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CAMERON & LIGHTSTORM re-sign with FOX

Hey, Cameron: the longer you wait, the bigger the fall! by Lance Rock	Jul 16th, 2000 09:13:39 AM
C'mon, Titanic was by no means your best film! Get back to your action roots, but fast. Don't turn into Lucas and start exec producing projects--get behind the camera and crank something out. Oh, and try and stay married this time!
I agree with Mr.Smalls. by crimsonrage	Jul 16th, 2000 09:43:07 AM
Cameron, I know "Titanic" has already gone to your overstuffed head, but do NOT try to top it with another emotional film. You do not know how to do emotions, leave that to Scorsese. And no, you are nowhere near the equal of Scorsese, despite what you might think, or what teenage girls tell you. You are only good at action films. Stop the madness before it kills you, and your career.
harry, you one crazy motherfucker by lilgorgor	Jul 16th, 2000 01:38:40 PM
these little stories about how you get scoops just get less and less coherant.
Cameron can eat a dick straight up... by Lazarus Long	Jul 16th, 2000 01:43:29 PM
How many films has this guy done in the last 12 years since The Abyss? 3? Terminator 2, apparently a mandatory geek classic, which is an overblown and inferior sequel to the original, not to mention guilty of issuing in the "morphing" age of SFX, which took all the sould out of it. It looked cool, but now it's completely dated. How often do you see morphing used to that extreme any more? Then we have True Lies, or "Schwartzenegger's Last Stand", a decent action films with some grand set pieces, but let's face it, it wasn't better than some of the better Bond Films, not to mention better early 90's action/pseudo-comedies like The Last Boy Scout. The we have the mother of all overrated tripe, Titanic. I hate to revisit this argument, but Gone With the Wind on water (with none of Margret Mitchell's great lines and characters, and none of Gable's scoundrel & flair) does not a good movie make, especially when you hide behind painstaking detail which is supposed to excuse the horrid dialogue. It's amazing how many people crucify George Lucas for his script, when Cameron stole the title for worst dialogue and most transparent characters 3 years ago. At least George Lucas still has a fucking imagination, albiet with lapses into the childish. Cameron is headed for a fall in Hollywood in the grand fashion of Michael Cimino or Peter Bogdanovich, if you ask me. His ego will prevent him from doing anything personal or on a smaller scale. But unlike the previous two directors, he won't drop out of sight from not being able to create art. He'll just continue to regurgitate mindless tripe for the studios. Stick that golden statue up your ass and rotate, Jimbo. You're headed for the scrap heap.
Me thinks Diamond Jim doth wait too long and protest too much by Bari Umenema	Jul 16th, 2000 02:14:36 PM
Perhaps Cameron will Never Direct Anything Ever Again! Why should he when he's KING OF THE WORLD!!! now and can only go downhill -- that's the ironic truth, isn't it Jimbo?? You don't know what to do next and so remain in stasis. Ah well there's always True Lies 2
Lazarus Long: I agree and disagree by Phreeform	Jul 16th, 2000 02:31:33 PM
First, I've gotta completely disagree with you on T2. It was BETTER in every way than the original Terminator. Plot, script, acting, dialogue, special FX, action. There is no end to the ways T2 was better than the first. And don't blame the morphing effects in T2 for what came later in other films. That's as dumb as film "purists" blaming Star Wars for ruining the way movies are made. T2 used morphing sparingly, with the effects only being on screen for about 6 minutes of a 2 1/2 hour movie, and it was in context with the script. Second, Titanic was an average romantic movie with excellent and painstaking special FX. Cameron DESERVED that best director Oscar, not because the movie was very good, but because he put more effort into that movie than anyone believed possible. He had his entire reputation, his career, resting on that film. He took a massive reduction in pay to complete that film. It's success (admittedly, depsite the actual movie's mediocrity) was his ultimate vindication. Third, nobody crucifies Lucas for his script. It's just that he can't direct actual living people. He's probably one of Hollywood's greatest visual thinkers, but he can't wrestle a good performance out of a living actor. Fourth, as far as Cameron being headed for the crap heap, you know that expression in Hollywood that you're only as good as you're last movie? Cameron's last movie made half a billion dollars. You do the math.
But is that why we like Cameron? by Ezurbub	Jul 16th, 2000 02:58:08 PM
It doesn't matter if you liked Titanic or not...in our society success is directly related to money, and as far as the industry is concerned, Cameron will continue to write his own ticket until someone else (PLEASE let it be Lucas and EP. 2) comes along and bests his record. Personally, I thought Titanic was "interesting", but I haven't watched it more than once...Really, is anyone surprised that it grossed as much as it did given the fact that NSync and Ms. Spears broke records of their own? It isn't about genuine "art" anymore, folks...it's about appealing to an audience who is too green to recognize real from fake. That's where the money is for the next few years. The only real downside to this is the onslaught of teen-movies (do we REALLY need YET ANOTHER Freddie Prinze boy-scams-girl-then-falls-in-l ove piece of crap!!!)...I don't really think the good directors/writers/producers will let their art suffer too much. Which brings me to my point: Cameron is a fan-boy. He makes movies for fan-boys (and in the case of Titanic, for fan-girls, too.) He's not a "true" artist in that we'll never get anything truly challenging from him. I put him in the same category as John Woo. Don't get me wrong, I like them both, but they're both trapped in patterns (as MI:2 painfully demonstrated). When he tries to go outside those boundaries, the educated audience can smell a rat (again, Titanic.) Bottom line: Let's put Cameron back were he belongs - directing Arnie in a gunflick, and hope he can keep the energy up.
Lazarus et all: have you ever actually acomplished ANYTHING? by VooBass	Jul 16th, 2000 03:28:10 PM
The critiscm here directed towards James Cameron's films/output is almost infantile. How much more can a fan of film ask another human being to contribute? Cameron's contributions are simply staggering, from special effects to storytelling to dialog to sheer committment to his craft. Ever since I saw the original "Terminator" six times in its first week every Cameron film has been THE BIG EVENT of my movie-going year. So what if he's done a mere handful of films in the last 12 years? Each and every one of his projects makes the film industry stop and redefine the limits, raises the bar, and shatters the ceiling of audience expectations. Any film fan over the age of 20 should be well familiar with his contributions. And they should have enough film knowledge to be able to put their own personality/intelligence/taste deficiencies aside and appreciate the overwhelming and awe-inspiring experiences Cameron has crafted. "A lack of ability with live actors?" Are you a victim of repeated blows to the head? No other action-genre director has even close to the number of Oscar-nominated performances as Cameron has 'encouraged'. Bad writing in the Titanic? William Goldman, recognized as one of film's best screenwriters, said in Premiere Magazine that Cameron was robbed of an Oscar for best screenplay. What great insights into screenplay writing do you posses that justify you're contradicting Goldman? Have you written dozens of recognized screen classics, created hundreds of memorable screen moments, or did you just pass high school english and now you're some sort of critic? Before you start foaming at the mouth over some 'issue' you percieve you have with Cameron's work I suggest you accomplish a little more in life than learning how to post your worthless opinions to AICN.
BAH by Grendal666	Jul 16th, 2000 03:47:01 PM
Lazarus, The Abyss was the "First" movie to use morphing~ And if you think T2 is not better then the first one thats your opinion~Jimmy was making Bad Ass movies before there was such a thing (Aliens) Yes he does only 3 movies in a decade because he CARES about his work he does what HE wants to do not what some studio tell's him. Almost every movie he made has been overbudget and made 4x it's production. Who else would spend 7 million dollars of there money to go to NY and have a crew of FX people Map the Skyline for there next movie (spiderman)? Hollywood needs more James Cameron's, anyone who thinks diffrent is a Joel Schumacher fan :)
The Titanic Defense Team. How pathetic. by Lazarus Long	Jul 16th, 2000 05:17:53 PM
VooBas appears to be deluded. How much more can Cameron be asked to contribute? How about not dumbing down his screenplay and resorting to archetypes to make it more palatable to the masses (which he admitted to doing). When Gone With the Wind was released, it was not aimed at people too young to understand the true complexity of human interaction and relationships. And when we look at THe Abyss, we know Cameron is capable of writing good characters and scenes. So when someone spends too much time on details of set design instead of polishing or getting help on their script, they deserve to be faulted for it. Because historical accuracy is not what makes a film great. His "contributions are staggering" in dialogue and storytelling? Compared to what, Sesame Street? I'd like you to point out one original line or scene in Titanic. Cameron decided to let the movie ride solely on his visual talents. And I'm sorry to say, the story idea of an iceberg sinking a prestige ocean liner was not his. You're obviously a Cameron neophyte, so how your opinion is objective in the slightest is beyond me. I've enjoyed Cameron's films on and off over the years, but I was truly insulted by the lack of challenge to the audience to handle a real screenplay. Cameron knew he was overbudget, and probably made every effort to ensure he wouldn't lose money and become the scourge of Hollywood. He should have been a director first and a producer second, not the other way around. What the fuck did Cameron "raise the bar" on? Special effects? He hardly deserves the credit for those achievements. Cameron only succeeded in raising the bar for budgets of overinflated vanity projects and the level of infantile drivel in writing of mainstream films. Also, what long list of Oscar nominated performances are you referring to? Sigourney Weaver for Aliens? Two acting noms for Titanic? The guy couldn't even direct a good actor like DeCaprio to a nomination. And his judgement on Billy Zane's obnoxious performance was something to be ashamed of. As for William Goldman, he's not exactly the premiere writer in Hollywood, just a writer FOR Premiere magazine. His other articles has betrayed his taste for middle of the road, safe filmmaking, hardly the mark of a worth judge of screenplay quality. Why is his opinion more valid than the hundreds of critics who lambasted Cameron for the screenplay? Why was Titanic the first Best Picture winner in what, 40 years, to not have its script not even NOMINATED for an Oscar? There's your contradiction for Goldman's opinion. As for myself, I write every day, and will probably be shooting a feature independently within the year. But hey, Cameron's only got a 20 year jump on me. This forum is for afficionados of film to compliment or criticize what we see on the screen. That's what right I have to vent my opinions on Cameron's work. If the highlight of your cinematic life is waiting around for every new Cameron film, I think it's you that has more to accomplish, and experience, in life.
avp avp avp by satan_claws	Jul 16th, 2000 05:59:28 PM
fox and lightstorm 2gether? could this mean the semi-mythical cameron aliens versus predator movie could finally happen? oh please got let it be let it be PLEASE!!
Seek help by TrimMode	Jul 16th, 2000 09:58:49 PM
Regardless of whether or not I agree with someone's opinion in this forum, there several folk whose methods border on idiotic. Is Cameron a great, artistic filmmaker? No. But the hostility exhibited in lines like, "Stick that golden statue up your ass and rotate, Jimbo," and insulting others for disagreeing with him only proves that you're a very frusterated person desperately clawing for intellectual recognition. This person is obviously intelligent but his beligerance is repulsive. Express your opinion but don't stomp on others to do it. Persuede rather than crush. Work your issues out with your therapist and not on the rest of us. Thanks.
I NEED HELP!!!!?!!! by Jarek	Jul 16th, 2000 10:00:54 PM
This is for anyone who truly considers themselves a film buff. I need to know the name of a movie I've been looking for. In one scene of this film, Peter Jackson's BAD TASTE is playing on the TV in the room. It is feature rather prominently. On the TV is the infamous scene where the head alien dodges the rocket and the rocket hits a sheep instead, blowing it to pieces. Please help me identify this film.
OK, Lazarus Long and Voo Bass, Click Here Gents by Bari Umenema	Jul 16th, 2000 10:13:14 PM
I humbly propose that we 3 Reunite here in Exactly 20 years, on July 15th-16th in the year 2020 to compare notes. AICN'll still be around so we'll re-group in 2 decades and catch up on how all 3 of us have progressed, OK?
Hmmmm. by crimsonrage	Jul 16th, 2000 10:33:22 PM
I think it's kinda' childish to defend a director by asking his detractor, "What have you accomplished?". Does this mean that anyone who has not made a movie has no right to dislike or insult a film, or it's makers? That's a dumb stance.
Go Lazarus! by SnakeWater	Jul 17th, 2000 02:02:22 AM
I couldn't agree more with Mr. Lazarus. Cameron should stick to what he's good at. Ripping off science fiction novels and taking the credit for the ideas. I'm so sick of hearing how great Spider-Man would be if Cameron was directing it. Not to change the subject but, some comics shouldn't be made into films damnit. It's sad to see that the top guests at recent Comic Conventions are film or television makers. GO HOME HOLLYWOOD!!! Leave the medium alone. Ooo you all hate me don't you.
These anti-Cameron comments... by 333333	Jul 17th, 2000 03:36:52 AM
are jabbering idiocy written by pimple-popping adolescents. If you don't realize how talented Jim Cameron is, you're an idiot. If you're THAT stupid, I'm not interested in what you have to say or in engaging you in any substantive dialogue because you clearly lack insight. I'm a filmmaker and I can tell you that this guy's masterful at every level -- design, direction... to say he's not good with actors is incalculably dumb and shows you know NOTHING. ALIENS has an ensemble cast as good as any I've ever seen in any genre. William Goldman is absolutely correct, Cameron wrote an amazing script for TITANIC. This guy writes a love story like no one else. Have any of you dullards actually read it? TERMINATOR and T2 are pure cinema. ALIENS is a tour de force. TITANIC deals with the human condition as well as any film I've ever seen. Bullshit -- the story is not dumbed-down; it's simple. Beautiful writing is often simple and extremely difficult to accomplish. To communicate so successfully on a global scale is an amazing accomplishment. Whether you fools like it or not, Cameron is one of a handful of filmmakers redefining Amercian cinema. Go write a film, go direct that script and then talk to me. But most of you greasy pubes are clearly at your happiest ragging on the world. What are you accomplishing?
JIM CAMERON'S NEXT PROJECT by Bazman	Jul 17th, 2000 05:26:05 AM
His next project should be a grand re-telling of 20,000 leagues under the sea!!! Oh, blast! He did water last time...But I am serious, he would do a great job with it, he can breath humanity into Techno-flicks. King Kong by Cameron would also stand a chance of being human.
I think he should do Hiroshima by Wax wing	Jul 17th, 2000 05:55:50 AM
Yeah, think about it: "For this movie, we built an absolutely accurate copy of the city of Hiroshima. It took us 5 years and a $ x billion. Then we nuked it. Now doesn't that look cool?
20th fox by geekie	Jul 17th, 2000 04:49:25 PM
I could join the 'Cameron sucks vs. Cameron is the best' debate but since it is obvious it would be just a waste of time and effort (in that order)i won't. What i will do is just point out something to whoever was it that said 'oh i hope now that fox and lightstorm have signed on he'll make aliens something'. Cameron and lightstorm WERE with fox almost the entire time. Abyss? -fox movie, T2 was not, okay, but then both true lies and titanic (domestically distributed with universal and paramount respectively)were primarily fox' productions. That is all.
shit i think that was me! by satan_claws	Jul 17th, 2000 06:16:14 PM
yeah i think geekie was referring to my comments about aliens versus predator. shit i forgot about being on titanic. how the hell did i do that? the fox logo at the start of a movie is quite often the best part of it imho. which i guess is the result of a childhood spent watching star wars 2 many times, i always associate that fox fanfare with star wars. although in recent months i've also started to really like the dreamworks thing.
unrelated topic: whatever happened to Michael Biehn (aside from by Tall_Boy	Jul 18th, 2000 10:37:21 AM
This is completely unrelated, but its somethin' that's been buggin' the hell outta me. The last Cameron flick he was in was "The Abyss" (if you don't count his editied cameo in T2) and I thought he was pretty cool as that bugged out Marrine (kinda like Hicks suffering from paranoia attacks). What's up with him using Bill Paxton all the time- Bring Back Michael Biehn!
"She even took the ice cube trays out of the freezer-" by Tall_Boy	Jul 18th, 2000 10:46:18 AM
-What kind of sick demented bitch takes the ice cube trays out of the freezer?!" Favorite Cameron line by-far. . .

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CAMERON & LIGHTSTORM re-sign with FOX

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