The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Rating: 7/10 (25 December 2009)

First, it was great to see Ripley back on the screen, wasn't it?
The Good: It was a simply spectacular film from an artist and technical perspective. Cameron has driving the animation art way forward. Avatar will most likely be nominated for and win in a variety of categories: special effects, art direction, music...perhaps direction and best picture. I imagine we will see many more 3D movies in the future, this is only the beginning.
The Bad: One category it won't win for is writing. The plot is thin (but who needs plot, right?). The characters were stereotypical, just another Cowboys and Indians story from the Indians' perspective with the Cowboys as the bad guys. The ecological theme was weak and trite, at best.
The Ugly: Why was Humanity portrayed at it's worst? We, as the human race, was portrayed as a bunch of thugs who destroy everything in it's path for monetary gain. OK, OK, I understand that the race has a dark history of destruction, particularly western civilization and it's conquest of the third world, and Americans in particular in it's conquest of the native tribes. We all know these stories. If it was portrayed as though it were just a few rogues out for selfish gain, I would have no problem with that. It could have been resolved by taking out the thugs. But couldn't we, just for once, see humanity at it's BEST? Couldn't Cameron have portrayed us as being inherently good with the desire to do right by cultures and places we don't understand? Couldn't we, the human race, been part of the solution, not the entire problem? Couldn't that have been done and still achieved the drama and conflict that film needs to drive the story forward? As a viewer, I really wanted to feel like I was a good guy, not a bad guy.
I guess that when we understand that James Cameron's primary objective was simply to make as much money as possible, then the rest actually makes sense. Hollywood, as personified by Cameron, will destroy everything in it's path to achieve the money goal. Even if it means sacrificing our Humanity in the process.