A green liberal lament

I'm supposed to like "Avatar". Native rights, Gaian spirituality, even a whiff of transhumanism. The bad guys are suspiciously similar to the U.S. military and a multi-national corporation, hell bent on a resource war with accompanying genocide and ecocide. The good scientist is starred by Sigourney Weaver. Gorillas in the mist, anyone?

"Avatar" must be the movie "National Review" and the Ayn Rand Institute love to hate!

Yet, I honestly didn't like "Avatar". I think I'm getting too old for cartoon characters. I admit that I watched it on TV. Perhaps the special effects really look great in a cinema, but on the TV screen the whole thing comes across as a Walt Disney movie with somewhat quirkier animation.

Besides, I just cannot help reminding myself that "Avatar" is fiction, even fantasy. The Natives couldn't defeat the settlers, Gaia isn't a literal goddess, a life close to nature would frequently be grim rather than romantic... If civilization collapses, the post-apocalyptic generations won't understand "Avatar". It will be seen as a positively weird cultural artefact of a by-gone (and more prosperous) age.

But since James Cameron really meant well when producing his little saga, I suppose I have to give "Avatar" three stars. Besides, I don't want to be attacked by a gigantic green fan dragon.