James Cameron Raves About ‘Dune’ & Says It’s “Truly Epic” In Ways That Marvel Films Aren’t

James Cameron is a director who only makes epic films. This is the guy who was able to turn a tragic boat accident into a must-see blockbuster spectacle in “Titanic.” Obviously, he’s the man who also crafted films such as “T2: Judgment Day,” “Aliens,” and “Avatar.” Point is—this guy knows what makes a film truly epic. And with that context, it’s interesting to hear James Cameron explain why “Dune” is an epic movie but the Marvel Cinematic Universe really isn’t.

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2021

In another Variety Directors on Directors discussion, James Cameron spoke with Denis Villeneuve about the latter’s awards-contending sci-fi film, “Dune.” And in explaining why he loves Villeneuve’s adaptation of the Frank Herbert classic novel, Cameron defines the word “epic” in terms of filmmaking and contrasts “Dune” with other blockbusters like the Marvel Studios features. 

“The thing that strikes me about ‘Dune’ is that it’s truly epic,” explained Cameron. “When I use the word ‘epic,’ I’m using it in a very specific way, meaning like a David Lean film, or to a very large extent like the ‘Lord of the Rings’ films.”

He continued, “But when I think of films that have epic events in them, like let’s say a Marvel Universe film where whole cities get destroyed and so on, they don’t feel epic to me. You seem to have the discipline, the vocabulary, of actual epic filmmaking, that kind of grand proscenium frame that’s just presented and takes its time with the music and so on.”

READ MORE: Paul Thomas Anderson Isn’t Worried About Too Many Superhero Films & Thinks ‘Spider-Man’ Will Bring People Back To Cinemas

Of course, everyone will likely have a unique definition of the word “epic” when it comes to filmmaking. And many of those definitions will most certainly include Marvel Studios features such as “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and more of that ilk. However, it’s interesting to hear one “epic” filmmaker talk about why he doesn’t consider those to live up to his idea of the adjective. 

And in that sense, his opinion isn’t wrong. “Dune” is arguably not only the most “epic” film of the year, but it could also be considered one of the most epic sci-fi films of all time.