Is Avatar to political for a Disney park?

[MagicMouseFan]

Is Avatar too political for a Disney park? Is that why there is some reservation about bringing the world of Pandora to Disney?

People should be excited about the world of pandora in AK. A beautiful fantasy world with enchanting, magical, wondrous...and dangerous creatures surrounded by a dreamscape world filled with floating mountains and jungles that light up the night sky just as a 1970's glowing velvet poster lit up kids bedrooms.
Think of the attractions, the rides, the possibilities disney's imagineers could explore.
It's a cant miss world that sounds like the original idea behind the beastly kingdom. A land people have been asking for since 1998.

Avatar made 2.7 billion world wide. Nothing else comes close. Yes it was in 3d, but so was avengers. Its a moviepeople went back again and again to see. It has 3 more movies on the way and legendary filmmaker James Cameron is behind the story. It's his vision.
So, on paper it sounds like we are in great hands.

So why are we skeptical on this land coming to Disney?

My feeling is at the end of the story, all we are left with is one man's (James Camerons)political opinion on America.
Didn't feel that in Star Wars, Harry potter, or Cars. (not saying it wasnt there...just didnt feel it) I felt it in avatar.

I don't know the characters in avatar. Which is strange. I can't remember the lead characters names. I would have to google it.

What I remember is the evil American Military and evil American Corporation...(didn't look like the U.N. or united federation of planets to me) unleashing holy hell on beautiful smurf creatures...( would you have felt different if it was an infestation of ugly flesh eating cockroaches they wiped out?)
At the end of the story...evil America goes home and the smurfs win.

So I had this subconsciously uneasy feeling leaving the movie. Something just didn't feel right. felt like we the audience were being indoctrinated with James Cameron's beliefs.
Maybe it was just me. This beautiful wonderfully created world boils down to a single political message.

Dances with Wolves works because it is a take on true events ,a history lesson. I love dances with wolves. Didn't love Avatar.

What am getting at is do you think subconsciously people don't like the idea of Avatar coming to Disney because there is the potential this story gets really political. This story could potentially get very anti-American. Does the evil American military come back to fight the smurfs again in the sequels?

Bringing an overly political message to the Disney parks could bite them in the . I think it is this unknown that scares some. There could be a backlash and it could go down as a horrible investment. Might not...have no idea how the over all arc of the story goes. Disney better know. It better read all the scripts. You don't want an anti American message coming to an American park.

I come to Disney parks for escapism, to be a child again. To share memories with my child and to not think about the current events in the world. It's a vacation...you go to relax and have fun.
I don't want this new land to have the potential to be a msnbc/fox news attraction.

I think that is the main fear...or at least on of them. I'm just trying to figure out what the fear is about Avatar coming to Disney. I could be wrong. I'm not against anyone expressing their beliefs and ideas but usually half are with you and half are against you when you discuss politics. Disney doesn't want 50 percent against them.
Beastly kingdom doesn't have this potential problem.
What are your thoughts?

 

[WDWFREAK53]

You have a point about not remembering the characters' names.

But that is actually a good thing for this application because the main thing you take away from the film is how beautiful the environment is. The planet of Pandora is the main character.

I noticed that you didn't need to Google "Pandora."

Sure, there were political views in the film but in my personal opinion, the main focus was the conservation and preservation of the planet....which is also one of DAK's main focus.

 

[MagicMouseFan]

You have a point about not remembering the characters' names.

But that is actually a good thing for this application because the main thing you take away from the film is how beautiful the environment is. The planet of Pandora is the main character.

I noticed that you didn't need to Google "Pandora."


Sure, there were political views in the film but in my personal opinion, the main focus was the conservation and preservation of the planet....which is also one of DAK's main focus.

You are right, I didnt need to google pandora...it's the one thing I remember. It was a awesome world.
I'm just trying to figure out why the hesitation from some....just my opinion.

 

[El Grupo]

Just a note, the security force represented in the movie was supposedly private (mercenaries) and not the American military.

 

[twebber55]

good points made
reasons people dont want it
1. its not disney (which is silly considering there are many things not disney in the parks
2. not a popular movie/franchise (again silly when you clear 2.7 billion roughly 1.3 billion more than avengers)
3. too left leaning ( i agree it a little too political but the themes of conservation are throughout AK)
4. no merchandise ( pretty much agree with that one)

im excited for expansion an think pandora can be totally immersive

 

[fractal]

Two Words.

Splash Mountain

 

[twebber55]

for the record i believe in james cameron and disagree with angry message board guy who constantly reiterates his opinion with each message getting longer

 

[twebber55]

Two Words.

Splash Mountain

three more words
Tower of Terror

if avatar is fully funded (different story altogether) then people will show up in droves period

 

[MagicMouseFan]

for the record i believe in james cameron and disagree with angry message board guy who constantly reiterates his opinion with each message getting longer

I'm not angry and I'm very excited about Avatar coming to AK. Think it will be a beautiful world. Just throwing an opinion out as to why some are nervous about the park.

I'm sorry I came across as angry, could you please elaborate.

 

[imagineer boy]

Just a note, the security force represented in the movie was supposedly private (mercenaries) and not the American military.

I think it was pretty obvious that it was a metaphor for the American Military. I mean look at the soldiers, pretty much all of them are American and American Military stereotypes. Especially the commander who is the sort of gruff tough as nails with a country accent commander stereotype.

And yeah, Avatar is a pretty political film. If someone wants to put their views in their film, that's fine but they should at least make them subtle unlike Avatar did. When that one guys said "they're going to attack the Navi with some sort of shock and awe campaign" I wanted to back my head on the seat in front of me.

Oh well, just add all that to the endless list of things for why I don't want to see Avatar at Disney.

 

[GrumpyFan]

I wrote a little about this in a blog post, and you touched on it here. You bring up an important point about the antagonist(s) in the movie is US, the human race. The movie ends with us being escorted off of Pandora. So, how/why would we now be returning to there if we are the enemy. I'm sure it will be addressed in future installments for the sequels, and perhaps there will be a good reason for humans to return, but for now, (at least in the story line) it's a pretty bleak picture.

Interestingly, the same kind of theme was expressed in Wall-E, but it ended much better, with humans making a new start.

We Have Met The Enemy and He Is Us - Walt Kelly

 

[lebeau]

At this point, I'm starting to wonder if Mickey Mouse is too political for Walt Disney World.

 

[GLaDOS]

I wrote a little about this in a blog post, and you touched on it here. You bring up an important point about the antagonist(s) in the movie is US, the human race. The movie ends with us being escorted off of Pandora. So, how/why would we now be returning to there if we are the enemy. I'm sure it will be addressed in future installments for the sequels, and perhaps there will be a good reason for humans to return, but for now, it's a pretty bleak picture.

Not to mention that the movie has depicted us as having already destroyed/raped Earth. That's a great message to send at Animal Kingdom!

 

[njDizFan]

I don't want to get this thread closed by being too political, so I will temper my thoughts.

I just don't understand why conservation, anti-imperialism and anti-genecide would be considered a liberal agenda. Isn't everyone from every aspect of life pro-environment and against killing other people to gain their resources?

 

[twebber55]

I'm not angry and I'm very excited about Avatar coming to AK. Think it will be a beautiful world. Just throwing an opinion out as to why some are nervous about the park.

I'm sorry I came across as angry, could you please elaborate.

no you didnt at all..i actually agree with you..and have enjoyed your comments on this

 

[captainkidd]

if avatar is fully funded (different story altogether) then people will show up in droves period

I totally disagree. I don't see droves of people coming to Disney because they have an Avatar land. I know it's the biggest grossing movie ever (thanks to Imax and 3D), but it was a flash in the pan. It's not something that people are going to want to continue to watch over and over again and experience over and over again. The only person who seems excited about the sequels is Cameron. There isn't this huge buzz about the future movies, not like there was with Harry Potter and Twilight, and now with The Hunger Games. Seriously, who cares what happens to Sam Worthington's character?

Just my opinion.

 

[Acolli18]

I've never seen Avatar, so it's probably too naive to comment about my dislike of it in the first place, but like Twebber55 said, it just doesn't feel like Disney. Yes there are tons of things throughout the "World" that aren't Disney at all, but most of these things have been around my entire life and I grew up with only knowing that. This is the first time Disney has ever really created a land dedicated to something not their own (correct me if I'm wrong). To me it'll be hard associating the two, but like I said, I've never seen the movie and I won't dismiss this project until I at least give it a try.

 

[wdwmagic]

I totally disagree. I don't see droves of people coming to Disney because they have an Avatar land. I know it's the biggest grossing movie ever (thanks to Imax and 3D), but it was a flash in the pan. It's not something that people are going to want to continue to watch over and over again and experience over and over again. The only person who seems excited about the sequels is Cameron. There isn't this huge buzz about the future movies, not like there was with Harry Potter and Twilight, and now with The Hunger Games. Seriously, who cares what happens to Sam Worthington's character?

Just my opinion.

But what will bring people to DAK in droves is if it is a GREAT attraction. Forget the fact it is AVATAR, people love a great attraction, and if WDI deliver - it will be a huge hit.

 

[GLaDOS]

But what will bring people to DAK in droves is if it is a GREAT attraction. Forget the fact it is AVATAR, people love a great attraction, and if WDI deliver - it will be a huge hit.

The thing about this land is that it seems to be built on the idea that it's going to attract new clientele to the resort much like Potter did with Universal Orlando or Cars to DCA.

Is Avatar that kind of franchise? I don't know. But I know the first thing my family said when I told them Avatar was coming to DAK their only response was, "Why?" Whereas we've already been to WWoHP multiple times and have a Carsland trip planned for early next year.

I could see Avatar pulling more guests to DAK than say EPCOT, but is it going to pull a Carsland/Potter and attract people not already going to WDW? I'd be surprised if it did, but that remains to be seen.

 

[captainkidd]

But what will bring people to DAK in droves is if it is a GREAT attraction. Forget the fact it is AVATAR, people love a great attraction, and if WDI deliver - it will be a huge hit.

That's the million dollar question. Is Disney willing to learn from their mistakes and let Cameron have enough creative control to do what he wants with it? I just don't think so.