No spoilers
The villains are obviously based on the US/colonialists/capitalists, like in the previous one. The little difference is that the movie strongly establishes them as pieces of shit, so it can take a more sadistic attitude towards them during action scenes. Like, there are a lot of more grusome deaths against basic soldiers than usual, and I was really like “AHAH DIE COLONIZER”. Very cathartic, and great spectacle overall.
I see what you mean, but it should be noted that the white saviour attitude is more when the whites comes to show how shit is done, while in Avatar, the good humans are more like class traitors. They fully embrace the ideology and material reality of the oppressed and unconditionally side with them, and their specific contribution as humans is important but without the strength of the masses nothing could have been done
I mean I think in general the message is kill the evil bastards who are killing this planet and these people, but like it feels like a English guy in India falls in love with an Indian woman and saves a village from destruction because the locals just weren’t smart enough to come up with a true solution but he is type story mixed with anti imperialist, kill the soulless mega corporation story. That’s how I felt it was anyways. I enjoyed the movie, and am excited for the sequel because Jake is like a fully assimilated person now so I am hoping we get more indigenous ingenuity and power, maybe I’m off base idk.
I think it’s a valid point