It’s just a matter of time before Avatar becomes the highest grossing (most popular) movie ever. The regular movie is stunning. The 3D version only more so. From Movie News & Gossip:
Vatican newspaper and radio station are criticizing James Cameron’s 3-D blockbuster for flirting with the idea that worship of nature can replace religion — a notion the pope has warned against. They call the movie a simplistic and sappy tale, despite its awe-inspiring special effects.
It is simplistic. Avatar is good vs. evil. And the special effects are, well, stunning. From the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore:
So much stupefying, enchanting technology, but few genuine emotions… Everything is reduced to an overly simple anti-imperialistic and anti-militaristic parable…
No emotions? Didn’t you hate the bad guys and root for the good guys? Remember, it’s a movie, not the Gospel. Vatican Radio:
(It) cleverly winks at all those pseudo-doctrines that turn ecology into the religion of the millennium. Nature is no longer a creation to defend, but a divinity to worship.
Did I mention that Avatar is a movie?