James Cameron Thinks Gamers Are Like Smokers

Written by Omar Yusuf

Film director, visionary, demi-god -- James Cameron seems to be on top of the world.

But recently, he's been the subject of bad press after anti-smoking groups raised concern over the behavior of Sigourney Weaver's character, Grace Augustine, in the recent mega-blockbuster Avatar. Augustine lit up on more than one occasion during the two and a half hour film.

Cameron defended his choice to include 3-D tobacco smoking in the movie by explaining that Augustine was not a role model for viewers. Furthermore, Cameron claims the smoking habit was a critique of gamers and their addictive tendencies. As Augustine ignored the well-being of her physical body and placed added emphasis on her avatar, so too do gamers allow their bodies to deteriorate while they sit at their computers.

Either Cameron just pulled that out of his ass, or...actually, I'm pretty certain he pulled that out of his ass.

What do you think?

[via The New York Times]

Comments (13)

I vote: He pulled this out of his ass. And why are people complaining about this in the first place? A lot of people in movies smoke -- it's been going on for decades for crying out loud.

Should we criticize the other characters for wielding weapons and -- *shudder* -- using them? Isn't killing and more killing a bit more harmful than a few cigarettes? Sheesh...I'm really sick of society.

Liked your "top of the world" line, btw. But then I was wondering, is it supposed to be "king of the world"? Or maybe you weren't going for the Titanic reference at all.

Dan Hsu , January 05, 2010

I'm just going to put this out on the table for everyone. I'm going to blow your mind... Mad Men. Why is this a problem here, but not on Mad Men? Unless there IS a controversy about Mad Men that I'm oblivious to.

Eric Tillirson , January 05, 2010

Anyone who has seen Avatar would realize that James Cameron puts about as much thought into his social commentary as a c student puts into his homework. It's only there to make people think he's trying. It's only natural that he say 'duh. kids play too many video games and they need to exercise more' since that's roughly as revolutionary as 'us killing natives to get resources for ourselves is bad.'

What really shocks me is that his super popular movie actually has a tie in video game that is contributing to the horrors of childhood obesity! Surely he should do the right thing and take that game off of the market!...no?...damn! I was so close to making more room on the shelves for better games!

Jeffrey Sandlin , January 05, 2010

I never found anything wrong with smoking. I smoke in social situations or drinking with friends on the weekend. I have mates who do lines... James should've gone to more night clubs when he was a young adult.

Michael Black , January 06, 2010

I believe James Cameron uses the example of a smoker who neglects the health of their body to be synonymous of a person who neglects their bodies by spending too much time online with their avatars. There has beeen reported cases of video game addiction, and Cameron does not say all video game players are addicted to games.

Juan Letona , January 06, 2010

Cameron is right.

But smoking shouldn't be put in movies.

William Figueroa , January 06, 2010

I loved Avatar. I really did!

But this comment... *sigh* I guess he's right for some gamers.

Anand debusschere , January 06, 2010

Since when is it press worthy that characters in movies smoke?

Michael Bradley , January 06, 2010

As a 132lb smoker and gamer with a basic level of hygiene (and amazingly for someone with 2 hobbies which seem to disgust everyone alive according to the press, a social life) I'd like to ask a question rather than answer it. Rather than find which orifice he pulled this answer from, I'd like to know which one I can shove it back down.

That sounded angry, it's not.

Joe Entwistle , January 06, 2010

The same thing could be said about studying in college. After taking at least 16 units every quarter for 2 years I gained 20 pounds and I swear my eye sight has gotten worse.

What about the people who have an average desk job... they sit behind a computer for 8 hours everyday! The closest I have ever got to that is 4 hours of Mario RPG back in the day.

Maybe he is just bitter that we easily saw through the guise that was "Avatar: 'Not The Movie' The Game."

Evan Campbell , January 06, 2010

James Cameron... suck my dick.

Another example of people hating what they don't understand. Psychology 101. You got to always have someone to blame. Most people do it sadly... Lets find something easy to blame... video games... illegal immigrants... homosexuals... blah, blah, blah!

People suck.

Joshua Garcia , January 06, 2010

I honestly thought he was joking at first, but I tend to like to think people are more intelligent than they really are. I'm always hearing people saying stupid things in the media and think, "ha ha, a joke," then find out... Oh. They really did mean that.

Heather Smith , January 07, 2010