Oh James Cameron, how I love thee. You gave me Aliens, my all-time favorite sci-fi flick. You also proved with this film that sequels can be even better than the original. Then you gave us T-2, and cemented that you were the king of the sequel (no Oscar-acceptance-speech-for-Titanic pun intended). What followed was the fun action romp of True Lies, which, for better or for worse, was just fun with no substance. And then came Titanic. Though audiences to this day are divided on whether this was a great film, I fully support all the praise it garnered. Who cares about the special effects here, what was so remarkable about this movie was the touching and emotionally rich story you wrote. No one saw that coming. And! You proved all the naysayers wrong who predicted failure for this piece, due to budget and endless delays.

And now, Mr. Cameron, you gave us AVATAR. A film so unique, that it is winning award after award just because of the way it looks (this is not a knock, this is actually kind of a compliment). The technology you used was remarkable, especially since you are the inventor, at least partially, of said film technology. So, why, oh why, did you have to rip off Dances with Wolves and take the movie down a notch?

It is interesting, if you think about, because historically, all of your films have had an exceptionally strong story and point of view. Even the previously mentioned True Lies. Sure, it was comedic action, but the plotline was coherent, and had enough originality to make you forget that it has been done many times before. Aliens had a phenomenal story (and if you ever check out the director’s cut, the story and dramatic arc of Ripley’s character because even more developed due to many deleted scenes). Titanic, The Abyss, and don’t even get me started on The Terminator, which was so original in that tapped into everyone’s worst nightmare and developed into a fully realized human love story enveloped in the action ride!

So when I was sitting, joyfully, through the scenes in AVATAR, my mind was repeating DwW the entire time. Plus, you had to add in one of the most hated elements of films in today’s sensitive climate: the anti military aspect. Now, I have read interviews that you have done, and I understand that you have said that you were honoring the military by making the hero an ex-marine and the film is actually criticizing the ill use of military forces. (And Sam Worthington is nothing less than outstanding in this role. He gave an understated and welcoming performance of insecurity and bravado that I hadn’t seen in awhile). So, okay, James, I sort of get that. But why couldn’t you have put an original spin on it?

I love your work, Mr. Cameron. I think that AVATAR will go down in history for changing the face of cinema (for better or for worse, you people decide. Does this mean soon, we won’t actually be seeing people’s faces and their expressions? I think not, as we will have the indies). The film is remarkable beautiful and I enjoyed every moment, despite my critique. But I hope that as you’re basking the success of AVATAR (and we know you are and how big your head gets when these massive successes happen) you are simultaneously putting an exceedingly original spin on your next movie, . Think Ripley, think Linda Hamilton…think…..oh who am I kidding? I’ll see whatever you give us….probably more than once=)

Filed under: Open Letter, silver screen by admin