Let’s get something straight- both of these are really good movies. There is absolutely no question about this. However, which one of these masterpieces by James Cameron takes the prize for being his best film ever? This is a tough question to answer for sure. Yet, let’s compare some of their aspects so that people can make their own decisions about which is actually better.
Avatar and Titanic were both groundbreaking films that changed the way movies are made. Titanic became the highest grossing film of all time up to that point in 1998. It earned over $600 million domestically and more than twice that amount worldwide. It essentially conquered all box office records of its time. Avatar, however, broke many of these records when it came out in 2009, 12 years after Titanic. Avatar is currently the highest grossing film in the United States and in the world. Yet, this does not necessarily mean that Avatar was more popular because of inflation and rising movie ticket prices over the years. So, box office lets us know that both movies are extremely popular, but it doesn’t necessarily allow one to differentiate between the two films.
In terms of script, I would say that Titanic’s was better. Titanic told a better story. It allowed the audience to identify better with the main characters, Jack and Rose. The love story between these two characters really captivated audiences. The suspense they created gave the movie a dramatic flavor that went along amazingly with the special effects.
Yet, Avatar definitely had better special effects. The advantages of IMAX theatres and 3-D really allowed audiences to see things they had not before in a movie theatre. Again, however, special effects is not necessarily the best aspect to compare the two films. True, Avatar was better in this category, but it came 12 years after Titanic. James Cameron probably would have created magical special effects in Titanic as well if he had had the technology available in 2009 when he made this film.
So, the jury is out on which film is better. I personally like both of them a lot. I can’t just choose one. At the end, though, we don’t really have to choose. We, as movie watchers, can enjoy both masterpieces and wait anxiously for Cameron’s next major hit.
You mentioned the point of ticket inflation, yet didn't really make it clear how large of an affect it had on Avatar's success compared to Titanic. I do agree with you though, Titanic was a much better movie. It had a much better script and significantly better acting. The only reason i felt Avatar did so well was due to the amazing advances in animation. I admit, after seeing the previews, I knew I had to pay for everything meaning the whole IMAX, 3-D viewing experience (which could actually be an argument in the rising ticket prices-the variation of ticket prices and the more expensive options that are offered). The special affects made for a highly entertaining movie but once the plot was introduced, I was unimpressed. So, in the long run, I still believe Titanic was a much better film.
ReplyDelete