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Harry interviews James Cameron regarding AVATAR - Part 1!

wow by Fortunesfool	Jan 9th, 2007 04:22:12 AM
Im so excited about this I think some wee came out.
so by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 04:31:15 AM
this sounds so fucking cool
Sounds great... by v for vienetta	Jan 9th, 2007 04:31:41 AM
...be cool to have Cameron back. Was kinda looking forward to Battle Angel a bit more though.
Grr by Razorback	Jan 9th, 2007 04:32:19 AM
I guess I have something to live for... must make it to 2009. ;)
LOL by TheRealMoriarty	Jan 9th, 2007 04:35:02 AM
Most dramatic ending to an interview ever, Harry. My response to the interview itself is simple: Boner Boner Boner Boner Boner Boner Boner ... ad infinitum, right on through to 2009. Bring it on, motherfucker. Bring it on.
psychedelic by psychedelic	Jan 9th, 2007 04:43:12 AM
Hey Drew, I think I just saw your cock extending past my window. I'm going to cower under my desk now. 2 1/2 years.... sooo long,,,, ahhhhhgh... Need Cameron fix now...
sounds cool by ne1ne2	Jan 9th, 2007 04:43:39 AM
hope jims okay!?!
woot by Ray Gamma	Jan 9th, 2007 04:45:43 AM
that's all
M. Night McDingDong by ye olde shiza	Jan 9th, 2007 04:46:14 AM
So, I imagine in part 2 we'll get some dirt on why the Hell Shamalamadingdong is directing a popsicle trilogy, while James Manimal Cameron is giving us the real deal, right?
Fucking A. by Tubbs Tattsyrup	Jan 9th, 2007 04:51:46 AM
Paxton had better be in the damn movie or I'll be wanting at least a few cents of my money back. Sounds like JC really knows what he's doing though - glad that he's taking the extra year JUST for visual effects.
mori by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 04:52:53 AM
i guess you found the interview interesting...
It seems like.. by Dr.Zeus	Jan 9th, 2007 04:55:03 AM
....forever since we've gotten a film from Cameron, and it looks like it's going to be even longer now. But I have faith. And he's given us some really great films in the past. I just hope Mori doesn't put all our eyes out with that boner between now and then.
M. Night better have a good alibi... by Flim_	Jan 9th, 2007 04:55:47 AM
...Because I'm sure he's the prime suspect in this arson. What a twist!!
M. Night running backwards through a cornfield by ye olde shiza	Jan 9th, 2007 05:03:23 AM
Did anyone see that deleted scene in Signs? It was pretty awesome. Ol' M. Night pants-less ... he took a coupla big stalks right in his ass! Ouch! Seriously, though, I think M. Night did start that fire. He's a dog without a leash. Someone sick the ASPCA on that rabid director ... he's gone bonkers.
Damn you Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI	Jan 9th, 2007 05:04:16 AM
Damn you Michael Bay
Thank you, Jim. by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 05:07:37 AM
I actually wrote a letter to Cameron for his 49th birthday. I actually dropped it off at the Lightstorm building, on their mailbox. (Putting things IN someone's mailbox when you're not a mailman is actually a federal offense. Since my name and address were on the envelope, I decided to play it safe.) Anyway, the letter was your average fanboy lovefest - kind of embarrassing to deliver, but sincere when you write it. And since I hadn't written any kind of fan mail since I was, like, eight years old, I figured I was due for some gushing hero worship. Anyway - something tells me the letter never made it to Jim's desk. That kind of thing is either written off as immature fanboy nonsense or evidence in a stalking case. But my point in all this is: I mentioned in the letter that reading the Avatar scriptment changed my life, as it pertains to the kind of movies I want to make and his kind of dedication to the subject matter of a project. I mean, you read the script and you can just tell Cameron loves all things science. Not just science fiction, but science. Astronomy, physics, biology, natural sciences, botany, zoology - all of it. He put so much thought into creating the world of Pandora that I realized when I wrote it that if I ever wanted to really make a movie that would be something special, I'd have to love the shit out of the things the movie was about, and really dig in to the material to find something new to make of it. It blew my mind. And to think that version of the script was really just a sketch of what the final project would be - AND to think now that the movie is actually coming together, coming to life, with effects like we've never seen before, and shown in 3D, just to make the whole thing even more enveloping as an experience - I swear, man. The last time I was even sort of as excited about a movie was when I heard George Lucas had finally begun creating a new Star Wars trilogy after a decade and a half. (Of course, the best part is THIS movie will actually be GOOD!) So thanks, Jim. Thank you for coming back to that idea you had, that you hammered out in a basic scriptment form in the mid-90's. You thought it couldn't be done right, then you thought it would be way too expensive to make, and then you spent years developing the technology you'd need to actually bring the project to life, and here it is. You're making it breathe. I honestly think this movie is going to knock the whole world on its ass, even more than Titanic did in 1997; maybe even more than Star Wars did back in 1977. To say that I can't wait is an understatement. Plus, my son will almost be 4 years old when the movie hits, and I can't wait to take him to see it - just like when my parents took me to see Star Wars when I was that age. Damn. Thank God - Iron Jim is back in the game!!
Michael Bay running backwards through a cornfield by ye olde shiza	Jan 9th, 2007 05:08:09 AM
Yep.
Let the dance of the Mancats commence by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 05:14:34 AM
Does anybody else thing such a cg intesive film is not a good thing? Especially when the characters are going to be pure cg renders? Does anybody even remember the cg characters from the new Star Wars films, and they were created by the best ILM and still there was something off about them. Even Wetas Gollum only worked in bits and peices, he was incredible, no doubt, but it was only one character. Now a whole movie with wacky CG characters layered with some strange alien mythology, this movie sounds like it is headed to be a serious flop. I hope I am wrong, however, lets be honest writing is not Camerons strong point is it?
MICHAEL BIEHN!!! by Edward Brock	Jan 9th, 2007 05:17:24 AM
C'mon, he's gotta get a role in this movie! Other than that, this all soud really great. I'm anticipating this movie in a way that I haven't in a long time.
years by Seven Seas	Jan 9th, 2007 05:19:55 AM
shit thats a long time, and im still picturing wing commander for some reason...the cats?
Edward Brock by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 05:25:52 AM
Totally agree, give Biehn a big meaty part Jimbo! A Cameron movie ain't a Cameron movie without Mike! Don't think i've been this excited about a film since Terminator 2!!
Nabster, I'm not trying to start a war here, but by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 05:26:30 AM
... if you don't think writing is one of Cameron's strong points, you don't know a lot about writing. He's one of the best in the industry! If not THE best. True, it's my opinion, and it's admittedly heavily biased, but one of the biggest reasons I've been a Cameron fan my whole adult life is because of the things I learned about writing by watching his films so many times. I wouldn't know Jack Crap about story structure if it hadn't been for Cameron's writing.
Nabster by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 05:27:01 AM
Have you seen The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss and T2? Four of the best sci-fi films ever. I've got faith in Cameron on this one.
JIM CAMERONS' EXES GOTTA EAT! by Driver8	Jan 9th, 2007 05:27:36 AM
Cameron=Quality. Looking forward to it.
LIGHTSTORMER by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 05:35:38 AM
Well said. His dialogue can be a little corny (hello Titanic) but when it comes to story structure Cameron is king.
Avatar could be JC's Phantom Menace by Razorback	Jan 9th, 2007 05:39:30 AM
I don't mean that it will not be good, or even great (I think TPM is actually a fun movie), or that it will be blasted for its heavy use of effects... but that people will EXPECT TOO MUCH and it will be blasted for not living up to ridiculous expectations.
Razorback by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 05:39:40 AM
Good point, it's easy to get carried away with hyperbole. Cameron usually delivers though.
Nabster, actually by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 05:45:50 AM
i believe davy jones is pretty much the first really believable all cg character out there now, so i think what Cameron says is achievable right now. I think it will be awesome.
Yes James has made some great Sci Fi flicks by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 05:52:42 AM
But none of them were as out there as Avatar is going to be. And none of them are going to be as technically intensive has Avatar, thats a given. Those movies were ground breaking in terms of special effects for their time, especially T2 and the Abyss. T1 on the other hand has not aged well and is a fairly clunky and clumsy film. THis movie cannot bank on the same factor, of being able to wow people with new effects, with so many tentpole films and effects ladden movies we have become desensitized to special effects and cg characters. Just look at new Star Wars Prequels, they had some of the greatest effects sequences ever to grace the movie screens, however, there is only so much one can watch before it becomes uninteresting. I ofcourse hope I am wrong, but the prospect of photorealistic CG characters is not something overly excites me. Has great has some of his movies have been I don't see Avatar broaching the success of those films at all, the obscure Sci Fi storyline is going to alienate mainstream moviegoers in my opinion.
"JC's Phantom Menace" by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 05:59:24 AM
I see what you're saying, Razorback, and I have to admit I'm nervous that it might come to be that way - hell, after 12 years, Cameron's gotta deliver something, and every SF / Fantasy fan in the world is going to expect their socks to be knocked off. BUT keep in mind, this is the guy who always brings some new tricks out with every new movie he has made (more than just a really fun pod racing sequence,) has a track record of consistently pushing the envelope effects-wise, has an even better track record of audience satisfaction and all-around entertainment value in his movies, plus he himself is excited to show off the kind of advances he's made in the past decade. If HE's impressed with the way things are going with this flick, how do you think the public's going to react to the movie? Add all that up and then factor in the 3D element of the film - the fact that this kind of story with these kinds of effects will be so immersive for the audience - it'll make it more than just "going to see a movie." That's why I mentioned the effect Star Wars had on the world in '77. It was unprecedented what we were seeing, just like I believe Avatar will be in '09.
Photorealistic CG was doable ten years ago by Razorback	Jan 9th, 2007 06:01:01 AM
It is more about cost and time... though, ten years ago they didn't have all the lighting/shading tools they do now that make the effect seem more realistic. What will probably be the greater challenge is making the movements of the characters seem natural.
Conbarba by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 06:03:33 AM
Forgot about Davy Jones, and yes you are right he was one of most fluid and believable cg characters created, but Avatar is going for cg character creation on completely different scale from what I can gather from this film. I just feel some film directors such as Lucas have lost the plot, in their quest for better effects, wouldnt we better served with the creation of better movies, or atleast more movies in the case of Cameron?
All this love for Titanic? by MKiro	Jan 9th, 2007 06:09:35 AM
I remember when all the fanboys dissed the hell out of that movie. Now, all of a sudden because Cameron has a geek movie in the works and has deigned to be interviewed by Harry, then 'Titanic' is suddenly a classic??!! Titanic was a hack movie. Nice effects, but overindulgent to the extreme. Sure, I want Avatar to be as great as anyone else here, but because Jim C is directing it doesn't automatically mean a slam-dunk. I'm not dissing it - just realisitically want to rein in expectation and hope. We have to wait until 2009... which means that leaves a long way to fall......
Titanic IS a classic by Razorback	Jan 9th, 2007 06:14:51 AM
No matter the shit it has received around the Internet for its love story... and really, for making a ton of money... it is an excellent movie that is certainly a classic.
Nabster - Terminator clumsy? by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 06:17:24 AM
I watched it the other night and it was like falling in love all over again. A ferocious movie.
Razorback Titanic a classic? by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 06:18:31 AM
It's beautifully made, but the dialogue sinks Titanic.
Titanic was certainly an incredibly well made film by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 06:21:29 AM
But I am not sure being the biggest money maker of all time grants it classic status, that is for each person to decide. If that was the case we could just pull up the all-time box office list to rank the greatest films, and that would be pretty stupid wouldnt it. Look the fact is his movies worked due to their special effects. Those movies were created in much more of a vacuum, but now more than ever we are bombarded with effects ladden films, the premise of so many cg characters is not something I can get so worked up about like some of you in this day in age.
Nabster, it feels like you've got it backwards. by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 06:21:42 AM
Titanic had to be the most technically intensive movie ever made, at least up until it was released, and then still was hard to top by other filmmakers. In terms of the stereoscopic photograhy, I can see how it would add a lot to the camel's back, but Jim's been working with this technology for years. I doubt anyone knows it as well as he does. I mean he designed the camera, for God's sake. He's not making this up as he goes along, you know? In regards to T1 being "clunky and clumsy," I think it'd be hard to imagine a movie made even today that would work as well if it had the same budget. $6 mil gets you a lot more now than in 1984, but even so, I don't think it would make the story work any better, just for being more hi-tech in its production. I actually think T2's effects have aged almost worse, but his movies still work excellently despite the old FX. And that's where we differ - you seem to be saying Cameron's magic lies in his effects. I believe it's his ability to create great movies, to tell great stories that has served him best over the past 23 years. I agree that we've almost become immune to snazzy visual effects. Hell, kids' movies have great effects these days with zero entertainment value beyond that sometimes. But it's Jim's ability to make the tension and excitement of an idea and a story the primary goal. Trust me - I've paid close attention to the way the man works. If a scene calls for a lo-fi old-style movie technique to get the shot he wants, he'll use it. If he needs bleeding-edge digital effects to achieve the shot, he'll use that. It's not the tools he uses that matters to him, it's how things work best for the scene he's creating. AND, in regards to Avatar being "out there," I really don't get that sense. People keep saying it's "Dances With Wolves in Space." I don't think it'll be too obscure for the masses. Lastly: Thanks for keeping the discussion civil. I hate the childish crap people resort to in Talkbacks when they hear different opinions.
Titanic is Jims worst film, yes worse than pirana 2 by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 06:25:15 AM
But thats because its a fucking drippy period romance, that is not what Cameron does well. I'm positive Avatar will be a return to form. I mean Jim on an "off" day results in the abyss which personally i fucking loved. Avatar is going to worth the wait. This is Cameron guys he wont let us down like Lucas.
Loved Terminator when I was a child by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 06:25:18 AM
But now the acting is far too flat and the writing is your typical sci fi fantasy fare, and ofcourse the effects are hard to take seriously, although that aspect is understandable consdering when it came out. Not to mention the story was ripped of from a Harlin Ellison short story I believe, which was converted to a twight light zone episode, infact Cameron was sued over this. So I have a difficult time giving much credit to Cameron over stolen stories.
I wasn't amazed when I read the treatment by misnomer	Jan 9th, 2007 06:25:44 AM
the whole "environment" theme was a bit...well...too forced off a message, but some of the monsters sounded cool...especially the creature with an arrow for a head that it fires. Really what's going to make this movie is the visuals...and I'm sure it'll be a treat. I just don't know what the tones going to be...when I read the treatment I couldnt help but think of the Final Fantasy games.
Funny... by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 06:26:43 AM
...the whole time I was typing that tome above, you guys ran a discussion that made my post both irrelevant and prescient at the same time.
Aww, Dredd! by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 06:29:59 AM
Cameron was "off" on the Abyss?? That was totally A-game! It was pure Cameron! (Were you referring to the romantic aspect? I didn't think the movie suffered that bad from it.)
Sounds like he's making this his T3/4 by performingmonkey	Jan 9th, 2007 06:30:13 AM
The Sam Worthington character sounds like John Connor. A young guy who has to have these 'greeeat military leeeader' (said in Edward Furlong's voice) qualities which make men follow him into battle against crazy odds. This is going to be the equivalent of 'what if Cameron made T4?' and we all know how much the fanboys would love that. I say good luck to him with this and Battle Angel. If he can come close to his sci-fi flick heyday I, for one, will be most pleased.
Terminator still holds up... by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 06:30:45 AM
And its not nostalgia. I fucking hate people who moan about old effects, its called suspension of believe guys. I suppose you think Jason and the Argonauts sucks because the skeletons don't have motion blur. Oh and Metropolis yeah that film is soooo lame the effects are like totally gay maaaaaaaan.
Lightstormer by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 06:32:08 AM
I don't agree that his strength lies in his ability to tell great stories. The actual story to Aliens, T2, and Titanic are fairly bad actually. The premise for T1 was great, however, it was ripped off from another sci fi writer, the story for T2 was basically a rehash , and excuse to display great new effects thats all. Aliens was simply one long action adventure film, certainly not one of the great sci fi stories, but the effects and action were great. Thats what made these movies, thats for sure, the action and effects, cetainly not the acting.
LlGHTST0RMER by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 06:32:52 AM
With regards to the Abyss I'm just referring to the generally received opinion, I love that movie man.
Misnomer by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 06:36:38 AM
Perhaps you weren't "amazed," but I'm Cameron's bitch. I was probably looking for things to be awed by. But I was awed! Plus, I was just floored by the way Jim would take ideas from the natural world and apply them to the ecology of the world he was creating for the story. I mean I know there probably aren't any creatures on Earth whose heads shoot from and reattach to their bodies, but I know it's from his research and his love for science that he found some animal somewhere that had a quality that inspired him to come up with such an idea.
Acting.... by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 06:36:57 AM
Yeah I mean the acting in aliens sucks god know why Sigourny Weaver was nominated for an oscar. Thats sarcasm by the way. That nomination for Aliens was a big deal, they never acknowledge genre films not until LOTR anyway.
about Ellison by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 06:37:10 AM
Cameron explained about the thing in i believe an issue of Premiere magazine in the True Lies years. He put the credit on the movie because he wanted to avoid being sued even though he said he did not use any of Ellison material. ABout the rest of discussion, I believe actually Cameron writes pretty well and he is pretty good screenwriter. I remember William Goldman actually saying very very complimmentary things about him somewhere. Still, liking or not the screenplays is perosnal issue. However i strongly disagree about bad acting. Hardly in any Cameron movie except Billy Zane.
This could either be really, really great by Franklin T Marmoset	Jan 9th, 2007 06:40:06 AM
or really, really awful. Either way, it's good to have Mr Cameron back. This guy is far and away the greatest director of action-themed films I've ever seen. Fingers are well and truly crossed here, which I guess will get pretty uncomfortable over the next two and a bit years.
Nab: Agree to disagree? by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 06:42:48 AM
Hey, I ain't out to convince you. Just telling you how I feel. (With the exception of Jim's story structure - I'd argue that to the death.) Just curious: What movies stick out in your mind as having great stories - movies that keep you glued to the screen to find out what happens next? Just looking for a frame of reference for what kinds of films really get you going.
Chiming in on the writing issue by Franklin T Marmoset	Jan 9th, 2007 06:45:44 AM
I agree Cameron's writing is one of the things that separates his work from other action films. Aliens, in particular, is an effective film not just because of action and effects, but because he took the time to establish a great group of characters. So many directors try to emulate Cameron, usually by including a lot of steam and flashing yellow lights, but they almost always miss the character stuff. I'm talking to you, Paul W S Anderson.
Should Cameron be given Credit for T1? by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 06:49:26 AM
"While Cameron was doing interviews to publicize The Terminator, he was asked what inspired the storyline, and he frequently mentioned two episodes of the original Outer Limits, "Demon with a Glass Hand" and "Soldier". What Cameron may not have noticed, but science-fiction author Harlan Ellison certainly did, was that Ellison had written both those episodes -- and their disparate plotlines, merged together, had a hell of a lot in common with the story Cameron had written. Ellison sued, and the case was quickly settled for an undisclosed amount and an amended "acknowledgement to the works of Harlan Ellison" in the movie's credits." http://www.nndb.com/people/385 /000025310/
Conbarba - The acknowledgemnet to Ellison by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 06:52:47 AM
Was only put in after he was sued, not before, if that is what Cameron claims then he is telling a white-faced lie.
Damn right he should get credit by Franklin T Marmoset	Jan 9th, 2007 06:53:32 AM
A little inspiration from elsewhere does not undo any good work you've produced - Shakespeare did it all the time. And, no, I'm not comparing Cameron to Shakespeare. The Terminator works because of its characters and its sense of pace, not just because it has a cute concept.
well by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 06:54:52 AM
i dont know. Actualy both guys can be quite a prick. I dont really believe any of them 100%
Dredd & Conbaraba: by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 06:55:19 AM
Dredd: Gotcha on the Abyss misunderstanding. And thanks for the Oscar mention for Aliens. I forgot about that, actually. *** ConB: I was gonna mention that Premiere article, in re: the Ellison debate. I agree with Jim, too; tons of SF writers covered cyborgs and time-travel. Why should Ellison's work be singled out as the "origin" for Terminator? And the studio agreed, but said if it went to court, they'd make Jim fight the fight on his own. And I also remember the issue of Premiere (circa the 1998 Oscars) when William Goldman said Titanic was hands-down the best screenplay of the year, that no other script deserved to win but that one, and it wasn't even nominated. And yeah, Billy Zane brought a whole new level of hamfistedness to the film, that's for sure.
"Watch out Summer 2009" by triplefive	Jan 9th, 2007 06:55:24 AM
"...don’t plan your big summer movie on Memorial day" translation: "i'm the shit."
Hmmmm by Kawaii	Jan 9th, 2007 06:58:47 AM
Kiss ass. lol. How can you look forward to a film when there has been zero info on it? Thats stupid...plus 2008? Could still be shit.
No Conbaraba by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 06:59:32 AM
Ellison sued Cameron, and Ellison won, this is a fact, no one knows how much Cameron had to pay Ellison but pay he did, and at the end of the movie a previously non existant acnknowledgement to Ellison was inserted, this is simple fact.
yes by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 07:01:58 AM
i never said it is not a fact. i know very well. But i also believe Cameron is the man behind terminator, both movie and story. Not Ellison. I was not denying reality, i was denying that Ellison had any real merit about the story.
"The Terminator works by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 07:04:16 AM
"The Terminator works because of its characters and its sense of pace" You are funny. If you think its characters not its high concept sci fi story or effects were its main selling points, well lets just say you are very wrong.
Nabster by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 07:06:39 AM
maybe the sci fi story or fx sold the movie, but the characters carry the whole thing and made of it a classic and hard to forget, that is my opinion. Many films have both sci fi story and fx, but nobody to give a fuck for.
How can you deny Ellison had any real merit by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 07:07:16 AM
when Cameron himself admits that both those stories were inspirations for the Teriminator?
Harry! ask him about THE CHRONICLES OF SARAH CONNOR!!! by Sagan	Jan 9th, 2007 07:10:36 AM
we need to hear what he think of that!!!!
Inspiration by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 07:11:18 AM
I admit, of course. But just as many other people gets inspiration from Aliens or even Terminator itself there are hardly any sueing around. I read the Avatar script leaked a few years ago and i found ideas from many other places including Miyazaki or even Cameron himself. It does not mean he ripped off any of those. And i dont think is "sueable". Same thing i think about Terminator.
Interesting source you found, Nabs. by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 9th, 2007 07:17:00 AM
Never heard of NNDB before. I like their story with the headline, "Daryl Hannah narrowly escaped being sold into sex slavery." And their article on Cameron is fair in parts, but WAY biased. PS: I didn't know Linda Hamilton left Jim "for another woman." I though it was because he was shacking up with Suzy Amis.
The Abyss by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 07:20:32 AM
is Cameron's best movie. Just demented how ambitious that film is. Ed Harris' performance is sensational and there are some powerhouse scenes in the film. If Avatar is half as good as The Abyss we're in for a treat. Oh and yes Cameron deserves credit for the Terminator. Sheesh.
James Cameron Pitches "Avatar" by Ricky Henderson	Jan 9th, 2007 07:22:47 AM
"So, uh, there's this planet, right? And this planet is full of MAN-CATS. And the audience will be able to phsycially feel the MAN-CATS' fur. I've spent the last 10 years in exile in the Alps inventing a totally new form of movie technology that will make this possible. The visual caliber will be up to the highest level. Purely photorealistic. Oh yeah, and Linda Hamilton will be giving me lap dances and allowing me to grope her during the primary shoot of MAN-CATS. It's in her contract."
ABking I love you man. by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 07:33:05 AM
That true lies pitch is the funniest fucking thing I've read in a long time.
DP for AVATAR by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 07:38:33 AM
Let's hope Russell Carpenter isn't picked by Cameron, he'a pretty bland cinematographer. Get Mikael Salomon to do it, his photography on The Abyss was a beautiful thing to behold.
When will we get Part 2 Harry? by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 07:41:51 AM
Let's hope those Malibu fires didn't take out Iron Jim. I hear Shyamalan was spotted in the area.
All is well and great for Cameron, I mean.. whats 14 by white owl	Jan 9th, 2007 07:46:31 AM
months to him, right? We only have to wait for this project day by day while working shitty jobs and living shitty lives and this is just gonna turn into a giant TITAN AE CGI-fest.
DP... by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 07:49:35 AM
Personally I'm hoping for triple. Erm yeah, what's Adam Greenberg doing these days? Possibly queuing for soup since collateral damage I guess. Cant wait for part two to this interview.
now what I've got that outta my system... I LOVE U JIM by white owl	Jan 9th, 2007 07:49:44 AM
YOU MADE MY FAVORITE MOVIE WITH A GOVERNOR IN IT
Selling points? by Franklin T Marmoset	Jan 9th, 2007 07:55:32 AM
Who gives a monkey's about selling points? I'm talking about what makes The Terminator a great film to watch that still stands up today. What makes it great are the characters (two of whom you're scared for, one of whom you're scared of) and the pace at which it moves. Regardless of genre trappings, that film is a great, fast moving thriller. Harlan Ellison had nothing to do with that. Oh, wait. I just realised you're a troll. Sorry about that, mate. Carry on.
We need to hear what he think of that. by Azlam Orlandu	Jan 9th, 2007 07:57:01 AM
Gangsta! Buncha retards.
I must need more sleep . . . by Nice Marmot	Jan 9th, 2007 08:00:09 AM
. . . because I'm dragging ass and seem to have been reading too much Titanic praise and Terminator bashing. It's like people are going crazy around here. Must need more sleep. Fucking Choke-eyes.
Judge Dredd's Dirty undies by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 08:04:53 AM
Adam Greenberg shot Snakes on a Plane...he must be pretty old now though!
If I ever make a science-fiction movie it will be all by white owl	Jan 9th, 2007 08:06:15 AM
science-ey and less fiction-ey. Like a rogue black hole forming nearby the orbits of our planets around the Sun. But once it appears, scientists won't be able to identify it until it's too late, in which this case when outer-planetary orbits begin to sway towards empty space. After the discovery of this rogue black hole scientists will go on for years theorizing and shit but all will be in vain because the BH is misunderstood, and sooner than later it begins to grow faster than ever, swallowing planets, meteors and stars alike. It'll be as if the universe is folding in on itself. The ultimate wordly ending. After the discovery of an increased growth rate it will be realized that the BH now threatens the very existence of planet Earth and there is nothing we can do about it but wait for it to swallow us whole. So there is mass panic and hysteria and such. And then in the climax we can see in our sky the black hole itself, with our atmosphere swirling around it. Now I dunno if this is at all scientifically or physically possible but it would be bad ass to see everything on Earth just turn to nothing in a flash. Screen turns black. Then we cut to some aliens toking on a waterless bong, right? Then one of the alien tokers hits it pretty hard and sucks through some ash. He's like "aw man that sucks" and swipes the shit off his lips and flings it onto the floor, where we follow the shit to the floor. Turns out the aliens were smoking the universe. Whoa. BONGATAR - as directed by Tommy Chong, with specialdirected surprise ending by M. Night Shlingshlong.
So it's something based on a Japanese game? by JackPumpkinhead	Jan 9th, 2007 08:10:41 AM
Or a comic book, or a cartoon? Or... what, as if I cared. Anyway, it's interesting to see that Night Shlongadongnotverylong has found a new niche: instead of shitting out pathetic "twist" endings, he'll do what the VHS distributors of the late 80s did: release his shit films under the titles of good/big ones! Who would've seen this coming? What a TWIST!
Snakes on a Plane? by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 08:10:55 AM
Jesus that's depressing what did the poor bastard do to deserve that!
hey, I have no problem with... by streakerfreak1983	Jan 9th, 2007 08:19:06 AM
Personaly I have no hate for Titanic. I do not love it, but I can't hate it. My favorite Cameron film is The Abyss. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to film that. As for his worst project that would go to Aliens of the Deep which was one of the worst "documentaries" I have ever seen. My fiancé is a Marine scientist and I have gotten sucked into that world too, as we watched we just sat back and laughed. What scientist says "that's the bomb"? What a fucking joke that was. Thank god he is getting back to real films. Wouldn't it be really sad though if this film was just horrible?
hey lightstormer and ab king, lemme help yas out... by Deus Vult	Jan 9th, 2007 08:31:32 AM
I learned from my man sledge hammer that you can add a space, or paragraph break, in your post using a simple html script like this: < p > but take out the spaces before and after the p so it should read, sans quotes " " literally--this will break up your post and make it more easy and inticing to read! taint easy to make it inticing and easy to read with this crowd, trust me!
ooooh no... by Deus Vult	Jan 9th, 2007 08:32:58 AM
looks like my brilliance is once again in question, I tried to illustrate the break code and cancel the html but was foiled...I give up trying to help people! moving on...
Judge Dredd's Dirty Undies by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 08:36:19 AM
I agree! Having said that the photography was pretty good. Shame the rest of the movie stank though! I love Greenberg's blue/night photography in The Terminator, Near Dark, Alien Nation and T2.
kwisathaderach by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 08:39:51 AM
Yeah Greenberg's work on T2 is truly beautiful.
I can't wait for, "UNTITLED MALIBU FIRE THRILLER," by Pound Sand	Jan 9th, 2007 08:58:05 AM
..., such a huge fan.
check out this mo-cap company by quentintarantado	Jan 9th, 2007 09:01:13 AM
I bet Cameron heard of these guys. Will he be using them? http://www.image-metrics.com/ If not, I hope Headgeek might be interested and he'd tell Cameron about them. I think their tech is interesting.
The best special effects film ever was Forest Gump by BendersShinyAss	Jan 9th, 2007 09:02:08 AM
seemless in 1995... and today still hasn't been matched. A Close second on photorealistic visual effects is starship troopers. And i still believe that episode 1 was the only photorealistic CG star wars prequel. for shame actually. Not that episode 2 or 3 weren't fantastic in their effects, but you knew what was real and what wasn't. thats a failure for a film. a big film anyways...
Lightstormer - That Daryl Hannah story by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 09:04:10 AM
"Never heard of NNDB before. I like their story with the headline, "Daryl Hannah narrowly escaped being sold into sex slavery." That actually happened, Daryl Hannah was almost forced into prostitution in Las Vegas many, many years ago only to escape through the bathroom mirror, or so she claims, the story has been picked up by various media organizations and was reported on IMDB as well, so its no discredit to the site. The site was not biased agaisnt Cameron at all, its simply reporting the facts man. I dont mean to be obnoxious about this, its just I feel the best part of T1 was the story, and at the very least we have to acknowledge the truth of what happened. Is Cameron a great film-maker, yes, T2, and the directors cut of the Abyss were great, although the original cut of Abyss was quite a bit worse than the directors cut. Well this movie sure is damned ambitious of Cameron, and thats always admirable, although I really do question this movies boxoffice viablity, regardless sci fi fans should get an interesting movie at the very least.
Cameron by thefreeagents	Jan 9th, 2007 09:11:59 AM
He won't let us down. He hasnt made a movie I havent liked yet. Even Titanic, with the sappy love story was great imo. Been in love with Kate Winslet ever since.
THE HALO MOVIE by DynamixRo	Jan 9th, 2007 09:12:10 AM
It would have been really interesting if that had received a green light as well. In terms of budget and risk factor, both projects are pretty similar. But I guess Peter Jackson is no James Cameron, especially after the dud that was King Kong.
I want to be ... by forgo10en	Jan 9th, 2007 09:12:54 AM
... amazed as much as when I saw Aliens, Abyss and Terminator movies for the first time. No, let's make it 12 times more cause that's how long - 12 years - he was at the beach drinking pinacolada and watching naked chicks. You left us and we were tortured by Alien Vs' Predator and Resident Evil movies. Cameron should watch these too and experience the pain, dissapointment and rage!
This being James cameron by emeraldboy	Jan 9th, 2007 09:17:50 AM
2009 is abest tentative. 2015 is a more accurate date for when this film will be released or 2050.......
Sliding into PRE on Battle Angel by Kentucky Colonel	Jan 9th, 2007 09:18:14 AM
Damn, that's a bold statement! Who woulda thunk that Mrs. Cameron would let Jim get it on with other ladies!??!
Cameron is god because he FIGHTS FIRES by Doctor_Sin	Jan 9th, 2007 09:19:30 AM
Lucas has some underpaid lackeys in wet Boba Fett t-shirts stand in the fire's way until Lucas can be secreted away to his mountain lair. Not Cameron. He faces those firey fuckers down with a garden hose, buck naked. He's Da Man.
lightstormer... that was beautiful by BendersShinyAss	Jan 9th, 2007 09:19:38 AM
always knew you were a cameron fan... now i truely see why. you've shown me the light too. I am as excited and hopeful about this film as you.
kwisatz and Judge--what the hell are you 2 smoking? by moondoggy2u	Jan 9th, 2007 09:19:53 AM
No way on G-d's green earth does Avatar need that shaky camera. I swear to the almighty here and now, if I see so much as the slightest hint of handcam, I'm gonna butcher one of you SOBs with one of my mad dog pigsticker and film it all with a STEADY FUCKING CAMERA, too!!!
Camerons does have weak points by BendersShinyAss	Jan 9th, 2007 09:28:58 AM
He's not very good with scoring his films. i don't care how good Fidel or Horner can be, they are nothing without good direction. James Horner really took control of Titanic, and thats not necc a good thing, because the man can loose sight of his own mystical abilities if left to his own ears alone. I think a composer like James Newton Howard is fit for the biggest sci-fi film ever made. Don't believe me, go listen to Atlantis, Unbreakable, King Kong and dare I say Waterworld.
I cant believe hollywood... by emeraldboy	Jan 9th, 2007 09:33:47 AM
Giving 200 million to man who hasnt made a proper film in 10 years is unbelievable. I have seen all of his movies. As an action director he is second to none. funnily enough having seen the alien directors cut, I agree with Cameron that the nest sequence is awful and awfully long. Like zemeckis cameron is envelop pusher in terms of effects and I expect that the effects in Avatar will be mindblowing. the summer movie season has felt his absence for far too long. but and this is a warning. I remember that we all pined for the return of QT after his absence and all we got was the mixed bag called Kill Bill. Iam just adding that note of caution.
moondoggy2u by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 09:34:46 AM
what are you smoking? Where did I say I wanted shakycam on AVATAR? I hate it!
Abyss - have to agree - the best! by kinghenryVIII	Jan 9th, 2007 09:39:16 AM
I love Aliens, True Lies, T2. Hell, even the things he was producer on, like the kitchen sink that was Strange Days (that movie had EVERYTHING in it), but story, characters, FX, tension, thrills .... tha tmovie rocks. I love the Spec. Edition that out with the extra - what - 20 + minutes - makes it a MUCH better movie. Love it all but this is my favorite! 2009 is too far away but he's taking his time and getting it right. Avitar will be a mind blowing experience. I.CAN. NOT. WAIT.
emeraldboy by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 09:39:19 AM
Not really unbelievable. This is the guy that made The Terminator, Aliens, the Abyss, T2, True Lies and the highest grossing movie in history with 11 Oscar wins. He's also spent the last 10 years investigating and forwarding the development of the cutting edge of digital technology. If anybody is going to be given $200 million it's Jimbo.
And the Aliens Spec Edition rocked too by kinghenryVIII	Jan 9th, 2007 09:42:51 AM
I DOG all the added footage. It makes the great stories even better. And for the score .... Aliens had one of the best ever. The fight when Paxton dies - pumpin' man!
kinghenryVIII by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 09:42:51 AM
Amen to that. Watching The Abyss in the cinema aged 15 was an experience never to be forgotten. I'll never forgive my local cinema moving it to screen 2 after a few days to let Shirley Valentine into screen 1. It's a crazy world.
I menat DIG by kinghenryVIII	Jan 9th, 2007 09:43:24 AM
sorry
I ment, ment. by kinghenryVIII	Jan 9th, 2007 09:44:10 AM
Sorry again. Leaving now.
The abyss wasn't his best. just my oppinion by BendersShinyAss	Jan 9th, 2007 09:51:18 AM
it was long and qhilw i don't mind that, nor do i mind the complete 180 in the story at the end... i think the extended cut is pure gold and i can't watch the shorter original anymore as a result... but both films suffer from a wickedly bad ending. "We should be dead" "They must have did something to us" "ah ha" "hahahaha" "hah" "a a a a a a a a a a" "hah" .... sorry, it bring everything to a crashing holt for me. i just don't understand the reason for the underwater city to surface.
BendersShinyAss by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 09:59:21 AM
It surfaces to rescue the Deepcore crew who were running out of air.
The crucial question for me is... by Ghostball	Jan 9th, 2007 10:04:23 AM
will the aliens actually look any good, or are we basically just talking about those humanoid Close Encounters goons at the end of AI? I want to be excited about this, but JC's had this joint in his oven for about fifty million years. Still no leaked photos? No concept art? Sure, he doesn't want to give the game away yet, but I don't give a flying fig about emotional content or how much an images POPS OUT at me in a JC film - I want the DESIGNS and the ACTION to rock harder than Jenna Jameson's bed on her wedding night. I swear, if his creatures end up looking like those munchkins in ID4 or WOTW, I'm gonna be watching on Battle Angel Alita on a grainy piece of shit pirate DVD. You hear Jim? We wants ALIENS, not not dumbass HUMANIENS! Hire Rambaldi or Giger, not the goddam guys who worked on Star Trek: The Undiscoverd Country!!!
great interview by Evil Hobbit	Jan 9th, 2007 10:12:17 AM
This stuff is why I love this site, up close honest and personal interviews and movie reports. 2009 can't come soon enough! Maybe I will freeze myself for this 2 years, like Cartman for his Wii so that I don't have to wait in the torment of a hype that will follow this press release.
The Termintor is a stone cold classic. by mr. brownstone	Jan 9th, 2007 10:20:57 AM
Like it needs to be said. But with some of the yahoos kicking around in here, I guess it does.
The Terminator that is. by mr. brownstone	Jan 9th, 2007 10:22:09 AM
Need. More. Coffee.
But Brownstone by conbarba	Jan 9th, 2007 10:23:52 AM
The Termintor sounds actually awesome!
True Pies. by Ghostball	Jan 9th, 2007 10:28:10 AM
Mmmmm
What's the matter ABking? by TraumReiter	Jan 9th, 2007 11:12:57 AM
No offense but to me it seems like your stories are getting dumber over the years. Why haven't you asked Sly if he could play Arnie's lover in TRUE ROMANCE.... oh there's already a movie with that title? I love Arnold's movies but I don't want to hear him speak german because it's far worse then his english!! 2009 can't come soon enough!!! TRUE AVATAR!!!
Tainted Love by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 11:25:54 AM
The love that dare not speak its name.
SINGER VS. CAMERON by THE KNIGHT	Jan 9th, 2007 11:28:12 AM
Poor Singer... Fox is going up against Singer again with another potential franchise movie.... SINGER VS CAMERON!
CAMERON VS SPIELBERG by THE KNIGHT	Jan 9th, 2007 11:32:11 AM
Wow @ Cameron calling out Spielbeg for memorial day Summer 2009... Doesn't Spielberg have that Sci fi worm hole movie in the works for Summer 2009?
JIM, YOU MUST CAST MICHAEL BIEHN!! And about Titanic.. by moto	Jan 9th, 2007 11:49:17 AM
Jim, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE cast Michael Biehn in a pivotal role! Not sure if you had a falling out with him or not, but he NEEDS to be in a James Cameron movie again:) Regarding Titanic, you people have to understand that Cameron was making a throwback movie reflecting the golden age of Hollywood (i.e. Gone With the Wind). In technical terms, the film was a masterpiece. As a movie, it was an excellent throwback to those love story epics of late. It's hard to say, but ANY love story plays off as cheesy, unless you just buy into the concept and role with it. Titanic had so much to it... action, adventure, coming-of-age, romance, swashbuckling (i.e. the submersives storyline), etc. THAT is why it appealed to so many, and THAT is why it is the most successful film of all time (not counting inflation... if it was, you'd see yet another love story amidst action, adventure, etc. in GONE WITH THE WIND).
Lightstormer by misnomer	Jan 9th, 2007 11:50:23 AM
Well theres certainly worse directors to worship than Cameron. The only reason I hold him in any regard is for "The Terminator" the rest you can keep...but that movie was brutal. Simply the best movie he's ever made, and Titanic - well the B.O speaks for itself. Cheesy or not, "Jack I'm flying!"will be remembered pretty much forever. I just didnt think the treatment for Avatar was particualarly strong...it was kinda run of the mill but with lots of cool creatures and environments. I just hope Cameron has given his script a good working over...because I want this movie to blow my fucking mind.
and T2 really doesnt stand up like the first by misnomer	Jan 9th, 2007 11:51:07 AM
not as good as you remember it. trust me - go watch.
misnomer by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 9th, 2007 11:59:34 AM
Just watched it. Makes the blockbusters of today seems stunted and childish. The canal chase is a blockbuster setpiece of the highest order. Check out Cameron's pacing and choice of shots - the guy is a real filmmaker.
Isn't TF2 coming out in 2009? by S-Mart shopper	Jan 9th, 2007 12:05:42 PM
movie.go.com said 2&3 are in talks
Abyss is my favorite Cameron movie. by rbatty024	Jan 9th, 2007 12:13:21 PM
He creates an absolutely original world. Good to see he's finally getting back into the game.
The sinking of Titanic is one of the greatest scenes by Col. Tigh-Fighter	Jan 9th, 2007 12:18:40 PM
ever filmed. Dont care what any of you say, the sinking of the boat was truely amazing. Still havent seen anything too similar to that. I would love to see Camerons 9/11 movie. That would blow your mind. PS> T2 still totally rocks! Are you smoking crack?
James Cameron actually started the fire, and is now by Quin the Eskimo	Jan 9th, 2007 12:23:34 PM
just establishing an alibi
Time to score a big payday by Quin the Eskimo	Jan 9th, 2007 12:25:54 PM
for my boy Vinnie Chase! Also, of course FOX will give him the money. They have made an assload of cash through him
Lightstormer by Saluki	Jan 9th, 2007 12:28:56 PM
Maybe my favorite talkbacker! Cameron is my #1. Not having him do direct a major feature in a dozen years is like losing a good friend.
"I know now why you cry" by comedian_x	Jan 9th, 2007 12:39:46 PM
Because I wanted him to do Battle Angel first -- now I have to wait 4 years for it.
Respect HARRY'S...Cameron please answer this? by ABking	Jan 9th, 2007 12:44:03 PM
To the moron that told Harry to hang up and Cameron the next time he calls...why wouldn't Harry, Moriarty or anyone at AICN take calls from Hollywood BIG SHOTS like CAMERON or STALLONE! Some of you guys are a bunch of jealous IDIOTS!!! Ofcourse I can go on about this but think about it, Harry is the one running a major successful website, not you assholes. Ok, next... M. NIGHT better be smart and not try to go up against IRON JIM CAMERON with his AVATAR project. Case closed indeed. By the way, if Mr. Cameron is reading these talkbacks or even his business associates, please answer a question for me. Is there a role written in AVATAR (sequels to Avatar) or BATTLE ANGEL ALITA for his great friend Governor SCHWARZENEGGER? I really want Harry to ask and Cameron to answer! Oh, my TRUE LIES TRILOGY idea is great:)
Question on ALIEN 5 but not TERMINATOR 4 or T5? by ABking	Jan 9th, 2007 01:04:52 PM
Here would be a great question for Jim...How is it Cameron would have done a ALIEN 5 sequel but not TERMINATOR 3, 4, 5 ect??? Two other filmmakers did the last two ALIEN films but Jim would do a 5th. It always bugged me. Why not produce some more TERMINATOR films with LIGHTSTORM ENTERTAINMENT and work with ARNOLD again.
Col. Tigh-Fighter by just pillow talk	Jan 9th, 2007 01:17:25 PM
I agree that the sinking was pretty freak'n great, but the movie up to that point was painful for me to watch. I can't stand that movie, just one of those things. T2 is still a very fine movie, and I'm not sure what anyone is seeing when they say it doesn't hold up. The action is there, Arnold is Arnold, but as the 'protector' rather than the 'terminator'. And shit, like 3 1/2 yrs until this...long time.
Summer 2009 films.... by Dasher	Jan 9th, 2007 01:33:14 PM
The only other release I've heard mentioned for summer '09 is the Superman Returns sequel (possibly to be called The Man of Steel).
ford turns down new starwars FUCKER by skiff	Jan 9th, 2007 01:37:26 PM
break my fucking heart ford turns down starwars to do indy . Indy is cool but its no starwars freak me fuckingf out. It is a dark day
If Cameron isn't too busy he should try saving... by rbatty024	Jan 9th, 2007 01:38:09 PM
the Alien franchise. Three crappy movies in a row is a real shame. C'mon Cameron, produce another Alien or Alien v. Predator movie for some up and coming protoge. Save the legacy.
You Heard The Man by RowanM	Jan 9th, 2007 01:42:14 PM
and you know the drill! Assholes and elbows!
Cameron should do a sequel to aliens... by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 01:42:18 PM
Fuck Alien 3 and that piece of shit resurrection. And the less said about AvP the better.
I would love for Cameron to do AVP 3 or Aliens 5 by SithMenace	Jan 9th, 2007 02:07:07 PM
but I just don't think it'll ever happen. With the exception of T2, he seems like one of those people that does a movie and says "Been there, time to move on to the next challenge". With that said, I'm cautiously optimistic about AVP2. I know that there are untested special effects guys directing the movie (Hello Eragon) but everything said about it so far seems to be the right thing, including going for an R rating AND the fact that they are trying to do as many practical effects as possible, with only necessary CGI. I'm hoping that after the shitfest that was AVP the studio sees the potential and really wants to get it right.
"u know the rest" by Lando Griffin	Jan 9th, 2007 02:17:04 PM
unfortunately we do
Surprised at the lack of by Lando Griffin	Jan 9th, 2007 02:21:28 PM
"giggles" and "delicious" in the transcription
Harlan Ellison by Boromir187	Jan 9th, 2007 02:22:22 PM
Ellison is a great science fiction. That aside, he's not the greatest person in the world. I have no idea how much those two episodes inspired Cameron in the writing of Terminator and I really don't care. It is extremely hard for me to believe everything that comes out of Harlan's mouth most of the time. The man usually spends over half of his interviews implying that he is the greatest writer in the world and that everyone is always stealing ideas from him. Whether some of his claims are valid or not, all he ever ends up doing is coming off as a egotistical writer who is extremely bitter that he hasn't been as successful as others around him throughout the years, especially when it comes to writing for film.
Cameron & Arnold by Boromir187	Jan 9th, 2007 02:24:43 PM
I remember reading that part of the reason Cameron decided to go with Avatar first, instead of Battle Angel, is that he wants Arnold for the role of Dr. Ido in the Battle Angel film.
MALIBU FIRES GOTTA EAT by dregmobile	Jan 9th, 2007 02:44:33 PM
sorry. just wanted to try this on.
Isn't it time for Harlan Ellison to sue someone again? by Doctor_Sin	Jan 9th, 2007 02:49:22 PM
Since everyone has ripped him off and defiled all of his genius and no one has ever properly handled his material, blah blah blah...
Paul WS Anderson gotta eat! by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 02:56:32 PM
Two brilliant franchise and crap them out as the foulest smelling stool of a film that is possible. I don't think either series will ever recover from Anderson's TAINT.
DAMMIT by THE KNIGHT	Jan 9th, 2007 03:35:51 PM
He calls out Spielberg and nobody mentions this! Twats... Steven will be back with his Sci Fi film in Summer 2009 as well...
I have great hopes for this. by jmyoung666	Jan 9th, 2007 03:49:20 PM
Also, neither Titanic nor True Lies were good. James Cameron has put out some great stuff, but he has turned out some mediocre fare as well. While Titanic may be a technical marvel, the storyline was hacky and the dialog was atrocious. Trues lies seemed like a parody of big-budget action films (if it was intended that way, it failed to achieve the ironic distance it should have had.) An unfunny parody at that.
This is so cool by quadrupletree	Jan 9th, 2007 03:55:31 PM
I hope the effects are as good as I imagine them from reading the scripment!! Kick ass James Cameron! Do it for us all!
Harry, by mrfan	Jan 9th, 2007 04:30:35 PM
Great interview. I really like it when you provide it word for word.
How come Jurassic Park still looks better than 90% of by GibsonUSA Returns	Jan 9th, 2007 04:33:20 PM
...new films today? It's like things haven't improved, or something.
AVP was such a huge disappointment. by GibsonUSA Returns	Jan 9th, 2007 04:38:10 PM
I was so looking forward to it but was so disappointed. The fact that they called it "AVP" to begin with, and the fact that it was PG13, should have been clear warnings. I hated those Predators.
Are we gonna see Sarah Conner's..... by Yoda's Ball Sack	Jan 9th, 2007 04:40:39 PM
......taint????????????
Dated special effects are hard to ignore. by GibsonUSA Returns	Jan 9th, 2007 04:46:25 PM
T2's special effects still hold up. T1's don't. And to the guy who asks us to ignore the dated effects and simply "suspend belief", it's easier said than done. Both Terminators are great but the dated special effects of the first one really hurt it these days, especially for newer viewers.
Gibson USA... by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 05:07:03 PM
Personally I think T1's effects hold up fine even the stop motion which I think has an unsettling otherworldly look. For me people who complain about dated effects are on the same level as those who cant watch something because "it's in black and white" or has subtitles.
Let me get this straight... by idahomer	Jan 9th, 2007 05:10:51 PM
He is going to create photorealistic rendering of a world that DOESN'T EXIST? Jim to Computer Guy: That weapon doesn't look real. And those plants look made up. Computer Guy: It's not real and the plants are made up. Jim: Damnit. We're using Photorealism here. I don't care if it takes $300 million.
My reaction=same as Moriarty's by Rindain	Jan 9th, 2007 05:11:49 PM
I'm hard for this film through 2009. Nothing else comes closes in terms of anticipation, other than Battle Angel.
Jimmy C. says: by ewokstew	Jan 9th, 2007 05:24:04 PM
"And most of these young guys, they’re either physical, meaning that they’re like buff handsome guys who are pretty good actors; or they have a kind of vulnerability that they can reach, but very few of them know how to stand up and be a man." Ouch.
Harry - ASK JC ABOUT HIS ALIEN 5 SCRIPT! by Tubbs Tattsyrup	Jan 9th, 2007 05:32:12 PM
I really want to know what that was like, before they told him they were doing AVP. For the record, I rank my JC films thusly: Abyss, T2, Aliens, True Lies, T1, Titanic. Cameron is the greatest action director of ALL TIME. YAH! My film lecturer thinks he's a "dumbass" but he clearly will get his comeuppance come 2009. As for calling Spielberg out...bring it on! Could be even more of a deathmatch than summer '07 (Shrek vs Pirates vs Spidey). Maybe not. But it will be to me: Spielberg vs Cameron!
WHAT ABOUT ALIENS?? by moto	Jan 9th, 2007 05:32:17 PM
Nobody is really talking about Cameron's Aliens, especially the person who said they love Termintors but we can have the rest. Aliens is by far Cameron's greatest sci-fi... even better than T1 and T2, which I love. Aliens is one film that stands the test of time, especially effects-wise. It is easily the best sci-fi action movie ever made. Name one that tops it. If that film were released today, with the same effects made in the mid-80s, it would rule the box office. That is why I would have loved to see Cameron's SPIDER-MAN. There would be about 80% less CG compared to Raimi, i.e. it would look more like a kickass action flick than a cartoon.
skiff by Quin the Eskimo	Jan 9th, 2007 05:41:19 PM
What in the sphincter of hell are you talkin' bout.
I like Cameron using the phrase "assholes & elbows." by CreasyBear	Jan 9th, 2007 05:51:59 PM
Reminds me of Sergeant Apone. "Look into my eye!"
why on earth do people... by beamish13	Jan 9th, 2007 05:53:06 PM
still want to live in Malibu? There's always a damn mudslide, fire, earthquake, or flood. There's tons of nice estates here that aren't nearly as suceptible to danger as homes in Malibu.
Franklin T Marmoset by Nabster	Jan 9th, 2007 06:01:54 PM
Yes its good to dispute semantics when you end up saying stupid things. The dispute is not if T1 is good or not but what is good about it, you say its the characters and "pacing". Thats just downright stupidity, its the scifi story and effects that made the film. The other smart move was casting Arnie whose acting was so robotic, he actually played a robot, not much subtelty though. Guess there is not point in trying to correct an obvious idiot, carry on mate.
Tubbs, is this guy's class any good? by ewokstew	Jan 9th, 2007 06:19:33 PM
Okay, let's break this down: This guy is a film lecturer. Cameron is a filmmaker. A successful, talented, envelope pushing, great story-telling filmmaker who's achieved a level of success that few will ever attain. My answer to that lecturer is an oldie but a goodie. Those who can't, teach. "Dumbass", indeed.
Speaking of films that don't date much. by ewokstew	Jan 9th, 2007 06:23:25 PM
Quite a bit of Ridley Scott's ALIEN looks pretty "today" in a lot of regards. Possibly due to the cinematography and lighting. Star Wars is only a couple of years older and it looks horribly dated next to Alien.
OH SHITS by LittleDudes	Jan 9th, 2007 06:27:13 PM
JIM GOT EATED BY THE FIRE
I'm going to forget about this for a while by DOGSOUP	Jan 9th, 2007 06:50:41 PM
Because if I don't I'll go ape shit. I'll get excited around July 2008. Until then ....
I'll never get why people hate True Lies by Lovecraftfan	Jan 9th, 2007 06:55:13 PM
I'm really quite mystified by that. It has great laughs, great story, and a wonderful sense of pace to it.
RIP dorothy's taint by Deus Vult	Jan 9th, 2007 06:59:35 PM
Well boys in scanning the most recent posts on the most recent stories it saddens me to say that no one has used any version of taint in hours. Apparently then dorothy's taint is now officially dead as the lastest AICN catchphrase I've been reading this site for six years and never before have I seen a catchphrase set the world on fire so fast, and burn out just as quickly oh my dear dorothy's taint, we hardly knew ye...
MEGATRON by Mr. Nice Gaius	Jan 9th, 2007 07:14:50 PM
Here is more meat for you TransFans: http://tinyurl.com/toofo
Sci Fi Story and Effects by Thunderbolt Ross	Jan 9th, 2007 07:19:06 PM
To say these things are what "made" Terminator is ridiculous. The effects are shit, and the sci-fi aspect accounts for about 10% of the story. I agree with whoever said it was the pacing. I just tried to make a paragraph. It looks fucking awesome. BTW Cameron is beign seriously over-rated here.
Sci Fi Story and Effects by Thunderbolt Ross	Jan 9th, 2007 07:19:15 PM
To say these things are what "made" Terminator is ridiculous. The effects are shit, and the sci-fi aspect accounts for about 10% of the story. I agree with whoever said it was the pacing. I just tried to make a paragraph. It looks fucking awesome. BTW Cameron is being seriously over-rated here.
Double post by Thunderbolt Ross	Jan 9th, 2007 07:22:25 PM
Sorry about that. But my paragraph mojo is working. Ah the lord giveth and the lord taketh away. After Terminator, the only original movie Cameron did that was truly solid was The Abyss and that did have a lame ending. Titanic is corny, True Lies is a mixed bag, Aliens and T2 are sequels.
Aliens and T2 are sequels. by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 07:25:14 PM
Yes. Well done.
Dorothy's taint reeked of death by S-Mart shopper	Jan 9th, 2007 07:25:26 PM

Deus Vult.... by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 9th, 2007 07:29:01 PM
I made two tainted posts in this very talkback. Taint lives!
I love True Lies by QuinnTheEskimo	Jan 9th, 2007 07:37:31 PM
That fucking scene at the end with the jet is amazing. I remember I saw it on TV a while back and I coudldn't believe how good that scene looked. That's just a fun fucking film. But no amount of alliteration is as funny as TAINT.
QUESTION FOR MR. CAMERON by The Heathen	Jan 9th, 2007 08:12:45 PM
Will any of his regular actors he's used before like Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, Michael Biehn, etc. be considered for any parts in AVATAR? Thanks so much and if this has already been asked, sorry, didn't have time to read the whole TB. Heh, "assholes and elbows." That's awesome if he really said that. Apone rocked.
Flames on Optimus = The Predator's face in AVP by GibsonUSA Returns	Jan 9th, 2007 08:18:03 PM
In every Predator movie the moment when the Predator takes off his mask is intense. But in AVP he looked like a freakin' muppet!! How disappointing! I hope AVP2 fixes this....and no Predators teaming up with stupid girls either....
WHAT'S THIS? TAINT MANIA LIVES? by Deus Vult	Jan 9th, 2007 09:50:49 PM
by dorothy its up to guys like judge dredd and s mart shopper to keep hope alive, KEEP HOPE ALIVE! oh and Quinn--my sarcasm alert is off the charts after reading your post. remember, it's not the word TAINT that's funny, it's that it's the latest in AICN's awesome run of hot new catchphrases. see the wizard of oz story from yesterday for the full background on the history of why taint is an actual fact really funny.
Megatron gives the Full Monty http://tinyurl.com/ymbjo7 by all your base	Jan 9th, 2007 10:33:38 PM
check it out
Ewokstew by Tubbs Tattsyrup	Jan 9th, 2007 11:20:29 PM
Actually, dude's a practicing DOP with a couple hundred music videos and short films, lots of TV stuff, and at couple (indie) features to his name, and as a director won a few awards for a film he did INSTEAD of working on Lord of the Rings (this is in NZ). It's just that his attitude to Cameron is fucked. up.
About Aliens by major_tom_aint_dead	Jan 9th, 2007 11:34:53 PM
Everybody´s got an opinion, but my favorite Cameron movie is "Aliens", wich I watch once a year at the very least. It´s his masterpiece with great actors, great script and has the best pre CGI FX ever, wich to this day are so fucking cool. When something FX landen comes out, you shouldnt compare it to a CGI fest, you compare it to "Aliens", and maybe, the original "Return of the Jedi". The proof? LOTR in the cinema was really amazing, but in DVD and cable, on any good quality screen, you can keep good track of whats CGI and whats not. Thats something they havent come up with yet: credible CGI post theather experience. Considering that, "Aliens" hasnt been beaten yet.
Thank god its not gonna be like STAR TREK!! by De genX	Jan 10th, 2007 12:30:03 AM
Of all the space sci fis i hate star trek the most .thank davy jones, that cameron is not gonna make it like that!!! hope he doesnt over produce it.
Tubbs by ewokstew	Jan 10th, 2007 01:25:42 AM
Seems like he's done some groundwork. Yeah, guess you need credentials to teach. Still, there's seems to be some curious snobbery going on. Perhaps it's because Cameron's a genre guy? They never get any love.
Damn you Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI	Jan 10th, 2007 01:55:38 AM
Damn you Michael Bay
Oh, Nabster by Franklin T Marmoset	Jan 10th, 2007 02:02:14 AM
Why must you rile me so? It's first thing in the morning, I'm having my hot, delicious tea and contemplating another boring day, and there you are calling me 'downright stupid' for disagreeing with you. Oh, well, this is a talkback. It wouldn't be right if I didn't get some abuse from time to time. I would have expected it when I was defending Fantastic Four, but I'll take it here if I have to. Congratulations on noticing a resemblance between The Terminator and a couple of Harlan Ellison stories. This is not public knowledge at all and you are, I think we can all agree, the smartest guy on the planet for noticing. All of the hard work by Mr Cameron and his team is invalidated by this one single fact, which you alone have the courage the confront. The many film critics who have praised this film for being a lean and efficient thriller are wrong, not to mention the fans of The Terminator who enjoy the characters at the centre of this story. If only you had been around twenty-odd years ago to point out that this film was only successful because it is a sci-fi story with effects in it. We could have saved so much time! You possess a piercing clarity of vision, Nabster, and great fortune awaits you. Thanks for talking.
If only he made a movie a year by DirkD13"	Jan 10th, 2007 04:32:22 AM
And got Kathryn Bigelow making badass movies again.
Franklin T Marmoset by Nabster	Jan 10th, 2007 05:12:41 AM
The only thing I noticed was that was Cameron was successfully sued for copying the plot for the movie that virtually launched his career. Thats all done and dusted though, what were arguing about was another point. However, for some reason you keep subverting our dispute to another area, maybe because you realize how dumb you must come off with some of the things you have said. " The Terminator works because of... its sense of pace." " So many directors try to emulate Cameron, usually by including a lot of steam and flashing yellow lights, but they almost always miss the character stuff." hahaha, retard. P.S. if you dont wanna be called out on your stupidity, maybe you shouldn't devolve to name calling yourself. Carry on mate.
Nabster by conbarba	Jan 10th, 2007 05:17:49 AM
You noticed that ok, even though is something everybody knows. But you also say time after time that the only thing that made popular The Terminator was that it was sci fi and with special FX. That is the point of the conversation. The Ellison thing was not the topic anymore. And anyway, you may feel that way, sure. But an enduring film it is so for many more reasons than genre and fx. And if you really deny that Terminator is an enduring film, then i will have to ask you what kind of food do your kind eat in your planet. Maybe in 1984 they sold the movie as a scifi film with special FX (and actually not too much of that on screen anyway) but certainly audiences and critics found much much more. I for sure did. And so have done in the following years the people that since then have discovered the film.
Who cares? by Negative Man	Jan 10th, 2007 05:32:53 AM
Photorealism means next to crap in movies now-a-days. If anyone ever saw what SQUARE wanted to do with FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN, but were forced by SONY to 'animate' it down (basically, dirtying it down like Cameron did to the T-1000 in T2), then we know that Cameron is bringing nothing new to the screen. Just give us a good story with the animation. Heck, bring on 300! Nearly everything there is CGI backgrounds, but it's like a painting. Unless it is something like that, then who cares? Galactus looked awesome strolling through the Skrull homeworld in MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE, now imagine it with even more powerful computers. The photorealism movement of the late 60's, early 70's is just being brought to screen...not really a big deal. Computers finally caught up to people. Yawn. It all comes down to story.
Last thoughts, Nabster by Franklin T Marmoset	Jan 10th, 2007 05:39:12 AM
The only name is called you was 'troll', which I stand by. I'm going to end this now, because from the tone of your posts it's obvious you're not half as bright as you think you are and I'm getting no entertainment from this exchange. I feel foolish for arguing with you, like I've just caught myself squabbling with a twelve-year-old over the last ice cream in the freezer, and I blame myself for encouraging you. Take care, Nabster.
CGI by Pandas-R-Us	Jan 10th, 2007 05:39:14 AM
So is it the case that everything on the alien planet will be cgi? Characters, background etc, with no human presence (given that the humans use these avatars)? Or are there human characters too? Just thinking it might be a bit of an expensive Final Fantasy type thing if it's the former.
The Pecking Order by darthbinks1220	Jan 10th, 2007 05:51:14 AM
Cameron, Lucas, Spielberg, Jackson
DirkD13" by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 10th, 2007 07:16:10 AM
You said it mate.
Bring it on! --Bring it, James Cameron. Bring it. by JDanielP	Jan 10th, 2007 07:32:11 AM
Lord, I hope Cameron and his crew are just fine. And just how bad was that fire?!
Question for JAMES CAMERON by RobinG	Jan 10th, 2007 08:14:12 AM
Has budget concerns compromised your artistic integrity or direction of the film?
wish I knew something else relevant to say by white owl	Jan 10th, 2007 08:45:26 AM
but.... DOROTHY'S TAINT DOROTHY'S TAINT!
ACTUALLY I do have a question for Mr. Cameron by white owl	Jan 10th, 2007 08:50:21 AM
even if it's too late... You should open Avatar two weeks after The Hobbit to steal all its money, right?
Proman between Avatar and Interstellar by Proman1984	Jan 10th, 2007 08:57:08 AM
2009 will be a great year for sci-fi! Oh yeah, don't piss on M. Night! He's a greater director than you realize.
Avatar 2009 by Cobbio	Jan 10th, 2007 09:04:18 AM
I'm absolutely looking forward to seeing this. Can't wait.
2009... by Buzzsawlenny	Jan 10th, 2007 09:55:52 AM
we'll never see this due to the fact the earth will not be able to sustain human life in 2009...and if it can then our economy will be in shambles due to some natural disaster...or a apocolyptic wasteland...al gore told me so.....Huzzah
I hope Cameron and his people are OK... by Rindain	Jan 10th, 2007 10:03:03 AM
Have you heard back from him yet, Harry? Hopefully nobody was hurt and none of Cameron's pre-production material for Avatar or Battle Angel was damaged.
My J.C. film rankings go: by kinghenryVIII	Jan 10th, 2007 10:37:55 AM
Abyss - Aliens - True Lies - T2 - T1 - Titanic. Yup, I really dug True Lies. And the Abyss/Aliens thing .... 51/49 split. Both fan-fucking-tastic.
Deus Vult by QuinnTheEskimo	Jan 10th, 2007 11:19:23 AM
I know. I was there. I wouldn't feel right making taint comments if I hadn't been there.
Long Time Coming by moppboy	Jan 10th, 2007 11:55:38 AM
I'm glad to see Cameron back in the game. Hopefully the film will live up to the hype it's sure to generate.
Avatar Script? by nycguy	Jan 10th, 2007 12:29:24 PM
I know this thing was available online forever, and of course now it's gone. Anyone have a mirror of it or know where I can find it? I'd love to get a read. Oh, and Sam Worthington is hot!
Damn by Quin the Eskimo	Jan 10th, 2007 12:31:38 PM
you Quinn
JC had me at... by 9000rpm	Jan 10th, 2007 12:58:20 PM
...tossing a Z06 around like it was his little red wagon. James Cameron is Steve McQueen, Robert Oppenheimer, Charles Dickens and Al Gore co-mingled into one super-being, with all the Al Gore extracted and compressed and cleaned and turned into a salve for the hard to reach spots inside a dog's anus.
Jim, thank you for making Titanic by DufusyteII	Jan 10th, 2007 01:58:24 PM
I will not divulge how many times I saw that film in the theater, but a large part of the gross came from me.
cameron's the name star! by RAWHEAD RALF	Jan 10th, 2007 03:04:31 PM
...great interview! my instinct is to be internally skeptical and slightly negative cause it's not terminator 4 but that's knee-jerk. the thing is: james cameron ALWAYS delivers. should be awesome...
Last thoughts Franklin T Marmoset by Nabster	Jan 10th, 2007 03:49:28 PM
Well yes you should feel like a twelvle year old since you are acting like one, its good of you to notice. And if you don't want to respond, its really easy, just don't, instead of telling us how you are so above it all. And I stand by my claim of calling you stupid. "" So many directors try to emulate Cameron, usually by including a lot of steam and flashing yellow lights," heh, retard.
Avatar = Totally Taint! by monorail77	Jan 10th, 2007 04:22:24 PM
As Taint is the new Tits, I say Avatar sounds Taint. Maybe even Dorothy's Taint, but we'll have to wait and see...
Love me some Ellison/ Love me some Cameron by shellfishh	Jan 10th, 2007 04:31:49 PM
I'm very pleased that Cameron did "Terminator" and I hope Ellison got a little slice of the pie. It's a shame Harlan didn't keep writing.
Avatar will be to Cameron what King Kong was to Jackson by acroyear77	Jan 10th, 2007 05:18:26 PM
Avatar has a cliched scifi plot with the typical elements: overpopulation, radical climate change, humans vs. primitive aliens, etc. Yawn. Human male travels to exotic alien planet and is at odds with the native aliens. Slowly over time he adapts to their customs and falls in love with one of them. Evil humans come to colonize planet, human male teams up with primitive aliens and fights off the Earth invasion. Human male becomes savior of alien race. The End.
HARRY GOTTA EAT JAMES CAMERON by mraig	Jan 10th, 2007 06:09:33 PM
Heh, I'm original
JC needs to call back already... by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 10th, 2007 07:21:55 PM
This is what its going to be like waiting for Avatar except for TWO and a half years.
"One I'm Dying to See"...you mean the cartoon? by Drath	Jan 10th, 2007 07:39:28 PM
I will not get excited about a Cameron movie until it's made. The animated AVATAR is very good. I suspect this live action movie by Shyamalan won't measure up though because Shyamalan has, I think, lost his way as a filmmaker and because the animated show is telling the story just fine on its own--making me question the need for a live action adaptation, as if animation isn't good enough or something. But anyway, I'm already sick of this popularity contest and the brainless knee-jerk reaction of Aint It Cool News to prefer the Cameron project over the cartoon.
Did Cameron put out the fire by peeing on it? by Doctor_Sin	Jan 10th, 2007 08:23:13 PM
Because that's the kinda' godlike fucker he is.
FOX should put up a teaser website at least... by Rindain	Jan 10th, 2007 10:43:12 PM
"AVATAR" coming summer 2009. And maybe the eye of one of the Na'vi.
Yeah please give us something jim.... by Judge Dredds Dirty Undies	Jan 10th, 2007 11:14:15 PM
A piece of concept art or an fx test, anything!
Shows he's a brilliant storyteller, too by Freakemovie	Jan 11th, 2007 12:28:43 AM
Just the little things...like the way he wanted a "real man" to play the lead. That's the single biggest reason a movie like Kingdom of Heaven didn't connect -- you combine an incredibly boring main character with the small body of Orlando Bloom and you're just plain not going to have the next Gladiator. Cameron knows how to make classically cool stories that people connect to. The Terminator movies really had the most brilliantly simple sci-fi concept out there for their time. And finally someone is willing to stand up and say that most CGI today is pitifully not photorealistic. If he actually pulls off the photorealistic nature of the aliens and effects, this may be one of the coolest movies ever made.
Freakemovie by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 11th, 2007 03:16:24 AM
Everything about Kingdom of Heaven was awesome...except you had Bloom at the centre of it with his incredible no acting style. I actually laughed during his 'rousing the troops' scenes at the end. You'd think Scott would know better. But thats probably the only way the movie was greenlit in the beginning sadly.
Aaaaarrrrggghhhhhh by kwisatzhaderach	Jan 11th, 2007 12:09:56 PM
Cameron knows how to tease doesn't he? Phone Harry Jimbo!
Saluki and BendersShinyAss... by LlGHTST0RMER	Jan 11th, 2007 12:34:22 PM
Thanks for the kind words, guys. Good to know a few brothers around here got my back. ;

Talkbacks

Harry interviews James Cameron regarding AVATAR - Part 1!