Posted on 01/17/2010 8:18:25 AM PST by Borges
Director James Cameron is facing claims that his 3D blockbuster Avatar owes an unacknowledged debt to the popular Soviet fantasy writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
It has grossed more than $1.3bn (£800m) worldwide, wowed the critics, and spawned a new generation of fans, the so-called Avatards, who have taken to painting their faces blue.
But the film director James Cameron was facing claims today that his 3D blockbuster Avatar owes an unacknowledged debt to the popular Soviet fantasy writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
Cinema audiences in Russia have been quick to point out that Avatar has elements in common with The World of Noon, or Noon Universe, a cycle of 10 bestselling science fiction novels written by the Strugatskys in the mid-1960s.
It was the Strugatskys who came up with the planet Pandora the same name chosen by Cameron for the similarly green and lushly forested planet used as the spectacular backdrop to Avatar. The Noon Universe takes place in the 22nd century. So does Avatar, critics have noticed.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Sounds like the Russkies have a case.
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time Cameron’s ripped someone off.
But he changed the name of the mineral from Upsydaisyium to Unobtainium, so nobody would notice the tribute to Rocky and Bullwinkle!
Haven’t seen this Marine-as-villain movie. But i read the article. The Russian novels had Nave people living on Planet Pandora in the 22nd century. Camerons movie had Na’vi people living on Pandora in the 22nd century.
Clearly just a coincidence. Sarc/
My first question is: How could something as expensive as Avatar, which convincingly borrows from another work, proceed through lengthy development and marketing without addressing the other authors’ claims, and giving them participation or otherwise buying their silence and approval?
American and Russian intellectual property laws are not in alignment. I believe, if memory serves, there was a period when Russia may have reprinted works copyrighted in other countries without paying royalities. Whether U.S. intellectual property laws apply to the Noon works I can’t say.
Forget Russian SF, what about Dances With Wolves? It’s almost the exact same plot.
Well, the Soviets would certainly be familiar with the concept of exploiting a region and people for resources, then leaving the place a total wreck.
Dances With Wolves...in Space!
The ‘Goin’ Native/White Man’s Burden’ plot has been used throughout the 20th century in various guises.
BTW for those who don’t know of the Strugatsky Brothers, their fiction is best known in the West for being the source of the 1979 Tarkovsky film ‘Stalker’.
I’ve been reading sci fi since the early 50’s - There is nothing new about any part of Avatar. The entire story, from plot line to details, is copied. It’s also crap - the characters are paper thin - all black and white. Five minuted into the movie I could write the entire plot
The 3D is excellent, and will be the future of movies.
In various guises yes, but this is deeper than mere guise. This has nearly the level of similarity Fist Full of Dollars has with Yojimbo. It’s a full blown ripoff.
Plagiarism or uncredited content.
Or “Fern Gully” the animated enviro film.
Or Ferngully in Space...
And Yojimbo was a ripoff of Dashiell Hammett’s ‘Red Harvest’!
I used to subscribe to a monthly book club that was exclusively Russian sci fi short stories. Back in the 80s much of it seemed refreshingly unique.
Yes, which doesn’t make Avatar any less of a ripoff of Dances with Wolves.
It’s called “Dances with Smurfs” for a reason.
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