Blue skin...no oxygen in the atmosphere...nobody stopped to ask if humans could ingest plants or animals from such an environment as in "Avatar" (promo photo).
I have long been one of those who "reads into" the movies, seeing "hidden themes" and such. I think this is equal parts Hollywood doing such a poor job (and that's putting it nicely!) at making movies and attempting to indoctrinate the next generation, and any of us over the age of 3 who will buy into their Liberal agenda.
The first time I consciously remember making this observation was kind of reading into things by any stretch. Dante's Peak (1997) starred then-James Bond star Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton of Terminator fame. It was a spectacular 2-minute recreation of the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens in southwestern Washington State, wrapped around a semi-love story between a single, male geologist (Brosnan) and his would-be love, a divorced mother of two and Mayor of the the local town (Hamilton). It was probably not the first "match made in post-modernist heaven" as portrayed by Hollywood seeking its "husband, wife and two kids" in modern style. But I almost wrote a college paper on the very modern themes I "read into" its script.
More recently, and specifically during the Bush Administration just ended, it seemed like every movie churned out by Hollywood attacked humans as the progenitors of all problems environmental, the United States as "the Evil Empire" for its contemporary war efforts, and anything associated with Christianity, Jesus Christ, the Church or the Bible as "the root of all evil."
OK, maybe I'm a little over-the-top on all of that, but did anyone else go to the theaters circa 2006 and notice that every trailer and movie out there had either an anti-church, anti-war or anti-American theme? Maybe I'm a kook, but I don't think so--I even commented quite frequently in the theater during previews, offering my commentary on my perception of the quality of such upcoming offerings as Da Vinci Code (2003), Munich (2005) and Kingdom of Heaven (2005).
Heck, even George Lucas took swipes at organized religion throughout the Star Wars prequel sequels. My favorite instance was where Qui Gon Jinn (played by Liam Neeson) attempts to explain to Darth Vader (aka Anakin Skywalker, played by Jake Lloyd) the mysterious midichlorians. The most obvious was from the same movie, where Skywalker's mother explains to the Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn regarding her son's extremely high midichlorian count, "There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him. I can't explain what happened." Reminiscent of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, it came across as a stupid line from a wannabe theologian.
But back to the future...er, the present, if you will.
"As you know, our blockade is perfectly legal and we'd be happy to receive the ambassadors." Apparently no UN in Star Wars. Nute Gunray (above) is rumored to be a play on the names Newt Gingrich (Nute) and Ronald Reagan (Gunray). (still from Star Wars prequel sequels)
Avatar looks to be a great example of the leaps in information technology, computer animation and other technological advances exhibited by the likes of the original Star Wars, Star Wars: Episode I and The Matrix. Each of these, ironically, are bathed in hidden themes as well. Why is that necessary? I don't remember Bogart or Jimmy Stewart requiring cheap gimmicks to draw in theater audiences. Shoot, even E.T The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) was just good, clean fun! Well, except for the single mother in the suburbs. Or Karate Kid (1984)--oh, shoot, single mother in L.A. burbs.
So the idea of hidden themes is hardly new to Hollywood. I suppose a great deal of this is due to the stance that Hollywood took in the Civil Rights era and the opposite stance taken by southern churches against desegregation and the Civil Rights movement. Hollywood decided then that everything the church stood for must be bad based on the church's lack of leadership stance in the biggest issue of the last century--Civil Rights.
Oh, and for those who can forgive the fact that Jaden Smith studies Kung Fu, not karate, apparently the Karate Kid franchise is being resurrected for another go-round with the son of Will Smith in the title role.
http://www.celebuzz.com/jaden-smith-kicks-up-notch-s164491/
I'm a little tired of the environmentalist themes like those in Wall-E (2008) where humanity has "used up" the earth's natural resources, reducing the planet to a "brown" wasteland. Perhaps they should take a page from the timber and logging industry, which was among the first to realize that it would eventually log and harvest all of its products in the U.S. and voluntarily and of its own cognition launched sustainability programs and lobbied for national forest protection for millions of acres of forestland across the country.
This theme of "humans bad, environment good" apparently is resurrected in Avatar, with the earth having once again by 2154 depleted itself of its natural resources like polar bears and undiscovered species in Indonesian rain forests where no human has ever trekked. In the movie, humans invade a moon similar in size and all other features to earth with one glaringly obvious difference--little or no oxygen in the atmosphere. You know, I would think, "Pass--next!!" and keep on moving to the next moon, planet, orb or whatever else floated by in space. No oxygen? I mean, at least in Star Trek they thought it important enough that Kirk had oxygen to go gallivanting about with a new hottie from a new alien species on a new planet every week.
I mean, the information geek in me starts asking questions like, "What kind of animal life would there be with little or no oxygen in the atmosphere? Could humans ingest these animals? Would they be toxic to our consumption?" OK, granted, there are nearly 150 years before that is an issue. But when such trivialities as oxygen are overlooked in plots and scripts, I have to go "info geek" and start asking such trivial questions. It's been a long time since I had biology class, but photosynthesis made a distinct impression on me. And when a cursory introduction to Intelligent Design theory reveals, literally, bio-nano machines at the sub-cellular level, I think a question or two regarding oxygen content of atmosphere and plant and animal life is warranted. Gotta be able to eat those big blue things, ya know. Cows don't survive without oxygen any better than your average Dave does.
"The Matrix" didn't even attempt to hide religious themes with character names like "Trinity," "The Oracle" and "Merovingian." My favorite scene from the movies above. (still from Matrix: Reloaded)
The Yahoo article I skimmed over discussing the movie is honestly the first I have read from a "major" source about the presence of hidden themes in movies. I don't like to discuss the topic since there appears to be very little honest, public discussion of the topic in the MSM--don't want to sound too much like a loon despite my earlier reference to ID. So I have to first commend Yahoo for even tackling the subject. Apparently there have been enough people who have seen the movie--not to mention quotations from actors and director James Cameron on the topic--to ignore, so Yahoo dove in.
I'd like to see Hollywood take a position that a bunch of high school dropouts probably aren't the greatest voices to base anti-American, anti-war, anti-religion or pretty much anti-anything themes on. Those who decided they couldn't possibly have any use for Algebra need to be left to do the jobs those without sophisticated training in mathematics are generally contstrained to do. I get my philosophical input from Ph.D.'s, think tanks and people with multiple, advanced degrees and certifications typically, thanks! And those who refuse to abide by the same wise practices can continue getting their input from the likes of Oprah and Tom Cruise, sometimes appearing together at the same time and place.
As for the movie Avatar, I figure I'll probably see it some day, just like Wall-E. Years in the future when one of my Liberal friends give them to my children as Christmas presents (Holiday gifts? Na'ah...more likely for their birthdays!) and I am restricted from ripping the newly unwrapped gift from my childs hands by a wise and gracious wife still to be located. And I'll probably be directed to sit down, shut up and watch said movies with my munchkins by the same wonderful female, and I may even keep my mouth shut and try to have a good time doing so.
I survived Dante's Peak, which was actually a pretty good flick if you ignore all of the sub plots and hidden themes. Perhaps, under its surface, the special effects of Avatar make all the rest of its issues (anti-war, anti-American, etc) sufferable. Heck, maybe I'll be swept off my feet by the cute little robot in Wall-E enough to ignore its themes as well (ultra-environmentalism).
But at least I am happy to report that I am no longer the only person aware of hidden themes during the previews. Speak up in the theaters--I promise to cheer your remarks and analysis. Just shut up when the picture show starts, OK?
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/hmg-avatar-hidden-messages.html
Comments
...two paragraphs dealing directly with AVATAR. And what's the deal with the random insert of the KARATE KID trailer?!!? This was absurd in about 7 different ways.
Just so you know, there was air on Pandora, but its toxic to humans. Thanks for paying attention.
"Those who decided they couldn't possibly have any use for Algebra need to be left to do the jobs those without sophisticated training in mathematics are generally contstrained to do. I get my philosophical input from Ph.D.'s, think tanks and people with multiple, advanced degrees and certifications typically, thanks! And those who refuse to abide by the same wise practices can continue getting their input from the likes of Oprah and Tom Cruise, sometimes appearing together at the same time and place."
So someone has to have a Ph.D to have wise and valid opinions? Sucks to be Jesus. What I find most disturbing is that you let other people do the thinking FOR you... and you're under the delusion that if others aren't letting the heritage foundation do their thinking they must be listening to Oprah! (I hope to GOD you were exaggerating here.) You do know independent thought it possible right?
I only can see the propaganda message from you to let people to get bad perception about hollywood movies that touches about environment, human rights, justice and so on. The avatar never refelect on US war, religion or about Christianity, it only touches about humanity in general, which is universal unlike your narrow minded theme of propaganda. Another thing, Phd is just an aid but doesn't guraantee achievement. Look at Einstien.
Dont get the impression, we're the only one in whole universe. There're possibility of billion type of earth like planet which can be habitable, maybe oxigent in diffrent composite. We human , has just begun to venture to planet Mars and log way to go so there is alwyas a possibity. Knowing is just hand full and unknowing as vast as universe.
Oh man. David Smith, you are without a doubt one of the stupidest people I have ever encountered in any medium anywhere. You don't understand how art works, you clearly flunked biology 101, and yet you feel at ease spewing your ignorance in a public forum for all to see. Wow. Just wow. I'd pick your rant apart, but that would require more text than this feedback system allows. Just a thought for your hilarious "why is there subtext" babbling: Read some books written before this century. Hell, read some Shakespeare while you're at it. Get some sort of basic grip on what makes a good story before you go slobbering on about "subtext." This ain't a left/right thing, this is a stupidity thing. Undereducated, over-opinionated idiots like you give Republicans a bad name.
A review of a movie's hidden messages and agendas when the reviewer hasn't actually *seen* the movie is one of the more absurd things I've seen on the Internet.
Why are you wasting everyone's time with this? If you do, please make it clear in the first paragraph that you haven't seen the movie rather than the last.
I can't even finish reading this article without correcting all false statements in this article. Did you actually watch this movie or just watch the trailers? Please stop dumbing people down with false info and uneducated point of views. If you did go to college then you should get a full refund.
I complete agree with Lemur and also liberal agenda, com'on really. I guess conservatives aren't humanitarians right?
The humans weren't there for the resources. Just for the mineral "unobtanium" that costs 25 mil a kilo. That's in the trailer and yet you failed to picked that up as well.
David Smith you're just plain dumb, enough said.
Wow, you are a special kind of nutter aren't you. So, are you waiting on the rapture as well?
Others have sufficiently discredited this review. Let me just add that if you really want to find a "hidden message" that supports your conservative worldview, it's not hard to do. The villains in the movie are the secularists. The heroes are the persecuted religious true believers. And that message is not even "hidden." Like others have said, see the movie before commenting. You risk sounding ridiculous otherwise.
What kind of glory hole encourages people to talk at the movies? You're a disgrace. And this article is ridiculous. Way to reinforce that negative republican stereotype. You went full retard on this one.
This is one of the worst articles I've ever read. You are pathetic, and ignorant. The message you attempt to distribute is obvious propaganda, and the masses are waking up to false messages like this. Efforts used by people like you to sway intelligent people are beginning to fail. Collectively human beings are waking up, and seeing lies like these for what they really are. Perhaps you too will one day wake up, and shed your ignorance.
I WENT TO IMAX IN SAN FRANCISCO TO SEE AVATAR BUT IT WAS SOLD OUT SO I JUST WENT TO SEE IT ON 3 D. THIS MOVIE WILL OUTGROSS TITANIC BY WORD OF MOUTH NOBODY EVER BEAT TITANIC IN A DECADE MAY BE AVATAR WILL DUE TO WORD OF MOUTH. BEST MVIE IN THE WORLD SECOND TO NONE OR SECOND TO TITANIC...
What kind of writer writes a review and critique of a movie before he sees it? You are ignorant. I am a conservative Republican and loved this movie. There was a political agenda, but the movie in NO WAY shoved it down your throat. Everything in that Yahoo story was a ridiculous stretch. Great movie.
AVATAR IS THE GREATEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN, HIGH TECH AND EVERYTHING.THIS MOVIE WILL OUTGROSS TITANIC I SWEAR REALLY COZ WORD OF MOUTH IS VERY POWEFUL.NOBODY BEAT TITANIC AND MAYBE AVATAR WILL HONESTLY I CRIED WATCING THIS MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL .I LOVE THE ACCENT OF ZOE Z.MAYBE I WILL SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN,,I DID NOT NOTICE THAT IT WAS LONG I EVEN STAY LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR THE MUSIC I SEE YOU..I REALLY LOVE THIS MOVIE ....
Nevermind the fact that you can't write worth a darn, but your points are absurd. You've written an anti-AVATAR piece without even seeing the film, based upon an article on Yahoo! that was ridiculous to begin with. Then you tell people they should talk dduring the movies? Do you have DOWNS SYNDROME??? Congrats on your page views; you're clearly more concerned about making money by writing stuff designed to p-ss off intelligent people than you are about being honest or having a shred of integrity. Also, your picture makes you look like a raging douchebag.
So a movie can't have any type of single parent, divorced people, different biology, or anything different from your view of perfect without out saying something hidden about those subjects? What happened to just watching a good story for what it is and not trying to say its shoving hidden evils down your throat?
"Maybe I'm a kook..."
Maybe?
Listen, readers, I know you're very upset, but you need to understand that I am utterly worthless, cannot even dress myself, and have only an elementary understanding of how to process things-- such as a film-- and then communicate my ideas about them. Come to think of it, I should probably just stick to having totally rad pictures of myself taken rather than offering up half-baked critiques of movies I haven't seen as part of some vaguely-defined plot to push my hilariously misguided understandings of being a Republican.
I suck,
David Smith
I actually have to say I disagree with your views but in a strange way, I accept them. If you didn't point these things out, although I suggest in a much more diplomatic manner, some of us wouldn't see the "other side." So thank you. But really, your views are a bit unrealistic and the fact that you're trying to "correct" an artistic vision is silly. Good luck next time.
You haven't seen the movie????? How can you have an opinion about something you haven't experienced? That's not an opinion, that's bigotry.
Thank you so much for your article. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person who has noticed the propaganda Hollywood has been producing lately!
Not sure what ID theory you're referring to with the bio-nano machines. You appear to be refuting your own point by saying oxygen is necessary for life--the Intelligent Designer(s) aren't intelligent enough to create bio-nano machines with a more limited use of the element? Whether you accept evolution or ID, it would appear your point makes little sense.
There's a specific reason why all Earth life is tailor-made to fit the atmosphere of Earth just like there's a reason all Pandora life is tailor-made to fit the atmosphere of Pandora. (And using Star Trek TOS doesn't help: think about the production budget of that show... could they really afford being totally scientifically accurate on $3000 an episode?)
Also, I find it hilarious when people misspell "intelligent."
Questionable...sorry about that...corrected the spelling...problem on spell-check...won't bore you with details. Some interesting comments, folks. Thanks for those. As for the rest all I can say is Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ;-)
thanks david smith you have just stepped up the negative stereotype given to republicans. to others who have read this article please do not link him with the vast majority of republicans he deserves a party of his own...the ignorance party is fitting i think.
how he's running for office, yet has something this dumb with his name on it plastered online. This is the reason Google Cache was invented: to get proof of something before someone realized what a dumb mistake they've made and tries to delete it.
Seriously, what kind of judgement does this dude have? Good luck getting elected for anything as long as this ridiculous diatribe is online with your name on it. Me, I'll be making copies.
Gee, I got all the way to the end of your review of "Avatar" only to find out that YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE MOVIE!
Of course films are all propaganda in Hollywood.
There were anti-war films all through the 1980s. Heck, there was the Pentagon Papers declassified that showed the US lied in order to get into Vietnam. Anybody remember Mike Gravel reading them into the Congressional Record risking arrest for TREASON?
The reality is people are dumb, people are stupid, they are mostly (more than 99%) cows and sheep, that will follow the shepherd wherever he goes. It really doesn't matter what sort of propaganda anybody has, the people who run this country do what they want.
We won't cut n' run, we aren't a country of yellow liberals, we must not wait for the final proof to be a mushroom cloud, we don't care about truth, justice, or the American way. We're just obedient fools, and anybody that isn't well, who cares, they're going along for the ride whether they want to or not.
All you people, you are dumb and calling you sentient, that's a gross exaggeration. You're not.
Avatar is technology desperately seeking a plot. In Hollywood's antedeluvian Liberal vaccum what else really could possibly emerge as the final result but Al Gore's take on 'Dances with Wolves'. This really puts Pravda to shame. Really - if these self labeled Progressives had an original idea it would die of loneliness. I love the hate they spew about anyone who thinks for themselves. Can you say "end of the republic". Dasvidanya Comrades!
Technologically the movie was great. However, the liberal leftist slant on humans/Americans/soldiers/environment is pervasive, loud and clear. The only way to miss this in your face message is to be a democrat.
Are you kidding re sustainable foestry practices. Please just do some simple google searches for clearcutting in Califonnia or just look at google sattelite views of CA mtn counties with massive clearcutting - like Shasta,Lassen, Calveras etc etc. It is a disaster due to one billionaire now we have devastated ecosystems and watersheds just like Oregon. Clearcutting is then followed by doses of herbicdes the Conversion from a real biodiverse forest to a tree planation. Get your facts straigh please!
This article was ridiculous, Avatar was a great movie. But give the guy a break, some people just rant when they really know nothing, (which is stupid) he probably feels differently now that he's seen the movie.
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