The comparison I've seen made is Ferngully. Also Dances with Wolves.
I thought the effects were shiny. Other than that, the movie was competent, but quite mediocre.
I'm getting quite sick of the same stock of characters for every movie involving "natives" of any kind:
1) The Outsider Hero: This initially-clueless but good-hearted boob wanders into the "tribe," and is initially accepted on a tentative basis. He is taught the ways of the land (cue montage), and it slowly becomes clear that not only is he integrating, he is, in fact, the best "native," some kind of hero or Chosen One ™. Will complete some kind of prophesied quest, in order to unite the tribes and defeat the Weapon-Toting Bigot, who he knows from his earlier, unredeemed life.
2) The Love Interest: The daughter of the Chief, or somesuch - initially disdainful of the Outsider Hero's incompetence, but slowly falls in love with his clumsy charm, as she comes to realize that he's the protagonist. Good at everything, even things that would (historically) have been gender-segregated, like fighting wars - but not as good as the Hero becomes, of course.
3) The Stubborn Heir-apparent: This scowling guy had it all, before the meddling OH came along: he was going to be the leader, and probably the husband of the LI as well. Deeply traditional, easily offended, and thick as a brick. He will challenge the OH to some kind of traditional combat ritual. He is either killed, or submits when he too realizes that the OH is the protagonist.
4) The Chief: Enigmatic, pompous, and clueless about everything outside the "traditions". Usually dies a horrible death, precipitating conflict between the OH and the Stubborn Heir-apparent.
5) The Shaman: Bat#$%& crazy. Believes things that don't make sense. Simultaneously represents how "natives" are more connected to the spirits (or the earth, or whatever), and also how they can't think rationally, but rely on tradition and freaky transcendental revelations.
6) The Weapon-Toting Bigot: The anti-"native". Always the villain, always thin as paper, always heavily armed with the latest in high-tech killin' machines. A cartoon of contempt for anyone not from his culture, without even the slightest trace of redeeming qualities.
Would it kill writers to maybe try a little harder? Even if you're going to use these stereotypes, at least try to freshen them up a little: take Dune, for example. You can recognize all those characters, more or less, but they're at least given some development beyond the obvious.
Avatar? Not so much.
-Jester
I thought the effects were shiny. Other than that, the movie was competent, but quite mediocre.
I'm getting quite sick of the same stock of characters for every movie involving "natives" of any kind:
1) The Outsider Hero: This initially-clueless but good-hearted boob wanders into the "tribe," and is initially accepted on a tentative basis. He is taught the ways of the land (cue montage), and it slowly becomes clear that not only is he integrating, he is, in fact, the best "native," some kind of hero or Chosen One ™. Will complete some kind of prophesied quest, in order to unite the tribes and defeat the Weapon-Toting Bigot, who he knows from his earlier, unredeemed life.
2) The Love Interest: The daughter of the Chief, or somesuch - initially disdainful of the Outsider Hero's incompetence, but slowly falls in love with his clumsy charm, as she comes to realize that he's the protagonist. Good at everything, even things that would (historically) have been gender-segregated, like fighting wars - but not as good as the Hero becomes, of course.
3) The Stubborn Heir-apparent: This scowling guy had it all, before the meddling OH came along: he was going to be the leader, and probably the husband of the LI as well. Deeply traditional, easily offended, and thick as a brick. He will challenge the OH to some kind of traditional combat ritual. He is either killed, or submits when he too realizes that the OH is the protagonist.
4) The Chief: Enigmatic, pompous, and clueless about everything outside the "traditions". Usually dies a horrible death, precipitating conflict between the OH and the Stubborn Heir-apparent.
5) The Shaman: Bat#$%& crazy. Believes things that don't make sense. Simultaneously represents how "natives" are more connected to the spirits (or the earth, or whatever), and also how they can't think rationally, but rely on tradition and freaky transcendental revelations.
6) The Weapon-Toting Bigot: The anti-"native". Always the villain, always thin as paper, always heavily armed with the latest in high-tech killin' machines. A cartoon of contempt for anyone not from his culture, without even the slightest trace of redeeming qualities.
Would it kill writers to maybe try a little harder? Even if you're going to use these stereotypes, at least try to freshen them up a little: take Dune, for example. You can recognize all those characters, more or less, but they're at least given some development beyond the obvious.
Avatar? Not so much.
-Jester