Oscar-winning director James Cameron has ripped into Marvel and DC characters in a rant about modern day superhero movies.
Cameron isn't the first director to make such statements. Martin Scorsese previously said Marvel movies are 'not cinema' while likening them to theme parks, while Ridley Scott described the MCU as 'f***ing boring as s**t'.
What's surprising in this case is that Cameron himself is in the business of big movie franchises such as Avatar and The Terminator.
However, the 68-year-old filmmaker's criticism focused on the lack of complexity of the characters seen in the Marvel and DC cinematic universes, suggesting they 'act like they're in college'.
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His critique was made in a new interview with The New York Times in which he opened up about his long-awaited Avatar sequel The Way of Water, which is set to drop in December.
Talks turned to the superhero franchises after Cameron spoke about risks that he wouldn't take now after having children.
"I also want to do the thing that other people aren’t doing," he added.
"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.
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"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."
Elaborating on the parental dynamic in his movies, the director continued: "The one thing I’ve learned is that you’ve got to have something that the actors can get their teeth into, something that they can draw on from their life experience.
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"I knew as I was writing it that Sam [Worthington] and Zoe [Saldaña] were new parents and that this stuff would resonate for them.
"But if you’re speaking to a young audience, let them feel validated that kids on another planet, 200 years from now, are going through the same crap they’re going through right now."
As for the sequel itself, The Way Of Water is finally dropping in cinemas on December 16 a whopping 13 years after the original.
The sci-fi adventure will once again be presented in 3D and will make up the first of three follow-up movies.
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As the title suggests, it will vastly set in, around or underwater – and the visuals are beyond anything we've seen on the big screen thus far.
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The official synopsis for the sequel reads: "Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together.
"However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans."
Not long to wait now, folks – popcorn at the ready.
Topics: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel, DC Comics, James Cameron, Film and TV