Vatican Slams “Avatar”
Avatar has taken more than $1 billion dollars in its four weeks at the box office. Filmgoers across the Globe are in awe of the film, which place on the planet Pandora in 2154, light years away from Earth, where humans have established an environmentally-destructive mining colony. Despite all that, James Cameron’s 3-D sci-fi adventure has failed to impress the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican brands the film bland, cliche, and overly-sentimental in reviews issued this week.
Avatar, which will be released in Italy later this week has received scathing reviews from Vatican Radio, as well as the Holy See’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.
“It has a great deal of enchanting, stunning technology, but few genuine or human emotions,” L’Osservatore Romano wrote of the epic, which has received generally favorable reviews since opening in the United States and Britain. “Its significance is in its visual impact rather than in the story, and in its messages, despite the fact that they are hardly new.”
“Cameron, concentrating on the creation of the fantasy world of Pandora, chooses a bland approach. He tells the story without any profound exploration,” L’Osservatore Romano added.
Avatar was also on the receiving end of harsh criticism from Vatican Radio, who predict that the film’s faults will negatively impact its place in cinema history.
Written by Castina on January 11th, 2010 | Tagged as: Movies
On January 11th 2010, Reality TKO wrote:
They may actually have a point about Avatar. Rigged and inflated fake box-office gross figures now surpassing a billion dollars, pro marketing trolls trolling Twitter and the blog comments, 20 year old 3D and CGI technology being pushed as the latest cutting edge, shown in almost no theaters that you can't even find, its chances on DVD and in download realistically being nil… It must be another crappy movie from the dead movie industry. The entertainment industry died a generation ago. Let it to rest.
They may actually have a point about Avatar after all.
On January 11th 2010, ekka wrote:
Well, this is a clear case of 'it takes one to know one'.
“It has a great deal of enchanting, stunning technology, but few genuine or human emotions,”
…a bit like a visit to a church or group mass really.
On January 11th 2010, Mr.NiK wrote:
I hardly think their opinion is relevant or welcome really. it's just the vatican exhibiting their fear of phenomenon with a large following and technology.
The story was not ground breaking and suffered a little from cliche, however I would not say that it had few emotions and was not genuine.
It was moving, beautiful and a spectacular experience.
The movie is a titan work of art and I am amused that they dare think their opinion could scratch it.
On January 11th 2010, Reality TKO wrote:
Yes, they're definitely trolling the blogs with pro trolls. Those responses didn't take long. I can only imagine they're getting paid, but it's doubtful.
On January 11th 2010, laura wrote:
vatican slams everything…their some kind of brain-washed freaks…it's movie for Crists sake….entertainment…..it's not like a new religion or stg…gosh i'm so enoyed right now!…
On January 12th 2010, CACubsfan wrote:
Honestly, should we really care what the Vatican thinks about the merits of a scifi thriller? Go clean up your personal mess before you start throwing around banal critiques of things that don't concern you.
On January 12th 2010, Steven wrote:
If a non-Vatican related film reviewer were to make the same arguments written in L'Observitore Romano, (and plenty have) no one would get worked up. Yet a newspaper in the Vatican receives harsh criticism for being less than enchanted with a film which has as it's only redeeming value the fact that it was pretty. Did anyone even read the review?
On January 12th 2010, Jeremy wrote:
Really..? Does the Vatican know that their divide and conquer ways are at the least passe? They seem to be against anything that doesn't put riches in their own till. Waging war on naturists? Sad really. They may want to hang some mirors to check themselves internally. I mean genocide and molestation within is not very christian to me.
The movie…superb!
On January 12th 2010, Trevor wrote:
The movie talks much about the earth mother and the flow of energy. I think it's something to be enjoyed. A real treat. Emotional for sure if your willing to ENJOY the movie and get into it. Ciche, yes, but a good story nonetheless. Let me think…hmm… cliche, oh you mean the christian muslim war that's still going on 800 years later ? Not much character development but certainly a culture development with the Na'vi. I enjoyed the movie, very much so.
On January 13th 2010, tabernac wrote:
I'm sure what the Vatican hate the most about Avatar is when Jake asked God for help, God actually responded. Wow!