Hi Libby, 

I'm glad I have company in liking this film.

It's interesting that Peter Jackson insists the movie has no political meaning. Maybe, in the sense that the movie doesn't single any group out, as you point out. Every human interviewed in this mockumentary is equally sincere and horrifying, regardless of ethnicity. Even the aliens are rather horrible collectively, certainly no more noble than any other group. But really no less, either, which I found very interesting.

The two main characters, human and alien, are wonderful creations. Vickhus (sp?) is such a impish, grinning, affable, lovestruck, eerily competent, horrible little Nazi. And the actor who played him had such a good time with him, not to mention the extreme physical demands of playing that role. And Christopher, a guy in a gray suit, overlaid with computer animation, was done remarkably without irony -- the only character who is just played straight, rather than for laughs. And the weird thing is that Christopher quickly became easier to look at than Vickhus did.

All without bambi eyes or cat noses. Very cool. Although I must say I'll never look at cat food in quite the same way ever again! 

I wonder if there was any attempt on the filmmakers' parts to comment on Avatar, or if the cross pollination that occurred was strictly coincidental. The films make excellent bookends.