Avatar in China
The invaluable China Smack has an interesting post translating Chinese netizen reactions to the just-released blockbuster Avatar. Intriguingly, many commenters connected the eviction of the Na'vi people from their forest home to the frequent eviction of Chinese people who stand athwart government-led development.
What surprised me most about the film was its seemingly leftist point of view. The heroes are pointy-headed scientists and a disabled soldier who strive to protect the indigenous population and their ancestral homeland. The two primary villains are a grizzled Marine and a weaselly corporate goon intent on destroying the forest and obtaining unobtainium, the amusingly fictional mineral resource on the fictional planet of Pandora.
Avatar is playing virtually everywhere in China, and here in Kunming we were told that we had to wait three days in order to get tickets for the 3D show. Feeling impatient, I watched the 2D version in the cinema and came away dazzled- this is definitely a must-see film even for those normally disinterested in special-effect laden sci-fi films.
January 12th, 2010 - 10:55
i’m not sure if you’re been to raffle city shopping centre in shanghai, but theres a movie theatre there, the line for ticket purchase (250 Yuan) was long enough that it traveled aproximately 150 metres… (: just thought that was something interesting avatar related. its everywhere at work as wel… crazy stuff.
January 14th, 2010 - 12:54
Loved the “seemingly leftist” point of view! Loved the whole message and presentation. Unobtainium – clever, but a bit goofy.
January 16th, 2010 - 09:22
Round up a bunch of washed up hippies and soak them in all the THC they’ve consumed in their lives, then throw in a sprinkling of Orientalism for seasoning, and you’ve got about the intellectual depth of Avatar. Not clever. “Goofy” is a bit kind.
This is a film about American empire, and more about its internal divisions… No, I’ll stop… this rant did not appear on my blog because I just can’t be arsed trying to trace the few threads of thought that actually made it onto the screen.
The only way to enjoy a James Cameron flick: big screen, front row, don’t think.
January 18th, 2010 - 12:54
I think by ‘clever but a little goofy’ Sheri was referring to the word unobtainium rather than the film plot as a whole.
If the film is about American empire, wouldn’t you agree that it’s highly critical? Seems quite unusual for a summer Hollywood blockbuster.
And I’d say rather than Orientalism the Na’vi people more truly represent the ‘noble savage’ concept…but I’m probably reading too much into a plot that was completely subordinate to the CGI effects
January 19th, 2010 - 09:15
It was the pseudo-Daoism that brought out the Orientalism comment.
And yes and no. It’s definitely against the crude, vulgar Bushevik style of imperialism, but I didn’t see much criticism of the liberal empire with a smiley face.
But basically it’s just a shit film, so why are we even discussing it?
Oh, and sorry, Sheri.
January 21st, 2010 - 07:46
This is Cameron’s signature dish. You can see similar notes in his Aliens.
I saw it as good ‘ol fashioned SF, complete with criticism of a corporate-style imperialism. It is as applicable today as it was during the Conquistador era or the “The British Century.”
Apparently somebody else thinks so too…
China Axes 2D Avatar from Cinemas
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8469672.stm
Even Huang Hung piped in:
“All the forced removal of old neighbourhoods in China makes us the only earthlings today who can really feel the pain of the Na’vi,” she wrote.”