The "Green Zone" and "Avatar" both draw on a similar motif: A lone brave and honest soldier goes outside of the boundaries to discover the truth behind a situation where the locals are being conquered and colonized over natural resources.
The plot turns on Miller (played by Matt Damon)attempting to uncover why there are no WMD (weapons of mass destruction) at any of the locations he and his men are sent to. The film points the audience back to, and lays the blame on, a thinly disguised character reflection of Paul Bremer For many 9-16 grade students this may be the first time they have heard of the reconstruction regime and his many mistakes. The film also introduces us to the inept reporting by the US media, which fell in line with gov't speak, turning its back on its own responsibilities. Although it is slightly dated in the era of new media, Chomsky's work Manufacturing Consent is a must read primer on how media in a free society fails to challenge government or corporate sponsors.
Although it is a good portal for younger audiences to enter as they try to learn the justification for the war, the film falls short in following where the buck stops - not at Bremer's door but at Cheney's (see: the Nigerian uranium forgeries as a place to start). In addition, by maintaining the motif of the lone good American soldier it absolves the rest of the population in its need to uncover truth & lies. Perhaps a civilian accomplice, or an independent journalist, assisting Miller would have broadened the circle of who should show bravery in standing up to government propaganda? This is not to say that there aren't courageous men and women in the armed forces, or veterans, who have stood up against what they see - despite what this could mean to them personally. But we need to quit repeating the idea that society in general can be complacent because soldiers and veterans will stand up, which is part of an ongoing shift we have witnessed to a strengthening of the role of the military in society (see our post on the gulf oil disaster).
Finally, the film gives us a quick view of the looting that took place after the invasion, but never unveils the enormity of the loss of human life in Iraq or the tragic Iraq refugee situation that resulted.
For most, the film is an excellent starter, but it shouldn't be our end game when it comes to trying to unpack the tragedy of Iraq.
Learn more about war on Earth here
Consider conflict on Pandora here
