3D isn't even worth paying extra for at the cinema, let alone having to buy completely new equipment to watch it a t home, I think from that it's even more obvious this is about Hollywood gouging film watchers.

I'm thinking of going to see Avatar if the promotion in one of our local cinemas is still on - 3D flicks are the same price as the standard ones

I have severe doubts about 3D too, but Cameron does story and character better than most

The first two Terminator films and Aliens wouldn't have worked without either (it wasn't my sort of film, but Titanic obviously had those aspects for women too), though I do wish he'd get back to sci-fi* that was more bloke-orientated

* Or even a high-tech thriller, or superhero flick (his Spider-man read well)...

Guys I disagree, I think Cameron is good at caricature not character and scenario not story as his plots serve merely to link from expensive and impressive set piece to the next, and with the majority of his films it's only by virtue of clever casting he is able to convince the viewer there is more going on with the characters than actually there is. Michael Biehn, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Paxton, even Arnie are fine examples of this.

Titanic is the best and worst example of this, largely because the two leads are very good actors they make their characters engage with the audience. Consequently when the boat starts to sink so does the film because Cameron is so focused on the spectacle he completely forgets about the audience, and concentrates on abusing his stars, the ending of The Abyss is the same.

Aliens unfortunately has dated very badly, when you're sixteen it's the greatest film ever and many people maintain that fondness. However it's now the weakest in the series (partly as a result of the overused stereotypical military and the conniving company rep caricatures) whilst many of the lines are memorable little else is apart from the visual spectacle, it doesn't have any of the dread and tension of the first film.

In terms of structure (and entertainment) Terminator 3 is superior to the second in the series, it's simply a balls to the floor action film, without Terminator 2's cynical and manipulative mawkishness , it's cold and hard, like the first film rather than fluffy and sentimental. I think is down to having experienced and professional writers who understand the concept of story and structure not to mention pacing, it's one of the best examples of a film tha rolls from one set piece to the next by virtue of the characters, not at their expense.

Cleverly brining this post back on topic and see how something like 3D is appealing to Cameron and others like him because it's another means with which to paper up the cracks of poor story lines and underdeveloped characters. No doubt Michael Bay's next film will be 3D.

Knocking Aliens is certainly dodgy territory, it's a film people love dearly so I'll leave at agree to disagree. To be honest, I think it's more the distasteful metaphor for American colonialism that really put me off it, a theme further expounded in an equally distasteful manner in True (ly afwul) Lies.