Is Avatar Anti-American?

"This movie reflects that we are living through war," - James Cameron, Director, AVATAR

Every decade has its share of breakthrough movies, some of which touch us to our core and set us thinking and admiring the picture and the idea behind it. Undoubtedly, Avatar is one such movie of this decade. It is already cruising to bank at least $2.5 billion worldwide and $700 million at United States Box office. Officially, Avatar is the most bankable film of all time across the globe.

The question: is it really a flawless film? Does it really extend to the boundaries of being called one of the best films of all time? According to critics, it is in no way close to perfection. Many of the top critics have quoted that the dialogues are reminiscent of Star Wars saga. The story is absolutely trite; it is "Dancing With The Wolves" in space where our hero goes native after leaving Kansas City. The characters are thinner than a cardboard sheet. Well, this is what the critics say but ‘intelligent beings’ may not always have the final word.

The second trailer clearly suggested a highly predictable story line - that Na’vi's will kill the gung-ho army head and win the battle in the climax. But there are all possibilities that James Cameron clearly aimed at giving us a simple and enjoyable story line with indirect messages!

To an American citizen this movie might sound a little unpatriotic because of several enunciations against the America’s past and present policies. Avatar is not just a popcorn segment but also an intentionally spoken out political statement by James Cameron.

Direct Resemblance to Native Americans

Everybody knows that like any history, America’s past is filled with blood. The Europeans slowly but surely wiped out the indigenous people during “The Indian Wars” from American continent in name of “progress” of New England. Very few Indians are left today who have seamlessly merged with the American society. The merger has not been easy - the ancestors had to sacrifice their roots and culture to adjust with the modern society. The children of indigenous people in 18^th century were sent to the Native American Boarding School to “civilize” or to assimilate them with the European culture where they were not allowed to speak in their own language and made to follow Christianity.

“We are providing them education & teach them English, we build them roads but after many years our relationships are only getting worse because all they want is to play in the mud!” – Parker Selfridge in Avatar

It is not hard to make out that Na’vi people look like Native Americans and their language is inspired from Mayan. James Cameron has clearly expressed his sorrow over large scale extermination of indigenous people from the continent.

The Climate Issue

For a long time there has been a debate in American Congress whether climate change is real or not where all the scientists across the world are already preparing to prevent the catastrophic effects due to global warming. Though United States has emphasized more on green energy, it has still taken controversial stance on international treaty (Kyoto Protocol) to reduce emission of greenhouse gases due to economic priorities. At present, countries like China & India are also contributing a large part of carbon emissions but they are just coming out of third world status! On the other hand the western countries have been emitting greenhouse gases since almost a century now. The world is waiting for America’s major contribution to overcome this threat to mankind’s future.

Avatar portrays Earth as dying world due to energy crisis & global warming in year 2154 and humans who have set out to explore the lush and rich land of Pandora to look for the resources.

“If Grace is with you, look into her memory - the world we come from. There is no green there. They killed their mother and they are going to do this here!” – Jack Sully in Avatar

The Iraq War

The 9/11 event has changed the equation of world politics completely. United States went for war on Afghanistan to dismantle Al-Qaida and find out Osama Bin Laden. Many countries across the globe supported this war due to shock and awe of 9/11 but after Afghanistan, Bush administration continued their venture on Iraq in the name of “threat to national security” and alleged Hussain for possessing Weapons for Mass Destruction (WMD). Bush repeatedly said, “We will fight terror with terror”

“Our only security lies in preemptive attack. We will fight terror with terror.” – Colonel Miles Quaritch in Avatar

We all know that no WMD were found in Iraq. Many experts on international issues have quoted that war in Iraq was just a battle of oil. In the movie it is shown that the sole reason for human presence at Pandora is highly super conducting material ‘unobtainium’, which would help to over come energy crisis back home.

“This is how it's done! When people sitting on shit you want, you make them your enemies and then you justify taking it!” – Jack Sully in Avatar

The character of Colonel Mile Quaritch (Stephen Lang) in Avatar seems so obsessed with war that he actually does not want the midway out to avoid the conflict. The characters like Jake Sully & Dr. Grace Augustine represent the image of United Nations & International community opposing war and asking for dialogue process.

Iraq war alone put the load of three trillion dollars on American Economy and in this recession time people across the globe hated the policies of Bush Administration and may be that is the reason everyone is able to relate with this movie.

“I have heard people say this film is un-American, while part of being an American is having the freedom to have dissenting ideas”

“The movie reflects that we are living through war. There are boots on the ground, troops who I personally believe were sent there under false pretense, so I hope this will be part of opening our eyes and I don’t know if this is a political agenda exactly, but as an artist I felt a need to say something about what I saw around me. I think we all need to take stewardship of our planet” – James Cameron

Deep Panjwani
universalexperiment@yahoo.co.in
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