In a recent interview, Avatar director Cameron has broken records and made history with his epic movies. However, despite his box office gains, Cameron's movies aren't completely devoid of criticism. In fact, there is one part of Cameron's movies that is consistently critiqued.
Before diving into the negative aspects of Cameron's movies, it's important to give context. Cameron has directed 12 movies in his career. Among the top five highest-grossing movies of all time, three of the movies are Cameron's: Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Titanic. Furthermore, Cameron's films are important because of their technological developments. The CGI used in Avatar is unlike anything else gracing screens these days, and it only raises the bar for Hollywood. In this way, there is little doubt that Cameron has had an overwhelming effect on cinema, regardless of critiques.
Most James Cameron Movies Have Okay Dialogue – And That’s Fine
What Cameron Has Said About His Dialogue
Cameron is a pillar of filmmaking, but his movies don't have the greatest dialogue. Many critics and audience have lauded Cameron for his technical skill and storytelling, but many are underwhelmed by the actual words his characters speak. In Avatar, Jake Sully is an irable character, but speaks like a clichéd action hero. His dialogue doesn't seem realistic, but instead, sounds like he is a character in a movie. Dialogue may seem small in the grand scheme of things, but it has the ability to take a viewer completely out of the movie, which is never a good thing.
Top 5 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time |
How Much They Grossed |
|---|---|
Avatar |
$2.9 Billion |
Avengers: Endgame |
$2.7 Billion |
Avatar: The Way of Water |
$2.3 Billion |
Titanic |
$2.2 Billion |
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens |
$2 Billion |
Apparently, Cameron is well-aware of the "cringeworthy" parts of his movies, but he also came to his own defense. In an interview with Empire, Cameron noted that he has "a lower cringe factor than, apparently, a lot of people do around the dialogue that [he] write[s]." On top of that, he implied that his dialogue cannot be that bad considering that three of his movies are the highest-grossing of all time. In some ways, Cameron has a point. Regardless of box office performance, it can be argued that his cringey dialogue doesn't quite matter that much.
Cameron’s “Cringe Dialogue” Perfectly Fit His Best Action Movies
How Cameron's Dialogue Adds To His Movies
It can be argued that, although Cameron's dialogue is imperfect, it makes sense for his movies. For the most part, Cameron works on epic action movies. Typically, action films focus heavily on good vs evil and the hero saving the day. In this way, when Terminator says "I'll be back," it makes sense with the situation at hand, and also, his character in general. Terminator is not necessarily supposed to be a flawed or dynamic being. Instead, he is a villain, through and through. Therefore, his dialogue doesn't need to be any more complex than that.
At least two of Cameron's movie lines have become memorable quotes in pop culture (i.e. Titanic's "I'm the king of the world.")
Additionally, Cameron's dialogue may make his movies better in some ways. At least two of Cameron's movie lines have become memorable quotes in pop culture (i.e. Titanic's "I'm the king of the world.") This insinuates that these scenes have enough of an emotional impact that audiences them long after they finish watching the movie. Cameron's dialogue may actually add to the nostalgic atmosphere of his movies. It may be "cringey" to some, but to others, it is straightforward, easy to understand, and most importantly, evocative of the moment.
James Cameron’s Movies Have Always Been An Unique Visual Experience
Cameron's Dialogue Isn't The Top Priority
Finally, it's important to note that Cameron has never been known as a director who focuses on dialogue. Cameron is best known for his visual prowess. The biggest draw to Avatar was and continues to be its CGI. If Cameron delivers in that department, then arguably, his dialogue doesn't quite matter as much. Cameron is succeeding in the field that he is known for, and it is good enough that many have been able to overlook the weaker parts of his movies. It will likely continue to be this way as Cameron releases his Avatar movies and beyond.
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Of course, dialogue is still a pivotal part of any movie. Dialogue can truly make or break a project, especially if other parts of the film are also lacking. However, the consensus seems to be that the dialogue in Cameron's movies is able enough that it doesn't really affect his success that much. It doesn't need to be his top priority. In the end, James Cameron will continue to make groundbreaking movies, with or without his "cringey" dialogue.
