This is from last week’s Jay Leno Show. Leno interviewed “Avatar” director James Cameron and the relevant parts quoted below start at the 5:50 mark.
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Cameron: The anti-military [criticism] is kind of tough for me because my younger brother Dave was a Marine. … I got nothing but respect for those guys. …
I made my main character a Marine … and I imbued him with all the characteristics of heroism, courage and intelligence, and all the stuff I thought would honor them. And I think people are thinking about it too simplistically. …
I asked a special request, I want to talk to Marines that are on the ground. Guys that are forwards. We’re trying to organize going to Afghanistan to show the film to some Marines that are on the ground there. This is my tribute … my tribute to them.
Leno deserves credit for bringing the subject up, but he asks the question as though it’s only “critics” making noise over “Avatar’s” 3D trashing of the military. The United States Marines are none too happy with Cameron’s “tribute,” either. Here’s their Director of Public Affairs:
“Avatar” takes sophomoric shots at our military culture and uses the lore of the Marine Corps and over-the-top stereotyping of Marine warriors to set the context for the screenplay. This does a disservice to our Corps of Marines and the publics’ understanding of their Corps.
Judging by his response, Cameron’s aware of this statement and if you notice the Oscar-winning director also doesn’t mention veterans. (After all, he’s already heard from some of them.) So he’s forced to dance a little and narrowly focus his rhetoric on forward Marines on the ground. Or… Those who haven’t said anything, probably due to concerns — like winning a war — other than the controversy surrounding a movie. But if they don’t take his side, I’m sure Cameron’s field will narrow even further:
“I’m going to screen ‘Avatar’ for Marines who choose Cheerios over Rice Krispies. This is my tribute to them.”
But what an interesting defense from Cameron. (Stating his brother’s a Marine is pure sophistry and not worth debating.) His statement that making the film’s hero, Jake Sully, a Marine, as a way to “honor” the Marines is absolutely fascinating.
Now, as with all Hollywoodists, I will take Cameron at his word. Let us assume that even though 99% of the Marines (note to leftist hair-splitters: former Marines) in “Avatar” are ready, willing, and all-too eager to commit genocide against innocent beings, that Cameron chose to make the hero of his film a Marine as a tribute to the Marines.
Can I be any fairer than that? I don’t think so.
Now that he’s made such a stirring tribute to the Marines, maybe he’ll honor others in the same way with the upcoming sequels. Why should the Marines be the only ones who benefit from Cameron’s Big Screen Cinematic Tributes.
And if I may be so bold, I’d like to make a couple of suggestions…
***MAJOR SPOILERS COMING***
In order to repeat the “Avatar” tribute for the benefit of others, we have to look at exactly how Cameron honors the Marines through Jake. Yes, Jake is what Cameron says he is: a heroic, intelligent and courageous Marine. And in the end, what does Jake do to become the hero? He stops being a Marine, stops being human, and becomes a Na’vi in order to fight the marauding, terrorist Marines he was once a part of.
So, for the upcoming “Avatar” trilogy, let’s lay this template — Cameron’s idea of “honoring” — over some other groups and see how it plays.
“Avatar 2: Gays Vs. Straights”
In this stirring tribute to gay people everywhere, genocidal gays and lesbians eagerly commit acts of terrorism against innocent heterosexuals in their determination to erase them from the planet in order to steal their wealth. But in the end, One Gay Man saves the day when he turns straight and helps his new heterosexual tribe defeat the marauding homosexuals.
Hrm..? Well, that didn’t work. Maybe I’m doing it wrong. Let’s try again…
“Avatar 3: Blacks Vs. Whites”
In this stirring tribute to black people everywhere, genocidal black men eagerly commit acts of terrorism against innocent whites hoping to erase them from the planet in order to steal their wealth. But in the end, One Black Man saves the day when he turns white and helps his new white tribe defeat the marauding black men.
Cameron’s idea of a tribute might be working for you … it’s not for me. No matter how hard I try. But maybe Cameron’s correct and I’m thinking about it too simplistically.
It is honestly good to hear that the director intends to head out to the Middle East and meet the men and women willing to sacrifice all that they have for his freedom and — yes– the freedom of the “native people” of Iraq and Afghanistan. Maybe that experience will alter his perception of the kind of tribute America’s best and brightest deserve.
Mainstream Hollywood has yet to do this generation of warriors any amount of justice and James Cameron is now in a position to make any film he wants.
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