James Cameron Slams Wonder Woman as 'Objectified Icon'
The Avatar director sparked controversy with harsh criticism of Gal Gadot's superhero portrayal, comparing it unfavorably to his own Terminator character while defending his filmmaking approach.
The acclaimed filmmaker behind Avatar: Fire and Ash didn't hold back his opinions when discussing the 2017 superhero blockbuster directed by Patty Jenkins. Despite the movie's commercial success and critical acclaim, Cameron expressed strong reservations about how the character was presented on screen.
Speaking with The Guardian, the director made it clear that while he didn't consider the film terrible, he believed Hollywood was missing the mark entirely. His main concern centered on what he saw as continued problematic representation disguised as progress.
"All of the self-congratulatory back-patting Hollywood's been doing over Wonder Woman has been so misguided. She's an objectified icon, and it's just male Hollywood doing the same old thing," Cameron stated during the interview.
He elaborated further, saying, "I'm not saying I didn't like the movie but, to me, it's a step backwards."
Cameron Defends His Terminator Heroine
The director naturally drew comparisons to his own work, specifically highlighting Linda Hamilton's portrayal of Sarah Connor throughout the Terminator franchise. According to Cameron, his approach to creating strong female characters differed significantly from what he observed in the DC superhero film.
Cameron emphasized that his character wasn't designed to appeal based on conventional attractiveness or serve as eye candy for audiences. Instead, he focused on creating a complex, flawed individual who earned respect through her actions and determination.
"Sarah Connor was not a beauty icon. She was strong, she was troubled, she was a terrible mother, and she earned the respect of the audience through pure grit," the filmmaker explained.
He continued his defense by pointing out the obvious commercial logic behind creating authentic female characters: "And to me, [the benefit of characters like Sarah] is so obvious. I mean, half the audience is female!"
Defending the Amazon Princess
However, Cameron's assessment may have overlooked several key elements of Jenkins' storytelling approach. The 2017 film actually presented Diana Prince as a character with significant personal struggles and character development throughout her journey.
When the movie hit theaters, audiences and critics praised it specifically for avoiding the typical pitfalls of female-led action films. Unlike many previous attempts at superhero movies featuring women, this particular entry became one of the highest-earning films in the DC Extended Universe.
The character's flaws were clearly established throughout the narrative. Diana's naive worldview, her defiance of Queen Hippolyta's wisdom, and her internal conflict between personal relationships and her heroic mission all contributed to a well-rounded character arc.
The film's central theme actually reinforced the idea that imperfection is inherently human. Rather than giving up on humanity despite witnessing countless conflicts and tragedies, Diana chose to embrace both the good and bad aspects of human nature while continuing her protective mission.