By Michael Lyons
Filmmakers dream of one movie that becomes a blockbuster, or changes the landscape of film, or impacts pop culture...Director James Cameron has had multiple movies that fit this bill.
And, four of them celebrate anniversaries this year. From killer cyborgs with Austrian accents to banshee-riding blue creatures, here’s a look back at movies from James Cameron, the man who likes to look at box office records and simply say, “I’ll be back.”
“The Terminator,” released October 26, 1984 - celebrating 35 Years.
What more can be said about one of the most iconic science fiction action films of all time? A low-budget film starring a former professional bodybuilder has gone from being a “B Movie” to a masterpiece and with good reason.
Part “Twilight Zone” episode, part “Time Machine, “ “The Terminator” is a true original, not just a unique story about a cyborg who comes back in time to assassinate the mother of a future freedom fighter, but also a film with heart and depth that dares to say something about peace in our time.
And, after multiple attempts at stardom, with this film, Arnold Schwarzenegger found the role that would define his career, make him a star and give him the signature line of dialogue that would become his trademark.
“The Abyss,” released August 9, 1989 - celebrating 30 Years.
James Cameron’s “Forgotten Masterpiece,” most definitely deserves to be remembered.
A search and rescue Team, looking to recover a sunken submarine, enlist the assistance of an oil platform crew and all wind up discovering an alien race living deep within the depths of the ocean.
One of the few movies to capture the claustrophobia and mystery of underwater also attempts to tell a tale of world peace. With Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in the leads, there some solid acting in “The Abyss,” along with (still amazing) cutting edge technology that helped usher in the age of computer generated imagery in film.
“The Abyss” is also one of those Studio films, in which certain scenes were cut before its initial release. The “Director’s Cut” that was released years later, is the definitive way to watch this film.
If it’s been a while, or you’ve never seen, it’s most definitely worth diving into “The Abyss.”
“True Lies,” released July 14, 1994 - celebrating 25 years
James Cameron’s romantic comedy...told with gunfire, espionage and explosions.
Arnold and James reunite for this tale of a US government agent, who tries to keep his work from his wife (a very funny Jamie Lee Curtis) and soon finds them all getting pulled into his spy world.
One moment droll and hysterical and the next moment action-packed and spectacular (the scene in which a bridge in the Florida Keys is destroyed is a stunner), “True Lies” is decidedly different Cameron and a giddy movie ride from beginning to end.
“Avatar,” released December 18, 2009 - celebrating 10 years.
Hard as it is to believe, one of the biggest movies of all time and a movie that changed technological possibilities in future films, is now a decade old.
The tale of a mining company who invade the peaceful planet of Pandora and the alien species of the Na’Vi became the box-office champion of all time, until “Avengers: Endgame” took that title this summer.
With seamless motion capture technology and immersive 3-D filmmaking, “Avatar” was a theatrical event that played like a two and half hour theme park ride.
Much discussed sequels are on the horizon and devotees can’t wait to revisit Pandora and see what Cameron has up his imaginative, technological sleeve.
With so many milestones, these films are definitely worthy of a “Cameron-thon,” celebrating the director who may indeed be, as he himself said, when he won his Oscar, “The King of the World!”
Sources: Wikipedia
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