By Kevin Rogers
Assistant Opinion Editor
James Cameron is poised to dethrone George Lucas as the “Biggest Money Grabber in Film History.”
James Cameron, looking to make a guaranteed multi-billion dollar empire off his 2009 hit “Avatar,” has announced his plans for building the world of “Avatar” on the big screen. Cameron is filming two sequels to “Avatar” simultaneously, the first planned for a 2015 release. Additionally, he’ll make a fourth film to serve as a prequel to the original film, which could lead to even more “Avatar” films, according to a Sept. 11 article on the movie news site Collider.
“Avatar,” despite being the highest-grossing film of all time, was as formulaic an adventure movie as could have been made. Its impressive visual effects made up for the rehashed characters and plotlines, but it’s not a movie that requires this seemingly endless stream of planned sequels and prequels. It’s entertaining enough, but there’s very little to it.
Let’s look at the franchise it will inevitably be compared to should Cameron’s plans come to fruition: “Star Wars.” Like “Avatar,” George Lucas’s “Star Wars” upped the ante for visual effects in its respective periods. Both used new technologies to create impressive worlds and creatures on the big screen.
The major difference is “Star Wars” introduced the world to unforgettable characters. Some thirty-five years after the original release, the world remembers Han Solo, Yoda and Darth Vader. It told an original story that cemented itself in our culture.
Avatar can’t say the same. It came out three years ago, but I’ll wager most can’t name the film’s protagonist and antagonist. The story, too, is forgettable.
I doubt many from my generation will be bonding with their children over the wars between the Na’vi and the military-industrial complex in the same way I bonded with my family over the story of Luke Skywalker’s famous daddy issues.
Let’s be honest. “Avatar” is probably entitled the planned sequels. It made its billions from its theatrical release, its special edition director’s cut release and its super-special-edition director’s cut Blu-ray release. But what are we to do with the prequels?
The reason the concept of the “Star Wars” prequels worked is because we were presented with hints of Darth Vader’s past and the history of the Jedi throughout the original trilogy. That being said, the prequels were weak compared to the original trilogy. It’s a shame Lucas went for expanding visual effects and profitability rather than telling a compelling story. But at least there was some desire for those stories to be told.
What would we get from an “Avatar” prequel? Cameron has said he wants to explore the start of the colonization of Pandora. Will we see the well-intentioned colonists finding unobtanium and losing their humanity? Will we see what made “Avatar’s” mercenary commander such a nasty guy? Probably.
The problem is, I’m not sure if many people want to see how such one-dimensional characters came to be so one-dimensional.
Of course, as long as Pandora keeps looking pretty and there is some loose resemblance of a plot, the films are guaranteed to bring in billions upon billions of dollars through dozens of theatrical re-releases and special edition DVD releases. As some recent franchises have demonstrated, as long as a stream of mediocrity keeps making money, that stream of mediocrity will keep flowing.
Cameron’s plan for prequels to a movie that doesn’t require a prequel makes him worthy of the title of “Biggest Money Grabber in Film History.” Congratulations…I think.
rogerskd10@bonaventure.edu.
