It’s not a secret that James Cameron, likewise many other acclaimed directors, believes in seeing a movie at a movie theater. As opposed, to “Sitting on his ass” watching at home via streaming services. Yeah, that is what he said, and he is absolutely right about that!
The success of avatar 2
Avatar 2 has earned over $1.7 billion and currently ranks as the seventh-highest-grossing film ever. With its international box office total of over $1.19 billion, ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ ranks as the fifth-biggest international release behind only “Avatar,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Titanic” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” James Cameron spoke with Variety during the Official Digital Pre-Show for the Golden Globes and reacted to the “Avatar” sequel’s box office dominance, and at the same time, expressed his detest for streaming services. This is what he said in the interview.
James Cameron on what #Avatar's success means for the film industry: “We're back to theaters…Enough with the streaming already! I’m tired of sitting on my a–!” #GoldenGlobes https://t.co/ywZXlvQL4G pic.twitter.com/RP0IQbrxpv
— Variety (@Variety) January 10, 2023
“Enough with the streaming already! I’m tired of sitting on my ass”
“I’m not thinking of it in those terms,” Cameron said when told the stat. “I’m thinking of it in the terms of we’re going back to theaters around the world. They’re even going back to theaters in China where they’re having this big COVID surge. We’re saying as a society, ‘We need this! We need to go to theaters.’ Enough with the streaming already! I’m tired of sitting on my ass.” Furthermore, Cameron addressed moviegoers who text during films at the theater. “They’re missing the point,” the director said. “When we go to the movies we make a deal with ourselves to have undivided attention for a couple of hours. It’s about immersing yourself…choosing to commit to that ahead of time.”
‘Avatar 4’ and ‘5’ are both written.
Moreover, Cameron told Variety that: “’ Avatar 3,’ is already in the can – we’ve already captured and photographed the whole film, so we’re in extended post-production to do all that CG magic. And then ‘Avatar 4’ and ‘5’ are both written. We even have some of ‘4’ in the can. We’ve begun a franchise at this point. We’ve begun a saga that can now play out over multiple films”.
Wrapping up
From a personal view, we agree 100% with Cameron. We do think that those movies were made to be screened on the big screen, especially, on the huge canvas (IMAX theater). Movie theater offers and allows much higher immersiveness compared to home TV (even if you have a state-of-the-art 8K home theater system). Very few of Netflix’s flagship features films have succeeded., and in a post-Covid era, acclaimed directors and cinematographer don’t have a vast excuse to shoot for Netflix. They should aim their creativity and abilities to be seen in a real movie theater, like in the good old days. Think differently? Feel free to throw your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Times are tight. Stop raising ticket prices you’ll get more people back in.
I agree that “streaming” a movie is not the best way to see it for technical reasons; Streaming limits the bandwidth which in turn affects image and sound quality. However, I don’t agree, if that’s Cameron’s premise, that seeing a movie in a theater is the ONLY way to see it. There are a few major issues with seeing any movie in a movie theater (some I’ve mentioned further on). Personally, and I have a 75″ high-end flat-panel TV, I do NOT and will NOT watch movies on my TV even though it provides an excellent picture. If really I’m interested in a movie I will purchase the Blu-ray (if it’s available) and get it in either standard HD and/or 4K and watch it on my home projector with my sound system providing Dolby ATMOS (or Auro-3D) with 11.2 channels, using a 125″ diagonal screen. Certainly that’s not like seeing it in an IMAX theater, but it’s a far cry from streaming, and to my eyes and sensibilities my home system produces a better movie experience partly due to the quality of the audio and video gear, and thanks to no candy-wrapper crackles, cell-phone call, stupid and dumb talking, bed-bug infestation, and the high price of admission now a days. In terms of my own home theater system, I’ve had comments from other to confirm that opinion that it’s a better experience that attending a movie theater, so I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. And frankly, the trend to watch movies on home theater systems, especially as prices for home theater projectors come down, is not going to go away. Rather, it’s an area that will lend new life into viewing movies in general. So, while Cameron’s comments on streaming are correct, they also need to be put into context. Streaming is detrimental to the best movie experience, and seeing movies in an IMAX theater is certainly an experience, but these are not the only way to watch a movie in a theater-like format that loses little if one has a movie projector or similar device to use.
Solid thoughts. For me, IMAX is the only way 🙂
Cameron is a delusional, selfish old man. Made a couple really good movies, but mostly drivel. Titanic, terrible boring movie. The actual Titanic, Jimmy we already know everything there is to know, and nobody cares, at all.
As far as theatres….cut the ticket prices in half, cut the concession prices in half, and make better movies. Oh, then ban cell phones and parents with 8 kids, then I will consider going back to a theater. Avatar 2, lazy. You have no ideas left old man, and if you do, you will ruin them with very little actual story and character development. You suck.
I’m against streaming unless it is a TV series. When it comes to motion pictures I prefer going to see a movie to a theater with as big screen as possible. I love IMAX and everything 3D. But theaters need to ban cell phone use during a movie and parents with kids, that keep talking during the movie and cause total distraction. Too many people with ADHD that can’t focus on a movie for 2 hours. Many times I have to tell the people making noise to shut up or go out and find an employee and bring them into the theater and point at the people making the noise, in front of everyone.