I haven't seen Avatar yet, but after reading the reviews here's what it seems to be about:
Imagine Saddam Hussein has space travel and technology. He lands on a planet of red white and mostly blue peace loving people, very similar in culture to the Americans, but without materialism and a lot more Oprah guiding their lives.
Saddam and the tech Iraqi attack, although it's clear that there are splits in his command structure and some actually side with the Blue Americans.
And Ripley battles the company to ensure the evil aliens don't invade and kill both, or something like that.
And there's a whole new language, but the dialogue still stinks.
I'd wait for DVD but seeing a metaphorical Saddam having way too much power if given nuclear technology and warp drive would seem to be too poignant a message to ignore.
Imagine Saddam Hussein has space travel and technology. He lands on a planet of red white and mostly blue peace loving people, very similar in culture to the Americans, but without materialism and a lot more Oprah guiding their lives.
Saddam and the tech Iraqi attack, although it's clear that there are splits in his command structure and some actually side with the Blue Americans.
And Ripley battles the company to ensure the evil aliens don't invade and kill both, or something like that.
And there's a whole new language, but the dialogue still stinks.
I'd wait for DVD but seeing a metaphorical Saddam having way too much power if given nuclear technology and warp drive would seem to be too poignant a message to ignore.
I've seen it, and you do have to see it at the cinema for the 3D effects alone. At some places it's very realistic, like when there's a fire and ash appears to be blowing off the screen onto you. It does cost $18.50 though, because of the 3D.
ReplyDeleteGreenies will like the film. It's like the planet is Gaia, who has a consciousness and there's an ecological message (like when they kill an animal they have to say a certain chant over it to thanks it for it's life sustaining others and apologizing for the kill and some such).
But yeh, it's the old Dances with Wolves meets Last Samurai basically.
re: your analogy, ZT.
ReplyDeleteSwap Saddam and his hi-tech army for GW Bush, the US Marines and corporate America and you're essentially got it about right !
don't... wait for the DVD Zen, you gotta see this one in 3D at the theatre or not at all...
ReplyDeleteI just heard it's like $18 for the 3D version. What's the upgrade cost to go to 4D?
ReplyDeletethe blinkin' thing cost half a billion NZD to make. It's gotta be worth an $18 ticket ;)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, just go and gawk with your mouth open. The story is typical Hollywood blockbuster load-of-old-cobblers and they forgot to include the characters in the 3D process, but if you just sit and ignore that it's an awesome experience.
ReplyDeleteI'm scheduled to see it on Wednesday morning. One Christmas present was a Family movie pass - dispute erupted between kids over Planet 51 v Avatar - resolved by Matt being slated to endure planet 51 w two littlies and I got Avatar w the teen...
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Jaws 3D doesn't count for the same experience?
ReplyDeleteSo chances I'm going to follow your advice Fletch, PM and Andy, and just go for the experience so that in 20 years I can think back to this leading edge debut in the same way I crowded around with my friends to witness the neighbourhood's first colour TV in full technicolour glory.
It's history of some sort, innit?
dead right. it's not a movie, it's an experience.
ReplyDeleteYeh, what he said. For someone who hasn't experienced 3D at all it would be more mindblowing, but it is well done. 3D seems to be in vogue these days. As I walked out of the theatre I looked at the upcoming movie posters and three of them were in 3D.
ReplyDeleteand three of them were in 3D.
ReplyDeleteSure it wasn't just one, because you weren't wearing the the glasses? :-)
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**
ReplyDeleteI really don't know where this whole Saddam/Americans analogy came from, be careful what you write before you've actually seen the thing. The Na'vi are clearly loosely disguised native americans, even their hairstyles match up. And the themes are very much that of colonisation, inculturation the exploitation of the environment etc. It isn't simply "greeny" or against colonisation since it presents two types of interaction between the inhabitants, one is that of force and domination and the depersonalisation of persons, the other is that of dialogue and education and the exchange of information. The movie comes down hard on the former but very much shows the success of the latter. It does have some problems like the whole issue of the transferal of a soul into another body.
LOL, Zen, I didn't mean the posters were actually in 3D, I meant that they were advertised as being in 3D when they come out.
ReplyDeleteyeh, what nyokodo said. It's portraying the Americans as the bad guys. I heard someone describe it as being like Aliens but seen from the aliens point of view.
ReplyDeleteThe interaction between the aliens with their world (tree vines, the 'Gaia' type planet, the horse and flying creatures) through the attachment of their 'pigtail' to same was kind of weird. Much was made of 'becoming' the horse they were riding - sharing it's spirit etc.
All a bit new age, really.
Ps, Brendan Malone has done a pretty accurate review of the movie at Semper Vita (check our links list on the right).
ReplyDeleteI really don't know where this whole Saddam/Americans analogy came from, be careful what you write before you've actually seen the thing.
ReplyDeleteSoory folks - just my sense of humour.
My deliberate attempt to mischaracterise the current narrative and infuriate all those people wanting to kick the crap out of America and Big Business would shake their heads in despondency to see their new favourite film to be thought of as a shining example of protecting the American people from despots such as Saddam.
Maybe I should characterise the Global Miniing Company as the United Nations out to control the only known source of the mineral called "freedom" which gives lovers of liberty the steel in their back-bones to stand up to the push for world government....