abundantly clear that the film is linked to both the war in Iraq and the War on Terror.

Yes, because everyone knows the Iraqi people were living in a libertarian paradise and were one with nature b/f the Americans came in and stole all their oil

[ColdOne]

We know what it feels like to launch the missiles. We don’t know what it feels like for them to land on our home soil, not in America. I think there’s a moral responsibility to understand that.”

Hey James remember 9/11? His moral responsibility...... My a@#!

[supremedoctrine]

Well. contrary to my original predictions, it looks like AVATAR WILL make money. I hadn’t figured in two things:1.
the foreign receipts, playing on audiences that want to embrace an Anti-American message, and 2.the fact that countless millions will see a movie like this MERELY for the “special”, cutting-edge effects.

[Blind Eye Jones]

Perhaps great fantasy about fantasy. But it’s amazing how much real money can be spent on fantasy and the making of a spectacular, self indulgent bitchfest. What a tragic, idiotic waste.

[Yardstick]

There’s nothing Rorschach about this movie. It is obviously leftist agitprop.

The idea that pointing out this movie’s agenda keeps people from confronting Obama is ridiculous.

When a $200M piece of leftist propaganda is released into the world to damage America’s reputation, it’s good to sound the alarm.

The kind of naive passivity you advocate does nothing but enable those who hate this country.

[kempo]

Haven’t been to a movie in 20 years just because of the political correctness. I could care less about cutting-edge effects.

[himno hero]

Say what they want...

There is not a nation , nor has there been one that offers more opportunity and a better life for all. Its all choice.

No one can offer that, No where, its only in America.

And most these asses want to have a revolution?

Then wake up to what? Its bad enough that Obama is in there destroying the good things.... the future, freedom, liberty and democracy.

Damnrat pischers! No idea.

[Gaffer]

Hey “Avatar”, my movie “Starship Troopers” can kick your movie’s ass!......Go Federation! Down with the Bugs! What do you wanna do? Live Forever?

[aruanan]

There’s nothing Rorschach about this movie. It is obviously leftist agitprop.

Nothing is so obvious as something one wishes to see.

The idea that pointing out this movie’s agenda keeps people from confronting Obama is ridiculous.

I didn't say this, but this is a good example of the lack of care in reading that manifests itself in calling Avatar "agitprop." Taking over countries in this world's history is far more a practice of Communists and Muslims than anything in the West.

When a $200M piece of leftist propaganda is released into the world to damage America’s reputation, it’s good to sound the alarm.

Again, another example of begging the question.

The kind of naive passivity you advocate does nothing but enable those who hate this country.

I advocated no passivity, naive or otherwise, but again, this is another example of reactive reading in which the "reader" sees certain words and phrases that elicit a response based on his own inner meanings and then characterizes the writer as having written from that position. It's a dangerous practice that keeps one from seeing what is actually out there.

[Truth29]

Well, having just seen Avatar, I can only add that the plot is the purest dreck of noble savage and Gaea worship vs evil capitalists cartoon caricatures who have despoiled the earth. The advantage is that the propaganda is so obvious and superficial. If any Freepers go, I would suggest it should be for the special effects, which are truly spectacular, and should see it in 3D IMAX for best effect.

[Yardstick]

Then you must think the whole issue of liberal bias in the media is unfounded. Because if you can’t see the bias in this film, then you’re not going to be able to see it anywhere. You’re kind of like Mr. Magoo.

[mrreaganaut]

Hey “Avatar”, my movie “Starship Troopers” can kick your movie’s ass!......Go Federation! Down with the Bugs! What do you wanna do? Live Forever?
______________________________________________________________

Starship Troopers was another of these anti-military films. It was sickening to see the moral inversion of the original story. My friend who saw it with me was as gung-ho as you, but had already read the original; I was so disturbed (it was obvious that the audience was supposed to root for the bugs by the end) that I read it later and confirmed that the filmmakers had made a movie AGAINST the book, not OF the book.

I’m not even going to watch this when it’s free on cable.

[Dahoser]

“We went down a path that cost several hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives. I don’t think the American people even know why it was done. So it’s all about opening your eyes.”

Thanks, Jim. Mission accomplished. I'll keep my $10 in my pocket and out of yours.

[Diggity]

I never see to the movies because for one, they just put out trash, but more importantly because I refuse to give those commie bastards in Hollywood one dime of my money.

[ozzymandus]

This fraud Cameron won’t even admit that he just ripped off “Dances With Wolves”. I saw “Avatar”; the effects were good, the message was garbage, the result was a leftist comic book. “Unobtainium”?? That’s what Uncle Scrooge was always after.

[Nachum]

So far, the worldwide box office earnings for Avatar:

$392,954,953

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=avatar.htm

TOTAL LIFETIME GROSSES
Domestic: $137,268,000 34.9%
+ Foreign: $255,686,953 65.1%

Say all you want about this movie, but it a HUGE hit.

Politics aside, it is some of the best sci fi special effects I have ever seen.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I want to see it but I having a hard time talking myself into paying to see an American bashing/idol worship/mother earth loving brainwash film.

[caver]

This movie is being hyped by the SRM like no other in recent memory. It reminds me when the SRM were talking about Bruce Springsteen’s Born In the U.S.A. What an anti-American jerk.

[aruanan]

Then you must think the whole issue of liberal bias in the media is unfounded. Because if you can’t see the bias in this film, then you’re not going to be able to see it anywhere. You’re kind of like Mr. Magoo.

On the one hand, there is nothing in Avatar which requires one to see it as a political allegory for it to make sense as a story. On the other hand, desiring to see it as a political allegory ruins it as a story. And, by the way, Mr. Magoo always ended up winning.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Exactly what I was going to say!

I saw Blind Side Side earlier this week and then took 1 of my liberal loved ones to see it.

Tearjerker both times.

Wonderful! Uplifting! Funny! And promotes healthy, conservative (American) Christian values without being preachy or political.

[Borges]

The film of Starship Toopers was a satire. An action film framed as mock fascist propaganda. If you know Paul Verhoeven’s previous work (Robocop) you wouldn’t be surprised.

[packrat35]

It cost close to $400,000,000 to make with advertising. It will need to make at least $800,000,000 to break even (double costs).

It probably will do so but it is not a big hot financially yet!

[mrreaganaut]

The film of Starship Toopers was a satire. An action film framed as mock fascist propaganda. If you know Paul Verhoeven’s previous work (Robocop) you wouldn’t be surprised.
______________________________________________________________

Surprised, no. Disgusted, yes.

[mrreaganaut]

On the one hand, there is nothing in Avatar which requires one to see it as a political allegory for it to make sense as a story. On the other hand, desiring to see it as a political allegory ruins it as a story.
______________________________________________________________

On the one hand, there is nothing in the Chronicles of Narnia which requires one to see it as a religious allegory for it to make sense as a story. On the other hand, failing to see it as a religious allegory is shocking ignorance or willful blindness.

[Borges]

Why not just appreicate it on its own terms? It was pretty funny and extremely well made as it manipulates viewer sympathy. The same way that his other films do.

[aruanan]

On the one hand, there is nothing in Avatar which requires one to see it as a political allegory for it to make sense as a story. On the other hand, desiring to see it as a political allegory ruins it as a story.

______________________________________________________________

On the one hand, there is nothing in the Chronicles of Narnia which requires one to see it as a religious allegory for it to make sense as a story. On the other hand, failing to see it as a religious allegory is shocking ignorance or willful blindness.

Thanks for proving my point so wonderfully well, albeit, perhaps, unintentionally. By the way, C.S. Lewis explicitly stated that The Chronicles of Narnia was not allegorical. Some have tried, unsuccessfully, to claim that Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings as an allegory of WWI and WWII (he claimed the LOTR was written with “no allegorical intentions …, moral, religious, or political”) or that Golding wrote The Lord of the Flies as an allegory of man's savage nature (though he claimed he did not).

That point aside, we can see that authors may have purposes behind their stories which can either add to or detract from their story. In C.S. Lewis's case, seeing Narnia, as he did, as a reflection of Christ in another world adds both to our enjoyment of Narnia as well as to our understanding of this world. In Cameron's case, seeing Avatar, as apparently he did, as a way of criticizing the U.S. in its war on terror merely prostitutes the story and fails to offer any enlightenment about our own world.

[jackibutterfly]

"Go see Blind Sided."

You mean, The Blind Side?

[Pharsalus]

[img]http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2005/10/11/image933296g.jpg[/img]
bwahahahahaha!!!

Here’s an idea, since liberals are still upset about taking the Indians’ land, they can leave. Go to Egypt, those people have been there forever. No troublesome stories of manifest destiny for which to feel misguided regret. You’ll feel right at home. The rest of us will follow soon... we promise.

[Ken in San Jose]

Almost every great work of art is created to work on multiple levels, including an “actual” story or theme and a subtext. This movie falls into that category. Writer James Cameron shows old school racist colors as well as extreme hypocrisy way in this admittedly visually spectacular film.

1. White man saves primitive species–PLEASE, James, not this pat Hollywood formula AGAIN. I know it makes money but give me a break–I threw up a little in my mouth when I saw this coming one more time.(p.s.–I’m white).

2. White man flips seamlessly between his white world and the more compelling primitive world (Cameron living vicariously through the Na’vi (NBA?), as he no doubt wishes that he, like many white libs, were black). OK man, got it, but the expiration date on that one was about 1989 and now it’s really starting to stink up the place.

3. I loved the makeup of the military defectors–a Latino dude, a handicapped white dude, two white academics, and a probable Lesbian. Man, I love that Democratic party! James, do you have any other paint by numbers coloring books you can share?

4. Closing scenes show almost every single bad human to be white men. Certainly no women, and few if any Latinos, Asians or Blacks. Hmmm.

5. Worst of all, the real story of the film is not the taking of the precious metal from the Na’vi, or about the taking of oil from Iraq, or about the stripping of the the rain forest. It’s about the James Cameron mining our uncertainties about race in order to make an insane amount of money. This kind of maneuver will blow up your emotional Hometree whether you realize it or not, and most people will never how completely they have been manipulated by this film.

One more point regarding race while I’m on a roll — I’m perplexed as to why people of all colors continue to beat white people up over the issue of slavery. Folks, the slave trade TODAY as perpetrated by Arabs and Africans against native Africans is ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE larger than the slave trade in the colonial U.S. African governments have been selling their own people across the world for centuries. MANY, MANY more slaves ended up in South American vs. North American. Don’t let your professors play you for a fool with their revisionist history as the world has been a nasty place for a long, long time and non-white faces have played a huge part in the nastiness.

I prefer to live in a post-racial world where I don’t really give a damn about anyone’s race. I don’t care if you are white, brown, green, black, purple or see-through, if you’re a good person I’m going to like you, and if not then I’ll be seeing you later.

That’s my take. Happy Holidays and God Bless.

[Ken in San Jose]

Almost every great work of art is created to work on multiple levels, including an “actual” story or theme and a subtext. This movie falls into that category. Writer James Cameron shows old school racist colors as well as extreme hypocrisy way in this admittedly visually spectacular film.

1. White man saves primitive species–PLEASE, James, not this pat Hollywood formula AGAIN. I know it makes money but give me a break–I threw up a little in my mouth when I saw this coming one more time.(p.s.–I’m white).

2. White man flips seamlessly between his white world and the more compelling primitive world (Cameron living vicariously through the Na’vi (NBA?), as he no doubt wishes that he, like many white libs, were black). OK man, got it, but the expiration date on that one was about 1989 and now it’s really starting to stink up the place.

3. I loved the makeup of the military defectors–a Latino dude, a handicapped white dude, two white academics, and a probable Lesbian. Man, I love that Democratic party! James, do you have any other paint by numbers coloring books you can share?

4. Closing scenes show almost every single bad human to be white men. Certainly no women, and few if any Latinos, Asians or Blacks. Hmmm.

5. Worst of all, the real story of the film is not the taking of the precious metal from the Na’vi, or about the taking of oil from Iraq, or about the stripping of the the rain forest. It’s about the James Cameron mining our uncertainties about race in order to make an insane amount of money. This kind of maneuver will blow up your emotional Hometree whether you realize it or not, and most people will never how completely they have been manipulated by this film.

One more point regarding race while I’m on a roll — I’m perplexed as to why people of all colors continue to beat white people up over the issue of slavery. Folks, the slave trade TODAY as perpetrated by Arabs and Africans against native Africans is ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE larger than the slave trade in the colonial U.S. African governments have been selling their own people across the world for centuries. MANY, MANY more slaves ended up in South American vs. North American. Don’t let your professors play you for a fool with their revisionist history as the world has been a nasty place for a long, long time and non-white faces have played a huge part in the nastiness.

I prefer to live in a post-racial world where I don’t really give a damn about anyone’s race. I don’t care if you are white, brown, green, black, purple or see-through, if you’re a good person I’m going to like you, and if not then I’ll be seeing you later.

That’s my take. Happy Holidays and God Bless.

[rhema]

Writing in the Weekly Standard, John Podhoretz wasn't overly impressed with the movie.

[jackibutterfly]

Why did you write your post to me? I think you wrote to the wrong person. My only comment was to correct the person who misstated the title of the movie, The Blind Side - his post #2, mine #39.

[mrreaganaut]

In Cameron’s case, seeing Avatar, as apparently he did, as a way of criticizing the U.S. in its war on terror merely prostitutes the story and fails to offer any enlightenment about our own world.
______________________________________________________________

You are assuming that the story has an integrity apart from its purpose; I assume that the story is ab initio a whore and my perspective cannot prostitute it further.

But you are full of Christmas generosity of spirit, and I should follow your example, in humble thankfulness for good and intelligent friends. Happy Boxing Day!

[John 3_19-21]

Could not have said it better myself!

[Yardstick]

Without a doubt some people will watch Avatar and not pick up on the political allegory. Like I’d say most children would be unaware of it. But anyone familiar with politics and the Left will pick up on it — unless they willfully choose not to, or if they truly have a gaping lack of discernment.

Yeah, Magoo won, but he was pretty clueless about what was going on around him wouldn’t you say?

[aruanan]

Without a doubt some people will watch Avatar and not pick up on the political allegory. Like I’d say most children would be unaware of it. But anyone familiar with politics and the Left will pick up on it — unless they willfully choose not to, or if they truly have a gaping lack of discernment.

Fortunately, I am able to ignore whatever biases Cameron had as his motivation for making the movie (and if he's had the idea for as long as he claims, it far, far antedated any involvement the U.S. had in Iraq). Besides, he may, absurdly so, think that casting his story in those terms would be a good marketing ploy to get those who hate both the U.S. and science fiction to come buy a ticket. And if the bias is so slight that it can be ignored except by those who are assiduous in their desire either to praise him or to mock him for it and is not visible to kids or to those without the political background, then it's really nothing much to worry about.

The actual story is good: a bunch of creeps move in to take something they want from those who they claim don't need it anyway and shouldn't miss it, from those who, at first, are also powerless to resist them and then get their butts kicked every which way from Sunday. Who cares if some of the bad guys are Americans, Soviets, Nazis, Japanese, or (sometime soon) the PRC? In the story as told they thoroughly deserved to get their asses kicked. Their degree of their perceived right to something possessed by someone else wasn't proportional to their degree of perceived need. If this were true, every robber would be justified. Who cares if some of the bad guys were humans? They still deserved to get rounded up and thrown off the planet.

So what if someone says, well, you can see similarities between our going into Iraq and their going into Pandora. Yes, but the differences, not the similarities, are what make the difference, otherwise humans would be boinking bonobos. Americans didn't go into Iraq to get oil. Other nations than the U.S. are getting the oil contracts. And there was no Supreme Leader of Pandora who was thumbing his nose at Earth and funding Na'vi suicide bombers to destroy terrestrial civilization. Anyone with just a little bit of knowledge of these things the history of the U.S. and allies in Iraq can make any claims by Cameron and such dorks look ridiculous. If anything, his gloss on his own movie is a godsend for being able to show that he should just shut up and make movies and leave such politicizing for folks like Michael Moore and CAIR who can't do anything but insanely bitch.

On a side note, I haven't heard anyone complain about the Hindu aspects of the movie.

[Yardstick]

I can't believe I'm having to explain this to you.

We worry precisely because those without the background to discern will accept Cameron's message without knowing they're being fed a message, or without understanding his agenda. The concern isn't that Avatar will sway savvy conservatives (or savvy liberals for that matter); it's that it will sway unsavvy apolitical types and young people.

It's hard to believe anyone could think that propaganda is only effective when it is recognized as propaganda, when in fact it's just the opposite.

[aruanan]

We worry precisely because those without the background to discern will accept Cameron's message without knowing they're being fed a message, or without understanding his agenda.

And I can't believe that you say one thing and then another. Earlier you said that people without a background to detect his motives for making the film would see only a film. Now you're saying the exact opposite, that they will unconsciously adopt his beliefs about why he made the movie but which is not visible on the screen.

Your idea of a "message" infiltrating the minds of the susceptible is about on the level of Frank Garlock of Bob Jones University saying that because James Taylor is mentally ill those who listen to his music will become mentally ill through "sympathetic vibrations" induced in them by the music in the same way that a tuning fork is able induce another tuning fork to vibrate. Just because A says that B means C doesn't mean anyone seeing B will necessarily think or believe C if C is never explicitly a part of B.

The message seen in the film is that bad guys who try to screw over relatively powerless people get done in by their own badness in the end. This is an excellent moral message and one that has been made into films innumerable times. An outcome of the film that would have made it morally objectionable would have been the leadership of the Na'Vi agreeing to let the aliens blow up the home tree, get the ore, and basically gut his world for a sweet piece of the pie and a condo on one of the other moons.