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[Terxpahseyton]

I thought they were already there for some time and planned to stay there to mine these resources...

How does this change anything I have said?

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism

Colonialism normally refers to a period of history from the 15th to the 20th century when people from Europe built colonies on other continents. The reasons for the practice of colonialism at this time include:

• The profits to be made.
• To expand the power of the metropole.
• To escape persecution in the metropole.
• To convert the indigenous population to the colonists' religion.

They did at least first and fourth. It can be considered exploitation colonization:

Exploitation colonialism involved fewer colonists, typically interested in extracting resources to export to the metropole. This category includes trading posts but it also includes much larger colonies where the colonists would provide much of the administration and own much of the land and other capital but rely on indigenous people for labour.

To mine (not just grab and go) some of humans had to live there permanently for some time.

 

[Esckey]

Saw it again today, seeing a movie a second time is a first for me. The lines where still long and 20 minutes after I bought my ticket it was sold out, same with the evening showing.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism


They did at least first and fourth. It can be considered exploitation colonization:


To mine (not just grab and go) some of humans had to live there permanently for some time.

The point is that the cooperation in the movie did not wish to rule the people nor the planet. Both are crucial aspects of historic colonialism. The Pandora people could have leaved happily on if they they did not have their basement full of money. So you can not just equate Avatar to colonialism.
Of course I see the resemblance of some aspects and "just grab the resources and leave" is exaggerated. Yet what happens on Pandora is very different to what happened during the historic colonization. Regarding intentions just as regarding measures..

 

[Patroklos]

don't see your point. The invasion on Iraq offers more to criticize and to use it as a symbol for than the simple fact that military of country A invaded rich-of-valuable-resources-country B.

If that was his intention then he failed even more miserably, as Iraq had nothing to do with resources.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

If that was his intention then he failed even more miserably, as Iraq had nothing to do with resources.

Debatable at the least as you very well know.
But I emphasized that there is more than that to criticize and to implement in an symbolic way into the movie.

But actually I think Cameron nether did a good nor a bad job. He just made a whole lot of money and in that he did a brilliant job.

 

[jUmpSt0p]

most of the so-called complaints and criticisms here are just plain stupid.

I mean, how can you go to this movie and then come out saying "Why wasn't it more like Memento?", or start complaining because it wasn't "original" enough???

WTH? maybe next we should start asking why Gears of War couldn't be more like Civilization 4, or why the new Mario game on Wii just looks childish compared to Europa Universalis

apples and oranges people. it's a freaking James Cameron action blockbuster. it should be compared to other movies within the genre.

if you went to this movie with the wrong expectations, then it's your dumbash fault for going to wrong movie. don't cry because you were actually in the mood for Akira Kurosawa, but WOOPS, somehow you ended up in a James Cameron movie!



I mean, do we hear this crap about MEMENTO if we're talking about freaking Ironman? Superman, X-Men, blah blah blah. ANY of the comic book movies of the last 10 years which are ALL EXACTLY THE SAME.

Avatar should be compared to that fare. Ironman, Lord of the Rings, Matrix. and if you're comparing properly, then Avatar blows the rest of its genre away, or at least stands alongside other great flicks like Matrix and Dark Knight.. so what if the story isn't original? since when does an action movie need an original story to be a successful, killer movie????? (though, IMO, it had many original parts and innovative twists)

to me, all these absurd critiques of the film only highlight it's success. you just don't want to like the movie because it's popular and everyone loved it. so, because you actually can't slam the movie at all as a Hollywood Action Blockbuster (it represents the absolute epitomy of the genre), your only recourse is to try and critique it based on standards that simply don't apply.

lighten up. stop taking yourself so seriously. and go enjoy the damn movie based on its own merits.

and if you can't already enjoy True Lies for the stupid, ridiculous, unoriginal fun that it is, then stay home, watch those Fritz Lang movies you must love sooooooooooo much, and leave Avatar for those of us who know how to enjoy it properly.

 

[jUmpSt0p]

edit: nevermind.

 

[Gilder]

Avatar should be compared to that fare. Ironman, Lord of the Rings, Matrix. and if you're comparing properly, then Avatar blows the rest of its genre away, or at least stands alongside other great flicks like Matrix and Dark Knight.. so what if the story isn't original? since when does an action movie need an original story to be a successful, killer movie????? (though, IMO, it had many original parts and innovative twists)

Because then its just a prettier, more preachy Transformers 2.

And I think you're mixing up "genre" with "budget."

 

[jUmpSt0p]

Because then its just a prettier, more preachy Transformers 2.

And I think you're mixing up "genre" with "budget."

OMG.

I'm sorry, but that comment just shows a shocking level of ignorance about what makes a good movie, and a good script, in particular.

Avatar has a nice script. actually, a very tight and excellent script.

Transformers 2 ... pfft.

a movie doesn't need anything, really, but a good script. originality is far far behind that.

I thought it was a platitude that every story has been told, and that we just look for new ways to tell them.

didn't realize there was so much originality left, and that the folks at CFC are apparently the guardians of it.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

Ok, you've convinced me, SiLL.

 

[Gilder]

OMG.

I'm sorry, but that comment just shows a shocking level of ignorance about what makes a good movie, and a good script, in particular.

Avatar has a nice script. actually, a very tight and excellent script.

Transformers 2 ... pfft.

a movie doesn't need anything, really, but a good script. originality is far far behind that.

I thought it was a platitude that every story has been told, and that we just look for new ways to tell them.

didn't realize there was so much originality left, and that the folks at CFC are apparently the guardians of it.

You've done nothing to convince me otherwise but call me ignorant and say it had a nice script. And that a movie doesn't need anything but a nice script. Don't need good acting or directing or a decent plot, just a nice script.

 

[hossam]

You've done nothing to convince me otherwise but call me ignorant and say it had a nice script. And that a movie doesn't need anything but a nice script. Don't need good acting or directing or a decent plot, just a nice script.

avatar had all of those.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Ok, you've convinced me, SiLL.

I did what?
Dude, are you aware what you have just done? This even worse than dividing through zero. We are all doomed

EDIT:
@jUmpSt0p
If people wanna see an awesome-looking movie it does not require them to be silent about a dumb story.

 

[Defiant47]

It's a children's movie, as I said before. Watch the movie. Observe the storyline.

 

[jUmpSt0p]

I shouldn't have said it doesn't need 'anything', but a good script is by far the most important thing.

Avatar had good actors, excellent cinematography, excellent pacing (due to the good script)..

I don't think the story was dumb at all. unoriginal doesn't make it dumb. otherwise 99% of movies would be dumb. as 99% of the stories told in any storytelling medium we have are not, in their fundamentals, original.

I'm not saying the movie shouldn't be critiqued. I'm simply saying critique it within its genre. stop making pretend elitist moaning by comparing it to films it has no business being compared to. it just highlights the fact that you really want to criticise the movie so you can be different.

of course, conservatives are going to find any way they can to criticize it, because it's clearly a movie with liberal themes. oh well, too bad... you guys can watch.... err, hrm... what can you watch? seing as how the vast majority of artists in this world are also liberals (the reasons why can be discussed elsewhere) that doesn't leave much entertainment out there aimed at conservatives, does it? awww, poor wittle things. guess all you get is FOX News.

for my part, I think the problem of pollution that we face today absolutely represents a threat to our entire species. it is by far the most important issue there is in the world today. the 'ecological theme' in Avatar, which everyone seems to be dancing around or trying to push to the side, was right on the money. pinpoint. and it had a powerful emotional impact on me as I watched the film.

I found the movie powerful and emotional and completely engrossing.

but ya know, call me crazy, but I approach movies, even bad ones, with the philosophy that essentially they are miracles. thousands of generations of my species never knew anything as magical or amazing as a movie, or a videogame, or any of the other amazing stuff we have all around us. mind-blowing, fantastical stuff. stuff that could be gone in a flash.

and what do most Americans do about all that stuff? b#$@h. complain. moan. criticize. tear apart. wine. cry.

or maybe that's just on the Internet?

You've done nothing to convince me otherwise but call me ignorant and say it had a nice script. And that a movie doesn't need anything but a nice script. Don't need good acting or directing or a decent plot, just a nice script.

well, sorry, but your comment about Transformers 2 didn't convince me of anything except you can't tell the difference between a good script and garbage.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

The most important thing is suspension of disbelief...

 

[dannyshenanigan]

If I could travel back in time, I would show people from the early 1900's this movie. They would probably pass out from amazment. Although you could show them Transformers 2 and get similar affect.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

There must be a disbelief first or there would be no suspension of it .

 

[Kozmos]

Spoony review...I found it mostly right.

http://spoonyexperiment.com/2009/12/20/vlog-12-19-09-avatar/#disqus_thread