 Originally Posted by Neil
There seems to be an approach by some people when not enjoying a particular film or director, to level criticism that seems holy unfair and verging on irrational. Recently we've seen "rubbish" and "$hit" and "crap" levelled at James Cameron and also at Sam Raimi for example.
Ok, well this is a swipe at me, obviously.
I've already said that I don't think that Cameron is that great a director and explained why I didn't think 'Titanic' was the greatest movie experience in the world. They're opinions based on having watched his films and being critical of them. He did hit the mark, with 'The Terminator' and 'Aliens', however, as stated previously. Cameron takes the helm of large projects usually and for that he seems to get accolades that focus beyond his directorial umph. But, when the shininess of the new tech wears off, you're left with characters, pacing, dialogue and acting. These are the final and most important marks for a director and in that, I think cameron fails more than he succeeds. His limitations as a director of people becomes clearer when the smoke settles.
I've also explained why I think Raimi is a "rubbish" director and one only has to look at his output (of which I've seen everything, bar the two student films he made before 'The Evil Dead'). They aren't good films by a long shot, although, I have said that I liked 'A Simple Plan' (even if it isn't that memorable) and again, there isn't a doubt in my mind that his new 'Poltergeist' effort will run the gamut of mediocre to woeful. Because, simply put, his previous efforts don't promise much. Maybe Sam has a great film in there just waiting to burst out, but I'm not holding my breath.
Again, these are opinions based on having viewed the directors material, in some cases more than once. It's not based on any zeitgeist, or a popularity contest. I couldn't give a fuck what people thought of what I think. But, it's what I think nonetheless.
I even watched 'Titanic' again, after the Cameron thread and my opinion hasn't changed. While it's accomplished effects wise, it a failure in other departments, like characterisation, pacing, script, dialogue and acting and that won't change no matter how many times I watch it. The same can be said for 'Avatar', which I only watched a few months ago for the first time. So, I completely avoided the humdrum of it being the "greatest film evar!!!". The same criticism of 'Titanic' can be laid at 'Avatar' too, although it's probably better acted. But, even the effects, this time weren't that stellar.
You seem to be labouring under the impression that I don't rate Cameron or Raimi in an effort to generate some sort of "kewl". I can assure you, nothing is further from the truth. I am not trying to avoid "shades of grey" either. I am simply just being honest with my opinion.
|
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. [click for more]
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
), and just wouldn't shut the hell up - really ill-behaved - so in all the quiet moments you had that chattery little git jabbering away like a Jakovasaur or something just as annoying. At least the loud bits masked him ... ... but in The Avengers there was no such interruption, which was sweet-as. 
Bookmarks