With the dominance of comic book movies at the box office nowadays, it has also become a subject of criticism from several known directors such as Martin Scorsese. As a result, the artistic value of comic book movies has become a subject of conversation amongst fans. Now, another high-profile director has fired shots at the genre and, particularly, called out its characters.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Avatar: The Way of Water director James Cameron criticized the characters in Marvel and DC movies for their lack of maturity and compared their personality to people who are college-aged.
First, the director discussed the growth and maturity that the Avatar characters Jake and Neytiri have in the upcoming sequel as we will now see them as parents 15 years after we last saw them in the first film.
"Zoe and Sam now play parents, 15 years later. In the first movie, Sam’s character leaps off his flying creature and essentially changes the course of history as a result of this crazy, almost suicidal leap of faith. And Zoe’s character leaps off a limb and assumes there’s going to be some nice big leaves down there that can cushion her fall," Cameron said.
"But when you’re a parent, you don’t think that way. So for me, as a parent of five kids, I’m saying, ‘What happens when those characters mature and realize that they have a responsibility outside their own survival?'"
The Oscar-winning director went on to compare them in contrast to the other tentpole films such as the Marvel and DC films where he claimed that they don't have the maturity that they're supposed to have.
"When I look at these big, spectacular films — I’m looking at you, Marvel and DC — it doesn’t matter how old the characters are, they all act like they’re in college. They have relationships, but they really don’t," he continued.
"They never hang up their spurs because of their kids. The things that really ground us and give us power, love, and a purpose? Those characters don’t experience it, and I think that’s not the way to make movies."
Cameron's recent statement will certainly be controversial amongst comic book movie fans who might disagree with his assessment of the characters. However, this conversation has been ongoing for a while now and it's just yet again proof that comic book movies are indeed not for everyone.
At the end of the day, it's all subjective and there is validity to Cameron's opinion whether you agree with him or not. However, one thing's for sure, we have witnessed the general audience express their love for the characters in comic book movies for the past several years.
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