I AM KING OF THE WORLD! Ranking James Cameron's Films
- Thread starter Snarf Zagyg
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Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
I'd move T1 to the #3 slot. Otherwise, no notes.
Autumnal
Bruce Baugh, Writer of Fortune
People who criticize unobtainium as a stupid Cameron invention are simply displaying their own ignorance.
en.m.wikipedia.org
Unobtainium - Wikipedia
Clint_L
Legend
I think most of us are aware that he didn't invent the term and it was kind of an in-joke, but it's still dumb in the film.People who criticize unobtainium as a stupid Cameron invention are simply displaying their own ignorance.
Unobtainium - Wikipedia
My only real quibbles would be to say that the 1st Avatar film in a Cameron list, needs to be in the Top 3 somehow, and if possible, suggest that a 3A/3B (tied for third) slot be created for this.
The only reason I can advocate for this is because of audiences' reaction to it in the theater/IMAX. It was genuine spectacle, peoples' responses from a wide gamut (ppl who do art for a living to just casual movie goers) reminded me immediately of how folks responded to Fantasia from Disney. One of the few times I felt my mouth open, and I just could not shut it.
The other would be a mild rearranging of the middle set of films; I'd move True Lies back to position #7 or even #8 given the titles listed in the Top 3 are the gold standard for this director, and Abyss and Titanic up past it. The qualities of these films are just better.
They're both pretty interchangeable in terms of position, I feel a slight nod to Abyss coming ahead.
The only reason I can advocate for this is because of audiences' reaction to it in the theater/IMAX. It was genuine spectacle, peoples' responses from a wide gamut (ppl who do art for a living to just casual movie goers) reminded me immediately of how folks responded to Fantasia from Disney. One of the few times I felt my mouth open, and I just could not shut it.
The other would be a mild rearranging of the middle set of films; I'd move True Lies back to position #7 or even #8 given the titles listed in the Top 3 are the gold standard for this director, and Abyss and Titanic up past it. The qualities of these films are just better.
They're both pretty interchangeable in terms of position, I feel a slight nod to Abyss coming ahead.
Great Tier:
1. Aliens - Perfection in the action/sci-fi genre.
2. Terminator - Simply a classic.
3. T2 - Do I need to say anything?
4. The Abyss - This movie deserves so much more praise than it gets. The technique, the effects combined with the cinematography... It's amazing and should be more respected than it is.
5. Avatar - I think this movie got on the "cool to hate" list, and doesn't get the respect it deserves.
6. Titanic - The fact that this Oscar winning movie is so low on the list just goes to show how much I think Cameron is a great director.
Special B-movie Tier
We really can't judge the skill of doing a good job at low-budget high-entertainment schlock on the same scale we judge other movies, can we?
A. Galaxy of Terror (2nd Unit Director) - This is one of the best (and possibly highest-production-value) movies I think Roger Corman ever made, and a huge part of that is because Cameron managed to do so much with so little. It's almost, but not quite, a legit movie.
B. Escape from New York (Visual Effects) - Definitely a higher tier movie that the others on this B list. But Cameron gets major credit for many of the effects that made this movie more than a standard B flick. Kurt Russel gets a lot of credit, too.
C. Piranha 2 - The movie ain't great. But it's still entertaining. If you like that kinda thing, it's not bad.
D. Battle Beyond the Stars (Visual Effects) - Okay, not a lot of excuses here.
Only one I don't really like:
True Lies - Over the top and cheesy, but too high budget to be entertaining as a B-movie. Missed the mark for me.
Haven't seen:
The Way of Water
1. Aliens - Perfection in the action/sci-fi genre.
2. Terminator - Simply a classic.
3. T2 - Do I need to say anything?
4. The Abyss - This movie deserves so much more praise than it gets. The technique, the effects combined with the cinematography... It's amazing and should be more respected than it is.
5. Avatar - I think this movie got on the "cool to hate" list, and doesn't get the respect it deserves.
6. Titanic - The fact that this Oscar winning movie is so low on the list just goes to show how much I think Cameron is a great director.
Special B-movie Tier
We really can't judge the skill of doing a good job at low-budget high-entertainment schlock on the same scale we judge other movies, can we?
A. Galaxy of Terror (2nd Unit Director) - This is one of the best (and possibly highest-production-value) movies I think Roger Corman ever made, and a huge part of that is because Cameron managed to do so much with so little. It's almost, but not quite, a legit movie.
B. Escape from New York (Visual Effects) - Definitely a higher tier movie that the others on this B list. But Cameron gets major credit for many of the effects that made this movie more than a standard B flick. Kurt Russel gets a lot of credit, too.
C. Piranha 2 - The movie ain't great. But it's still entertaining. If you like that kinda thing, it's not bad.
D. Battle Beyond the Stars (Visual Effects) - Okay, not a lot of excuses here.
Only one I don't really like:
True Lies - Over the top and cheesy, but too high budget to be entertaining as a B-movie. Missed the mark for me.
Haven't seen:
The Way of Water
DrunkonDuty
he/him
I'd put Aliens at #1.
Then T1, then T2.
After that? M'eh, I have no opinion.
But if we are allowing Battle Beyond the Stars, then Battle Beyond the Stars heads the B-grade section. Love that movie. I mean, if you're gonna remake Seven Samurai, remake it bad. Real bad.
Then T1, then T2.
After that? M'eh, I have no opinion.
But if we are allowing Battle Beyond the Stars, then Battle Beyond the Stars heads the B-grade section. Love that movie. I mean, if you're gonna remake Seven Samurai, remake it bad. Real bad.
MGibster
Legend
What do you mean? Tom Arnold was great in that movie.
MGibster
Legend
I've never seen an Avatar movie or Titanic. I can't nitpick anyone's ranking as Terminators 1 & 2 are great and Aliens is fantastic. I'd rank Terminator 1 as higher than the sequel simply becuase it was the original. And Harlan Ellison can take a long walk off a short pier for claiming credit for the movie.
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