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Forums - Movies & TV - Wonder Woman Is "A Step Backwards..."

Wonder Woman Is "A Step Backwards," James Cameron Says; Director Responds

"All of the self-congratulatory back-patting Hollywood's been doing over Wonder Woman has been so misguided."

[UPDATE] Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins responded to Cameron's comments in a statement posted on Twitter.

The original story is below.

Famous filmmaker James Cameron has shared his thoughts on the critically praised action movie Wonder Woman, which stars Gal Gadot in the title role. Speaking to The Guardian, Cameron said the movie feels like "a step backwards" in some regards.

Some of Cameron's biggest movies have featured women in leading roles, including Kate Winslet as Rose in Titanic, Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in Aliens and Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in Terminator. For Wonder Woman, Cameron said the movie is "just male Hollywood doing the same old thing!" Here is Cameron's full quote (via Entertainment Weekly):

"All of the self-congratulatory back-patting Hollywood's been doing over Wonder Woman has been so misguided. She's an objectified icon, and it's just male Hollywood doing the same old thing!

"I'm not saying I didn't like the movie but, to me, it's a step backwards. Sarah Connor was not a beauty icon. She was strong, she was troubled, she was a terrible mother, and she earned the respect of the audience through pure grit. And to me, [the benefit of characters like Sarah] is so obvious. I mean, half the audience is female!"

Wonder Woman opened in June and has made more than $800 million at the global box office, according to Box Office Mojo. The movie will be released onto digital stores on August 29, with a DVD and Blu-ray release to follow in September. The home video version contains a number of extras, including an epilogue.

A sequel to Wonder Woman is on the way, and director Patty Jenkins is coming back to direct with a big pay day, apparently. In July, it was reported that Wonder Woman 2 might be set in the 1980s. Screen Rant stated that the movie will "send Diana against the forces of Soviet Union in the closing days of the Cold War."

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wonder-woman-is-a-step-backwards-james-cameron-say/1100-6452860/

Personal Comment: I'm with James on this one.



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I love James Cameron movies but he is completely misguided on what equality means...



Since everyone probably cares what I think: I generally disagree with most of what Cameron says. I kind of agree with him here, though, but not entirely. It was a very "by the book" superhero movie. It's just that its better than the rest of the DC drivel, and it had a female lead. That being said, at least the movie shows that people will pay money to see well done movies with a female lead.

Also, Cameron comes off as "BUT I DID IT BETTER!!! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!!" here.



Owner of PS4 Pro, Xbox One, Switch, PS Vita, and 3DS

All of the self-congratulatory back-patting Hollywood's been doing over Wonder Woman has been so misguided.

Now allow me to pat myself on the back about how great my female character was.



Not a fan of the WW movie but still, I can't take his words seriously anymore since pretty much praised Terminator Genisys.



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When the last hit he made is nothing more than a retelling of Pocahontas...

Yeah, James, your better years are probably behind.



Hynad said:
When the last hit he made is nothing more than a retelling of Pocahontas...

Yeah, James, your better years are probably behind.

Its about the portrayal of woman in movies, not about the story of either of his movies :P



Ultr said:
Hynad said:
When the last hit he made is nothing more than a retelling of Pocahontas...

Yeah, James, your better years are probably behind.

Its about the portrayal of woman in movies, not about the story of either of his movies :P

I know. Still couldn't prevent myself.



V-r0cK said:

Not a fan of the WW movie but still, I can't take his words seriously anymore since pretty much praised Terminator Genisys.

That scared me too.

However, he acknowledged later that he said that to support Arnold, who is a dear friend. I imagine he really thinks Genisys is garbage.

@OT: I don't know if Wonder Woman is a step backward. Maybe a step sideways? The bigger issue is that the movie just isn't very good. So no one involved with the movie should be doing any back-patting whatsoever. Maybe Pine and Gadot, who had genuine chemistry and charisma. But that's it. 



It sounds more like he has a problem with Wonder Woman in general than he does with the movie.