He actually wrote it in 1995, indeed 3 years after Ferngully. Just a little correction there.

NASTY ROB’S:
We do all know about the univers and galaxy’s. So, our galaxy is milkey way galaxy , in that their are number of solar systems. Among all thoes solar systems ours . Wail commiong to the point , a young scientist who is working in N.A.S.A. will discovers an new planet (which is their to our next solar system which is at a distance of 2 light years. It take 20 year to reach that planet ) he name it as PL-ZONE a. After his discovery the scientist who are superior to him, would not accpet what the young scientist says, and they ask him to sorry for it and they resign him. But, even of his resignation he still goes on wroking with it and he used to communicate with that planet, with a help of redio waves. Suddenly one day a massage comes form that planet an un-identified lauguage saying that (#@#$% ^%^&* ()(&%^%$$!@$~~$%^R& %^%$&) and the same massage is send to the N.A.S.A. too, To de-code this massage he (SCIENTIST) take 6 mths. By going thourgh that massage he ………………………………………….??!!!! . And the N.A.S.A scientist will send an rob to that planet to check wather the aliens are help full or not? the rob is inventied in such a way that it even can destory the whole planet. After, 20 years your rob raches to that planet and ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..??????????

BY THE WAY THE CAPTION IS NASTY ROBS TO SAVE THE EARTH….

There’s more discussion about whether Avatar is racist at this later post: http://www.hyperorg.com/blogger/2010/01/03/news-from-the-is-avatar-racist-front/#comments

There Emil S. links to David Brooks’ column on the topic, which I agree with and thought was well put: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/opinion/08brooks.html

First of all, the foundation for a good movie is one stalwart bright idea, layered with carefulness, hard work, and patience. If you’ve done any research about James Cameron whatsoever, you’ll know that he embodies diligent, intellectual work ethic. Not dimwittedness. So if you’re acknowledging that he has at least a few bright ideas, then you’re suggesting that the flaw is in the process of making the movie or the acting. Which if you do you research (which you clearly didn’t before making ‘profound’ accusations) you would know.

Second, the movie trailer revealing that a human can inhabit an alien movie is necessary to the plot; however is not the thread that sows the entire storyline to that. There is much more to the beautiful story which you evidently missed. There is philosophical dualism and physical and mental consequence at the route of the imaginative world. If you’re going to let the expensive marketing budget taint your actual critique of the movie, so be it. But if you strip the bs down to just the movie, then it holds strong and powerful.

Now you say all these movies that Avatar is ‘knocking off’ from, forgetting that he wrote the movie in 1985. So, there goes him ripping the idea off the 1992 cartoon, fern gully. Also, all the messages of racism, environmentalism, technology are issue in thousands of other stories because they pertain to our world. They are repetitive problems that haven’t been solved. So, artist like James Cameron put their own inspired, authentic twist on unauthentic principles. Try not to get the two confused. James Cameron is an incredibly smart person, thus a lot of his success. So he is capable of reaching a larger audience then most artists can. If he is being pap for being popular, maybe reverse your analysis and question why he is so popular. Because he evokes emotions and thinking from SO MANY people. If that’s pap to you then fine.

Also, you claim he isn’t imaginative because you’ve seen a lot of this before. DO me a favor and try to think of something completely original. I can tell you right now that whatever you are thinking of has a color seen before, made up of shapes you didn’t originate and sounds that you’ve been expose to. Imagination is altercation, which makes it authentic, not a hundred percent invention, but a combination that is innovative.

Any movie with apparent race issues is going to take hit. Predictably like this critic. I like Brown Bourne’s response to the ‘racism’

In short, James Cameron is very smart and I think this movie has a lot of philosophical depth to it. This alongside with the entrancing character of the movie makes it one of the better films I’ve seen in some time.

This needs to be said. Lay white people can have valid, non-racist opinions about race. They can also make legitimate, insightful commentary about race by drawing up interesting parallels in fictitious blockbusters. If the people who criticize Avatar as racist can point to any piece of popular culture which comments on race and was piloted by a lay white person, my point will fall by the wayside. But if not, the strong correlation between the race of the movie director, author, or artist and the accusations of racism calls for the accusers to exercise a bit more restraint and reflection.

When I first read Annalee Newitz’s post, I counter-posted a dissent and emailed it to her (http://brownbourne.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/avatar-and-race/). My major gripe was the cocksurety with which people trained to identify overly subtle racist tinges pull that trigger for their audiences instead of wording their accusations more as informed suggestions. It seems that people like Newitz seek out defensive positions from which to attack, and then they show no restraint or sense of balance when they feel they have a case. It’s academic terrorism. I mean, the frickin’ title of the blog post was “When Will White People Stop Making Movies Like ‘Avatar’?” Talk about tactless (perhaps even racist).

As for David’s mention of embarrassing stereotypes of Native Americans, I wonder whether the traits displayed are inherently embarrassing, or rather if those traits are only embarrassing because of the negative qualities which prejudiced individuals assume accompany such traits. I thought the core elements of Na’vi culture were portrayed as intelligent, honorable, and effective elements of a life sustaining culture. I’m not a Native American, but I really can’t imagine they would be embarrassed by the Na’Vi riding around on horses and belting out trilled war cries. They looked fierce and awe-inspiring.

Let me try to make this personal. As an Irish American, I was proud of the crazy Irishman named Stephen in Braveheart, even as his craziness was (and still is) associated in America with alcoholism, rambunctiousness, and shoddy work ethic by prejudiced individuals. When the Irish first came to America, there were “NINA: No Irish Need Apply” signs in all the shops in WASP neighborhoods. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to get all huffy as soon as my kind is portrayed on film. Especially not when the movie character approaches literary figuredom with lines like “In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God.”

The same should apply to the Na’Vi. Let’s not bury the lede by skipping to the race wrinkle, and once we approach that part of the critical commentary in an organic matter, let’s inject at least as much ambiguity into our assessments as Cameron injected into his awesome movie.

-Brown Bourne
blog: http://brownbourne.wordpress.com
roll: http://brownbourne.wikidot.com

Joho the Blog » James Cameron re-films Fern Gully, but in 3D! And uncomfortably near-racist!…

Strangely related (in my mind, at least), today someone twitted something about Apple products not being “open”… and concluding “Open products are never awesome.”

To which I replied: Now I know why I don’t like “awesome.”

Here is another good take on Avatar:
http://io9.com/5422666/when-will-white-people-stop-making-movies-like-avatar