Avatar: To boycott, or not to boycott, that is the question...

[Goldstein1984]

Whether tis nobler to suffer the the slings are arrows of digital entertainment, or to take arms agaist a sea of commercial exploitations, and by opposing, end them...

Normally, when any religion condemns a movie, we go and see it just to do our part. (e.g. "The Golden Compass"). We go to the theater to see Michael Moore movies, and we're buying multiple copies of "The Cove" to send to family and friends, for similar reasons. On the other hand, putting money in Rupert Murdoch's pocket isn't my idea of good social activism.

*******************

Cameron's 3-D epic is so big it's showing up on bottom line of News Corp
By Ryan Nakashima (CP) – 4 days ago

LOS ANGELES — Blue-skinned aliens are helping Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. see green.

The runaway global success of James Cameron's 3-D spectacle, "Avatar" - his first feature film since the record-breaking "Titanic" in 1997 - has prompted analysts to lift earnings estimates for News Corp., the owner of movie studio 20th Century Fox.

More:http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jbN5Tnj5wUkxr6e_GidAWp-iErlQ

Vatican Slams Avatar: Promotes Nature Worship Over Reliton

ALESSANDRA RIZZO | 01/12/10 09:28 AM |

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican newspaper and radio station have called the film "Avatar" simplistic, and criticized it for flirting with modern doctrines that promote the worship of nature as a substitute for religion.

L'Osservatore Romano and Vatican Radio dedicated ample coverage to James Cameron's big-grossing, 3-D spectacle. But the reviews were lukewarm, calling the movie superficial in its eco-message, despite groundbreaking visual effects.

L'Osservatore said the film "gets bogged down by a spiritualism linked to the worship of nature." Similarly, Vatican Radio said it "cleverly winks at all those pseudo-doctrines that turn ecology into the religion of the millennium."

"Nature is no longer a creation to defend, but a divinity to worship," the radio said.

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/vatican-slams-avatar-prom_n_419949.html

[marmar]

1. The Vatican hates it?

Somebody call Moviefone quick and order about 3,000 tickets !!!!

[Jamastiene]

5. Oh, I MUST see it now. n/t

[Goldstein1984]

7. That would normally be my first reaction

But in this case, every ticket purchased is money in the pocket of Murdock.

This may be a fundamental example of why we are so screwed. The Shadow Government has even found a way to turn a profit from our acts of defiance.

[Jamastiene]

11. That's when you watch it online.

Oh, it'll be online soon enough if it isn't already.

:evilgrin:

[silverweb]

24. It has been.

I watched it on line when it first came out.

The main catch was that the subtitles for the Na'vi dialogue were in Greek or Cyrillic or something, so I had to guess at what was being said or miss it completely.

Of course, I couldn't fully enjoy all the special effects, either, but it was still fun to watch.

Here: http://www.free-tv-video-online.info/

[Jamastiene]

30. Some of these links might want you to install something.

Don't. Ignore those links. The other links won't require anything but :popcorn: and a couple hours of your attention.

http://www.watch-movies-online.tv/movies/avatar/

[silverweb]

46. Oh, yeah, I know.

None of them require installing anything, though.

The only complaints I've had are really, really sloooowwwww loading time in some cases, and the fact that links for some TV shows are blocked where I am (Mexico).

Thanks for the new site, too! :hi:

[laughingliberal]

38. +1 nt

[Better Believe It]

37. Going to see it for certain now!

[Jamastiene]

2. Note to the Vatican: I'll worship whoever or whatever THE FUCK I want to worship.

Sincerely,
Jamastiene, Daughter of Satan for being born out of wedlock, Denizen of Hell On Earth for having to live in the same time period with the Vatican and all these other holy rollers who hate nature and gay people with every fiber of their being, Future Leader of The Real Hell, because, let's face it, I'm the rightful heir to the throne down there.

Oh, and when you get to Hell, stay THE FUCK out of my way...or else.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Well said. I second your emotions...

[ddeclue]

3. I find your lack of faith disturbing...

:rofl:

[Goldstein1984]

17. That is a classic.

May I steal it?

[ddeclue]

20. I'd say "Thou shalt not steal" but hey I stole it off the intertubes myself!

:rofl:

[mdmc]

36. Either go see a shitty movie or don't

:shrug:

[Ian David]

6. Buy a ticket to see something else and then sneak in.

Bring 3-D glasses from a different movie.

[Goldstein1984]

10. THAT is good civil disobedience.

I like it.

[Jamastiene]

15. I still have my 3-D glasses from the Rolling Stones concert on Fox from about 15 years ago.

PERFECT!!! :evilgrin:

[BrklynLiberal]

16. My friend snuck in agot her 3D glasses from the can that they thrown in by those leaving.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7448060&mesg_id=7448126

[Missy Vixen]

18. Good luck with that

I don't know how the lines for "Avatar" are now, but we went to the movies two weeks ago. There were hundreds of people waiting outside of the local movie theater. We also know several people who've been back for repeat viewings.

If you don't support Murdock, just don't go see the movie in the first place.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. EX-CUUUUSE ME????????? Ahem..but I think that the latter came AFTER the former!!!

The Vatican newspaper and radio station have called the film "Avatar" simplistic, and criticized it for flirting with modern doctrines that promote the worship of nature as a substitute for religion.

[Jamastiene]

19. They truly act like they have no clue, don't they?

It seems like they are playing to the fact that so many people do not really look at the history of different type of religions at all.

[JuniperLea]

21. They resent those Pagan ways they co-opted for their own purposes!

Once they made them their own, the Pagans be damned!

:rofl:

[T Wolf]

9. Solution - buy a ticket to another (non-Rupert) movie and go see Avatar. IF one is so driven.

Each person has to decide for themselves where they "draw the line" of actions.

For some, a boycott is mandatory because it is Fox-related. For others, not.

For some, avoiding fundie churches is enough. For others, protests and vandalism against those institutions of hate is necessary.

To each, their own decision.

[BrklynLiberal]

13. wow what a great idea...and there are TWO geniuses in this thread.

[JuniperLea]

12. I think I hate religion just a scoach less than I hate Murdock...

But I'm not sure why.

"Ain't got no quarrels with God," but his Earth-bound keepers are a royal pain in the ass.

I love spiritual people, but religious people scare the hell out of me.

[Jamastiene]

22. Well said.

"Ain't got no quarrels with God," but his Earth-bound keepers are a royal pain in the ass.

[JuniperLea]

26. Those keepers are giving him a bad name...

I grew up in a Fundy church... I still have the scars:)

I'm sick of the hypocricy... God doesn't hate anyone... God wants us all to get along like good brothers and sisters... God doesn't need any help with branding:)

I may start my own religion... Juniperism.

[Jamastiene]

31. Same here. I even went to a fundy school for the first few years.

If anything, they taught me to always try to do the opposite of what they are doing, because they are doing it wrong.

[fascisthunter]

35. spiritual and religious, two very different things

and I agree

[fl_dem]

40. one of my favorite quotes

religion is for people who are afraid of hell, spirituality is for people who have already been there.
I don't know who to attribute it to, but I like it.

[fascisthunter]

44. haha... I love it

I think there is lots of truth to it.

[Jamastiene]

47. I love it.

Whoever said it was right, imo. :thumbsup:

[kpominville]

14. It was a great movie

I really enjoyed it and it has a very progressive message that would probably make Murdoch's head explode if he saw it.

[DonkeyHoTay]

23. Ditto

Avatar has made cimetatic history... Film students for years
to come will study this movie not only for its special effects
but for its timely message.

[Goldstein1984]

32. You both make good points.

I do like the message--pro-respect for nature, anti-imperialist.

"Thus, conscience does make cowards of us all; and thus, the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought; and enterprises of great pitch and motion, with this regard, the current turn awry, and lose the name of action."

(I probably butchered Hamlet, there, but I'm too lazy to look it up.)

Translation: On further thought, I'll not boycott the movie.

[sui generis]

25. You know you've jumped the ironic shark when the Vatican is criticizing fantasy.

Just sayin' - what a bunch of ninnies.

Why isn't the vatican instead slamming Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Yosemite Sam? I'm fairly certain even without watching that none of them ever went to church in any episode. Godless atheist barbarian cartoons.

[proteus_lives]

27. Boycott it because it's a shitty movie.

Politics or meaning aside, it's just a crappy movie.

[NewEngland4Obama]

53. Best movie I have seen in a long time!!!

[proteus_lives]

56. You're easily impressed.

I see you've embraced that.

[Occulus]

60. It's easy to be impressed with this film from a technical standpoint

It's the first time I've ever completely forgotten during the film that the humanoid CG characters were CG and not real actors wearing makeup. Not even Gollum did that for me.

Avatar has, bar none, the best CG characters I've ever seen in a film, and the techniques Cameron's team used to accomplish that will become the Hollywood standard. True, Avatar took a lot of cash to make, but part of that was development of the techniques and software. That's a one-time cost, and it's all been paid for at this point.

It's entirely possible that, in the future, many films won't need actors at all; it'll all be green-screen motion capture and voice acting for CG characters. That is not necessarily a bad thing for the art form- although actors might have something to say about it.....

[w4rma]

28. It's a damn good movie. I've already given money to Murdoch for backing it. (nt)

[sui generis]

29. that's ironic - the Vatican criticizing a fantasy

Just sayin' - what a bunch of ninnies.

Why isn't the vatican instead slamming Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Yosemite Sam? I'm fairly certain even without watching that none of them ever went to church in any episode. Godless atheist barbarian cartoons.

[proteus_lives]

33. In case anyone's thinking of seeing it, let me save you $12-15.

Avatar in five panels.

[NewEngland4Obama]

54. Great movie with great special effects. !!!

[fascisthunter]

34. I Loved the Movie and Will probably Go to See it Again

I'm glad to see the right wing morons get pissed, because they know more people agree with the movie than they care to KNOW.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. I guess the Vatican is horrified that Druidism is not dead yet...

I mean they have been at this for 1700 years and it refuses to die.

:evilgrin:

Yes folks there are STRONG elements of druid belief in this.

And yes it is PISSING OFF not just the Vatican but our own American right.

Me, great FX, sub par acting, and predictable plot. Oh and very strong anti corporate message, with a good dose off .... the noble savage. My advise, go, enjoy it, don't over analyse it. District Nine had far more of a message in my view...

[Goldstein1984]

41. Then I guess I can support Murdock

And celebrate his move to the Left.

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. Would not go that far

he has been a good bidness person. He knows Twenty Century Fox makes money... that billion + IS money. But he leaves their green lighting process alone. It made money before, it makes money now. Yes, he is that cynical. He uses that to fund that other money losing operation called Fox Snooze. (Or sky in the UK)

:-)

And in a way he laughs all the way to the bank. the Simpsons take pot shots at Fox regularly, but they make money. The day they stop making money they will be canceled.

As the old saying goes... business is business and Moses is Moses... Never confuse them.

But as art, the FX is amazing and worth watching.

[Goldstein1984]

52. You are correct, and I was being sarcastic

About six years ago, I took a class from a woman whose brother was Vice President of Fox Sports. I asked her to ask her brother how a company with a coherent world view could have both a news network like Fox News and an entertainment network with an anti-establishment program like The Simpsons.

It took a few weeks, but I got an answer. I was expecting a complicated explanation that attempted to weave the two networks into one coherent philosophy.

The answer was: "Completely different demographics."

So there was one coherent philosophy: Make money by giving people what they want.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

57. It isn't?

[Little Star]

42. Avatar was great!

[CanonRay]

45. Since the Vatican is condeming it, I must go see it.

I was kind of neutral before...thanks Pope Adolph

[AllenVanAllen]

48. Go see Avatar, enjoy it and take it's message to heart.

There are other ways to spend time and energy fighting rampant corporatism and living a more balanced life with nature. The message the film is promoting will go much further in the minds and hearts of our youth than the temporary profit Murdoch may experience.
See the movie and then do your part to conserve our environment.


The natural universe is my "church" so I have no problem with this movie's spiritual message.

[ItNerd4life]

49. The Vatican is as closed minded as the Colonel in the movie was.

It would be nice if people were more open minded like the main character who was a crippled marine.

[MadBadger]

50. I dont think Rupert will notice if he gets your ten bucks or not.

[Goldstein1984]

59. No, but either I live by my principles or I don't

I don't think the anti-war protest in DC scheduled for March 2010 is going to make a difference either, but I have one, and soon to be two, sons in the military, so I'm going.

And Don Young is all but guaranteed to win another term, but I'm going to go to the polls and vote against him as I have for 26 years.

All one can do is brighten the corner where they are and do their best to be on the right side of history.

I think the days when Democrats had the will to do any more than work within the system are long gone.

In six more years, maybe two, I'm retiring and we're taking all of our money elsewhere. Before I do to the U.S. what my grandparents did to Germany, I want to be able to say I did everything within my power to find a reason to stay.

In the end, I don't expect to make a difference. I only want to be able to tell my grandchildren I did my best.

The decision about whether or not to watch a movie is tiny. This post what meant to be sarcasm. But the principles that apply to the decision have broader and more significant implications.

[rcrush]

51. Just sneak in. I dont think James Cameron needs anymore money.

[MadBadger]

58. Will you go see Avatar?

[rocktivity]

55. I think it's a safe bet

that man worshipped nature even before he became capable of concieving of a god.

:shrug:
rocktivity

[Goldstein1984]

61. And Woman, too.