A Classic Story

Rating: Null/10 (19 August 2011)

James Cameron's Avatar was an excellent, highly imaginative, visually breathtaking film, and truly did its source material justice. Remaking the controversial story of Pocahontas and John Smith is a bold move for Cameron, who is known for his originality in film making. While I would have liked to have seen him step further away from his tried and true "tough chick, non-comprehending hero" comfort zone, I still felt portraying the Native Americans as blue cat people really drives home the point of how white culture dehumanizes native populations. Those who have claimed the film to be native exploitation 2.0 really don't understand how progressive it is to show a white person getting "real" with the less civilized beings they wish to displace for material gain. Doing so by adopting (some might say appropriating) their culture just shows how Jake Sully isn't like the others. Never before has a film so accurately portrayed such a meaningful message of rescuing native cultures, and I find that refreshing.
If you liked Pocahontas, Fern Gully, Dances With Wolves, and you find movies more enjoyable when bright colors indicate where to focus your attention, this is the film for you.