Films/DVD Asylum

Oh...Bambi!

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Harmonia

A

In Reply to: RE: James Cameron, his paradox of technology, and the female hero posted by Bambi B on August 29, 2009 at 08:50:16

You know, I admire *your* admiration for the man but I really think you're ascribing far too much to his artistic sensibilities. I don't think Cameron has made any reference to Bunuel or Chaplin in a movie EVER - at least not on purpose.
But I hope the Avatar meets your expectations, since you have such high hopes for it. The only film of Cameron's I ever really truly enjoyed was The Abyss, which suffers from his habit of employing simplistic villains.
I will admit the Titanic going down was pretty cool too, although the rest of the movie makes me twitch.

Edits: 09/02/09

Follow Ups:

RE: Oh...Bambi! - Bambi B 06:30:58 09/03/09 (0)
Harmonia,

In their totality, I am not an apologist for Cameron's movies, but I remind myself that I am far and away from Cameron's target audience- smart and dangerous 13-year old loners.

My interest in Cameron's work is mostly to do with the instances of what I see as consistent and pervasive comments on the social impact of technology. And, with a delightfully paradoxical presentation of the subject. If I may summarize: Technology is both miracle cure and answer to all the important questions, but is also a potential tool for self-destruction. Arrogance and lack of discipline in the technological environment is fatal. People should get used to the idea that the technology we own is having more fun than we are.

And, in the presentation of this, Cameron advance techniques (designing and building ROV's, advance the technology the 3D digital video system. Some kind of modern film dictum is emerging: You must improve the technology to the level necessary to present the hazards of technology- McCluhan could fill volumes.

While I find some really astounding images in every movie, there are important areas of character- stereotypes and sentimentality, dialogue- forced naturalness, and plot- applied romantic conflict that bother me. And, it interests me that the focus of attention, the deeper characters, and often the heroes of the whole story are women, given that the subject is technology and often in military/combat conditions.

Where Cameron succeeds: Despite the applied quirkiness for demographic reasons, the internal logic is always impeccable as is every technical aspect and the putting together. When there are action sequences, they are cohesive and comprehensible, and have great continuity. Editing is very good and not overly cross -cut so that you can never understand the pov- this is why I found "Dark Knight" unwatchable- and in fact all the Batmen I've seen suffer from that 1/8 second per cut problem.

My expectation that "Avatar" will be wonderful to look at, has a story that works like a fine clock, and will seem well aimed to the 13 year old video gamer in all of us. There will be ethereal military disco music of the future and along the way, we will learn through the artifice of CG, the truth about the way technology ill-applied is forcing us to live in an artificial, virtual way.

We will not have to wait much longer to answer these important questions:

1. Am I a real person?

2. Was the precursor to Avatar "Total Recall"?

3. Could I ever fall in love with someone who is blue and may have a long tail? And can long distant romances succeed?

4. Should I fall in love with someone involved in dangerous political causes on another planet- and has a strict macro-biotic diet? Would I end up being shot at with ray guns while hungry? Plus all that virtual travel time and "hyper-space lag" from changing 977 Billion time zones.

Virtually yours,

Bambi B

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