Avatar vs. Pocahontas

Yes, I was seduced by the three dimensional universe of Pandora conceived of so generously by Jim Cameron and his crew. I long for immersion into such a lush green world where I can commune with trees and frolic with blue feline companions who have the agility to climb trees and ride the backs of tamed birds. But I am no match for the wild things that roam that jungle.

Throughout my screening of the film I was reminded of American and European imperialism. Certainly the degradation of indigenous cultures and natural resources thematic of the storyline conjure associations with the history of American Indians, US invasion of Vietnam, Iraq, etc, etc. For the next generation of adults, however, this experiential allegory can be a teaching tool for examining the impact of capitalism and imperial expansionism.

The rewrite depicts the ultimate form of historical plagiarism. Borrowing from the "idea bank" runs deeper than adapting a storyline from a Disney animation. Cameron's exploits of an historical narrative makes me laugh. He is laughing too,  all the way to the bank.