Posted on 10/26/2022 9:50:06 AM PDT by Red Badger
Acclaimed director James Cameron had some harsh words for comic book characters, claiming that Marvel and DC superheroes are emotionally immature.
The 68-year-old “Titanic” director told The New York Times that because the characters in these universes don’t have the responsibility of marriage and fatherhood, they’re often not as evolved as they could be. They also act in immature ways because of it.
“When I look at these big, spectacular films — I’m looking at you, Marvel and DC — it doesn’t matter how old the characters are, they all act like they’re in college,” Cameron told the publication.
“They have relationships, but they really don’t,” the “Avatar” creator continued. “They never hang up their spurs because of their kids.”
“The things that really ground us and give us power, love, and a purpose? Those characters don’t experience it, and I think that’s not the way to make movies,” he said.
Cameron is working hard to promote his highly anticipated film, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which premieres in theaters on December 16.
The sequel is dropping nearly 15 years after the original “Avatar” shattered box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film ever made with a whopping $2.8 billion in sales. Fans are excited to see the newest version, which Cameron says will have a more mature storyline that includes parenthood for the main characters.
“Zoe and Sam now play parents, 15 years later,” Cameron told the NYT. “In the first movie, Sam’s character leaps off his flying creature and essentially changes the course of history as a result of this crazy, almost suicidal leap of faith.”
He continued: “And Zoe’s character leaps off a limb and assumes there’s going to be some nice big leaves down there that can cushion her fall. But when you’re a parent, you don’t think that way. So for me, as a parent of five kids, I’m saying, ‘What happens when those characters mature and realize that they have a responsibility outside their own survival?’”
Sam Worthington, who plays Jake in the new “Avatar,” also praised the storyline, saying Cameron brought more depth to the characters that will resonate with fans.
“Jim wrote this family in a great way where not only are the stakes life and death, but the conflicts are quite domestic,” the actor said. “You’re still having these arguments with kids that you have every day, like, ‘Pick up your clothes, eat your food,’ even though the world is at war.”
To say that James Cameron’s characters are two-dimensional would be an overstatement.
Silliness. They are comic book characters. Of course they act like college kids. Who does he think pays to go see this stuff?
Yea, but its twice the dimensions of the characters he is criticizing.
Exactly.
Spiderman was created specifically to target college age readers back in the 60’s.................
First, speaking from the perspective of a lifelong comic book reader of Gold, Silver and early Bronze Age, I disagree.
Some of the big heroes were/are married (Barry Allen/Flash, Jay Garrick/Flash, Elongated Man, Spiderman). Others are married to their vocations (Superman, Batman), and suggesting they are college students because they don’t get married and have kids would impugn other classes of men (I am thinking of the sailor in the song “Brandy”).
More importantly, Cameron is missing the point of Superheroes. They are heroic stories historically aimed at 10 YEAR OLD BOYS. It is an accident of history that they are general purpose entertainment now. It is a catastrophe that Warner bought DC decades ago and never figured out comic books.
Comic book superheroes are not meant to be Tolstoy or Dickens. At their best, they are a modernization of Virgil, Beowulf and Greek Mythology. No one really gets too concerned about Aeneas’ wife. Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, plays no more than the part of plucky damsel-in-distress.
Cameron should stay away from comic book heroes. I sure wish Puzo did.
I don’t know about anybody else.. But I am 1000% tired of and bored with movie/ tv characters’ “back story”.
I want my detectives/ super heroes to kick villain butt and solve crimes.
I am tired that their second cousin is facing deportation for be illegal, or they are struggling with the sexuality and life partner, or their kid desperately needs a medical treatment.
Every show seems to need a Jack Bauer’s daughter that gets abducted every episode.
‘They Act Like They’re In College’
“Golly thanks Mr Cameron”, said Peter Parker, a high school student.
I agree.
These aren't stories for college guys, more like stories of lives that 10/16-year-olds THINK college guys have.
No one really gets too concerned about Aeneas’ wife. Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, plays no more than the part of plucky damsel-in-distress.
What about Oedipus's wife?
Or is she his mother?
EVERYONE seems to care about that. ;->
And Avatar and Titanic were full of deep character development. Those were two of the worst “good movies” I can recall. Cameron peaked with Terminator.
More like high school - but that's splitting hairs...
Sounds like Kevin Feige won’t return his calls.
Because they are made for teenage boys. They wanna see boobs and explosions.
Says the fool who destroyed the Alien franchise.
Avatar, loved the first one the first time. Zero excitement for his new Green New Deal agitprop ... or, was that the Reduce Inflation Act? Whatever, it’s all folly.
Ooops, dummy me, I’m confusing him with Ridley. Never mind that first point.
Avatar, aka ‘Dances With Smurfs’................
They are all woke liberal democrats! What do you expect them to act like? Certainly not adults!
I liked his Bismarck documentary.
Great quote. “They act like they’re in college.” LOL.
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