Most people who have seen and enjoyed the blockbuster sci-fi drama “Avatar” probably think it was just a fantastic, feel-good movie. Wrong. It’s actually a political commentary that has Conservative America’s shorts pulled up tight.
“Avatar” is a fascinating showpiece of ground-breaking technology and no doubt the best 3D film ever. But what makes “Avatar” even more fascinating is the ironic political firestorm raging in the background.
In Avatar, for those few who haven’t seen it, the Na’Vi, a primitive race of nine-foot, blue-skinned humanoids on the distant moon Pandora live in perfect harmony with their environment. Enter the greedy, mean-spirited mining company with a Blackwater-like, military contractor in tow to ravage their beloved forest and strip mine a rare metal that makes the interstellar conglomerate more money.
Flashback to the history of Earth. Sound familiar?
Director James Cameron even admits that the film is in intended as “a mirror to our own blighted history, where we have a culturally advanced civilization supplanting more ‘primitive’ civilizations.”
The “Avatar” storyline is hardly unique. We’ve all heard it before. A more “advanced” civilization coming along to conquer the aboriginals and exploit their natural resources – and then convert and reform them into the society we think they should be.
But alas, this time, primitives on flying dragons, with the help of a turncoat former U.S. Marine, defeat our mighty military with bows and arrows. Along the way, military and corporate images take a real beating. At the end, audiences cheer the yellow-eyed aliens as they defeat our troops.
All of these things, critics insist, will anger and alienate moviegoers. Quite to the contrary, it seems like the only people who don’t like “Avatar” are the critics themselves. To me, it’s a shame they’re so obsessed with their ideologies that can’t see the harmless but remarkable artistry of such a movie instead of focusing on the political subtext that most people hardly notice.
I’d sure like to know how many conservative mouthpieces actually went to the movie and can truthfully say they didn’t like it. That’s what bugs them. Everybody likes a great sci-fi flick and could not care less about the director’s personal politics, which is going right over the audience’s head. We’ve had our fill of politics, right? Can’t forget about politics for 180 minutes and just enjoy a great movie?
For years, right-handed pundits and bloggers have incessantly condemned Hollywood for being out of touch with most Americans. Face it, “Avatar” is a real crowd pleaser, and its outstanding success seems to tell us Hollywood might actually be in touch with most Americans.
Nonetheless, there are those still aflame over “Avatar,” calling the movie and Cameron anti-America, pro-tree hugger, anti-military, sacrilegious, anti-capitalist, and in league with those who hate the Western World.
The religious right is also feeling burned by a “Godless Hollywood.” Pagans winning the day? The Gospel according to James (Cameron) and pantheism, a faith equating God with nature?
And miners, big business, and those intent on conquering every wilderness? Ouch! They really get pasted in this movie. The plot embodies the all-things-are-connected mantra of the greenest environmental groups that champion biodiversity. The Na’Vi’s entire world is linked through the sacred Tree of Souls. Not unlike, incidentally, the culture of Native Americans who viewed the earth as their mother instead of something that needs to be conquered and developed.
If you think I’m making this up or exaggerating it, do your own Web search. You’ll soon agree.
Critics weren’t surprised to get this type of political subplot from the same Hollywood that has produced a steady stream of liberal-agenda films like “Brokeback Mountain,” “Religulous,” “Lions for Lambs,” “Milk,” and “W.” But they were very unpleasantly surprised that this liberal blast came from none other than their own icon of conservatism, Rupert Murdoch, who owns 20th Century Fox, producer of “Avatar,” along with Fox News, Fox Cable Network, New York Post, Wall Street Journal, HarperCollins, publisher and promoter of Sarah Palin’s best-selling book, and much more, all part of his NewsCorp media empire.
That’s really cool irony, don’t you agree? One of those circular firing squad moments.
I don’t imagine Murdoch has had a change of heart and is out in his backyard hugging a tree and writing checks to MoveOn.org. Hardly. For Rupert, it’s all about a little catchphrase you might have heard before: Money talks.
“Avatar” grossed over $1.1 billion in its first three weeks and is now the biggest money-maker ever. It has already won a Golden Globe for best drama and has been nominated for nine Oscars, including best picture and best director.
I doubt Murdoch is feeling blue about this criticism from his conservative brethren. Nope, he’s seeing green – not Sierra Club green, but the same old green he’s been seeing his entire life. One little ding in his conservative armor in exchange for something way north of $1 billion in revenue? I’m guessing he can deal with it. Conservatives are all about the right to make a lot of money, so James Cameron, back at you. I guess that’s what you call reverse irony because “Avatar” also fits nicely into the conservative agenda.