Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ is a Genuine E-Ticket Ride

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[See my other commentaries about science fiction movies and television]

James Cameron’s Avatar is an important film for many reasons. The most newsworthy reason is that ticket sales for this film released on December 18, 2009 are already above the one billion dollar mark worldwide. But, some conservatives are angry about the success of a film that they consider to come from a liberal agenda.

I typically do not go to a film (or avoid going) because of what may or may not be the director’s agenda. I do not personally care whether Cameron is considered annoyingly egotistical.

One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from Hollywood legend Samuel Goldwyn who is credited with saying, “If you want to send a message, call Western Union.” But, of course, that never stopped any director from injecting partisan viewpoints into motion pictures over the decades.

Back in the days before we arrived at today’s hyperpartisan society of ours, people could and did find widespread agreement about the relative merits of motion pictures. Specifically, Casablanca, released in 1942, consistently makes it to the top of the list of the greatest motion pictures of all time despite or perhaps because this film has embedded partisan viewpoints in an unforgettable story with characters that seem to be immortal.

To me, the fuss being made by conservatives about Avatar is understandable at first glance. Although the story is totally fictional–it takes place in the 22nd century on a moon of some made-up planet–the film does, indeed, portray US military types and a US-type corporation as aggressive, singleminded and brutal. Such characteristics are recognizable in the film because those characteristics come from real life as we all know it as opposed to coming from some aspect of science fiction storytelling. What I hear conservatives really saying is that they angrily wish Avatar had not depicted these particular characteristics.

The central story of this movie revolves around a young Marine (effectively portrayed by actor Sam Worthington) who has paralysis of his lower body and he must use a wheelchair. Through the use of science fiction technology, the Marine is inserted into a biological and mechanical device known as an avatar. This device restores his ability to walk, run and have sexual relations–three things he obviously missed while confined to a wheelchair! Not surprisingly, these are life-changing experiences for him in the movie’s story that viewers will understand regardless of their own particular partisan viewpoints. More to the point, the life transformation of this Marine due to fictional technology is neither liberal nor conservative, so nobody should find any partisan politican agenda in this aspect of the story of Avatar.

Where conservatives have a particular problem with Avatar is the part of the film’s story in which a corporation-funded military uses brutality in their efforts to remove forcibly an indigenous population because the corporation wants to mine a rare mineral. In service to that mission, the Marine is manipulated by a superior officer who promises that the corporation will pay for costly surgery to end his paralysis as a reward for his infiltrating the indigenous population and functioning as a spy. Here again, what happens is neither liberal nor conservative. What happens is a manipulation of one man by another.

All films manipulate their audiences to some extent. Avatar employs sophisticated special visual effects that literally have not been seen before in any motion picture because of the use of new, proprietary technology that was developed for this particular film. The visuals are that good as everyone is saying and writing about, especially when viewed through 3D glasses in a movie theater. In exchange for what at Disneyland used to be called an E-ticket ride, Avatar asks viewers to consider Cameron’s views for awhile. So what? It’s a very simple trade and it won’t hurt you one bit. Nor will it change your own particular partisan views.

Conservatives who are angry that Avatar presents Cameron’s liberals views and has become one of the most popular movies in years should step back and dial down their responses just a little bit. The reality is people are spending a lot of money to see Avatar not because word of mouth says that there is a liberal agenda, but because people are spreading the word that this movie is a rare and genuine E-ticket ride.

Films by design play upon the emotions of the viewer. Avatar has succeeded in becoming such a powerful and compelling emotional experience for viewers that it may become the biggest moneymaker in motion picture history. It is the power of emotions–not any power in Cameron’s views–that has given this one motion picture such financial prominence. So, if conservatives go to see Avatar–and why not–they should just enjoy the film for the visual and emotional thrills that it certainly provides and not think about ideology at all.

Avatar is not likely to ever be ranked up there with Casablanca, but the new filmmaking technologies that were pioneered by Cameron and others specifically for this particular movie will certainly change the way Hollywood makes movies. Eventually, this technology will be used to make movies that tell stories without any science fiction elements or themes. In 2008, for example, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button made heavy reliance upon advanced digital special effects but was not a science fiction film.

It is worth remembering that movies succeed financially first because of their emotional content. Ideology may be important to a movie’s story. Or not. Certainly technology can be important to moviemaking, and Cameron’s pioneering technology development work in making Avatar likely will have much significance beyond this movie and its likely sequels. Maybe Cameron has earned the right to his strong ego.