James Cameron’s extensive career has spanned decades. He is known for incorporating innovative technology throughout his movies to tell expansive stories. Cameron’s movies also cross several genres. One thing that Cameron’s movies have in common is their ability to incorporate action sequences to enhance the stories being told. Cameron uses technology to enhance the action sequences and make them breathtaking.
Some of Cameron’s movies, likeGhosts of the Abyss, focus on practical action to tell a true story. Other movies, likeThe Terminator, are set against a massive backdrop of an apocalyptic wasteland and feature characters taking massive risks to save themselves and their loved ones.Each of these movies feature compelling storylines that are underlined by thrilling action sequences. These stories are ultimately tied together by characters who bring the action to life.
10’Piranha II: The Spawning' (1982)
Starring Tricia O’Neil, Lance Henriksen, Steve Marachuk
Piranha II: The Spawningis considered to be Cameron’s directorial debut, although he disavowed the project for many years. The story follows a coastal town that is being terrorized by vicious marine animals. As members of the town are increasingly victimized by piranha that have developed the ability to fly, they have to solve the mystery of how these fish have evolved so fast. A sunken ship is ground zero for the chaos.
Like the overall story, the action inPiranha II: The Spawningis fairly cheesy. The fact that the story ofPiranha II: The Spawningis so unserious makes it difficult to take any of the horror action seriously. In a lot of ways, the action in this movie is actually quite funny, getting progressively wilder as the movie goes on. The sunken ship’s ultimate destruction is a picture-perfect climax to this fun and zany story.
9’Ghosts of the Abyss' (2003)
Narrated by Bill Paxton
Ghosts of the Abyssis Cameron’s documentary follow-up toTitanic. Cameron joined a group of scientists who took a deep submersible vessel to the ocean floor to explore the wreck of the Titanic. The researchers obtained new footage of the wreck, and reconstructed some of the ship’s structure.Bill Paxtonnarrates the documentary after playing a minor role inTitanic. The crew heard about the events of 9/11 while on the expedition.
ThroughoutGhosts of the Abyss, Cameron emphasizes the practical skill such expeditions take. Even though much of the documentary takes place inside the submersible, Cameron effectively builds tension and story through this real-time action. The action inGhosts of the Abyssis raw, which makes it engaging to watch. Ultimately, this movie is an example of Cameron’s ability to showcase real-world action and tell a compelling, true story.
8’The Abyss' (1989)
Starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantino, Michael Biehn
The Abyssis a sci-fi thriller that follows the sinking of a submarine after they have an encounter with a UFO. When a recovery team is dispatched to investigate, they have to work with a Soviet crew and oil rig workers to find the truth about what happened. Along the way, they find inexplicable events that make them question their own collective sanity. The movie starsEd Harris,Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, andMichael Biehn.
The Abyssis another example of Cameron’s abilityto use water as a venue for engaging action. The movie combines submarine action with action that revolves around aliens.There is a lot of practical action that takes place on the submersible, in particular, that makes the entire story more intense.The Abyss’s action builds tension throughout the story and adds to the mystery as it unfolds. The action underscores what is at stake for this team as they confront the unknown.
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7’Avatar: The Way of Water' (2022)
Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver
Avatar: The Way of Wateris the follow-up to Cameron’sAvatar. The story takes place 16 years after the events ofAvatarand follows James (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and their family.Avatar: The Way of Watershows the Na’vi facing new challenges and new threats to their way of life. The story sets up the future of this franchise, which is going to include a third entry, and possibly a fourth and fifth.
Like its predecessor,Avatar: the Way of Waterfeatures compelling CGI action. This action is used to showcase the core messaging of the movie, including the importance of fighting to preserve the environment. The fact that this environment is so enhanced makes the action that much more dramatic. The fact that characters are played so earnestly against this fantasy backdrop only makes the action more impressive.
Avatar: The Way of Water
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6’Avatar' (2009)
Avataris Cameron’s epic sci-fidrama that was a highlight of the early 2000s. The story is set in the early 22nd century and spotlights the fictional moon of Pandora that is being colonized by humans. This colonization and expansion of a mining operation threatens the indigenous Na’vi tribe.Avataris a meditation on the importance of ecological preservation and the damage that resource extraction causes, through a fictional lens.
Avatarmade full use of the technology of the early 2000s to tell its story.In particular, Cameron uses this technology to create an epic final battle that succeeds in showcasing the stakes that the movie established. This epic final battle showcases how interconnected the world of the Na’vi is, and how critical its preservation is to this story. Ultimately, this action serves as a way to demonstrate just how powerful the natural world is and how it is no match for human industrialization.
5’True Lies' (1994)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bill Paxton
True Liescombines action and humorin a story about a secret agent who hides his identity from his wife until he is outed on a mission.Arnold Schwarzeneggerstars as Harry Tasker, who lives a double life as a secret agent for a counterterrorism organization. His wife, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) and daughter Dana (Eliza Dushku) think he is a computer salesman. Helen eventually becomes caught up in the secret agent life after getting caught up in a mission.
True Liesshowcases Cameron’s ability to direct breathtaking action sequences tinged with comedy. There is one sequence in particular that involves Harry and a helicopter, which summarizes how willing this character is to take major risks. This scene shows how wild the action in this movie can get, while remaining unusually grounded. TrueLiesshows its heart through its action sequences, as so much of it features Harry protecting or rescuing his family.
4’Aliens' (1986)
Starring Sigourney Weaver, Bill Paxton, Carrie Henn
Aliensis the sequel toAlien, and features the return ofSigourney Weaveras Ellen Ripley. After Ripley survives an alien attack on her ship, Nostromo, she is rescued and re-integrated into society, although her employer does not believe the details of the alien attack. Marines later investigate a seemingly abandoned colony, and are brutally attacked after being lulled into a false sense of security and thinking that they are alone.
As a whole,The Alienfranchiseis a mediation on the human condition, and the use of action simply underlines this message.The use of tension inAliensmakes the action that much more thrilling. In particular, Ripley’s actions during the colony rescue highlight what an action hero she is. The way Ripley takes charge during the rescue and in other action scenes highlight what an incredible leader she is and establishes her as an unforgettable protagonist.
3’Titanic' (1997)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Bill Paxton
Titanictells the story of fictional characters on board the real ship that sank in 1912.Titanicportrays a fictional romanceset against the backdrop of a real-life tragedy. Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) doomed love story is compelling, in part because they are from completely different backgrounds, and fall in love under tragic circumstances. The action in theTitanicrevolves around the sinking itself.
What makes the action ofTitanic socompelling is that it is so raw.The sinking itself is horrifying to watch, and it is clear that Cameron and the entire team behind the movie put in a lot of research to ensure authenticity. The sinking is so effective because even though most viewers will know how the story ends, the tension remains palpable. The tragedy of the story is underscored by the fact that, in the face of this massive action sequence, there is a heartbreaking sense of helplessness.
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2’Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
Terminator 2: Judgement Dayis regarded as one of the best entries in theTerminatorfranchise. An evil version of artificial intelligence, Skynet, sends a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) back to the year 1995 to kill John Connor (Edward Furlong), the future leader of a resistance movement, as a child. The resistance returns a less advanced model of a Terminator to protect John from Skynet. John, his mother Sarah (Linda Hamilton) and the protective Terminator are tasked with protecting the future of humanity.
Terminator 2: Judgement Dayblends practical action sequences with advanced effects for the time in which it was filmed. This commitment to making use of both of these mediums makes the overall story more grounded. Each massive action sequence in this movie furthers the goal of the characters, which is to ensure humanity’s survival. These deeply human stakes make the action even more epic.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
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1’The Terminator' (1984)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn
Arnold Schwarzenegger kicks offThe Terminatorfranchiseas a robotic assassin sent from the twenty-first century to kill Sarah Connor, whose son will save humanity in the future. In addition to being a commentary on the perils of artificial intelligence,The Terminatormakes use of a lot of action to tell a deeply human story about a family having to confront their own destiny. The first entry in the franchise is filled with memorable quotes, characters, and a story to invest in.
The action featured inThe Terminatoris as poignant as it is dramatic.Watching the Terminator himself easily destroy his enemies highlights how powerful he is, and what a threat he can be to anyone he considers an adversary. Each scene where the Terminator is showcasing his prowess builds the action to a crescendo and gives him the opportunity to show how powerful he is.The Terminator’s action scenes also subvert a lot of expectations by consistently increasing the stakes.
The Terminator
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