The Life and Films of James Cameron - The Director Dossiers Podcast

[@casper4868]

Really good information and presentation here. I can tell lots of research, thought, and effort went into this and I enjoyed it!

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

Thank you! That’s great to hear👍 Are there any directors you’d like us to do an episode on in the future?

[@casper4868]

@@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz An episode on David Cronenberg could be interesting!But I'm excited to see whoever you tackle next!

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

We’ll add Cronenberg to the list! A History of Violence is a great one.

[@casper4868]

@@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz Ooh I'll have to check that one out!!

[@ryuseki-oni]

I didn't get to see Terminator until years after Judgement Day came out - which I did enjoy. I suppose I don't have to imagine why I should hate every bad guy in every movie ever - wait for it, though... When I eventually realized that the T2 guy is a reprogrammed bad guy, I didn't implode exactly, but it made an impression. Given that humans were required in order for that reversal to be possible, I'd say that's a hopeful and positive message, albeit in a nice, metallic, meaty container with catch phrases. 🙂

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

Good point, and the reversal of Arnold being the good guy in T2 is contrasted by Sarah Connor in T2 becoming Terminator-like when she tries to kill Miles Dyson, she basically becomes the terminator from the first movie.

[@ryuseki-oni]

I have struggled with that narrative personally in my own life, admittedly being pretty awful to people close to me at times. When I learned that hating myself is worse than hating someone else that helped. But it helped more to consider just not being a dick and forgiving those who are because they probably can't help it. :D Forgive, but never forget my dudes. 🙂@@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz

[@ryuseki-oni]

Interesting story, several years ago I found my way to Lev Grossman's blog around the time it was announced that the Magicians books were up for film adaptation. At the time he mentioned the possibility of a series run of the concept. My reaction was flat rejection of that option, but instead I insisted that cinema was the way to go... and I may have made disparaging comments about television at the time. :D Well I couldn't have been more wrong. The team that put together the series adaptation was indeed humble and sincere in their treatment of the material, but also brilliant in their delivery. It's a hell of a job, not just telling a story, but in such detail, in an episodic manner. Apparently this is how we tend to remember things, in episodes of experience, so I suppose it works well if handled correctly. I take back what I said about the over the top power drama/gushiness of Avatar: Water ( but Avatar generally ). It makes exactly as much sense as hiding under your desk in school when the nukes are flying - no wonder our elders are a mess. lol BTW, most beautiful, surreal and enchanting post apocalyptic vistas, in my humble opinion, may be found in the Shannara Chronicles series - the story is pretty good too if you're into top shelf sci-fi, "hard cheese" as one of Grossman's characters might put it.

[@julioc.7760]

@@ryuseki-oni lev grossman is the fat jew dancing at the end of tropic thunder?

[@KatrinaMae.]

The guy on left is handsome

[@julioc.7760]

awesome podcast guys.

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

Thanks! We’re glad you found it valuable👍

[@GregoryHernandez-wk7yv]

Cameron's career is divided into 2 periods: Phase 1: (Tech Noir Era-) Terminator 1, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2. Phase 2: (Pop Blockbuster Era-) True Lies, Titanic, Avatar, Avatar 2. I will always favor Cameron's Tech Noir Era- as a fan.

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

It's crazy that Phase 1 spanned 7 years and Phase 2 spanned 28 years hahahaha

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

Which of James Cameron's movies is the best sequel? Aliens, T2, or Avatar: The Way of Water?

[@ryuseki-oni]

Technically, probably Way of Water, it is pure quality visuals ( though it is not as rich and complex as the first Avatar ) - so you can probably chalk that up simply to improvements in technology. Over all, T2. I can't comment on aliens because I don't recall, it was so long ago that I watched it, no details stand out. By and large, I think humans gradually lose their fighting spirit. :D When they're young and hungry, they do their most impressive work. When they get older and things get easier ( financially, experientially ), they either start flaking out and squeeze a few nice works out, they age like a fine wine, or they simply get softer and their work loses focus or originality. Facts of life. I'm not exactly sure Cameron is aging like fine wine if I'm being objective. Maybe his ambition has not tapered off, but he's probably running much larger crews more recently, which is always very challenging. I hope the next installment of Avatar is at least as visually impressive as the first and much less cheezy than both. :D That gives a good measure of whether he's still stepping up or sadly simply grabbing bags of populist money. To be fair, I don't know how competitive the industry is, but I know how competitive life is generally, so it may require quite a bit of compromise that comes out difficult to interpret.

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

I think I’ll have to agree, T2 might be the epitome of how to do a sequel

[@julioc.7760]

avatar2 wasnt really good for me.

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

Did you like the first one? @julioc.7760

[@julioc.7760]

it was a while back when i was younger. taste in movies change, but i still consider t1, t2, alien, aliens and 2001 scifi timeless masterpieces, i dont thinku avatar 1 or 2 are on the same level.

[@letstalkcriterion]

Technically Cameron’s first directed sequel was Piranha II in 1982. Cameron should have acknowledged British film crews are among the best in the world.

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

Technically hahaha. Honestly, he might've done more secret editing work than he did directing work on that movie

[@rachelgosselin4902]

Guy on the right likes to yap

[@DirectorDossiersJohnnyCruz]

If you like to hear somebody yap then you’ve come to the right place!