Report: Now Everybody Hates Avatar
Golden Globe triumphs notwithstanding, the list of those who've found something to dislike, discredit, disagree with, take offense to or simply hate in Avatar has grown exponentially since those innocent days when all anyone wanted was better dialogue. In China, for example, where James Cameron's megahit is the country's top-grossing movie ever, government officials announced Tuesday that they would pull the film off more than 1,600 2-D screens in favor of a domestic film about Confucius. Their motivation: Not protest, but rather wanting something in theaters more keyed into the Chinese New Year. (Avatar will remain on the country's 3-D screens, for what it's worth, which, of course, is still millions of dollars.) But it was just the latest in a backlash that, unusually, extends more to ideology than any critical or awards-season motivations.
I mean, the anti-smoking lobby and the Vatican are one thing, but as a helpful new report in the NYT elaborates, it seems like every other special-interest group has managed to inveigh against Cameron's worldview as well. It's open revolt! And as usual, China leads the way in exports:
In China [...] the film's imperialist themes have upset audiences who believe that the plight of the aliens, the Na'vi, who are forced from their home by human industrialists, is a parable for Chinese people whose dwellings have been forcibly razed by local governments to make way for new construction. As one pseudonymous commenter quoted on Chinasmack.com wrote: "China's demolition crews must go sue Old Cameron, sue him for piracy/copyright infringement."
Ha! Get. In. Line. But at least $1.6 billion in grosses (and counting) still splits up pretty robustly 100+ ways.
· You Saw What in 'Avatar'? Pass Those Glasses! [NYT]
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The more money and awards it rakes in, the more I find myself wanting to find fault with it and pick it apart even though I enjoyed it enough. But that seems to sum up the general attitude towards anyone and anything successful.
I didn't know Old No. 7 was a commenter over at Chinasmack.com...
Is it that people now hate Avatar or are people now looking past the 3-D to see it for what it is? The one thing I love about Avatar is how much it's made me appreciate Titanic.
I saw the film in 3D. And, I was impressed with the special effects. Beyond that, I wasn't really that taken by it and won't be getting the DVD. Still, I'm amazed at all the friction this film is getting from all fronts.
Conservatives decry it as "anti-military." I'm a moderate and saw it as "anti-military-industrial-complex" - which would put me in good company of others who felt the same way (like former Republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower who coined the term "military-industrial-complex" and warned us of it in the 1950s). The other criticisms?
Well, as a smoker, I wasn't surprised at the consternation of rabid anti-smokers to the Sigourney Weaver smoking shots. Some of these lunatics won't be happy until a "prohibition" law is enacted - allowing cops to arrest people who light up in their homes.
But, as a secular person, I was a bit surprised by the Vatican newspaper and radio criticism - calling Avatar a, quote, "simplistic and sappy tale." Frankly, some people think tales of virgin births, men walking on water, and eternal battles between a celestial good fairy (God) and a subterranean hobgoblin (Satan) would qualify for the same characterization.
In any case, I doubt whether any of the criticisms matter - except that it helps keep Avatar newsworthy (all publicity is good publicity). I think James Cameron will weather any possible criticism of his film and end up metaphorically "laughing" all the way to the bank.
I saw it 1st on 2d, and like it a lot. Then i saw it on 3d, and didn't care much for it after the first 30 minutes.
This movie reminded me of FernGully: The Last Rainforest back in 2001, I think. It's the smae thing, but FernGully has fairies and some weird ghost thing. haha
The movie is a combination of Edgar Rice Burroughs martian novels and Pochantas meets A man called Horse and Dances with wolves,The story was taken directly from The outer limits episode: "The Chameleon" with Robert Duvall as a spy whos DNA is altered to transform him into the guise of alien invaders, the invaders were dug in to a hillside inside their ship, Duvall,s character infiltrates their lair in his genetic disguise and after a major interal conflict, agrees to go with them to their home world and be one of them.
BOTTOM LINE: Cameron wrote this script 15 years before its release and Bush and Obama were political gleams in their fathers eyes.
GO AHEAD....discuss!
How is it that NONE of the mainstream media is busting James Cameron for totally ripping off Fern Gully?? Have NONE of you watched Fern Gully?? Are you kidding? Seriously, go dig up a copy and watch it. You will see what James Cameron hoped you would never realize- RIP OFF!!!
James Cameron was also "inspired" (actually he ripped it off) by pul anderson's 'call me joe' and the film 'battle for terra'. If you don't know what I'm talking about look them up and be disgusted. Cameron has done this before when he ripped off the idea for Terminator from HARLAN ELLISON (ever wonder why every terminator flick has harlan ellison's name on the credits? --Ellison got the lawyers involved and threatened to sued). James Cameron is a college drop out ex truck driver from a small town in my province (here in Ontario, Canada). He is a man without any natural talent but with a knack for hiring and if needed ripping off the ideas and talents of others. Avatar's stunning 'effects' are thanks to the legions of workers under Cameron not to him. And the story? please read the call me joe and view battle for terra before you respond with nastiness to my post. cheerio from canada.
You cant take one countries opinion and change anothers opinion,no matter what the power a country has.This is simply a movie that each person sees in their own eyes.Lets us not put politics into our films unless it involves politics.Let us enjoy our films thru our own eyes and not thru politics or racism.
Ps yes and he ripped off Fern Gully (he OPENLY admitted within earshot of starlog editors that he ripped off Ellison for the Terminator, so you folks and fans out there should not be too surprised.
it's just other countries.......they prob picked a more independent or cheesy film and say it's good, avatar is way beyond them
Its a fucking movie people like wtf and i didnt even see it yet solike wtf
Hopeless story. Goofy characters. Forget it asap.
Maybe it is just me but, isn't it a good thing that everyone from all perspectives
of many different subjects can find something they love or hate about this movie a good thing? I mean sure the story really isn't new, its been told over and over again. But Cameron has now told it in a way that is making people have an opinion, good or bad. If it can draw an emotion from you, thats good right? And maybe people talk to each other about and get a chance to see a perspective they did not realize sooner? I dont know, that's just me, but I'm not2smart.
I don't see what the big deal is, so Mr. Cameron made a movie. what's the big deal. Seems to me if you hate this action then don't go to the movies stay home and dry up. There are others who enjoy this type of movie but no you have to bust everyone bubble cause your a hate monger. big deal opinions are like but holes everyone has one some just wear theirs on the outside to so their stupidity...
this is so sad , why do people have to put a wet blanket on a good thing all the time?
Society deserves a visual experience that helps them appreciate the world on which they dwell and be left with a desire to change for the better. AVATAR is a fictional glance at what could be our reality. If you don't like it, then perhaps it is time you change so that the truth is something you don't later regret and hate.
Most Amazing Movie I have ever seen! My mother called me from across the country begging me to go see it. I've already seen it twice and would go back every day if I could. My daughter has also seen it twice, not even with me...every single person I know and have talked to about it has said the same. It was an amazing adventure and DESERVES every single award it gets. I do not smoke and was NOT offended by the stupid smoking scenes. some people smoke, get over it. And yes, sometimes stories cross over, hence Noahs Ark and The epic of Gilgamesh??? Yeah..kinda been going on a long time. Does NOT take away from this incredible movie and it's beautiful story. TRY TO ACTUALLY LEARN SOMETHING FROM IT'S MESSEGE.
I saw Avatar in 3-D first and I absolutely LOVED it! Then I saw it in 2-D and LOVED it even more! I think it's a fantastic movie and all you people complaining about need to get a life and find a different hobby. Fern Gully is a cartoon, which is for children. Yes, they are similar but TOTALLY different!
A movie with a moral: you harm other people when you or the corporation you work for steals from them.
It is to be expected that people focus on other trivia than the movie's message, morals are uncomfortable, morals are just for losers. And in China, better ban this movie quick before the people get any independent thoughts and don't eat dirt when the chairman tells them to.
So, its really sad that a movie can cause such an uproar, but then again I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering the society we live in today. Politics is mainly driven by someone looking out for their own best interests, just like our society. So, it shouldn't be shocking that everyone saw the opportunity to get a free ride into the headlines by piggy backing the movie, which is one of the greatest movies released. People are opportunistic, the pope, anti-smokers, Chinese officials. Everyone sees the chance to steal the lime light by making idiotic comments that only seem to push people away from their cause. Maybe the reason so many people have a problem with the movie is because it causes us as a society to take a hard long look in the mirror and consider the decisions we made and the decisions we allowed to be made by idly sitting by. It depicts the truth of human nature...if someone has something we want, why not just take it. It so much easier to force people into submission then approach a situation diplomatically. To all those who would refute this argument, just take a look at the history of the human race. Romans did it; we did it to the Indians. Its happening in Iraq and it will happen again. So, how about all these groups go out and try to educate people on their causes rather than turn them into a joke by making irrelevant accusations about the context of a movie. People go to the movies to escape from reality, to get a break from the horrors of day to day life, to escape headlines; therefore, I propose that we leave it to the writers and directors to convey the messages they depicted in the film, rather than desperate groups trying to exploit a good thing!!
Who cares if China likes it or not. I'm sure he didn't do the movie for them anyway.
They (China) aren't changing my opinion of the movie...so what difference does it make?
i dont know how any country can take such offence to the movie avatar especially regarding the fact that the native alians the na'vi was forced from thier homes watching them be destroyed, if anything james cameron is highlighting the fact that this issue has affected everyone in every country throughout history all for the sake of profit or development and its still going on. like neiborhoods being destroyed to make room for a new airport, or freeway, small businesses demolished for a new car park. and if you really think about it if nothing is done now to solve these issues then later down the track we may be advanced enough to find a new world with inhabitants, what then are going to destroy their world like we do ours.
AMEN!!!
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