MTV Movies Blog Readers Respond To 'Avatar'

For more on the political subtext at play in "Avatar," check out our interview with Stephen Lang/Col. Miles Quaritch.

"Avatar" has been out for most of a week now and the verdict is in: people like it. A lot. There are issues if you look for them, one-dimensional characters, goofy dialogue, subtext that isn't really "sub" at all... all of the usual complaints people level at a blockbuster event film. Ultimately, director James Cameron crafted an experience that's meant to give people a good time, and that's exactly what he accomplishes.

Of course, that's just my opinion. Throughout the past week, we've been soliciting opinions from you, the readers. And you've responded. There's a lot of praise after the jump. Some criticism, but it's mostly positive. There's even a compelling idea or two, some discussion-worthy content to leave you with food for thought. Thanks to all who contributed... we'd love to hear from you again if you plan on checking out "Sherlock Holmes" this weekend.

From Chris:
I absolutely loved this film, it was excellent. There was so much anticipation and hype surrounding it and the film lives up to and surpasses all expectation. Its not very often that I would want to see a film in the cinema more than once as I prefer to wait for it to be released on DVD/Blu ray but this is an exception and I don't think I can wait that long! The imagery and scenary were so stunning and realistic I felt like I was there with Jake and Neytiri, the only thing that beats the scenery etc is excellent performances from the cast. This is already in my top 5 all time list and the more I think about it the more I like it. I'm sure Oscars will rain down on Pandora this season.

From Brian C.:
Is it visually pleasing? Yes. Is it an amazing, colorful and unique 3D experience? Yes. But after 12 years of waiting is it a story we've heard before? Sadly, yes. This film is worth seeing for its groundbreaking cinematic techniques and stunning visuals. However, it is overly long and it's nothing new in terms of plot. Also what I found didn't make any sense whatsoever is that the protagonist uses a basic wheelchair, yet he's surrounded by advanced futuristic weapons and space vehicles. One would think that by the 22nd century, something with slightly better mobility exists, e.g. something reminiscent of Professor Xavier.

From iluvwarped:
the movie with no shame in it gave a *visual orgasm*, it was stunning to say the least, it was amazing, it made you feel like an ass really I mean you look at the Na'vi they treat their planet like their mother (which it is) and you look at us and just one word comes to mind *Morons* leave it to the humans to destroy anything that nature gives

From Mards:
Amazing. It was so interesting to think watch how James Cameron has created a whole new world (or moon technically) and made it so believable. Its not just the storyline that's engrossing, the setting and visual effects take your breath away. I loved it

From themothchase:
It's so true that this is a bumbling movie at times - not great, but still soooo good! It's not profound, but it does make you think, and it's visually stunning! But I actually think what it does with themes of colonialism is more complex than it seems at first and surprisingly interesting. What is even more interesting, though, is they way it plays with the understanding of the mind/body connection (this isn't the Matrix, although there are similarities - this is a much more bodily understanding of what it is to be a person), and the way it understands the interconnectedness of all life. If you're interested, I blog my own review of "Avatar" here: http://themothchase.wordpress.com

From xinunus:
This MOVIE IS A LIBERALS WET DREAM. THEY EVEN USE THE "SHOCK AND AWE" REFERENCE TO TIE THE EVIL MILITARY IN THE MOVIE TO THE U.S. MILITARY. JAMES CAMERON IS A LOSER!

From Tau:
"Avatar" is the best movie by far in a long long time. Messages galore, environment, war, peace, colonization, indigenous finally winning a battle and so on. If I had to rate this movie it would be a 10 out of 10. Well done Cameron and crew. Big ups also to Weta Workshops.

From Seth:
This movie was amazing. There is really no better word I can find in the English language for this movie. If there was a better word I would use it.

From Johnny:
The most important and inevitably profound message in this movie, is spiritual. All the reviewers who commented on the storyline as being so-so apparently didn't get the message. This movie wasn't made to boggle our minds, it was made to touch our hearts. Thanks, James.

From apac4:
I thought "Avatar" was absolutely AMAZING!!!! It was a true shock and awe campaign on the mind, the heart, and the soul. At the end of the movie I just sat there sort of stunned at what I had just witnessed. I saw the IMAX 3D version by the way.

From ragdollposse:
I am not an epic movie kind of guy, but the graphics and 3D in "Avatar" are the best I've ever seen. Specifically, I loved the nature/landscape imagery, and this is the first 3D movie I've ever seen where the 3D actually serves a purpose. The story wasn't great, but it was good enough. There was a lot of political commentary about imperialism, and many parallels to our world today. We filmed an INSTANT movie review the moment we walked out of the theater: http://bit.ly/6prras

From Darren:
Amazing film, The landscapes and scenery were literally out of this world. Agree with other commentators about the 3D serving a purpose. It really adds value to the whole presentation. AN absolute MUST for every moviegoer, I'll be there again soon to re-watch. Let's hope that this really does set the standard for future movies, because if this is the first of a new generation of Movies, I cannot wait!!!!

From Steve Real:
This is a classic scenario you've seen in Hollywood epics from "Dances With Wolves," "Dune," "District 9" and "The Last Samurai," where a white guy manages to get himself accepted into a closed society of people of color and eventually becomes its most awesome member. If we think of "Avatar" and its ilk as white fantasies about race, what kinds of patterns do we see emerging in these fantasies? A white man who was one of the oppressors switches sides at the last minute, assimilating into the alien culture and becoming its savior. These are movies about white guilt. Our main white characters realize that they are complicit in a system which is destroying aliens, AKA people of color - their cultures, their habitats, and their populations. The whites realize this when they begin to assimilate into the "alien" cultures and see things from a new perspective. To purge their overwhelming sense of guilt, they switch sides, become "race traitors," and fight against their old comrades. But then they go beyond assimilation and become leaders of the people they once oppressed. This is the essence of the white guilt fantasy, laid bare. It's not just a wish to be absolved of the crimes whites have committed against people of color; it's not just a wish to join the side of moral justice in battle. It's a wish to lead people of color from the inside rather than from the (oppressive, white) outside.

From He'sjustagrunt:
I get a kick out of these "white oppressor guilt" papers being written for reviews. Go study for your next test and stop wasting our time with your over intellectualized, angry rhetoric! This movie is the rare leap forward, benchmark movie of our time. "Wizard of Oz" brought us color, but did anyone think it was possible to make a leap forward the likes that "Avatar" accomplished? Astonishing! If you don't see this movie, you will have missed cinematic history being made during your lifetime. It is awe inspiring...that just doesn't happen any more...don't miss out! You will want to return to Pandora at least one more time - guarenteed! This movie is SUBLIME entertainment!!! Best movie of my lifetime =)

From Its not me its you:
The movie is not racist...it is a comment on race relations among MANY other themes. If it parallels any one struggle in human history, it is more along the lines of the struggle between the native American and whites...not whites and blacks. The love story is even John Smith/Pocahontas-esque. Anyway, the movie captures the universal power trip every race has had at some point in history - blacks have fought blacks for land, whites have fought whites, and every race has fought every other race at some point. The moral of the movie is to respect all things and that we should always learn from one another or history is doomed to repeat itself. I hate it when people try to come up with these conspiracy theory type explanations about the motives of a movie: it's bashing capitalism, it's racist, etc etc. It hits a nerve with a lot of people because it's a movie that outlines all the wrongs in history...and it's so blatantly obvious to the audience what is wrong and right. And your argument doesn't even hold water because I'm pretty sure the Na'vi won in the end and the people from earth were made to leave. Regardless, don't go making this a white-black thing...that is extremely narrow-minded...it's so much more than that.

From jhxkcd:
Sure, the humans in the movie were racist (or species-ist to be exact). Pretty much all of them were elitist, greedy, unfeeling, ignorant bastards (though I will admit a few of them did display some three dimensionality). Worse still, they all seem to be utterly blind to these things. And I don't think that anyone will disagree with me there. So, in a way I agree with you. I do not, however, think that the movie is "racist". I don't believe that Mr. Cameron's intention was to create a "racist" film, or that he is a "racist" himself. I once again, hope no one will disagree with me. However, I do believe there is a method to his madness. I believe he wished to show something about us, and humanity as a whole, and just how "racist" (place holder term for: ignorant, unfeeling, bastardish, greedy) we can be. I believe he wanted to show us how we can sometimes be blinded by our own ambitions and desires into doing terrible terrible things. More importantly, I believe he wanted us to see things from another point of view (read: the natives) as a method for our seeing ourselves in the midst of our conquest for power and wealth and just how hollow and brittle our humanity might have become. Of course, this message is buried under layers and layers of visual candy (oh, and it was oh-so-delicious), but as we all know, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Even more worrisome, though, is perhaps that we have moved beyond the aid of medicine... as one of the Na'vi (sp?) said, "It is hard to fill a cup that is already full". Brilliant movie, though

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