Vatican says ‘Avatar’ is no masterpiece
VATICAN CITY - “Avatar” is wooing audiences worldwide with visually dazzling landscapes and nature-loving blue creatures. But the Vatican is no easy crowd to please.
The Vatican newspaper and radio station are criticizing James Cameron’s 3-D blockbuster for flirting with the idea that worship of nature can replace religion — a notion the pope has warned against. They call the movie a simplistic and sappy tale, despite its awe-inspiring special effects.
“Not much behind the images” was how the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, summed it up in a headline.
As the second highest-grossing movie ever, “Avatar” is challenging the record set by Cameron’s previous movie “Titanic.”
Generally it has been critically acclaimed and is touted as a leading Oscar contender.
Bolivia’s first indigenous president, Evo Morales, has praised “Avatar” for what he calls its message of saving the environment from exploitation. But the movie also has drawn a number of critical voices. Some American conservative bloggers have decried its anti-militaristic message; a small group of people have said the movie contains racist themes.
To Vatican critics, the alien extravaganza is just “bland.”
Credit from Source: http://movies.yahoo.com/
— the blogger’s input —-
I don’t really think that the movie condemns religion but only depicts love of nature. The Vatican has its point about the movie’s influence to turning environmentalism into neo-paganism. But, haven’t we seen this type of story from old kid movies, such as Fern Gully and Once upon a Forest? I grew up watching such movies and find it no harm to learn about saving the environment or worshiping it (per se). I was definitely awed by the Avatar’s breathtaking visual effects. It’s sad that I haven’t got the chance to watch it on 3-D, though. The movie did sold more than $1.3 billion at box offices worldwide apparently impelled by its undeniable visual impact, no question to that. Overall the AVATAR movie is remarkably GREAT but unfortunately not exempted to critics. As the infamous line says,”.. you can never please everyone”.
