The film, Avatar is a masterpiece created by a high profile director, James Cameron which depicts cinematic brilliance and a compelling script. Its popularity and public appeal have earned considerable criticism from several sources focusing on various topics in the film. The issues of racism, presentation of alien natives as well as the colonial military have drawn diverse opinions from critics.
Critics seek to interpret the relationship between the humans and the Na’vi in the film, with most of them agreeing that the civilized humans are depicted as greedy, jaded, primitive brutal and highly cynical while the usually known primitive natives manifest nobility, kindness, wisdom and with a high sense of humanity. Racism is manifested in the way the film treats the indigenous Na’vi looking at it like racial fantasy told from the white people's point of view and one which reinforces the fable of the White Messiah, whereby a white person saves the natives who are primitive and helpless minors. The Natives are, therefore, reduced to serving the white people's ambitions and proving their heroism (Bebbington & Humphreys, 2010).
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The film assumes that the natives need the white messiah to lead them. Notably, all the human roles are played by white actors whereas Native Americans or the African Americans act the Na'vi roles. The film avatar portrays the Na’vi as people who are simple and unable to defend themselves. They full depend on the neoliberals and the white people to save them from their miseries. The white people are depicted as those who fix destructions do not feel guilty about them, and when the natives suffer out of these destructions, they appear as concerned people saving the natives from the miseries they are responsible for creating (Kellner, 2011). The film remains faithful to the superiority complex of the white people and gives honor not to the Navis who are the natives but to the white marine further posting that the only native people who are good are dead or resurrected. Arguably, the film promotes the supremacy of the white race. Cameron argues that when the native populations who are not advanced with weapons meet superior forces with technological weapons, then the natives would undoubtedly lose the war if someone does not help them. Cameron does not agree that the film is racial. Instead, he claims that the film is about respecting people's diversity.
The historical conquest of the Native Americans by the whites cannot go undisputed. The Native Americans are warriors and horsemen, hunters and they have a lot of respect nature. The film tells of how the people with technological power and with advanced military usually supplant weaker people for their resources. The film sends a clear message about how the aggressive and dominant cultures subjugate the weaker natives for the quest of their natural resources and riches. The film primarily reflects a familiar pattern in the modern world in which the superior cultures use their technological might to exploit the natural resources of the weaker cultures to enrich themselves (Bebbington & Humphreys, 2010). Some critics assert that the film manifests the genocides which were carried out by Europe and which enriched Europe during the colonial period.
The western powers invade the native’s country, see the indigenous people as primitive and uncivilized, loots their power while believing that they are doing a favor to the weaker people. They use the forcefully acquired power to exploit the indigenous people's resources and even change their cultures. The film supports the struggles of the indigenous people in the modern world. The natives in the film show a resistance of the aliens and struggle to protect nature and their culture which they hold with so much prestige. Many reviews have praised the film's show of resistance against capitalism (Bebbington & Humphreys, 2010). The film is a reflection of the today's native people who resist against influential people who are determined to grab their land through corrupt means and exploit their resources. The film further depicts the indigenous people as those who value nature and who use their power to conserve the environment.
Some reviews compare the human-alien invaders with the NATO in Iraq and reassure that when the weaker people unite and make a collective prayer, then they can achieve anything and win any war. The clans of Na’vi are united, and even though they are presented as the weaker people who are primitive and clueless, they end up winning against the white aliens. Other reviews observe that Avatar is a reaffirmation that the indigenous people are still incapable of leading themselves and building their future (Bebbington & Humphreys, 2010). The white aliens express their interest to mine in the area occupied by the Na’vi for their financial gain. Their selfish nature and the greed for power and money is a real picture of the modern world in which corporate leaders use their might to take control of land and resources of the indigenous people for purposes of making profits (Bebbington & Humphreys, 2010).
Avatar is a highly political film. The film is an accurate reflection that the modern world is living through war. Neo-colonization is still an issue which many countries are still struggling with. The American invasion of Iraq and Vietnam serves as a clear example of it. Some reviews have compared the invasion of aliens with the American aggression in the Middle East and Vietnam. The reality of it is that the native people are empathetic and peace-loving and the invaders usually want to portray them as people who are vulnerable and war mongers. Cameron expresses the need for Superior countries to have the moral responsibility and to understand the consequences of their military campaigns.
In the film, there is a military assault on Pandora. This, according to many reviews reflect the ongoing war against terrorism and underline the way many countries are fighting terror using terror. Cameron further sympathizes with the film's Na’vi and the citizens of the countries which get invaded by the superior nations and suffer out the wars. The film also encourages the use of war as a way of responding to the quest for freedom against the invaders who come into other indigenous lands and exploit natural resources and render the natives vulnerable. This is seen in the film when lead character Jake encourages the other Na’vi people to follow him to the battlefield so that they can fight for their freedom. The war by the Na’vi in the film is justified since it seems to be one for the right reasons. In other words, the film urges people to fight back any form of oppression brought about by the oppressors.
The film Avatar approaches the theme of gender with a modern viewpoint in which the plot is centered on strong female characters. Notably, the film has strong masculine characters. Even so, the male characters are portrayed as villains and not heroes. The female characters bring a positive contribution to the genre. Neytiri who is the main female character manifests traits of a strong woman which is traditionally a rare occurrence in sci-fi movies (Kellner, 2011). The audience first gets in touch with Neytiri when she interacts with Jake, and it is clear that she is supposed to be the superior one between the two. Neytiri claims the position of a teacher when she takes Jake through the lifestyle of the Na’vi people in Pandora. She has much knowledge but reservedly distributes this knowledge with strictness bopping Jakes’ head any time he mispronounces words. She boldly stands up to Tsu’tey the blue man who is the next Na’vi leader. Neytiri risks his life to save Jake from Tsu’tey. The interactions she has with her people underscores her position of strength in the face of the men.
Neytiri is not the only female character with significant strength. Dr. Grace Augustine becomes the first female character that appears in the film. She is the lead researcher of the Navi people. This is opposed to the meek roles that women usually assume in sci-fi movies. She frequently gives out knowledge about the native species and asserts that she is the knowledge authority. She encounters disrespect from the men counterparts in most of the occasions. When she faces disrespect from her male counterparts, she confirms her power more. At the beginning of the scene, she fiercely exchanges with Parker Selfridge who notifies her that Jake will join her squad. Instead of accepting the message, she spits back at Parker making comments on the violent nature of men in the military. Her role is a reaffirmation of the transformation of the roles of women in the sci-fi movies which has for long portrayed them as invalid characters (Kellner, 2011).
Trudy, another female character is a human fighter pilot. Even though she is to a degree sexualized in appearance, her behaviors contradict the common gender roles given to the female characters in science fiction movies. Just like Neytiri and Augustine, Trudy exhibits traits of strength and independence. While departing from Pandora bombing, she disobeys the orders of her male superiors and claims that she had not signed for it. Later in the film, she shows her physical dominance when she breaks Jake out of the area of detention which underlines her empowering role in the film. Perhaps the most exciting part for Rudy is when she attacks the major human ship in the battlefield and loudly exclaims, " you are not the only one with a gun bitch" Her tough and aggressive language contradicts the traditional image of the helpless women brought out in science fiction movies.
Since science fiction movies deal with technology, and because technology is an extension of human bodies, it is not a surprise that the disability comes up as a strong theme in this film. The theme of disability draws diverse opinions from people who think that the film does not represent well the people with disability to those who believe that avatar gives people with disability a technological option they can use to overcome their limitations. First, the film casts Jake who is not disabled in real life. This brings questions as to why the role of the disabled is taken by someone who is able-bodied. Many critics have seen this as being insensitive to the people with disability.
Jake Sully, a paraplegic marine transforms from a directionless and depressed character into a bold warrior king, assuming the form of a blue-skinned creature. He goes to the battle on the mountain. His disability is for suspense in the battle scene when his useless human legs hinder him from reaching his breathing apparatus which he needs to save his life. In the long run, Jake succeeds not with the disability but after transforming his defective body into an able-bodied creature. Many critics have questioned the idea behind this. Some interpret the message to mean that the film underscores the incapability of the disabled people to succeed with their disabled nature (Kellner, 2011). This is, however, is not an accurate reflection of the disabled people as most of them have proven that they can match the strength of the non-disabled even in their limiting status. Other critics, however, believe that avatar gives the disabled people the freedom to use technology to overcome their limitations.
In conclusion, the film Avatar is not just a sensational entertainment but a technical breakthrough. It has detailed visual imagery and script. Just like the Lord of Rings, avatar invents a new language, the Na’vi. The inspirations of this film are huge and breathtaking. From mysticism, ecology to racism and colonialism themes, the film is a collection of rich topics seamlessly intertwined to create a powerful piece.
References
Bebbington, A., & Humphreys Bebbington, D. (2010). An Andean Avatar: Post-neoliberal and neoliberal strategies for promoting extractive industries.
Kellner, D. (2011). Cultural studies, multiculturalism, and media culture. Gender, race, and class in media: A critical reader , 3 , 7-18.
