James Cameron is not impressed with SFX in Marvel movies: “Thanos? Come on”

Is James Cameron very impressed with the special effects in his new Avatar movie, very disappointed with the effects in Marvel movies, or both?

“I’m just saying ahead of time that I’m not going to diss the Marvel or DC Universe,” legendary director James Cameron told ComicBook.com at the top of a new interview. “Love those movies.”

With an intro like that, you know there’s a turn coming. And Cameron has been open about what he sees as some of the shortcomings of the superhero-industrial complex lately. “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,” he said the other month. “They have relationships, but they really don’t. 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.”

This time, ComicBook.com asked Cameron about the technology that goes into Marvel movies. Had he learned anything from them that he incorporated into his new movie, Avatar: The Way of Water? “The big comic book films have been driving the sheer volume of the industry,“ he said, starting positive. ”The rising tide of technique raises everybody together. It gives you higher quality artists, more tools and plug-ins, and code [to use]. You’ve got more talented people writing code out there.”

"WETA Effects, as it’s now known, is the best. Right? Industrial Light & Magic does great work, but when it comes to the kind of emotive facial stuff that we’re doing? Thanos? Come on. Give me a break. You saw [Avatar: The Way of Water]. It’s not even close."

WETA worked on The Way of Water while ILM works on Marvel movies. It’s clear whose work Cameron appreciates more. “Sometimes you can understand the character’s inner monologue with themselves and what they’re feeling even before they say a word,” he said about the facial expressions on CGI characters in Avatar 2.

So Cameron has a lot of confidence in his own work. That’s great. Does he need to disparage the work of other special effects technicians to make his point? Maybe, maybe not, but it sure is entertaining.

Avatar: The Way of Water comes out in theaters on December 16.

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