Resurrecting the Movies thread...

[SFEnnisSF]

I have still not seen Avatard/Avatanic, and I probably never will... 

[Jeff Wrangler]

I have still not seen Avatard/Avatanic, and I probably never will... 

I don't have any plans to see Dances with Navi either. ... 

[oilgun]

I don't have any plans to see Dances with Navi either. ...  

Why? It's a great 3D experience.  Oh and it's Nav'i with an apostrophe, 

[Lynne]

but crayons, he was merged genetically with one of the blue faced warriors, given his memories and thoughts. How can you say he was solely white?

[serious crayons]

but crayons, he was merged genetically with one of the blue faced warriors, given his memories and thoughts. How can you say he was solely white?

Well, partly I was just making a joke. But since you ask, from the way I perceived the film he was a white man's mind in a Nava'i's (sp?) body. That is, yes, they were genetically merged, but the blue genes were all physical and athletic, while the white genes were all cognitive and emotional. Which in itself you might look askance at, if you were sensitive about portrayal of race on film (the white part is the "brains," while the colored part would make a really good basketball player?).

In other words, I do think there is some validity to the criticism of the movie as Hollywood's typical "white man as savior of people of color" theme that we've seen in so many, many movies. At the same time, I can't get too up in arms about it -- for the reasons you mentioned as well as the fact that a) the Nava'i are fictional, b) he actually was, physically, blue and c) the film was so obviously well meaning (simplistic, yes, as you said, but certainly well-intentioned) politically.

On the other hand, almost all of those "white guy as savior" movies are well-meaning. The idea, as I understand it, is that the filmmakes feel that it will be easier to sell the audience on progressive ideas about race if they're presented by a protagonist they can relate to -- i.e., a white one. "Dances with Wolves," "Beyond Rangoon," "Mississippi Burning," "Blood Diamond," "Secret Life of Bees" -- those are a few examples I can think of off the top of my head.

[Lumière]

I guess I'm an Avatard, lol!

I have seen the movie twice and both times, I was engrossed in the imagery of Pandora and the Na'vi.
I loved the concept of 'queues' and bonding with other living beings on the planet.
On my first viewing, I might've guessed what 50% of the story would be but that didn't bother me because I was more interested in the way the story was being told and not if I'd heard it before.
Conclusion:  I am an Avatard as well.  

In other words, I do think there is some validity to the criticism of the movie as Hollywood's typical "white man as savior of people of color" theme that we've seen in so many, many movies.

I see the movie as less about race politics and more about a search/definition of one's identity.  
I think I have an entire essay on this topic but it's late and I am not sure y'all care that much about it. lol

Re: The "white man saves natives"?  Oversimplification.  The Blue Girl, Neytiri, is at the center of the story as far as I'm concerned ..(she only saves the "White/Blue" boy's life at least 7 times)..
Then again, I have a thing for badass warrior women characters...  

Why? It's a great 3D experience.

I am taking one of my friends to our final viewing this weekend at the IMAX.  Yes!  Should be a blast.  

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

Moi, je suis un avatard aussi!  
       



Uhm--well, not so much as that...
                                                  




 

http://gawker.com/5442399/avatards-are-the-new-twihards-how-to-tell-if-you-or-a-loved-one-is-at-risk

and

http://www.examiner.com/x-15166-Dallas-Comedy-Examiner~y2010m1d8-Avatar-fans-being-ruthlessly-mocked-online-are-they-the-next-Twihards

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

Of course, the ORIGINAL avatar was blue:





But my favorite was:

Ma semblable, ma soeur!

[oilgun]

But my favorite was:

Ma semblable, ma soeur!

And he's coming back, did you here?  And also the original Miss Yvonne!  Oh Peewee, we missed you!

[Front-Ranger]

John and Gil, you are a Rhapsody in Blue!!