Avatar Gets A Release Date And George Lucasitis
Posted by John Campeaon 23. 02. 2007in News Chat
Seems like we’ve been waiting forever for James Cameron to come out of his Titanic shell and give us another movie. Now has got 2 projects on the go, and first up to bat is Avatar, and we’ve got a release date! Memorial day 2009. Coming Soon gives us this:
With a cast that includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver, Cameron’s sci-fi epic is about a wounded ex-marine, thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.
With films like Terminator, Aliens, Abyss and True Lies under his belt (oh yeah, not to mention the biggest grossing film of all time), you can understand a LOT of people being stoked about Avatar. BUT… at the some time some people are nervous. A lot of people wonder if Cameron, who has been away from the director’s chair for so long, might suffer from “George Lucasitis”. A rare condition where a brilliant filmmaker forgets how to direct a damn movie after a long absence from the director’s chair.
So far, no one has noticed James Cameron showing any symptoms of “George Lucasitis”, but the condition can come on fast and cripple a directors career in just 1 film. Doctors are keeping an eye on him.
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Cameron did do a some films like Aliens of the Deep and Ghosts of the Abyss so I really don’t think that he is to rusty. Also he didn’t exactly have a lay off of directing movies like Lucas. Lucas didn’t direct a movie for about 20 years when he started to work on the Phamton Menace. Stanely Kubrick certainly took several years between films and it didn’t effect his film makeing ability. I believe there was a 7 year gap between “The Shinning” and “Full Metal Jacket”. There was an even longer gap between “Full Metal Jacket” and “Eyes Wide Shut” although I wouldn’t call that movie great but it was a very good movie.
I doubt that Cameron will miss a beat while making this film but then again I am just so stoked that he acutally making a movie again.
Let me say that Cameron’s last real film was back in 1997. Only been ten years. And he has been doing those IMAX docs, so he hasnt entirely been out of practice. I have faith in Cameron. This Avatar sounds cool. And unlike Lucas, Cameron DOES work with actors, much less everything else. I remember watch a documentary on ALIENS, and he wasnt satisfied with an effect, so he pretty much did it himself. There also seemed to be an experience with a British tradition of tea time, and this woman would bring in a tea time, even if they were filming or about to film. And as it probably would any director, it got on Cameron’s nerves. Apparently, that tea cart was sabotaged.
Lucas’s problem was that he gave up directing while he was still in the learning phase. He had talent as his three early films show, but he never cultivated it.
Cameron also produced the short lived but loved Jessica Alba series Dark Angel.
As mentioned, he’s done docs.
But folks, John means the director’s chair outside of docs and a producer outside of TV.
As far as a director being out of the game, I look at Terry Malick; I thought Thin Red Line was great. A few years later, that pile of shit New World.
LOL, they named a condision for directors forgeting how to make a good film after George Lucas? Thats just silly, too damn silly really. I hope it’s no more then a bad joke. Revenge of the Sith kicked sooo much ass, it’s not even funny. The 2 before it were bad only cuz they were made so far away from the first trilogy. I think he finaly woke up awile he was making Revenge of the Sith. But also, episode 4-6 were suppose to be the most intresting parts of the series, thats why they were made first. But people still think they all should be just a good as the last.
But it hasn’t been that long for Cameron to direct a film. This man sleeps, eats, and breathes Science Fiction. Well, maybe not eat. ;p His vision for the Terminators came to him in a dream.
I don’t think he’s lost any of his touch as a master director and for sure hasn’t lost what it takes to make an amzing Sci-Fi film. Avatar sounds like it’s going to be amazing and I can’t wait to see it. Exspeshaly since it’s Cameron behind it. He isn’t Lucus, he has ALLOT more skill behind the camera and he knows his audience. Didn’t seem like Lucus really did. He couldn’t deside if Star Wars was more for adults or just kids. And ended up trying to please both sides with the same film(s).
Also I think Cameron is so much more versital then Lucas. Yes Lucus invisioned one of the greatest Sci-Fi series ever, but, thats pretty much all he’s done. Not to menchen Lucas is pretty bad with dialog. Cameron is one of the best. I don’t think we should worry at all. He’s just not Lucas.
And Battle Angel, aaahhh!!!, don’t even get me started on that. :p It’s one of the greatest Sci-Fi stories ever and he’s making a live action, heavy state of the are CGI, all in 3D, movie out of it!!! :D I know he knows what he’s doing picking this story. Battle Angel is AMAZING. Do yourself a favor and rent or download atleast one of the 2 anime episodes made of it. They only touch on the huge story of the mange it’s based on, but it’s still one of the coolest things ever put on film.
Star Wars is not science fiction.
Does this rare condition include symptoms such as believing that everything you do is great because you’re the one doing it? Like the reoccuring people-losing-their-lightsabre-gag? ‘Cause that, George (if you are listening), was hilarious. Nearly wet myself.
Yeah, G.L. actually refered to that (in the audio commentary) as a running gag. “It’s funny because it happens over and over…”