On the subject of Avatar--and YES, this is pertinent.

[Bicoastal]

Yes, it's transparently a message movie. Yes, that message is clumsily delivered. Yes, the points that James Cameron makes have made before, and much more subtly and succinctly.

BUT Avatar is the most popular movie in the country--quite possibly the most popular movie in the last 5 years or so. And that means the general public in this country is absorbing arguments about shunning colonialism, preserving nature, fostering cultural sensitivity, and remaining skeptical about the military-industrial complex WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT.

It's amazing how many of these talking points are mainstays of DU, only wrapped up in a special-effects bonanza with aliens and army men in space. The usual gaggle of conservative critics saw it coming and threw their entire weight against it--and evidently failed miserably. Average Americans would who avoid movies like "An Inconvenient Truth" because they think it'd be too boring, too intellectual, or too liberal saw this film in droves. Did any of these ideas sink in? Probably not universally, but time will tell...

I'm not the type to deny that liberals have a definite edge in Hollywood. Why should we? After all, it's abundantly clear that conservatives have a choke-hold on national news media, so it all evens out. Make no mistake: Avatar IS left-wing propaganda. But, from our perspective, is that really such a bad thing?