Movie and Television Reviews

You are amazing. Well done.

I was thinking the same thing about the FernGully / Avatar connection through the entire movie... luckily I also liked the movie FernGully when I was growing up AND absolutely loved Avatar.... it's very similar on MANY different levels. It's a good story [MESSAGE]... that SHOULD be told over and over again. That's as far as I'll go into it though...
I'm glad I wasn't the only one to see the connections.

I found this article because I googled "Avatar + Ferngully" moments after seeing the film. Glad I'm not the only one.

I agree with the FernGully/Avatar connection! But I loved BOTH movies. I definitely saw comparisons and also googled Avatar and FernGully to see if anyone else had the same idea...

I guess they did. :)

Yep. Avatar is Fern Gully with 2009 level CGI. That being said, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

i thought we were the only ones who saw Ferngully!
We've had it in our house on DVD or the last decade and reference it whenever we see a man versus nature theme. That bad guy bulldozer with the scary face used to cause nightmares for my little ones! Now they are in college and while sitting in Avatar turned to me and said,, This is Ferngully on steroids! "

Jim has got a lot of nerve telling people that he thought of this idea when he was a kid. He thought of it when he watch Ferngully.

He didn't even try that hard to make it different

Yeah, I noticed it had the same plot. I think you're out of line by saying that the movie promotes "Anti-American" sentiment, though. Colonialism and military occupations are nothing new, so it's not solely directed at America. If you're making that connection, then you're already admitting that America is a colonialist bully. This movie is not anti-American, it is anti-colonialism, and if you can't tell the difference then you've defeated your own argument.

Ev said it perfectly.

I think Ev makes a good point as well. If we resemble the insult, then that's it.

The next step would be to add context, as in: how could the United States have developed staying within Plymouth Rock?

Honestly, the "message" is so embarrassingly obvious and predictable there's nothing to discuss. Yes, America is full of greed and guns, and yes, the rainforest is full of magic and wonder, yada yada. The plot was an afterthought I'm sure; playing second fiddle to CG.

The movie doesn't promote anything than a tired story that we've ALL seen and heard many, many times before. It's no more political than Lord of the Rings.

No idea what all the hype is about...

Avatar immediately made me think of Ferngully, though it's been so long I had to Google the details to come up with the name. It also has elements of Pocahontas, Dances with Wolves, 300, Jurassic Park, and Alien. And no matter how blatant and predictable the message, seeing it in 3D Imax is amazing. ;)

I wonder if it is just the jaded parents who saw the Fern Gully connection - as I did. My 14 yr old son thought it was a great flick - as I did. It suprised me that J.C can be so blatantly anti-US albeit in a cowboys and indians Custers last stand sort of way

From the very first time I watched the trailers for this movie I thought Ferngully! When I mentioned that to other people they had noooo idea what movie I was talking about! It seems that not too many people watched or remember Ferngully. I just got back from watching Avatar and googled Ferngully to make sure that I was in fact drawing parallels and it seems that I'm not the only person that saw this connect. The movie itself is a breakthrough in theater technology and visual 3D effects but the story line is simple and familiar. I would still recommend it though!

Just saw Avatar and in one word the story was "Ferngully". Which was a favorite when my kids were growing up. Kinda missed the Batty Koda character but all in all was a wonderfully visual movie. I think the "bad" guys were more of a militant contractor of sorts. Yes, this theme also applies to the conquering of the American Indians as well. In any case, a good movie with exceptional CGI. Most likely buying the DVD so I can see the Special Features. That reminds me I should also get a copy of FernGully on DVD to replace my old VHS copy.

add one more to the count. fern gully hasn't crossed my mind in 20 years, and yet BAM there it was. And dances with wolves. And atlantis...Heck, really enjoyed avatar anyway. Hope block buster has FG on the shelf- need to rent it for my husband (and kids).

I just saw Avatar on New Year's Day, and I definitely agree that it is FernGully for adults. I loved the characters and the beautiful fantasy of the forest effects of both the cartoon and the Cameron movie. The war scenes in *Avatar* and the bulldozer demon scene in Fern Gulley are both horrid. Americans are definitely the bad guys--they have the accents, the machinery, and the clothing. I think the violence uglifies both films-- so much for messages. Give me fantasy in film every time!

Glad it wasn't just me seeing the connection. I also typed in Avatar FernGully into Google, and this is where I ended up.

As others have commented, I haven't seen or thought about FernGully in years, and yet there I was thinking about it in the cinema and how similar it was. Good thing I enjoyed both films and was very impressed with Avatar.

Funny to watch that youtube mash-up video!

ur definitely right.. at the time i've seen the half of the movie it recalled me of ferngully... even the confession scene... but after all i still think it was worth 2 watch..

It took about 60 seconds of viewing the animation portion of this movie to realize it is a ripoff of Fern Gully. Mr. Cameron should give credit where credit is due.

Someone had to point out to me the similiarities of Ferngully and Avatar as soon as we finished watching. It hadn't occured to me but now it seems so obvious! A google search also lead me here.

I agree with Ev. Since when is it anti-American to oppose tyranny? At one time we fought a bloody revolution against it. So why would it be hard to imagine Americans cheering for those that simply wish to practice something as "simplistic" as self-determination?

You're admitting that the US has been hypocritical on that matter, unfortunately. I wish it weren't so and that we had set a better example but I refuse to sweep our country's misdeeds under the rug, so to speak.

Jeremy, again, a good point. I actually agree with you that the Na'vi had every right to defend themselves. However, you have to encounter the contradiction that the United States wouldn't exist had its people not decided to grow territorially. Or, if they had followed your advice, Cameron wouldn't have been in California to make Avatar.

You also have to see it in this context: No nation in the history of the world came into being without some conflict. Surely, no large nation.

I disagree with the comments made that this movie was "anti-American" in sentiment. Instead, I think of this movie as being more "green" or environmentally aware in nature what with the implications that all life forms being(inter)connected. As to the "anti-American" sentiment, I think of it more as an anti-Capitalist movement than anti-American. Just an opinion!

Also, I loved the movie and have explained to my friends that it is a futuristic Ferngully!!!

Avatar so reminded me of Fern Gully, I thought Jim Cameron must have gotten the rights to the Fern Gully story and expanded upon it. Zack and Krista in Fern Gully are so Jake and the girl. We just watched Fern Gully again with my now 16 & 14 year old boys and they were amazed at the similarities. I hope others get to enjoy the Fern Gully Movie and discover the similarities for themselves. We liken Batty Kody to Grace, both charaters as the bridge between humans and the natives. Buy or rent Fern Gully & see what may have inspired Avatar!

lol so glad that I'm not the only one that remembers ferngully..I agree awesome awesome kid cartoon (it was my fave back in the day) and now I feel like a grown up ferngully was made just for people like me!! could have dealt without an anti american theme though..if they rep a "world" mil change the uniforms at least..por favor

I also kept thinking Ferngully while I was watching Avatar.

The natives appear to represent all of the worlds tribal, displaced or otherwise victimized people of the whole world in one truly 'in-touch', harmonious and ideal culture.

Some tribes people spoke with native American Indian accents, some spoke with tribal African accents, some even sounded like Indians (that is, Indians from India!). Furthermore, the tribal peoples would sometimes be seen wearing tribal African attire, with more tribal African rituals and other trance-like ceremonies. The leader of the military force even referred to the peoples as aborigines, so the Australian natives were also included in some way.

To make it even more simple to take sides against the modern, western world the natives lived in what would be considered a perfect harmony with nature. Free of taxes, outside threats, abundance of food, water, sharing, caring, family you name it. How simplistic Mr. Cameron! You will make so many people want to live with native aborigines now and they will all last 2 days until they realize things aren't all perfect in the jungle!!

Unfortunately, the director oversimplified this third-world peasant-like utopia which is sadly being pushed by environmentalists and other socialists and ex-commies today in order to make it look like anyone with half a brain would join a tribal clan, become a man, tame a wild beast and win over the pretty girl.

To top it off, they portray this military force being wiped out by 'in-tune' animals that swarm all over their 'inferior' human equipment. Flying in poor formation, the strike pacakge is delivering a large explosive at about 10 miles per hour (it's a FREAKEN space ship!!), no wonder the dino-birds caught them by surprise, and out of the sun too!

As if the strike package wouldn't have been in and out in 1 minute flat with those dino-birds hardly having time to see it coming. While reptile-like birds grab these futuristic apache-osprey aircraft and throw them through the air as if they weigh 10 pounds, and as if the jaws of these animals could handle such forces on their teeth.

Then the bullet-proof high density cockpits of these aircraft are vulnerable to, wait for it, bows and arrows.

How the mighty are fallen…

I turned to my date and whispered "Fern Gully" into her ear near the very beginning of this movie. Loved Fern Gully, loved avatar. Saw it 3D IMAX which was pretty epic. As far as this being anti american thats a load of ridiculous crap. Are war movies then somehow PRO american? The movie is about ethics, responsibility, more specifically in the environmental arena, but these are ethical LIFE LESSONS as well. And if you believe, environmental stewardship, peace, and ethics to be anti american... well.. sucks to be you!

dude!! i did the same thing. its an adult fern gully

OMG I was just telling my son that I just finished watching the remake of ferngully. What a rip-off. I thought I was the only one to make the distinction. Dont get me wrong, the graphics are amazing but no Mr. Canon you've been creating a movie for the pass 15 years that you're watched with your children like I did.

Yup, I enjoyed Fern Gully with my daughters years ago and I was thinking FG all the way! In addition, Cameron lifted Paul Reiser's character Carter Burke from Aliens and transplanted him into Giovanni Ribisi's Parker Selfridge. Nevertheless, the IMAX 3D was a must see experience

I have to agree that mid movie I thought this was ferngully 2.0 (or 3.0 if you consider the sequel) And that I loved both despite some blurriness taking place with the 3D. Kudos to this site for picking up on the similarity.

Why all this center on Avatar being about US ethics ? Hell do you think that country is the only one to invade cruelly ? Honestly, get a sense of global perspective.
Anyway, I think Avatar is a great movie, though not because of the CG as most people are saying, we're all used to that by now. It's because of the incredible art design. Some very very talented people there. Yeay them.

The politics of this movie missed me, somehow, on so many fronts... yet I'm somewhat maybe even quite a bit enviromentalist, anti-corporate, atheist, etc.

I felt insulted by this movie's pro yet anti militarism, insulted by its pro yet anti-intellectualism, and much much more. The "green" part of this movie had sooooo many holes in it... again, I felt insulted.

Loved the visuals! Very beautiful lipstick on that pig!

I'm outta the loop with the age group, but if after seeing this movie, a bunch of 17 year old American males decide to not register for the draft on their ensuing birthdays, then fine. I will at that point say, "Good job, Cameron." But I can't tell if this movie is more pro or more anti violence.

Is that what the director was shooting for: showing how it's great to be "green," and being green and anti-military go hand in hand?

Maybe this movie is sort of another "Starship Troopers" in that some see it as pro-military, and others see it as anti-military. Oh well.

Manifest Destiny was a term used in the 1840s - Motives were often described as well-intentioned efforts to improve the lot of backward masses, but in truth the motivators were greed and control. Greed and control are always the bad guys - they just put them in 'American' costumes, could've been Russian.
This movie IS Ferngully for grownups - my 17 year old daughter remembered the movie and we found our old VHS when we got home. This movie is a fairy tale - I loved that he was whole again and became a hero, she loved his soul and didn't see his broken human body. I gives you hope that good WILL overcome evil, that the impossible is possible.
It is a beautifully visual fairy tale.

I jus saw avatar (Jan 20) and thought the movie was great. Anti-American seems pretty harsh though. I think everyone can relate to the story 1 way or another. I'm glad I wasn't the only 1 who felt they were 12 years old all over again watching fern gully.

To "How the mighty have falllen" You make some good points, however, the bullet-proof windows actually might be smashed out by the rather massive "spear-arrows". These projectiles, being slower and delivering their impulse due more to mass than velocity, would tend to maintain their integrity moreso than bullets, which tend to shatter on impact with bullet-proof glass. I would refer you to an episode of "Myth Busters" in which a 12 guage shotgun slug was more effective at penetrating water than a 50 caliber solid bullet, which fragmented on impact.

Is the Passion of the Christ about the suffering of Jesus or anti-Jewish? If you are a true Christian (who remembers that Christ was Jewish), you know it is about the suffering of Christ. I would say the same here. Stop being so Western Centric. The save the rain forest theme applies to China, Russia, India, Brazil, and the rest of the developing world. Stop being so provincial.

It's a movie - nothing more, nothing less. As for originality? Really? Every new movie you see is original in content and context? Really? Then you obviously don't get out much. A movie is made to entertain and entertain this movie did. To thumbs up, Mr. Cameron!

Hi, Im from Colombia and I also tought about Fern Gully as soon as Avatar finished, Fern Guilly is also a beautiful movie which I watched when I was a little kid, But I agree Avatar is Awsome and the Nature/Forest Subject is something that should be mentioned constantly to remind us our connection with mother earth. Avatar is amazing!

Hello, I am miaka from Argentina, and since I saw the movie of "AVATAR" do not stop thinking in seemed that it had with the classic old man of the cinema of them 90s, "FERNGULLY".
I cannot believe that anybody has realized, but good I see that a small group like ours it could develar.
It is a shame that James Cameron takes all the laurels to himself!!.
Very good the post and a greeting!.
I copy your post in my facebook! ... it's brilliant!
That does justice to itself for FERNGULLY!!

Hola, soy miaka de Argentina, y desde que vi la película de "AVATAR" no deje de pensar en el parecido que tenía con el viejo clásico del cine de los 90s, "FERNGULLY".
Yo no puedo creer que nadie se haya dado cuenta, pero bueno veo que un pequeño grupo como el nuestro lo pudo develar.
Es una vergüenza que James Cameron se lleve todos los laureles!!.
Muy bueno el post y un saludo!.
Copie tu post en mi facebook!... es genial!
Que se haga justicia por FERNGULLY!!

When I watched Avatar I thought it was a great movie (It really is!), but something kept me thinking that I had already watched something very similar, and guess what... FernGully!... Both movies give a great message.... The plot obviously is not the same, but if you already watched FernGully you are gonna think that maybe Mr. Cameron took the idea from that movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I wonder)

You are forgetting "The Last Samurai" with Tom Cruise.

That is so ironic because as soon as I finished the film I was thinking to myself this is a knock off of the film ferngully. A movie which i loved and still do when i was younger and that didnt get enough credit! And when i searched ferngully to prove my point to my cousin who has never seen the film and low and behold my point was revealed when I noticed others have had the same idea!!! Loved both fils awesome observation folks

I don't understand how everybody can love this movie. . .The special effects were neat, but the story was so cliche. From lines like "you're not in kansas anymore" to "lets make this quick boys, I wanna be home for dinner" I am led to believe that James Cameron is only interested in the visual. The story should not be second to the visual. Otherwise, we're all in a giant candy store where the candy actually tastes like plastic. . .

I'm so happy I wasn’t the only one whom seen it. through the avatar I kept seeing scenes that matched with Fern gully. I must admit that for the first 15 mins of the movie I did think Pocahontas, but that soon when the why of the great tree. I don’t know how it hit me I haven’t seen fern in at less 16 years but it jump at me like ....something that jumps at things

me too, Avatar is so like FernGully! I missed my younger days watching that movie! haha And the mashup is nice

I grew up watching Ferngully so when I saw Avatar I though "Ferngully on steriods" too! They even had a "batty" creature to ride on and help save the day in the battle scenes! REALLY?! I was just waiting for Hexus to rejuvenate when their tree blew up hahahahaha I think it is funny that I am not the only one who thought about that! CGI was amazing I have to admit!!! But oh well, Cameron has made his money