For my analysis of Avatar, I chose the scene when the Colonel and crew show up to blow the Na’vi’s home to pieces after Jake fails to get them to leave. The security crew shows up with their massive gunships, to which the Na’vi are immediately hostile. We know there is going to be a fight.
The early part of the scene focuses on Jake and the Colonel. Jake is screaming for the natives to leave, whereas the Colonel and his pilot are having a wonderful time wreaking havoc upon the Na’vi. We are told by the acting and script that the humans are brutal savages, as opposed to the Na’vi, which were initially seen as savages (although we now know that they are culturally deep). If we read the actors expressions, it is easy to tell they are bloodthirsty and having a fantastic time being destructive. For example, the pilot gives a nasty smirk when told to fire upon the tree. While the Na’vi are willing to fight to protect their home, the bloodthirsty humans are willing to fight for bloodshed.
The scene is trying to argue that humans tend to be very violent against other people (and aliens). As the one sided battle ensues, the only moment of human decency is when Trudy breaks formation (however, she does not intervene). The scene also argues that military personnel tend to be very brutal (yeah baby, get some!) Meanwhile, we are shown various clips of tragic destruction, despair and confusion as the Na’vi try to escape the guns of the bloodthirsty humans. To the humans, the Na’vi are compared to roaches.
In conclusion, the scene is the final straw for anybody hoping that the humans could still be good.
I agree with your analysis that at first the Na'vi are seen as savages but in reality it is the military in the movie that are the real savages. The military are clearly enjoying destroying the Na'vi's homes and the trees and other plants they have so much respect for. It's sad that all of this tragic destruction is all for Unobtanium.
ReplyDeleteThis ends up perpetuating the ideas that all humans are bad at heart. This isn't true for everyone in real life and in the movie. Overall people probably are bad, hedonistic, and greedy, but even in Avatar, Norm is seen as a "good" guy. Overall the science community is seen as good while the military are the destructive people. James Cameron and Avatar tries to show a big message and overall I feel they succeeded.
ReplyDeleteThis movie is anticolonialist, and this scene definitely shows it. The brutal terror that the humans destroyed is intended to mirror the horrific genocide that occurred when the Europeans colonized America. At one point in the movie, Jake yells, "So someone's got something you want, you just make them your enemy so you can justify bombing them?!" (or something like that.) I think that this scene definitely shows humans (specifically white humans) to be gun happy, blood thirsty and selfish with no regard for mother nature. In all honesty, this argument is not unfounded.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis. This scene really shows how well the military can essentially completely de-humanize the Na'vi and treat it all like a video game. So at the same time when it sends the message that humans are evil, the effect it has on the viewer is different because of how well James Cameron depicts war. The effect on the viewer being the fact that watching all of this happen on screen really shows the nastiness of war. I feel it argues the viewer into a huge anti-war position.
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