{Cheese and Beans}

It would appear that Avatar – one of the best science fiction movies ever made – is under attack from all directions.

• Right wingers are criticising it for it’s anti-imperialist, anti-military stance
• The politically correct are accusing it of being racist
• Anti-smokers are complaining about one of the characters smoking
• The Vatican is complaining about it promoting paganism and nature worship

Unbelievable.

Given the ill judged actions of various “super powers” (a title they gave themselves) in forcibly attempting to impose their own flavours of democracy on countries that cannot possibly support it, it amazes me that the military industrial complex dare complain about anything.

The politically correct idiots in America should perhaps take a look at Pocahontas. If Avatar is racist, then so is Pocahontas. They should also look a little closer to home – and the entire history of the various early foreign settlers in the US; their theft and destruction of the lands, people, history, and culture.

Anti smoking campaigners could have been far more clever; instead of clinging to the coat tails of the most successful movie in history in order to grab any headlines they can, why not point out that the nature of Pandora could not save the character who smoked?

The vatican has come out with perhaps the most hilarious complaint of the lot – essentially complaining that a work of fiction is promoting a different belief system than the one they promote. A bit like saying “You should all be reading Brer Rabbit, not Peter Rabbit”. For what it’s worth pagan ideologies and belief systems are far older than any form of christianity, and when picked apart have far more basis in observable fact (and therefore truth) than a trumped up, rewritten series of books about a political dissident, promoted by the richest, most corrupt organisation our world has ever known.

Quite apart from any of the grand-standing going on, it’s worth shouting from the rooftops once again – IT’S A WORK OF FICTION. If the thoughts it provokes are causing reactions, it’s almost certainly because it has exposed guilt on the part of those complaining most vociferously.

We went to the cinema in Plymouth this evening with my Dad to see Avatar. It was his first trip to the cinema in at least ten years – I was hoping Avatar would meet the expectation I had built up in everybody (I saw it a couple of weeks ago when it opened with my colleagues).

This evening myself and several colleagues headed out to watch the new James Cameron movie "Avatar" at the local cinema. Stunning. No other words for it. Absolutely stunning. It was a privilage to witness a movie that will be talked about in years to come.

If I only get to see one movie next year, this will be it…

We finally sat down and watched the “new” Star Trek movie this evening – months after it’s theatrical release.

Before volunteering any opinions at all, perhaps some back story would be prudent. My Dad was a huge Star Trek fan. Friday evenings throughout my childhood are punctuated with my Dad finishing work for the week, buying take-out chinese food (or pizza), and us watching whichever sci-fi series was being repeated that night. Invariably it was Star Trek, although sometimes “The Invaders”, or “Land of the Giants”.

I remember going to see “Star Trek the Motion Picture” with my Dad and brother when I was very young indeed – perhaps only six years old. I also remember leaving the cinema in the dark, and the drive home, and a sense of magic in the air.

The expectation approaching the new Star Trek movie was HUGE. Given the media reaction to it, the hype, and the fact that I had not managed to see it at the cinema due to the arrival of children in our lives, I felt quite hard done by that I had not seen it as intended.

So what did I think of it, having now seen it on the small screen?

Excellent. Wonderful. Maybe even brilliant.

During the opening act, when Bones tells Kirk that he likes Spock, we both burst out laughing (Wendy is a far bigger sci-fi fan than me, so appreciated the nuances far more than me). We laughed again when he later shouted “damnit Jim!”.

The surprise of the movie – for me – was the appearance of Leonard Nimoy, and his fleeting theft of the entire show. Perhaps it’s something to do with 30 years of combined social memory – but the moment he appeared and opened his mouth elevated the entire movie to a new level.

Such a clever, entertaining movie is a rare thing indeed.