Today's a slow news day, ladies and gentlemen. After getting up at 12, and with the time of writing being 5:17 in the pm, I've managed to fit in the Director's Cut of Terminator 2 and a 3-hour session of Call of Duty, during which time I shouted in anger approximately 12 times after I was killed in THE EXACT SAME SPOT each time. A military strategist I am not.
Having marvelled at the story and, for its time, groundbreaking special effects, a very rare mix in a big-budget film, which had the highest budget ever at the time of production ($102m for those interested), Terminator 2, as you will know, is a James Cameron film. I am currently of the belief that James Cameron is one of the finest directors of all time. You may disagree, and that's perfectly fine, but when you consider all of his films (except Piranhas II) he's never set a foot wrong, plus he's arguably done more to advance film-making technology than any other director of his generation, with Avatar being the prime and current example. Ok, I found a blip. His 3D camera system was used to make the 3D Hannah Montana film. He's still awesome though! He's also responsible through the innovations he's brought for the current trend in 3D movies, which has had mixed results for me so far, but I'm looking forward to seeing Avatar, Tron: Legacy and the Star Wars films, when they eventually get released in 3D (Lucas says it's happening!)
So yes, back to Cameron, and I'll list my opinion of all of his films I've seen:
The Terminator - Low-budget epic.
Aliens - An action horror movie at it's finest, only bettered by the original.
The Abyss - Haven't seen it, but the stories behind the production alone make me want to look into it...
Terminator 2 - Judgement Day - Improves upon the sequel in every way, up there with The Godfather Part II and The Empire Strikes Back.
True Lies - Arnold Schwarzenegger's best non-Terminator film, if only for the line "You're fired!" (If you haven't seen the film, you need to youtube that line...)
Titanic - It didn't win 11 Oscars for no reason...
His crown is under threat from a very small number of directors, Michael Mann being the top contender. Manhunter (with Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecter, or Lecktor as he is in this film, and with CSI's Gil Grissom as Will Graham) is a far better film than Brett Ratner's remake (Red Dragon), Heat (Al Pacino, AND Robert De Niro!!!) Collateral (Tom Cruise's best film, with Jamie Foxx, Ali (Will Smith's best film), and Public Enemies are also top-notch.
Bryan Singer, with The Usual Suspects, X-Men, X2 and Superman Returns, is another favourite of mine, and because he couldn't do X-Men: The Last Stand because he was filming Superman, so Brett Ratner was left to fuck up YET ANOTHER franchise, having already confirmed his place in hell by directing all 3 instalments of Rush Hour, although while giving Jackie Chan a much-needed job, he also introduced us to the impossibly high voice of Chris Tucker, and for that, he should belong in cinematic Room 101.
Cameron Crowe would also be on the list if he hadn't directed Vanilla Sky, so he joins Wes Anderson, Judd Apatow and John Lasseter on the nearly-there list.
George Lucas doesn't make the list because he didn't direct the best two films in the saga, Empire and Return, Irvin Kershner and Richard Marquand did respectively, so he's not in the list either.
So, that's my list over, although my hatred of Brett Ratner will live for a long, long time. Also, here's another franchise he'll fuck up: He's directing Beverly Hills Cop IV! Admittedly the third was kinda shit, but director John Landis and the ever-fantastic-for-no-good-reason Judge Reinhold saved it from certain doom. Ah well, if you fancy letting me you who your favourite is, feel free to comment away!
Darren out, saying if you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success.
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Now playing: Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street
via FoxyTunes
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