Oh Debbie, I squirmed and squirmed and squirmed wh...

Oh Debbie, I squirmed and squirmed and squirmed while watching the movie this past weekend, and wondered how on earth people can see Avatar without seeing the Noble Savage imagery, all the mishmash of 3rd world-isms, my absolute favourite of which was the Kecak ceremony (Na'vi are sitting in a semi-circle with their arms stretched out, chanting) that originates from Bali and traces its roots to the Ramayana! And the victimization and simple-mindedness of the Na'vi, despite the fact that they're ostensibly a complex society -- they still need Tom Cruise (Last Samurai), or Kevin Costner (Dances w/Wolves) to come and rescue them.The irony is that the REAL story of the Na'vi, from the Na'vi's own, true perspective can never be told in mainstream Hollywood, because this story would lack a White Male character. Then what good would it be?!Your comment about people feeling good after watching a movie like this because of its anti-colonial and pro-conservation messages but not doing anything about it reminds me -- One of the challenges we face in this particular time is that there are no social movements outside of the movie theater that ordinary folks who "get" the movie could join. On its own, the movie doesn't do much at all, and easily sets racism or racial portrayals much farther back in the history of film. I'm so glad people are talking about it though - writers or publishers of children's books, or makers of movies will go ahead and make whatever it is they want to make - it's up to the rest of us to raise the dust and bring the inherent conflicts to the fore. Thanks for your post!