I dig James Cameron. He’s done a lot for cinema and technology for filmmaking. He’s made incredible, box-office and Oscar winning films. We love his movies and his drive in making them.
What us fans soetimes don’t like, however, is when the man, although well-meaning, shoots off the cuff in dissing other director’s projects.
The nice folks from Screenrant gives us this:
“We have a story crisis. Now they want to make the Battleship game into a film. This is pure desperation. Everyone in Hollywood knows how important it is that a film is a brand before it hit theaters. If a brand has been around, Harry Potter for example, or Spider-Man, you are light years ahead. And there lies the problem. Because unfortunately these franchises are become more ridiculous. Battleship. This degrades the cinema.”- James Cameron, Spiegel Online
Now, in a general sense, I do agree that is more about product name than it is about cinema itself. However, I don’t think Hollywood is running out of ideas. Look around you. There are ideas all around you. Not all of them are based on board games. Not everything is a remake or sequel. Even if everything seemed to be that- original ideas and creative thought is put into those projects to make those films work as best as they can. Most of the lazy films bomb anyway. Good or bad, every film contributes something to cinema.
But when I look back at past interviews, even those dating back to 1994, he’s always been slightly outspoken on other director’s films. So his quip isn’t anything new. Likewise. I am not shocked in the least when film news related websites take Cameron to task for such words. Some of us recall not too long ago when he was asked to give his thoughts on ‘Piranha 3D’.
Yes, I understand where Cameron is coming from. I agree films based on board games is lame. I think most sequels today can be sen as something cashing in (but what’s wrong with that, really-shouldn’t one strike when the iron is hot?) but since Cameron himself directed two of the best sequels ever made and plans on a follow up to ‘Avatar’ I think his bit about sequels is a bit odd.
It’s hard to say if ‘Battleship’ will turn out alright. It COULD. We simply don’t know at this time. There was once a time when we all said a film based on a Disney ride would fail. Only the sequels did.
Anyway, enough of my hot air.What’s your take? Do you think Cameron should clam up on these mmatters at least until the films are made? Would it be better to make his own film and put it up against these “dumb ideas”?
