Saturday, December 26, 2009

Avatar--a Movie Review

by Molly Noble Bull

www.mollynoblebull.com


The dictionary as well as Hindu mythology states that an Avatar is an incarnation of a god, and like most Christians, I call any God but the Lord a false god. I also pray in the name of God's only begotten son, Jesus.
Nevertheless, I saw Avatar in a movie theater recently but don’t have a lot of good things to say about it. Exotic settings, an interesting storyline and exciting special effects might cause some Christians to allow their children and teens to see the movie.
Regardless, Avatar is very much a film about what Bible believers would call “lying spirits” and false gods—with a hint of demonic possession thrown in for good measure. Cursing and bad language only make matters worse. The movie also has an anti-military message, and its “tree hugging green” theme is so clear even Albert Gore would be proud.
In the film, Jake Sully—a paralyzed ex marine, goes to the planet Pandora to help obtain certain minerals for Planet Earth. Once there, Jake is given a new body in a dark shade of science fiction blue in order to look like the natives, and he soon falls in love with a young native girl and finally switches sides.
According to the Bible, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. To me, the Lord is the only God there is, making the Hindu-like god of Pandora a false one. It bothered me that in the movie characters cursed my God while praying to Pandora’s false god.
So, should Christian parents allow their children to see this movie?
No.
However, if a Christian parent is willing to see the movie with the child, cursing and all, and then sit down and discuss the movie from a Christian perspective, perhaps it could be a good thing.
It is hard to explain Idolatry even to some adults. Avatar provides a perfect opportunity for adults and teens to discuss God’s Word, learn why cursing is a sin and what the worship of false gods really means.
I give Avatar three and a half stars for the special effects and cinematography. Zero for inspiration and content.

19 comments:

Annabell said...

I saw the movie with my brothers for their birthday just before Christmas. One of my brothers had been talking about it since last year. I saw the preview and though it looked like it would be an OK movie to see (I gotta admit, I like the whole sci-fi thing sometimes).

I am one of the few people I know that was not a big fan of the movie.

If you do go see it, save the money and go to the normal one. There was no point in it being 3-D.

Great review, Mrs. Bull! [=

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Since the movie contains the things you discussed, Molly, I completely agree with you.

Christians shouldn't be glorifying the movie just because of its technology.

I refuse to create an avatar of myself for online things. Another subtle way the enemy is undermining the strength of Christianity.

Molly Noble Bull said...

Thanks for writing, Annabell and Lena. And Lena, I never thought about the little symbols of people used on the Internet as a sort of Avatar. Wow! Thanks.
Love,
Molly

Elizabeth Ludwig said...

Thanks for the great review, Molly. I learned something! I didn't know that Avatar meant "incarnation of god". Very interesting.

I did go see the movie with my family, and like you, I was disturbed by the platform it presented. I wanted to be entertained, not bombarded with political messages from a secular world view. Aargh. I stopped enjoying the fantastic technology the movie presented about midway through, when the AGENDA of the movie overcame the entertainment.

Molly Noble Bull said...

Dear Elizabeth,
Thanks for writing. I once liked science fiction. Still do, but now I can see that most of it comes from an anti-Christian point of view.
I'm sick of buying tickets to movies where the characters curse my God. Have you ever heard a character in a book or movie curse somebody else's god? I haven't.
What people don't understand is that you can't curse the Lord and at the same time expect Him to answer your prayers -- unless you repent, of course.
Love,
Molly

Kathi Macias said...

I agree completely, Molly. My husband and I went to see Avatar because he is a sci-fi/special effects fan. From the special effects viewpoint, I suppose it's a good movie. Apart from that, it's simply an obscenely expensive, three-hour piece of liberal propaganda. I was not impressed, and if I still had young children at home, I would definitely not allow them to see it.

Molly Noble Bull said...

Dear Kathi,
Thanks for writing.
As I mentioned previously, I'm tired to paying money for movie tickets only to hear my Lord cursed as part of the dialogue.
Maybe we should start a movement --Christians against cursing our God in movies. CAC -- Christians against cursing.
Love,
Molly

Deb said...

I haven't seen this yet, but we plan to. Thankfully my kids are old enough to understand that false is false and truth is truth.

This sort of story is the reason why there should be more, not less, Christian SF out there. Marcher Lord and the few other presses that will publish science fiction and fantasy are doing a good thing IMO and I hope it catches on big-time.

Molly Noble Bull said...

Dear Deb,
I agree. I read science fiction before I ever heard of a romance novel -- much less wrote one, and the cursing and complete disregard for my Lord found in Avatar is not confined to science fiction books and movies. It's in every category of fiction. And I haven't even discussed all the blatant sex scenes out there.
Christian are talented. We need to take back the entertainment industry, the colleges and the press.
I will now step down from my soapbox.
Love,
Molly

Unknown said...

Thanks for your review, Molly. I hadn't planned to see the movie, and you confirmed my decision. I've complained to theaters before about the subtle messages they're feeding our children, but they don't seem to care. I'm glad you're enlightening parents.

Molly Noble Bull said...

Thanks, Teresa.
Love,
Molly

Margo Carmichael said...

Here's another review that agrees with you:

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/12/30/james-cameron-marxism-for-thee-but-not-for-me/

Molly Noble Bull said...

Thanks, Margo. I need to look up that review. And thanks for stopping by, too.
Love,
Molly

Unknown said...

good for you, Molly! I'm forwarding this to my teenage son, who went out and saw this movie. I'm also linking this to my FB.

Anonymous said...

January 17, 2010

I saw the movie today with my wife, 12 year old son and his 12 year old friend.

This was the first time I had been to see a movie in 5 years.

We ended up actually walking out of the cinema.

I was totally disgusted by the constant cursing of God and the taking of Jesus' name in vain.

Have you ever noticed that American movies always find a way to blaspheme Jesus's name and to damn God? (Molly Noble Bull, I fully support your question.)

I had to explain to my son why we walked out of the movies.

There were also many demonic and blasphemous themes in the movie.

When the white lillies descended on the main character's avatar, this was a mockery of the baptism of Jesus when the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended on him.

The animals in the movie were all demonic.

There was a reference to "vampirism" when the mother stuck her knife into the chest of the main character and then sucked his blood from the knife.

I could go on and on but you get the point.

The technology was really good and that is the only good thing I can say about Avatar.

Francis - Trinidad & Tobago

Molly Noble Bull said...

Dear Kathleen and Francis,
May the Lord continue to bless you by keeping your eyes and ears open.
God is good, and His truth is everylasting.
Love,
Molly

LORI said...

I think I'm the only one on here who actually liked the movie. I thought it was wonderful. And yes....I am a Christian. I believe in God and worship him. But come on guys....there was nothing wrong with this movie besides the cursing God (which hollywood does all the time). I hate that movies do that, but I cant change it. I just have to grit my teeth and go on. As far as the "God" in the movie goes, it is just like watching history about Indians. That was just part of their culture. The movie was in no way pushing the culture on to us. You just have to understand that it is fake and not real. So for all of you who hate the movie then you better hate Disney's movie Pocahontas!!!! Because in Pocahontas there is talk about their culture with spirits and such!!!! Its just a movie!!!! When I got home after seeing the movie I prayed to God telling him that I love him and that I was in no way turned against him by the movie. In fact, my faith in him grew because of the movie. I felt like I should be rejoicing him more. Just to say, I think some people need to get over the fact of these movies. There was nothing wrong with Harry Potter, disney fantasy movies, nor Avatar. Christians can still be Christians and love the movie Avatar!

Molly Noble Bull said...

Thanks Everybody,
I might not agree with every comment, but I am glad that all of you commented.
Love,
Molly

Cecelia Dowdy said...

I enjoyed Avatar. Of course I didn't enjoy the cursing, but, like LORI pointed out, a lot of the stuff that happened was part of the people's culture. I don't really watch a lot of sci-fi/fantasy movies, but I did enjoy the scenery in Avatar and I did enjoy the story. I purchased the DVD. If I know that the movie is NOT a Christian movie, then I'm not as shocked by the things that happen in it. I'd have more negative things to say about a movie if it is advertised as a Christian movie, and then had things in it that were not Christian.