Pandora's Box

Cameron: Yes, Avatar's Political

Director discusses movie's message at industry screening.

James Cameron struck back at conservative critics of his blockbuster Avatar on Tuesday night, telling the crowd at an industry screening, "I've heard people say this film is un-American, while part of being an American is having the freedom to have dissenting ideas," and eliciting applause from the audience. While right-wing commentators like John Podhoretz and John Nolte have accused the film of being a "deep expression of anti-Americanism—kind of," Cameron remained unfazed. "I think everyone should be a tree hugger," he said. "As an artist, I felt a need to say something about what I saw around me." Seen any eight-foot-tall blue aliens walking around lately? We must have missed them.