James Cameron has directed two installments in the "Terminator" franchise and is now planning to turn "Avatar" into a trilogy. But he still feels that the only reason sequels exist is because Hollywood is out of ideas and is forced to re-use the same characters and storylines.

"We have a story crisis," he said (translated). "Now they want to make the 'Battleship' game into a film. This is pure desperation. Everyone in Hollywood knows how important it is that a film is a brand before it hit theaters. If a brand has been around, 'Harry Potter' for example, or 'Spider-Man,' you are light years ahead. And there lies the problem. Because unfortunately these franchises are become more ridiculous. 'Battleship.' This degrades the cinema."

Cameron went on to say that the only reason Warner Bros split the last "Harry Potter" book into two films is because the studio knew it would be able to make more money. He called the move "excessive." Cameron, meanwhile, released "Avatar" in theaters twice, created two separate DVD/Blu-ray editions of the film and is now converting "Titanic" to 3D.

Source: Spiegel
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There can be little doubt that Hollywood is in dire need of even semi-decent ideas (and the friggin' scripts to go with them!), but Cameron's last two films have failed for me on every level bar special effects, so... And here's Popbitch's take on some upcoming films:

The ten worst remakes in 2011

Everyone loves a good remake! No? Well, if you don’t, get ready to slap your forehead – here are the ten worst remakes coming in 2011:

Footloose

Originally slated to star Zac Efron, this one will only be worth watching if they get Kevin Bacon to play a high-schooler again. That would be funny.

Commando

Along with Conan and Total Recall, here’s another Arnold gem being needlessly revisited. These films without Schwarzenegger = Not worth watching.

The Warriors

“Caaan yooouu diiig iiit?” “NO. No we can’t.”

Drop Dead Fred

Not exactly a classic to begin with, but entirely pointless all the same. Even with a mooted Russel Brand in Rik Mayall’s place.

Short Circuit

“Johnny 5 is alive!” Well, he’s dead to us as soon as this remake comes out.

They Live

A true ‘cult’ classic being remade for the mainstream. The only way to salvage this one would be to put The Rock in it.

Cliffhanger

Err, why?

Battle Royale

Remaking the controversial Japanese film in Hollywood is a sure-fire way to dilute everything that was good about the original. If it’s anything below an 18 they’ve missed the point. And if Zac Efron goes anywhere near it…

Spider-man

We still can’t get our heads around this one. Where is Tobey Maguire? What the hell is going on?

The Blob

Already one of the best remakes of all time, why bother revisiting it again?

http://www.popbitch.com/home/2011/01/06 ... s-in-2011/

I agree with every one of those bar Spider-Man, at least you could make a better film there. Anyway, as ever, I'm interested to know what you make of Hollywood these days, Cameron, the sheer audacity of a Commando remake...

If everyone stopped funding these damn re-makes by going and watching them, perhaps there wouldn't be so many.

Hollywood has big problems with telling stories these days. They are more interested in demographics and what buttons to push to get certain audience types into cinemas.

Carmeron is correct, despite his once fabled narrative abilities being lost to CGI wizardry. At the moment it seems that Marvel and DC are pulling the strings, and I’m afraid the novelty of these have worn off. I’m not really interested in the Avengers film, or those which are supposedly tying in to it. If this is what people are looking forward to with the same kind of excitement that I was looking forward to Aliens or Robocop in the 1980s then I’d say that there is a definite crisis.

The problem might be how 'old' the films are now, so you'll get that all-important 12a version for the kids and morons who'll watch any old sh1te...



I forget the name of the organisation now, but they hand out the poll cards at the pre-release screenings for nearly every major Hollywood film... Anyway, Cameron's on record as taking an interest, especially when it comes to female opinion (and we all know how that turned out).

With regards to the comic book films, I've no problem if they're done right. Tbh, I can't see the mainstream giving a crap about Thor or Green Lantern etc anyway

Given the money involved in making a film, I'm not surprised, people want to be sure of a return on their investment.

Unfortunately, it's had a detrimental effect on cinema as a whole.

I'm just not sure there's a way to marry up the freedom a writer and/or director needs with the vast sums involved unless it's financed by a hugely wealthy person as a vanity project. Perhaps they need to get some Russian oligarchs involved. It nearly worked for Chelsea.

There are quite a few low budget movies that do well. Showing that you don't need to have big budget stars and 3D to be successful.

Commando was great because it was so cheesy.

I like the spiderman films so a remake is not essential.

The original 50's Blob was brilliant as well, even if you consider the limitations of special effects then. I prefer it over the remake, which is almost a word perfect copy.

*sigh*
I do not have high hopes.
It would be nice to be proven wrong, but I'm not sure that'll happen.

Mark

I thought they'd already remade battle royale. Maybe I dreamt it.

When do we start on the Harry Potter remakes?

I think I've just worked out why I hardly ever go to the cinema anymore.
Just one visit in 2010.

As far as I know it's never been released in the US in cinemas, so perhaps they're just releasing the original?

Don't know about Battleships but I'd go and see Ker-Plunk The Movie, If it was in 3D.

None of the US remakes of Japanese Horror Films have been much good so I don't hold out much hope for a Battle Royale remake.

Well unfortunately, I'm one of the people making this worse. I like brands. We all do to an extent. When Avatar 2 comes out, I'll be there. Anything by Marvel gets my attention immediately. Wolverine was one of the worst films I've ever seen, but I still paid money to see it first (and even then there were a couple of great moments that I thoroughly enjoyed). Fact is, as cult/specialist fans of anything, who doesn't love a special guest/recurring appearance on a TV show by Mitch Pileggi, or Robert Picardo, or a million other people I can't remember right now? What about when James Marsters shows up in Smallville? The list goes on, new experiences/stories/set pieces/character arcs with a taste of the familiar/nostalgia are what recurring guest spots on cult TV are made of. And I love it. Every time a new DC character makes an appearance on Smallville I cheer by myself.

This same effect applies to movies and whilst I'm a huge fan of originality, why shouldn't I be allowed to watch something a little familiar from time to time? I wonder how many of you agree with me even slightly.... Food for thought....