“Up ahead was Pandora. You grew up hearing about it, but I never figured I'd be going there.”
Those were the words spoken by a soldier whose entire life was about to change. Little did we know that our lives and cinema as a result would change as well. In 2009, James Cameron changed the landscape of blockbuster filmmaking with his visionary film Avatar. The movie revolutionized visual effects and technology to become one of the biggest cinematic achievements in modern film. 13 years later, Cameron finally prepares to return audiences to the world of Pandora with the next chapter of the epic sci-fi franchise. A lot has changed since Avatar was released over a decade and some change ago. In part 1 of our pre-release special in anticipation of Avatar The Way of Water, we will chronicle how much the landscape of Hollywood has changed since that revolutionary first film was released.
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Risky, expensive, and game-changing,
James Cameron took on the challenge of
building a new world and set
a new standard for technology
and visual storytelling. |
At the time of its release, Avatar shook the foundation of the modern blockbuster and was lauded as the next big Hollywood franchise that would be a box-office juggernaut for years to come. That being said, it’s an understatement to say that the road to the next chapter of the franchise has tested the staying power of the series and the patience of fans who have been down since day one. It truly is remarkable to see how much the industry has changed since the first movie came out 13 years ago. In that decade-plus gap between films, multiple legacy franchises and new franchises like the MCU, which was in its infancy a year before the movie’s release, have grown to become some of the biggest IPs in the world. Additionally, the rise of streaming and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have changed the way people view content and have put a bind on the movie-going experience as a result. The world is a radically different place than it was in 2009. But James Cameron‘s determination to once again break the mold of the modern blockbuster can be seen as a bold endeavor, especially in regards to how much technology and computer-generated images have advanced since then.
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In the years following Avatar, some films have
taken great strides in perfecting the art of
performance capture. |
While
Avatar was a sight to behold upon release, other modern blockbusters, especially in the last few years, have given
Avatar The Way of Water the tall task of setting a new standard in the industry. Some of the technologies used to create films on the same visual spectrum as
Avatar is still awe-inspiring to this day. The rebooted Planet of the Apes trilogy is a perfect example of utilizing techniques perfected in
Avatar and incorporating them into that series to make something truly special. The performance capture elements combined with the stunning visuals make for some breathtaking photo realism. Other films with a heavy reliance on CG and performance capture like Thanos in
Avengers Endgame and
Infinity War and Smaug in
The Hobbit Trilogy can credit the work done in
Avatar for raising the bar for the art form. Combine all of this with great performances and an engaging story and you truly have a film that is more than just eye candy.
This perfectly transitions into the ongoing war of words between filmmakers like Cameron and fans of modern blockbusters such as those conceived by Marvel, DC, and Star Wars. An intense clash of opinions when speaking on the state of the Hollywood machine and the assembly line mentality of these new-age blockbusters have put into question who truly has a say so in how films should be made. Cameron, in particular, has been very outspoken about the MCU and DC and the quality of their films. From the actors, the visuals, and the storytelling approach, Cameron is not shy about letting people know that this approach to making films isn't his cup of tea.
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Old-school filmmakers like Cameron, Martin Scorsese
and Quinton Tarantino have made
their feelings known about the state
of modern filmmaking. |
As you might have already guessed, these comments ruffled the feathers of fans of these mainstream franchises. Part of the reason for the pushback of Cameron's take isn't just his opinion on modern movies. It also stems from cynicism toward a film that barely anyone claims to remember despite it being the highest-grossing film of all time. His hyping up of the quality of the new films in terms of story and visuals has been seen as arrogant by DC and Marvel fans. This could position Avatar The Way of Water to be looked at with an even more critical eye than the first one.
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James Cameron pulled out all the stops
to make a film that set the industry on fire.
13 years later, the question now is:
can he do it again? |
I, for one, don't have an issue with what Cameron has said about modern blockbusters as a huge fan of Marvel myself. I will say however that Cameron and the
Avatar franchise have put themselves in a very sticky position. As much as I enjoy the first film, 13 years is still a long time to dive back into a franchise, especially with so many others vying for the hearts and minds of the audience. Combine that with the theater industry still barely holding on after the devastating effects of a pandemic and you have an uphill battle for the seasoned director and his sci-fi epic with little to no room for failure. But despite it all, Cameron is keen on showing why he is one of the maestros of his craft as he prepares to return audiences to Pandora in the next chapter with returning and new characters. This could be shaping up to be one of the biggest flexes of Cameron's career or his most brutally humbling. Regardless, it may have taken a while, but it will sure feel good to be back in the world of
Avatar to be reminded why this series blew our minds all those years ago.
Coming Up In Part 2
In tomorrow's post, we will get reacquainted with Jake and Neytiri
and get introduced to their family members. See you tomorrow followers.
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