AVATAR Movie Controversy: Great Movies Create Debate

Several AVATAR movie controversies have been discussed in anticipation of the DVD release. The Vatican was lukewarm towards AVATAR and thought it was clichéd and overly sentimental even while admitting its extraordinary visual impact. Others believe AVATAR slams the U.S. military and say it's a straight send-up of the Iraq and Afghan wars. A few see lukewarm future-hippie idealism, and the kooks think it promotes tree-worship and Marxism or is out-and-out anti-American. Find out what controversies moviegoers have been buzzing about ever since this movie premiered.

Guest post by Ashley Hansen

After AVATAR’s initial release, some moviegoers responded negatively to certain aspects of the film, whether it be the plot, the characters or the representation of certain groups. Overall, the movie has received rave reviews and has become the top-grossing film of all time. Whether you agree with the film’s story or not, it’s extremely interesting to watch the controversies play out on screen. Here’s a rundown of the AVATAR movie controversy that has sparked debate since the film came out.

Good vs. Evil

Like any plot, good and evil are pitted against one another in the movie AVATAR. However, what has caused some controversy in regards to this film is which characters are portrayed as evil. For example, a large corporation is the overarching nemesis in the film, which rubs many executives and CEOs the wrong way. The film shows the evil corporation as having absolutely no regard for the environment, which has triggered environmentalists who believe the same is true today. Furthermore, a macho, gun-slinging military vet is portrayed as narrow-minded and racist during the film. On a larger scale, humans are the bad guys in the film (with some exceptions), while the Na’Vi race are portrayed as innocent victims. While the message in the end is of understanding and cooperation, some audience members find it hard to look past the negative portrayals of some characters to whom they might relate.

Racism

In AVATAR, two races are pitted against one another: the human race and the Na’vi race. The Na’Vi are represented as having characteristics which audiences might relate to what was once referred to as a “native.” They hunt, live mostly outdoors, wear little clothing, make tribal noises and follow a religion focused on natural surroundings. The portrayal doesn’t seem to be negative, per se; however, some minority groups are offended by the all-too-familiar plotline where the native race is treated as victims who are unable to defend or protect themselves. Instead, they need the help of a white man (in this case, the lead character Jake Sully) in order to defeat the bad guys. To some moviegoers, this AVATAR movie controversy is perceived as racist, while others find it to be a positive message of two races coming together.

Story Origins

On a lesser scale, AVATAR movie controversy over the origins of the plot have been scattered across the Internet. Some people claim that the movie’s story resembles that of the movie Delgo a little too closely. Both stories feature a paraplegic main character who can telepathically control a body similar to that of the native inhabitants of a far-off planet. Certainly, there are some similarities between the two stories, but many AVATAR fans have come to the movie’s defense to claim that the same parallels can be drawn between two films in any genre, such as the classic Romeo and Juliet love story.

Your Interpretation

All these theories and controversies make for fun reading and it’s helpful to keep them in mind when you’re watching the film. In the end though, AVATAR is ultimately meant to be entertaining. So look for hidden meanings that others may not have found – and make up your own mind about what you see in the film.

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What controversies or debates have you heard people discuss about AVATAR?