When James Cameron, director of Avatar and the Terminator franchise, revealed his thoughts on Thanos, the antagonists from Marvel’s Infinity War, it sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview with Collider, Cameron addressed the character of Thanos, who was portrayed by actor Josh Brolin. Cameron said he enjoyed the character and the episode, but he has mixed feelings about the character. Cameron said he questions the moral implications of Thanos’s ambition to obtain the Infinity Stones in order to balance out the universe by eliminating half of all living beings – as he puts it: “Does creating balance justify wiping out half the universe?”
Cameron went on to say that this puts into question the concept of balance and of morality. For example, Titans in Greek mythology, and now Thanos, are often seen as villains in Western mythology, but in Eastern cultures the concept of balance is seen as something positive. Cameron argued that our view of what is considered “good” or “bad” is entirely subjective and depends on the individual, thus creating an interesting moral dilemma.
Overall, Cameron said he was impressed with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and appreciated its “rich, fascinating mythology” but felt that the moral implications of Thanos’s quest should have been explored further. He claimed that the themes of good, evil and balance needed to be challenged more in order to create a more nuanced and complex story, something that would be necessary for a truly extraordinary film.
Regardless of Cameron’s thoughts, Thanos, and Infinity War, was an exceedingly popular hit, making it into the Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing Hollywood film of 2018. While Cameron may have some reservations, there’s no question that Thanos will remain an iconic figure in the minds of many for the foreseeable future.
