Before our author Michael Gasch tells you what makes the deep-sea documentary “Aliens of the Seas” so worthwhile and why it is the perfect companion to “Avatar: The Way of Water”, we would like to point out again that you can feel free to costs to subscribe to the movie from Disney+. So there you have the option to create a double feature with the sequel to “Avatar” (or even a triple feature if you’re really crazy).
This is what “Aliens of the Seas” is about
James Cameron conducted a unique research project in 2005. Equipped with specially constructed submarines, the journey went thousands of feet down – both in the Atlantic and in the Pacific. Supported by a whole team of biologists and marine researchers, one of the objectives was to collect data.
However, it was also about watching the underwater creatures, which are reminiscent in appearance to creatures from other planets, jumping around there hidden from our eyes. The nature documentary “Aliens of the Seas” captures that impressive diving adventure.
Returning to a time before the “Avatar” era
When James Cameron isn’t in a Hollywood studio tinkering with his next massive blockbuster, the Canadian film director has his free time to explore the seas. This has been evident in his films for more than 30 years – just think back to the much too underrated masterpiece “Abyss” in the oppressive deep sea or his well-known epic “Titanic”. But even beyond that, the Hollywood icon is unstoppable.
His passion for the oceans goes so far that he has already been to the lowest point in the world and has guided several research missions to this day (currently Mission OceanX). His production “Aliens der Meere”, appeared in 2005, but also “James Cameron’s Deep Sea Challenge‘ can therefore be seen as the basic framework for his blockbuster filmsin which he incorporates his passion but also scientific knowledge.
“Aliens of the Seas” may be a documentary, but it looks like a Cameron blockbuster
As befits a Cameron production, he presents the audience with the latest film technology (at least according to the state of the art at the time). IMAX cameras and 3D technology were also used for his underwater documentation. Even if that doesn’t say much at first glance these days, unless you have a huge screen or a screen in a lavish home theater at your disposal, you can see Cameron’s penchant for large (cinema) images.
Visually, “Aliens of the Seas” is simply impressive. But the production also scores with one great strength: it shows how much the documentary and the blockbuster differ from each other. Instead of a tense atmosphere like in “Abyss” or a literal fantastic like in “The way of the water‘ the images here seem further away and play more with the factor of the unknown.
While Cameron knows exactly what buttons to press in “Avatar” to captivate audiences, it’s a different story here. Expressed differently: If you think back to how “Avatar” holds the audience emotionally and seems more or less composed or rather constructed, “Aliens der Meeres” takes us to another, more authentic world.
No standard documentation
We don’t get conventional documentation with the same talking heads and facts over and over again. Cameron isn’t concerned here with a lot of scientific explanations or some sort of inventory of studied and unstudied organisms. Infographics are rarely used to really convey knowledge. Instead, it’s more about experiencing things up close. The focus is not exclusively on the deep-sea images, but also on Cameron himself, who maintains close friendships with the research experts, some of whom were already on board “Titanic”.
What is shown is not always pretty and James Cameron has to slander about the “ugliest fish in the world”. But for nice pictures there is also “Avatar: The Way of Water”.
James Cameron: scientist and artist
Even though the documentary is a bit old, you get a pretty clear picture of James Cameron after just a few minutes. While filmmaking is “only” second in his life, the general urge for discovery and adventure is the most important. After all, that is – hear, hear: “much more exciting than any made-up Hollywood effects”.
Cameron subconsciously earns some sympathy points for keeping his inner child. Setting the impressive underwater world and state-of-the-art gadgets in the background, “Aliens of the Seas” showcases a mostly childlike filmmaker who enjoys exploring and having fun.
If you look at “Aliens of the Seas” and Cameron’s other vita, you can rightly say: If it weren’t for this scientific streak and all the adventures he’s had so far, there’s a good chance there wouldn’t be “Avatar 2” either. So it’s worth looking back in time to understand how his passion culminated in the blockbuster sequel that’s now so impressive on Disney+.