The hoary old “noble savage myth” is given a new set of legs in this extravaganza but it does not provide us with any serious critique of the modern world. A return to mindless pantheism or nature worship, is no step forward, One only has to look at the rise of this nonsense in Nazi Germany and post-war conservative thinking in Germany concerned with nature. Nietzsche does speculate about a world in which god is dead but he states that we must come to grips with this not descend back into a world of tree gods and forest spirits. Humans can live without gods of any sort, but most are not capable of doing this, that is what disgusted Nietzsche in his writings.

Despite his good looks and charisma, casting Sam Worthington was not logical economically, at least not in Hollywood. When he was cast in the film he was known in Australia, but not internationally. Casting Worthington, in Hollywood’s eyes, was an act of subversion. Think back to how hugely popular Leo DiCaprio was at the time Titanic was made. Big difference.

There are far more truly racist, academy-nominated films playing at your local cinema right now. Thank you Andrew for referencing The Blind Side. Apparently Sandra Bullock wasn’t white enough on her own, they had to bleach her hair to make the difference between her and her black ward more striking. And what about Precious? The first movie in history nominated (for Best Picture) by a black director about an obese, illiterate dark-skinned teenager who has two children by her father and learns to become “a human” by her light-skinned teacher and social worker. And initially it’s her white principal who gets her out of the public school she’s drowning in and leads her to these light-skinned helpers. Spike Lee must be throwing up in his mouth right now.