A simplistic fantasy tale told through impressive special effects

Rating: 3/10 (14 January 2010)

This is one of only a few films that I can honestly say has been saved or rather created for its special effects.
The special effects are impressive and immersive and definitely draw the audience into the fantasy land of Pandora.
However, the plot is simplistic and insulting to savvy audiences and blatantly rips of (or in Cameron's words "inspired by") other more beautiful films such as Dances with Wolves and the Emerald Forest.
Not only is the plot simplistic it plays to the oft touted claims of white mans racism (only White people are destroying Pandora no Africans or Asians), tribal utopia (ie stone age tribes are happier being left in peace rather then being forced into the 21st Century (or in Pandora's case 22 Century), harmony with the natural environment trumps control over it and many other absurd themes.
Whilst I would be happy to simply leave it at that there are some folks who have taken the film too far and need a reality check.
Who are we who are healthy, happy and well educated folk to comment from the comfort of our safe and warm dwellings on the lifestyles of those actually having to live day by day in the hardship of tribal life. Where food is scarce, there is constant fear of attack by rivals or spiritual beings whom the Sharman warns of (or is control of), shelter is temporary, life expectancy is low and children have no hope for the future (disease and malnutrition claim a percentage of the tribe each year). Tribal life is anything but utopia and this attested to the tens of thousands if not millions leaving the tribes each year and going into the nearby cities. These people are happy to live below the poverty line in the city then in their own tribe.
White men are not the first nor the last to exploit other races, history is full of examples of one race conquering another its just the way humans work.
We as humans must make a choice either we live in complete harmony with the environment or we take control over it, there is no middle ground. It is impossible to live in complete harmony with ones environment.
Therefore Avatar appeals to those who enjoy living comfortable existence's and dreaming about a world that could be rather then a world that actually is.
People who attempt to draw lessons or morals from this story are kidding themselves and need to spend time in a pantheistic tribe (I recommend PNG) to really understand what it is like.
In conclusion enjoy Avatar for its special effects and immersive (and impressive) environment but treat it like willy wonka's chocolate factory, a fantasy tale.