Even James Cameron Doesn’t Think Prometheus Adds Up Logically

By Brent McKnight | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

James Cameron

Though the cinematic universe originated with Ridley Scott in 1979, director James Cameron left an indelible mark on the Alien franchise with his 1986 sequel Aliens. Depending on your point of view, some even argue that it is the rare follow-up that eclipses the original. While that’s a debate for another time and place, you can bet, because of his involvement, the visionary director has some definite feelings when it comes to the most recent foray into that world, Scott’s Prometheus. As it turns out, he has the same issues with the movie as many of your average viewers.

Over the weekend, Cameron participated in an ask me anything (AMA) session on Reddit—which is where we gleaned that story about the scripts for Avatar 2, 3, and 4. One intrepid fan ventured to ask about his thoughts on Prometheus, and what it contributes to the overall.

Cameron says, “I thought it was an interesting film. I thought it was thought provoking and beautifully, visually mounted, but at the end of the day it didn’t add up logically.”

Yeah, James, you and just about everyone else. While I enjoy Prometheus, quite a bit actually, you want to pull your hair out as you watch every character make the exact wrong decision at every given opportunity. Though Cameron’s answer appears rather straight forward, I can’t help but be curious whether he meant to disparage the logic employed by the people in the film, or if he is talking about the larger internal reason of the story and how it fits in with the rest of the cannon.

Continuing, Cameron says, “But I enjoyed it, and I’m glad it was made. I liked it better than the previous two Alien sequels.” David Fincher’s 1992 Alien 3 and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 1997 Alien: Resurrection both leave something to be desired. And let’s not even start on the two Alien Vs. Predator movies, those unfortunate events are better left unmentioned.

Cameron is, as many of you already know, a big believer in technology. Titanic made massive jumps forward in special effects, and say whatever you want about the story of Avatar, but the film is a mechanical wonder. So it is no surprise that he would praise the technique and tools that went into Prometheus. He says, “And it was done in Native 3D and I’m a big fan of Native 3D done by directors who embrace it as an art form, like Ridley, Scorsese, Ang Lee.”

Cameron recently produced the 9-part Showtime climate change documentary Years of Living Dangerously, but for his next directorial effort, he will return to the far away planet of Pandora. In his AMA, he said that he expects the scripts for Avatar 2, Avatar 3, and Avatar 4 do be complete within six weeks, and that all three films will shoot concurrently.

As for the chances of Prometheus 2, the wheels are turning, though no one appears to be in much of a hurry. The film recently hired Green Lantern writer Martin Campbell to deliver a script.