Gregg Easterbrook on Avatar

[fossten]

Gregg Easterbrook

If I were a military man or woman, I would find ‘Avatar’ insulting
SPOILER ALERT.
~snip~

Then there’s director James Cameron’s view of military personnel. If I were a military man or woman, I would find “Avatar” insulting. With one exception, the helicopter pilot played by Michelle Rodriguez — her character is twice referred to as a Marine, suggesting the military personnel are regular military, not mercenaries — all the people in fatigues are brainless sadists. They want to kill, kill, kill the innocent. They can’t wait to begin the next atrocity. It’s true that the U.S. military has conducted atrocities, in Vietnam and during the Plains Indians wars. But slaughter of the innocent is rare in U.S. military annals. In “Avatar,” it’s the norm. The bloodthirsty military personnel readily comply with the colonel’s orders to gun down natives. No one questions him — though in martial law, a soldier not only may but must refuse an illegal order. Plus the military personnel are depicted as such utter morons — not a brain in any of their heads — that none notice the TOTALLY OBVIOUS detail that Pandora’s unusual biology will be worth more than its minerals. Yes, movies traffic in absurd super-simplifications. But we’re supposed to accept that of the deployment of several hundred, every soldier save one is a low-IQ cold-blooded murderer.

What does “Avatar” build up to? Watching the invading soldiers — most of whom happen to be former American military personnel — die is the big cathartic ending of the flick. Extended sequences show Americans being graphically slaughtered in the natives’ counterattack. The deaths of aliens are depicted as heartbreaking tragedies, while the deaths of American security forces are depicted as a whooping good time. In Cameron’s “Aliens,” “The Abyss” and his television show “Dark Angel,” U.S. military personnel are either the bad guys or complete idiots, often shown graphically slaughtered. Cameron is hardly the only commercial-film director to present watching evil U.S. soldiers slaughtered as popcorn-chomping suburban shopping mall fun: in the second “X-Men” flick, U.S. soldiers are the bad guys and graphically killed off. Films that criticize the military for its faults are one thing: When did watching depictions of U.S. soldiers dying become a form of fun?

 

[04SCTLS]

steidman160 says:

January 5, 2010, 1:31 PM ET

on avatar I served 5 years as an officer in the army, two in Iraq and was not offended. The movie does point out that most are ex military and are hired mercs in the beginning. second I hate contractors because they are lasy and overpaid, saw that first hand in iraq, I was cheering for the natives to butcher them

JamesMacTKE says:

January 5, 2010, 1:19 PM ET

in response to the massive avatar section of this article. i saw the movie and really enjoyed it. and while mr. easterbrook didnt notice it was said in the very beginning that it is a large company autonomous from any government and that the people hired are all mercenaries. It amazes me that someone would go on a massive diatribe on a movie but not pay attention the first 30 minutes.
________________________________________________________________

Comments from ex military from your link.

I'll agree the ex military were cartoon characters with no depth.
But then this isn't Schindler's List.
My favorite moment there was when the commander started to sip on a cup of coffee as they opened up and set the tree world on fire.
(My mind drew such beautiful pictures!)

I saw Avatar in 3D Imax and enjoyed it very much for what it was.
The public likes being entertained for their money and this film delivers in spades.
People will enjoy seeing familiar stories and themes presented well in a new way; even if it is on the level of jet fighters downed by rock throwing peasent women
A few on the right are flagellating themselves over Avatar like something from the gratuitous sadism of Passion of the Christ (shades of Alex imagining himself as a Roman centurion), which was the last conservative blockbuster.
It's billion dollar box office is the public's answer to these frustrado critics.

Avatar Rocks!

 

[Calabrio]

His link was from ESPN.

 

[fossten]

Col. Bryan Salas’ letter:

Lost amid the staggering commercial success of “Avatar” and obscured by the punditry of the left and right as they debate James Cameron’s social and historical commentary are the real warriors whose heroism, valor and selfless service has allowed the U.S. to leave a war in Iraq that many in 2006 thought was unwinnable and indeed salvage success from the jaws of calamity.

“Avatar” takes sophomoric shots at our military culture and uses the lore of the Marine Corps and over-the-top stereotyping of Marine warriors to set the context for the screenplay. This does a disservice to our Corps of Marines and the publics’ understanding of their Corps.

The Marine Corps embraces a warrior-scholar mentality and prides itself on understanding host country narratives and sensitivities in complex climes and places. Gen. James Mattis, whose catch-phrase is “no better friend, no worse enemy,” better captures the essence of Marines who helped usher in the Sunni Awakening in Anbar province than the cinemagraphically convenient colonel-turned-mercenary antagonist in “Avatar.”

Let’s view “Avatar” for what it is, a leap in the wizardry of cinema, a digital fantasy and a vehicle for a film-maker to make a statement, but not emblematic of the Marines who honorably fight and fall to win our nation’s real battles today.

Col. Bryan Salas director of public affairs

Headquarters Marine Corps

 

[04SCTLS]

His link was from ESPN.

If you go down about 3/4 way there's this where above article was picked from.

Outer-Space Cartoon Says Americans Are the Bad Guys:
Down at the bottom are the comments none of which support the writers view.

 

[04SCTLS]

What the right is really pissed about is that Hollywood generally refuses to celebrate and romantasize recent American military adventures (Behind Enemy Lines notwithstanding) in a heroic positive way.

 

[Calabrio]

What the right is really pissed about is that Hollywood generally refuses to celebrate and romantasize recent American military adventures (Behind Enemy Lines notwithstanding) in a heroic positive way.

No, however I am pissed that Hollywood is so reluctant to celebrate or respect the military. They are routinely either blood thirsty killers with no conscience harassing innocents, or they are the emotionally damaged veteran with psychological problems haunting them. Those are the two sides of the coin that Hollywood uses to represent the military.... with rare exception.

So what does Hollywood romanticize?
LAWYERS.
Ever noticed that?

 

[04SCTLS]

So what does Hollywood romanticize?
LAWYERS.
Ever noticed that?

I liked Boston Legal and it's wit on it's 5 year run
I liked most of Cameron's "True Lies" (other than the whole Jamie Lee Cutris humiliation thing)where Arnold in a harrier jump jet thwarts some nasty looking vaguely islamic terrorists from setting off a second nuclear device in a New York highrise.
To me Cameron's kind of stuff and imagination and execution is what making movies and seeing movies is all about.
I know this may sound wierd but viewing the technical accomplishment when exitedly masterfully executed brings tears to my eyes:hump:

And Alien's , what a movie!

I also enjoyed Pearl Harbor for all it's spectacle and period sets.

But getting back to Avatar
It should be enjoyed for it's spectacle and accomplishments if nothing else.
The politics does not weigh heavily in this movie the way it would if say Ayn Rand wrote it
I would go see it in Imax 3d while that's still available.
I generally havn't gone out to see movies in theaters for years
now but this is really worthwhile and it would be smallminded to miss it.

Besides Rupert Murdoch owns 20th Century Fox and conservative Fox news so if Avatar has his blessings you will be contributing to the capitalist entertainment system which still has no match in the rest of the world.

American Movies Rule!

 

[shagdrum]

Marine Corps press director slams “Avatar”

Corps official: Avatar ‘sophomoric’

Staff report
Posted : Friday Jan 8, 2010 14:03:42 EST

Avatar, the highly anticipated 3-D movie by director James Cameron, was met with enthusiasm by audiences across the globe and has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide as of Jan. 6. Talks of a sequel are already underway.

But despite commercial success, Avatar has been the target of anger and backlash from some who see it as an affront to the Marine Corps and a negative allegory for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the movie, a paraplegic Marine veteran named Jake agrees to travel to the distant, resource-rich planet Pandora where he works with the military and private mercenaries to displace a humanoid race called the Na’vi so that their land can be mined for precious minerals. In return for his service, Jake is to receive a surgery that will allow him to walk again, but after infiltrating the Na-vi with an avatar identity, he falls in love with one of the locals and decides to take a stand against the money-hungry corporation that seeks to eradicate them.

Chief among critics of the movie is the Marine Corps’ own director of public affairs, Col. Bryan Salas. In a recent letter to the Marine Corps Times (see below) he said the film, “takes sophomoric shots at our military culture.”

———

Have you seen Avatar? Do you think it portrays the Marine Corps or military at large in a negative light?

Speak your mind on our message board

Col. Bryan Salas’ letter:

Lost amid the staggering commercial success of “Avatar” and obscured by the punditry of the left and right as they debate James Cameron’s social and historical commentary are the real warriors whose heroism, valor and selfless service has allowed the U.S. to leave a war in Iraq that many in 2006 thought was unwinnable and indeed salvage success from the jaws of calamity.

“Avatar” takes sophomoric shots at our military culture and uses the lore of the Marine Corps and over-the-top stereotyping of Marine warriors to set the context for the screenplay. This does a disservice to our Corps of Marines and the publics’ understanding of their Corps.

The Marine Corps embraces a warrior-scholar mentality and prides itself on understanding host country narratives and sensitivities in complex climes and places. Gen. James Mattis, whose catch-phrase is “no better friend, no worse enemy,” better captures the essence of Marines who helped usher in the Sunni Awakening in Anbar province than the cinemagraphically convenient colonel-turned-mercenary antagonist in “Avatar.”

Let’s view “Avatar” for what it is, a leap in the wizardry of cinema, a digital fantasy and a vehicle for a film-maker to make a statement, but not emblematic of the Marines who honorably fight and fall to win our nation’s real battles today.

Col. Bryan Salas director of public affairs

Headquarters Marine Corps

 

[Calabrio]

I liked Boston Legal and it's wit on it's 5 year run

Yes, that's one TV series.
But the list of lawyer shows goes on, my memory only goes back to LA Law, but everything through Ally McBeal through the countless movies where some determined lawyer, a legal advocate for truth, battles evil business people or military corruption.

I liked most of Cameron's "True Lies" (other than the whole Jamie Lee Cutris humiliation thing)where Arnold in a harrier jump jet thwarts some nasty looking vaguely islamic terrorists from setting off a second nuclear device in a New York highrise.

Great movie, from a different time.
Hollywood hasn't had the nerve to make a movie about Islamic terrorists since then.

But I agree, the Jamie Lee Curtis stuff is creepy and uncomfortable.

To me Cameron's kind of stuff and imagination and execution is what making movies and seeing movies is all about.

He's made some really great movies.
With the improvements in home theaters, I'm not as inclined to go to the movie's as I used to be. I'm only motivated to go to the movies if I think it's going to be an experience. Avatatar, in 3D, and in IMAX, offers that promise.

The politics does not weigh heavily in this movie the way it would if say Ayn Rand wrote it

I would expect not.
Rand using story to explain and teach a philosophy... that was a goal.
Not write an enjoyable story and sneak a message in.

Besides Rupert Murdoch owns 20th Century Fox and conservative Fox news so if Avatar has his blessings you will be contributing to the capitalist entertainment system which still has no match in the rest of the world.

Murdoch almost endorsed Obama. He's a business man, not an ideology.
Frankly, he's Australian.

American Movies Rule!

It's the only thing we have left to export.