James Cameron's AVATAR discussion thread

[SnakeDoctor]

So to be perfectly PC, Jake would have to have not only been a paraplegic, but black and gay (and Jewish, I suppose - but that hasn't come up yet).

Actually, I think s/he'd have to be a paraplegic black homosexual Jewish tranny. Ideally, they'd have cast RuPaul, shot him/her in the kneecap, and given him/her a torah.

SnakeDoc

 

[ironwez20]

The Vatican's opinion on Avatar:

https://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/vatican-says-avatar-no-masterpiece-ap

aw thier just mad angels and demons didnt do well.

 

[Kuzeh]

aw thier just mad angels and demons didnt do well.

The Vatican doesn't support Angels and Demons...

 

[lightwave000]

This thing looks sweet! If it wasnt priced so high it would have sold out immediately. Look at the size and detail. Its incredible!
<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/BGAQyxsCvb0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/BGAQyxsCvb0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>

Who all has ordered one?

 

[ironwez20]

The Vatican doesn't support Angels and Demons...

Omg no.

 

[cr`]

okay, just read all your replies to the 'white as savior' thingie. some of you made valid points, but let me try to retort...

snakes on a plane has a black dude as an FBI agent(or was it DEA?), whether he was black or white or mexican, he would still be the ideal candidate to lead the passengers to safety, if only because of his profession.

jake sully became the savior to an entire race. he and only he alone could tame and ride the red beastie when all the present natives around him could not. he won the heart of the native's princess and save the native's world all by his lonesome because the native's gaia listened to his words. and he's happened to be portrayed by a white dude.

sure, subtext is superimposed by the viewers. but if the races are switched, and jake sully is a black or a mexican dude and the natives turned caucasians, would you, the white audience, would not have picked up on it? honestly now. and how would the blacks feel in the na'vi were not blue but instead played by blacks? hmm? i'll bet my dvd collections there'd be an uproar from the black communities.

glad to see denzel play a savior in the upcoming book of eli. the movie is not out yet so i dont know if denzel will get to kiss a white princess in it, or do things only the ordained could do(like ride the red beastie or some such) that can get all the whites to look at him in awe, or save the entire white race singlehandedly... i dont know. but i do know that is a step forward. and i'm absolutely positively sure all colors will get their chance to shine in the movies. it's just a matter of time. but for now, avatar is not furthering any cause but the white's. and i'm only about the subtext here, not the movie's ecological message.

long post sorry. feel free to ignore or dissect it.

 

[nash]

honestly now. and how would the blacks feel in the na'vi were not blue but instead played by blacks? hmm? i'll bet my dvd collections there'd be an uproar from the black communities.

Newsflash!!!! majority of the na'vi characters ARE played by blacks!

 

[cr`]

Newsflash!!!! majority of the na'vi characters ARE played by blacks!

you're kidding of course. i meant blacks on the screen. obviously.

So to be perfectly PC, Jake would have to have not only been a paraplegic, but black and gay (and Jewish, I suppose - but that hasn't come up yet).

no. to be fair, the white guy just have to work alongside the natives and solve the problem together. 50:50 workload is always fair, dont you think? when you tip the percentage to the white and have him be the sole savior and the natives just be the white dude's followers, then i think the concern is valid.

 

[BadMoon]

okay, just read all your replies to the 'white as savior' thingie. some of you made valid points, but let me try to retort...

snakes on a plane has a black dude as an FBI agent(or was it DEA?), whether he was black or white or mexican, he would still be the ideal candidate to lead the passengers to safety, if only because of his profession.

jake sully became the savior to an entire race. he and only he alone could tame and ride the red beastie when all the present natives around him could not. he won the heart of the native's princess and save the native's world all by his lonesome because the native's gaia listened to his words. and he's happened to be portrayed by a white dude.

sure, subtext is superimposed by the viewers. but if the races are switched, and jake sully is a black or a mexican dude and the natives turned caucasians, would you, the white audience, would not have picked up on it? honestly now. and how would the blacks feel in the na'vi were not blue but instead played by blacks? hmm? i'll bet my dvd collections there'd be an uproar from the black communities.

glad to see denzel play a savior in the upcoming book of eli. the movie is not out yet so i dont know if denzel will get to kiss a white princess in it, or do things only the ordained could do(like ride the red beastie or some such) that can get all the whites to look at him in awe, or save the entire white race singlehandedly... i dont know. but i do know that is a step forward. and i'm absolutely positively sure all colors will get their chance to shine in the movies. it's just a matter of time. but for now, avatar is not furthering any cause but the white's. and i'm only about the subtext here, not the movie's ecological message.

long post sorry. feel free to ignore or dissect it.

Why hello Mr. Sharpton. Welcome to the boards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhGv79va21c

 

[p!tu]

Newsflash!!!! majority of the na'vi characters ARE played by blacks!

Oh snap!! DAWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cr`]

i'm not black, dummy. you're as psychic as i am.

 

[BadMoon]

i'm not black, dummy. you're as psychic as i am.

You don't have to be black to be a racist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhGv79va21c

 

[cr`]

You don't have to be black to be a racist.

okay, so anytime anyone points out a concern about race in films, that guy is deserved to be labeled a racist. so easy for you to judge, eh?

i am many things bad, but racist towards whites is not one of them. if anything i am racist towards idiots, of all colors.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Is is also racist that all of the Na'vi were played by ethnic actors (mostly African-American and Native American)? I definitely think it was intentional, but far from racist - more of a way to add another level to some of the themes.

 

[BadMoon]

okay, so anytime anyone points out a concern about race in films, that guy is deserved to be labeled a racist. so easy for you to judge, eh?

i am many things bad, but racist towards whites is not one of them. if anything i am racist towards idiots, of all colors.

I think you are reading about as much into this as the vatican apparently did. It is a damn movie. LOL! Hence my funny youtube post from the Movie Chasing Amy. That is how I view nerds trying to weigh in on movies that were purely made for entertainment. LOL! Damn, dude as John would say on 20/20 gimme a break.

 

[cr`]

Is is also racist that all of the Na'vi were played by ethnic actors (mostly African-American and Native American)? I definitely think it was intentional, but far from racist - more of a way to add another level to some of the themes.

i dont think cameron was being racist either in his choice of using ethnics as na'vi. he saw the na'vi to be a certain way, and he simply chose the actors that could best help realized that vision. that's artistic choice, that's no racism.

you have to separate what's behind the screen and what's on the screen. the general audience have no clue who played most of the na'vi so it wont affect their perception any. and on the screen, that one white guy shows supremacy over all the blue guys. you cant deny that, surely?

I think you are reading about as much into this as the vatican apparently did. It is a damn movie. LOL! Hence my funny youtube post from the Movie Chasing Amy. That is how I view nerds trying to weigh in on movies that were purely made for entertainment. LOL! Damn, dude as John would say on 20/20 gimme a break.

oh it's just a movie, eh? riiight... look, i'm discussing this on an internet toy forum. i dont go on a strike or write letters to the supreme court about it. i know where the line is, okay? a movie not worth discussing is a movie not worth watching. and how many posts have you made talking about just one single action figure again?

 

[BadMoon]

i dont think cameron was being racist either in his choice of using ethnics as na'vi. he saw the na'vi to be a certain way, and he simply chose the actors that could best help realized that vision. that's artistic choice, that's no racism.

you have to separate what's behind the screen and what's on the screen. the general audience have no clue who played most of the na'vi so it wont affect their perception any. and on the screen, that one white guy shows supremacy over all the blue guys. you cant deny that, surely?


oh it's just a movie, eh? riiight... look, i'm discussing this on an internet toy forum. i dont go on a strike or write letters to the supreme court about it. i know where the line is, okay? a movie not worth discussing is a movie not worth watching. and how many posts have made talking about just one single action figure again?

Just please dont take me to court Mr. Sharpton.

 

[BadMoon]

Hell one could even make the argument that "Avatar" is an African American movie title.

Friday

Belly

Precious

Notorious

You see! I don't know the full list but one could come to the conclusion if you wanted to "stretch" this issue that a lot of African American movies have one word titles. LOL! Does that make sense? No more than your argument that this movie is racist. LOL! Get over it sir or madam.

 

[LOTRFan]

Perhaps any resident Hindus can tell us if the title is offensive?

 

[BadMoon]

Perhaps any resident Hindus can tell us if the title is offensive?

I am offended highly by your post. FAIL!