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In a recent e-mail to Marine Corps Times, Hollywood director James Cameron weighed in on the controversy surrounding his latest film, 'Avatar'. In response to questions from reporter James K. Sanborn, Cameron sheds light on the movie's allegorical undertones, talks about his use of Marine characters and responds to criticism from the Marine Corps' director of public affairs.
Q: Was Avatar meant to be an allegory of some sort — to make a statement — or is it intended to be nothing more than a few hours of fantastic storytelling and dazzling special effects?
A: Avatar is like a Rorschach test. People see many things within its patterns, depending on their own world-view and personal reality. Some of the interpretations which have emerged in the media I consider valid, and others I disagree with.
As the writer of the film, I intended several allegories, although clearly my first and foremost goal was to entertain a global audience with a grand adventure story. I grew up on a steady diet of science fiction as a kid, during the troubled [1960s], and most of the science fiction then, in both literature and movies, was cautionary. Most big movies these days don't like to embed a message, because they are interested only in the box office, but I have always tried to make films that reflect my personal views, no matter the scale of the movie.
So I am definitely making some cautionary statements in Avatar about our technological society wrecking the environment, and the roll of big corporations in reducing the quality of life, which we will bequeath to our children. I believe these are issues facing all developed and developing nations, so I am distressed by interpretations of Avatar as "anti-American." The responsibility for changing the course of civilization to a sustainable path is borne by all nations, not just America. However, I do hope that Americans take the environmental message of the film to heart, because they have to the greatest power to lead the world.
I am also concerned that some people are simplistically saying that Avatar is "anti-military". The highly sympathetic main character of the film, through whom the audience experiences almost every moment of the story, is a former Marine. His courage in the face of overwhelming odds makes him a hero of mythic proportions by the end of the story.
While the enemy force in the film are mercenary troops, who are clearly stated to be acting as corporate security contractors, it is not a goal of the film to criticize legitimate military forces, especially the courageous men and women who defend this country.
Q: What prompted the decision to portray former Marines in the movie? With the movie set in the future amidst so much fantasy, why specifically mention the U.S. Marine Corps?
A: My youngest brother John David "JD" Cameron joined the Marine Corps in 1985, ironically as I was filming "Aliens," which is a story of "Colonial" Marines against an overwhelming force of alien predators. He distinguished himself by being the youngest recruit to make sergeant at Camp Pendleton, and he went on to compete in Super Squad and later to see combat in Desert Storm. His unit was one of the first into Kuwait, and fought to capture Kuwait Airport.
After that conflict, Dave has worked for me, along with several of his fellow Marines, until the present. And I still have several former Marines working directly for me who have become like family. I have been impressed over the years by the quality of these men, by their focus, their discipline, and their willingness to tackle any problem head on. I attribute these qualities to their training as Marines, which has left them with an indelible mind-set that they can overcome any obstacle. These men have proven themselves to me on multiple deep ocean expedition projects around the world, and they have earned my undying respect.
In creating the main character of Avatar, Jake Sully who is played by Sam Worthington, I sought to embody these qualities. Although he is confined to a wheelchair because of a combat injury, he is unbowed and still a warrior, ready to take on the greatest challenge. His courage and strength of character propel all the action of the movie, ultimately changing the course of history on the planet Pandora.
My brother JD acted as a technical consultant for Sam when he was preparing for his character and Sam drew strength for the role from both JD's direct instruction and the inspiration of his example. As an artist, it made sense to me to honor the spirit of the Marine Corps by showing my hero, Jake Sully, wearing the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on his T-shirt. I wanted the audience to know that his strength, courage and cunning as a warrior were traits that had been instilled in him by his Marine Corps experience.
So even though the U.S. Marines are not mentioned specifically in dialogue, I felt it was important to make this association as a tribute to the caliber of people created by the Marine Corps' training, spirit and values.
Q: Although some of our readers had a positive reaction to the movie, saying that the protagonist Jake epitomizes the Corps' core values, others have felt it portrays Marines in a negative light. What would you say to them?
A: I'm glad to hear that many Marines see the positive portrayal of a former Marine in the movie. And of course I understand how some people might be offended, given that Jake's nemesis in the film, Col. Quaritch, is also a former Marine. As a writer I felt that it was important, early in the film, to misdirect the audience that Quaritch was a kind of "father figure" to Jake, a man he could relate to, believe in and respect. Only as the story progresses do we see that Quaritch has 'gone to the dark side,' taking money as a corporate security operator and no longer beholden to a set of ethics or to a higher sense of duty. However, even Quaritch, although misguided, still demonstrates the courage and tenacity of a Marine, which makes him the most formidable enemy Jake ever encounters — worse even than the most ferocious predator Pandora has to offer. The film challenges the audience to decide who is the bigger traitor; Jake for abandoning his mission and siding with the oppressed or Quaritch who is a paid killer, fighting for no just cause.
A: In a phone conversation with Colonel Salas yesterday, I learned that his concern was that the Marines' modern tactics are not properly represented in the movie. He cited the lessons learned in Afghanistan and Iraq, specifically the Fallujah conflict, which haveled Marine Corps leadership to adopt policies of understanding and helping the local population as the only effective way to combat insurgent forces.
Quaritch of course, in my fictional story, has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer in his approach, but I would encourage people to look at Jake's methods which represent exactly the approach Col. Salas described to me. Jake sets out to understand the indigenous people and learns to respect them and their value system, and in turn earns their respect. Later, as he must organize them to fight back, he honors their internal chain of command by enlisting the aid of their most senior warrior, working through him as an interpreter and fighting alongside him as an equal comrade in arms. I believe this exactly embodies the approach Col. Salas described to me.
It must be remembered, I think, that the "bad guy" in any movie is not where one should look to reveal the values of the filmmaker, but instead analyze the hero of the film to understand the values the film supports. Even though Jake never appears in uniform — other than his high and tight haircut at the beginning — he is every inch a Marine throughout the film.
I hope Marines everywhere can enjoy Jake's heroism in the movie as a tribute to their own, as it was meant to be. I have the greatest respect for the men and women of the Marine Corps, and firmly believe that Avatar honors their courage, their strength, and their core values.
