So this human male not only supports the oppression and subjugation of the alien creatures right in his own backyard, he even contributes to it. But through a miraculous process he ends up smack dab in the middle of the aliens themselves. Because he is brave and his heart is good, the Earth Mother Spiritual Leader and the Patriarchal Tribal Chief assign him a female to teach him the ways of the people — history, language, customs, warrior rites, the whole shebang. Other aliens don’t like or trust him, but his female mentor sees that he has the potential to be great among them. As he learns their ways he begins to realize that these people have an ancient and legitimate culture that is connected to the world in ways his own culture is no longer (if it ever was). Our hero undergoes a rite of passage in which he essentially becomes one of his adopted tribe.
Unfortunately our little human has himself initiated the process by which humans are going to invade the alien territory and destroy the aliens. Our hero switches sides, but he does not yet have the respect of the aliens because, to them, he himself is an alien. Then the aliens learn that the hero himself is a major factor in their immediate misfortune and imminent slaughter. To gain their respect and get their attention, he must perform a heroic feat that is undeniably something only the best of the aliens themselves can accomplish. He promptly does this, gives a rousing speech that demonstrates beyond a doubt not only his allegience but the fact that he is now one of them.
Then he basically becomes Leader of the Rebellion, and even goes so far as to unite formerly hostile animals in their environment against the common enemy, riding the backs of huge vicious creatures in an all-out spectacular attack against the technologically superior invading humans.
Because of his leadership and the combined strength of formerly competing factions on the food chain, the aliens win the day and send the technophile humans packing. Our Hero is now as much an alien as he ever was a human being.
I’m talking of course about The Ant Bully, released by Warner Bros. in 2006, to immediately disappear without a ripple in the ocean of CG kid films released at the same time.
Did you see it? I told you not to see it ….
I saw it last night, though as you heard me describe the likely story the other day, clearly I might as well already have seen it. (I even called the last shot of the film exactly.)
It might surprise you that I’m actually torn about the movie. Visually it’s impressive as hell; the frame is loaded and every dollar is on the screen. The experience is immersive. Unfortunately the experience is also familiar. I just wish the guy would hire real writers instead of writing them himself.
I would like to officially offer the word “avatards” for people who geek out on this film.
Awww, Gee that was swell. Thanks.
I wasn’t a third of the way into the film before I started picking plot parallels; I settled for “Dances with Wolves on a Moon”. But the plot was cheesier than that. Still Pandora was incredible, easily the best character. Can a planetoid be nominated for “Best Supporting”?
Steve, I’ve just read both your this blog entry and reply to sk. How the hell did you get so damn witty!? I’m all smiles. As far as geeks being labeled Avatards…again, I stand in awe of your genius.