While films with similar ideas (Pocahontus, for example) have been made into big media releases, nothing compares to this. Not to mention the 3D is really amazing. But I hope that the message from the film gets into the minds of those who see it. I hope people can discuss it afterwards.
Many aspects of the film can lead viewers towards the idea that the conquering group could represent the United States in the world today. They even mentioned "we will fight terror with terror." Something we could say today in all honesty. And what kind of a philosophy is that? But I digress. In the film, there were military units, scientific units, and cultural units. Each maintaing their own duties, which some crossover between units. The ones who studied the culture ended up being ignored. Has this not been the case in history? The problems that have been most grave have mostly been due to misunderstandings of cultural differences and values. Greed and other evils have worked their way in too, obviously. But cultural misunderstandings are something that can be prevented.
After leaving the movie I stepped outside into a dark and foggy night. My car was alone in a nearly vacant lot. It was very eerie. Then I was reminded of the world in which we live in here on earth. The differences that exist between places. In Waterloo, Iowa I felt no fear going to my car with my companion. But as we approached the car, my companion from a "developing" world country expressed to me his fear in approaching the lone car in the dark lot. Saying that we could be robbed or the car could blow up. I laughed but realized that this could be a potentially dangerous situation.
It is hard not to take things for granted. Habits turn into a type of dependancy. In the "developed" world so many things are taken for granted. And somehow there are times when we think things are improving, progressing, moving forward, those are the times when we as a society have been the most childish. I take for example the idea of time. Faster has become better. Has it not? Fast food, fast solutions, etc. While in Argentina I learned the importance of proper nutrition and how it affects one's body. It is highly underrated in the United States. To make themselves more healthy and attractive, people eat better and sleep when they are tired. In the United States people take the quick solutions (that somehow may not always be so quick) of getting special medicines or buying certain products to improve their hair, acne, blemishes, under-eye circles, wrinkles, teeth, etc. Why is it that the symptoms are getting treated and not the source: malnutrition and lack of sleep? Now if "backward" had to be used to describe one of these societies, which would you choose?
