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"Avatar: The Way of Water": James Cameron's Self-Contradiction | Litchi Film Review

author:Litchi News

  Text/Yu Xiao

  (The author Yu Xiao, a special commentator of Litchi News, a well-known commentator; This article is an exclusive commissioned article by Litchi News Client and Litchi.com, please indicate the source for reprinting. )

"Avatar: The Way of Water": James Cameron's Self-Contradiction | Litchi Film Review

  James Cameron's original intention in shooting the "Avatar" series is a critique of modernity - when his protagonist abandons the advanced and comfortable of scientific and technological civilization and jumps into the alien primitive jungle, Cameron's intention is already clear.

  However, the film is self-contradictory from the last one. On the one hand, the invasion of the human army on the planet Pandora is undoubtedly a metaphor for modernity - emphasizing and celebrating human reason and the advanced technology derived from it, supporting mankind's continuous expansion outward until the conquest of nature; On the other hand, the choice of the protagonist is a strong critique of human selfishness and greed, and at the same time a satire of anthropocentrism.

  As a result, the extremely absurd paradox appeared - the movie "Avatar" is advocating the concept of environmental protection, expressing the yearning for nature and tradition, while relying on the most advanced shooting technology in the world today to create a visual spectacle for the audience. From any point of view, the production process of "Avatar" is not "environmentally friendly" at all.

  Fans around the world are shocked by the ultimate technology in the theater, intoxicated by the alien forest or ocean with a strong sense of presence, and at the same time express contempt for the human technology in the movie under the careful guidance of the director, which is a more amazing scene than the amazing movie special effects.

"Avatar: The Way of Water": James Cameron's Self-Contradiction | Litchi Film Review

  In today's Avatar: The Way of Water, the narrative's self-contradiction has reached its peak. The colonel who chased and killed the protagonist all the way is obviously the spokesperson of human reason and technology, and the "little spider" who follows the protagonist is obviously a rebel in the human world, but in the end, they all made sacrifices and compromises for the so-called "flesh and blood affection", which is equivalent to returning to the traditional concept of family.

  But this is very puzzling, if both sides of the conflict in this film can be considered "human" and are pursuing so-called "justice", then where does the conflict come from? This also goes back to the problem that the last "Avatar" could not solve - the Na'vi living on the planet Pandora have the right to defend their homeland, so do the earthlings with depleted resources have the right to preserve themselves? Cameron, who wants to please everyone, has apparently made the film into a "left-right fight".

"Avatar: The Way of Water": James Cameron's Self-Contradiction | Litchi Film Review

  This contradiction is not the first time it has appeared in Cameron's films. The "Terminator" series also expresses the fear of human scientific progress and the praise of traditional values. Arnold Schwarzenegger's robot can play the role of "father" better than humans, just as the Na'vi understand the preciousness of family better than earthlings. It's the same with "Titanic" – Jack and Ruth's sincere love is a powerful critique of modern civilization where money reigns supreme.

  But these films, without exception, are all created by infinite wealth and cutting-edge technology. Criticizing material civilization with material civilization is probably a vivid portrayal of the development of modernity to today, which has become more and more stormy.

  Voltaire ridiculed Rousseau: "Reading your books makes one desire to crawl on all fours." And watching "Avatar", will it make the audience have the urge to abandon modern technology and return to the primeval forest? In the past two years, Cameron has been interested in diving, and the whales in the documentary "The Secret of the Whale" are probably the inspiration for the large-scale marine life Tuquan in "The Way of Water". But while promoting environmental protection, Cameron probably forgot that without the power of wealth and technology, how could he swim freely in the deep sea?

"Avatar: The Way of Water": James Cameron's Self-Contradiction | Litchi Film Review

  What is the "Way of Water"? Cameron wrote a very philosophical meaning for it - no beginning, no end, full of life. Of course, the implication of his words is to conform to nature, and even has a slight tendency to unite heaven and man. But this may have been a misunderstanding - water is water, there is no "way of water", if you really want to respect nature, then Cameron should probably learn from Robert Bresson in his shooting technique and present nature in the most naturalistic way.

  But of course he wouldn't do it, because Cameron knew very well that without the gorgeous special effects and shocking scenes, what would be left of Avatar? And how can you get satisfactory box office results on a global scale? A Hollywood movie that advocates "environmental protection" cannot forget its job of "making money" after all.

"Avatar: The Way of Water": James Cameron's Self-Contradiction | Litchi Film Review

  It is said that the "Avatar" series will be filmed a total of five. In this way, what we see now is nothing more than "appetizers". But I can already roughly guess the future direction of the movie - whether it is the Na'vi or the earthlings, they will realize the importance of family and affection, and if it is not done, the finale is a great reconciliation.

  But the more realistic problem of resource allocation, of course, cannot be solved, as if the various alien tribes in this movie can get along harmoniously and have never bothered with the problem of survival. It seems that the self-touching utopian dream of Cameron and Hollywood movies will last for a long, long time, and generally can't wake up.

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