Avatar ripped off DeathWorld?

[joeranger]

If you haven't read Harry Harrison's DeathWorld, it is worth the Amazon search. I read it as a kid, loved it and just bought it for my son who loved it.
I decided to re-read it after 30 years and was shocked that "Avatar" is a ripoff or at least a "tribute" to the book.
There are a lot of recycled themes in SciFi, but this was pretty close.
Anyone else read it or agree?

Live in peace and harmony, blah, blah, one with nature, guns never solve anything...

 

[Kerr Avon]

There's nothing original in "Avatar" except the technology used to make the movie.

 

[WarEagle]

What didn't Avatar rip off?

 

[CB2001]

Basically, you can add it to the list of stories it ripped off, including: Ferngully - The Last Rainforest, Pocahontas, Dances with Wolves, Aliens and The Abyss (amongst others I can't recall right now).

 

[Wolfie138]

lol at the shock of Cameron ripping someone off and acting like an innovator.

 

[Noeland]

The Complete List Of Sources Avatar's Accused Of Ripping Off

Only that isn't the complete list. At all.

And it's not the first time. Terminator. Demon with A Glass Hand.

On and on.

 

[joeranger]

Well in that case, it's not a "rip off", it just weaves together very common themes with spectacular technology. I thought it was the greatest movie ever when I first saw it, really good the second, but it doesn't have any "staying power". It is a great demo movie for stores that sell TV's.
Luke/Star Wars is basically King Arther; good vs evil, magic sword, wise magician.
William Shakespeare told the same old stories in a new way.

Let's face it, we say we want original ideas, but we really don't.

Avatar technology will help scifi movies.

 

[NormanF]

lol at the shock of Cameron ripping someone off and acting like an innovator.

He should run Apple.

Sent from my Etch-A-Sketch

 

[madmikeee]

There's nothing original in "Avatar" except the technology used to make the movie.

Exactly LOL Not much in that movie that isn't ripped off. Still enjoyed it though

 

[madmikeee]

He should run Apple.

Sent from my Etch-A-Sketch

lol:thumbsup

 

[Mola Rob]

Cameron is big on borrowing and always has been. He just does it really well.

 

[joeranger]

There was a joke in Hollywood that JC already made StarshipTroopers, he called it Aliens.
Guess what. Aliens is a much better movie.

 

[SeeD]

OH come on, why is it that suddenly inspiration is ripping someone off.

 

[Colin Droidmilk]

There's nothing original in "Avatar" except the technology used to make the movie.

And not even that's original. All done before in the prequels and LOTR etc. Unless you mean the 3d... and even that's highly debatable.

 

[Sundowner]

FernGully + Pocahontas = Avatar lol

 

[Wolfie138]

There was a joke in Hollywood that JC already made StarshipTroopers, he called it Aliens.
Guess what. Aliens is a much better movie.

except, no. some civilian bimbo that know better tactics etc than trained soldiers? virtually the exact same out-the-airlock ending as the previous movie? etc etc....

 

[franz bolo]

Who cares, it was a good movie!

FB

 

[Kerr Avon]

except, no. some civilian bimbo that know better tactics etc than trained soldiers? virtually the exact same out-the-airlock ending as the previous movie? etc etc....

And blowing it away in the Sulaco would be a good idea WHHHHYYYYY?

Did you forget that Queen is about a ton of acid waiting to happen?

Jettisoning it from the airlock is the only smart move.

 

[Jedifyfe]

Well in that case, it's not a "rip off", it just weaves together very common themes with spectacular technology.

This is Star Wars....

 

[CB2001]

There was a joke in Hollywood that JC already made StarshipTroopers, he called it Aliens.
Guess what. Aliens is a much better movie.

Actually, it's not a retelling of Starship Troopers. It's Cameron's retelling of the Vietnam War, only instead of having the heavily armed U.S. forces verses the low-tech Vietnamese, it's a group of soldiers with severally advanced weapon technology getting their asses handed to them by a non-technologically advanced alien species (That really rings some bells, doesn't it?)