A "good" war film is one which not only shows the horror of it and why one should not lightly walk into one, but also that despite those horrors it must be done at times. Ironically one of the film genres that tends to traditionally portray the military in a positive light are Sci-Fi films. I plan on seeing Avatar but I was concerned that this might just be another film which condemns military members in general.

This is why I'm very fond of the WWII scenes in Atonement. It balances the horror and the humanity with the necessary evil of the whole thing.

Many sci-fi films are about hostile aliens invading Earth, so of course the military is seen as the defenders that they are. Avatar is the other way around, where humans are the hostile invaders. But the military is not doing the invading, a corporation is doing the invading, and Avatar is not a war film.

It doesn't condemn military members in general at all. It's not even remotely about that. As I've said before, what it condemns is the mindset that we can take whatever we want from whoever is in the way because we have big machines that make stuff explode. The soldiers in Avatar don't behave like the US military because they aren't the US military. They are there for protection against the environment (huge scary animals) and to either forcibly relocate or exterminate the indigenous people at the behest of a greedy, racist CEO.

If it was meant to condemn all members of the military, why would the main character himself be an ex-Marine? Especially since his status as a soldier is essential to the entire story? Even his original deal with the commander wasn't out of military loyalty. He struck the deal for personal gain. When it comes to the climactic scene between Jake and the commander, the commander berates him for betraying his race, not his military oaths. The soldiers aren't representing war or the military, they just represent our capability for apathy and destruction.

For goodness sake, Cameron just used the military so there could be a big epic battle at the end!

It's a movie so it doesn't really matter anyway. Speakign of movie and seeing that it is christmas i am not a big fan on chritsmas movies.

*hides

I went with some family members to go see Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel the other day. Cute movie. I think I enjoyed the first one a bit more, but the story is original enough that it makes the second one a good watch.

saw Avatar a second time yesterday.
arrived and hour early but still the 3D showing was sold out, so we saw it in regular 2D.

I gotta say,
the movie is much less impressive this way. The 3D is definitely was makes this a great movie. I liked it less, quite a bit less. But it was still enjoyable- My sister really enjoyed the movie however, it was her first time.

(I guess only I enjoyed it less because I already had the wonder of the 3D).

I'd like to see Avatar however, no theatre's here so I'll have to wait till it comes out on DVD. I also was thinking I'd like to see Sherlock Holmes but I've heard it's not very good so I don't know.

I've heard from friends that if you go into Sherlock Holmes expecting the classic portrayal of him you will be disappointed. If you recognise it will be different, it will probably be a lot of fun.

I haven't seen Holmes yet, but my friend who is a pretty die-hard Holmes fan was thrilled with it. It's not the deer-stalker wearing Holmes and doddering Watson we're used to...it's young, so-smart-he's-bonkers Holmes and ex-Army Watson who's had his knee shot out. Sounds like a good film to me!

Finally got to see Avatar 3D Saturday night . It was everything I expected and more . I can now definitively confirm Josh and Draugrin's points regarding the exploitation of Indigenous People's and their resources. I was reminded of The Last Samurai as well as Dances with Wolves. But it was a singularly cool and unique take on the storyline .

There were a number of other thematic elements including themes of Nature vs (the misuse of) Technology, Redemption, the Sacred Feminine, Rebirth, and Pride etc.

Not to mention the Awesome Next Gen CGI and special effects .

GB

I'm really excited to be seeing Holmes later this afternoon. I've never been a big fan of classic Sherlock Holmes, and because of that I'll probably enjoy the movie more It does look very different from the books, but it also looks like a good movie...I'll post my thoughts on my return!

Everyone I've talked to says that The Blind Side is an exceptionally good movie (and apparently very heartbreaking too). Has anyone seen it?

hmm not sure I wanna see 'Avatar' now, hearing people's reviews. I really hate it when movies have that all too common 'theme'.
Slightly different but similar, I was watching 'Up' the other day on DVD. I liked it at first, but then the whole thing became this moral obligation to save a bird from being captured... I mean, come on people.
Nothing wrong with wanting peace (even though that's unrealistic) and being an environmentalist, but it's SO ANNOYING how much those themes make it into movies, and how they try to push it on people.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

The General:
Slightly different but similar, I was watching 'Up' the other day on DVD. I liked it at first, but then the whole thing became this moral obligation to save a bird from being captured... I mean, come on people.

When did Morality Plays become passé?

GB

I think if my pet bird and her babies were being threatened I would fight to save her too.

Holmes looked . . . interesting. Not sure if I want to see it though.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Holmes was actually quite good! It mostly wasn't anything what I imagine "classic" Sherlock Holmes to be. As a movie though, I really enjoyed it. It was rather funny, throughout it I randomly thought "This really reminds me of POTC3 [except better] but I don't know why". Then I found out Hans Zimmer did the soundtrack for Holmes. At first I was worried that the supernatural themes would kinda take over

There was of course a bit of romance, and although I thought Rachel Adam's character was brilliant and fun, I didn't really buy the romance between her and Holmes...not sure why. Also a lot of action and some very tense moments when you weren't sure if the good guy's would make it (well, of course you knew they would, but still. )
The scenery of London in the early 1900's was lovely.
So yeah. If you can put aside the traditional Sherlock Holmes image, I think this is an excellent movie.