Filmmaker/James Cameron

Common Motifs in James Cameron’s Films

	Mass Extinction	Extending Perception via Other Means
The Terminator (1984)	Skynet's nuclear apocalypse aims to exterminate humanity.	The cyborg's POV, resembling a video camera feed, represents Skynet’s ability to explore and manipulate events across the barrier of time.
Aliens (1986)	The aliens wipe out all but one of the colonists, showcasing a theme of near-total extinction. This is followed by the aliens themselves being mostly wiped out by a nuclear explosion.	The use of helmet-mounted cameras by the Marines provides a video feed that extends the ability of the other characters to remotely observe and manipulate events.
The Abyss (1989)	A Navy SEAL attempts to use a nuclear device to wipe out the NTIs, introducing a threat of mass extinction. In turn, the NTIs use their water technology to present the specter of extinction over the human population, showcasing the precarious balance of power and survival.	The deployment of mini-submersibles with camera mounts and arms provides a video feed that allows characters to extend their ability to remotely observe and manipulate deep underwater settings.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)	The continued threat of Skynet's nuclear war and the extermination of humanity.	The T-800's POV, allows the audience to experience enhanced cyborg perceptions.
True Lies (1994)	The use and detonation of nuclear weapons in Key West underscore the ever-present threat of mass extinction through nuclear war.	The use of a cigarette case with a hidden camera, providing a remote video feed, allows Harry to observe the terrorists following him and gain a tactical awareness he can manipulate to his advantage.
Titanic (1997)	The disaster serves as a microcosm for human tragedy and loss, touching upon themes of existential threat.	The film extends perception through submersibles with cameras and robot arms, offering the salvage team a means to observe and manipulate the Titanic wreck remotely, and old Rose’s storytelling, which allows the salvage crew to experience Titanic of 84 years ago through her eyes. Young Rose is preoccupied with how artists see the world, and Jack’s artist portfolio sparks her interest in him and his ability to see her through his eyes. And Jack’s drawing of her in 1912 is a way of showing the 1987 salvage team, a remote view of what happened on Titanic.
Avatar (2009)	The threat to the Na'vi and Pandora's ecosystem reflects themes of ecological destruction and potential mass extinction.	The use of Avatar bodies to explore and interact with Pandora extends human perception and experience into that of another species.