James Cameron, who is no stranger to using strong female characters in his movies, such as Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connors in Terminator 2 and Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri in Avatar, actually wasn’t impressed with Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman film and goes so far as to say it’s a step in the wrong direction.
James Cameron tell the Guardian:
“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!”
James Cameron was then asked why are movies so bad at depicting powerful female characters, with the article noting he was a bit loss for words, and Cameron added:
“I don’t – I don’t know. There are many women in power in Hollywood and they do get to guide and shape what films get made. I think – no, I can’t account for it. Because how many times do I have to demonstrate the same thing over again? I feel like I’m shouting in a wind tunnel!”
I’m not sure I agree with what James Cameron is insinuating about Wonder Woman, as it seems he is saying that because Wonder Woman is an icon, and a beautiful one, that this is the only reason audiences like her, in addition to half the audience being female. James Cameron also seems to be stating that tough female characters have to be in broken and flawed – like Sarah Connor – which I don’t agree with at all, as well. Actually it could be argued Wonder Woman is flawed due to growing up without a father and being isolated from the rest of the world.
It seems I’m not the only one to disagree with James Cameron as the article notes he’s been marred five times!
Update: Patty Jenkins has responded to James Cameron’s Wonder Woman comments.
