‘Avatar’ Sequel Ramps Up Pro-Environmental Messaging (Already)
'The Way of Water' continues James Cameron's crusade for the planet
Director James Cameron may be Hollywood’s most eco-conscious artist.
Leonardo DiCaprio unofficially held that title for years, capping it with his 2016 Oscar speech that doubled as a Climate Change screed.
Now, Cameron is ready to take the mantle via “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
The belated sequel to 2009’s smash doesn’t hit theaters until Dec. 16, but the film’s official YouTube channel is jumping the messaging gun.
The clip, titled, “Avatar: The Way of Water — Keep Our Oceans Amazing,” lets the film’s cast members share how we can ensure the oceans remain a healthy part of the global ecosystem.
“The expanding world of ‘Avatar’ allows us to appreciate the beauty of our bios here on earth,” says Sam Worthington, who plays Jake Sully in the franchise.
The word “diverse” is spoken three times in the 1:15 minute clip.
The film itself remains a mystery, with the trailer and official studio description light on specifics.
Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family, the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive and the tragedies they endure.
What’s obvious, though, is that Cameron’s environmental activism will be front and center in the film. That was the case with the 2009 original, and he’s been vocal on the topic for years.
He even tasked his crew to consume an all-vegan diet on the film’s set, although stars could wander away for a Whopper should they need a meaty protein blast.
Some of the director’s views on the subject can be extreme. He publicly praised those who use violence to promote green measures. When a film critic dubbed “Avatar” “the perfect eco-terrorism recruiting tool” he warmed to the critique.
“I believe in eco-terrorism,” he replied.
Cameron later sounded a more gentle note, albeit one with little faith in our elected leaders saving the planet.
I believe where I can be the most effective is at a grassroots level, which is inspiring and informing people, and using my cinematic skills to make a point.
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It’s disturbing, though, how both Di Caprio and Cameron don’t always practice what they preach. The “Titanic” star’s eco-hypocrisy is the stuff of show biz legends. Here is just one example:
He is a celebrity UN climate change ambassador who has called the issue ‘the most urgent threat facing our entire species’.
But while he urges fans to take action, Leonardo DiCaprio has been spending time on one of the world’s biggest, and most environmentally unfriendly, superyachts.
Cameron, in turn, also seems unable to live up to his own philosophies. He’s been hounded by critics for a personal lifestyle they say clashes with his enviro-bromides.
“We will have to learn to live with less,” Cameron reportedly told the L.A. Times.
Two years ago, the director put his sprawling mansion up for sale with a $25 million price tag.
Avatar was one of the stupidest major motion pictures I have ever seen. The ecological claptrap was indeed stupid, but the whole thing – plot, script, setting, characters – was made of stupid. It was pretty though, which seems to be good enough for millions upon milliions of people pumping money into popular culture.
Thanks for sharing informative article.
@Palmetto Salad
The previous Avatar was an eco-lecture, but still wound up at No. 5 on the all time top grossing U.S. box office.
https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/domestic/all-movies/cumulative/all-time-inflation-adjusted
Clearly, lots of people found Avatar entertaining.
DERIVATIVE garbage. THE FIRST AVATAR was nothing “creative” OR “original” it was LITERALLY DANCES WITH WOLVES IN SPACE even down the the RACE BETRAYAL by the Lead Character which in Avatar became SPECIES BETRAYAL. Shills like TOTO let the narrative that this was “great film making’ take hold instead of telling the truth. THE ONLY ORIGINAL OR CREATIVE IDEA IN THE ENTIRE FILM WAS SETTING IT IN SPACE. Period.
Really the only Common Ground I find with the modern eco movement is the point of monitoring the health of the oceans. They seem to be doing just fine, however, despite America turning a blind eye to infamous ocean polluters like the PI, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, and a litany of coastal African nations.
Another Hollywood propaganda fail in the making. People want to be entertained not lectured.
All the 12 year-old White girls attending this movie have to show a public school I.D. to be admitted.
Looks like Cameron has cornered the market on Unobtainium. Things the average person can’t obtain. I have it on good authority the theaters showing his new film will be laced with Stupidium, which adversely affects the mentality of those coming in contact with it.