Aliens to Avatars?

Aliens (RT: 100) is better than Alien (RT: 97). It's scarier. And faster. And funnier. It's just better. 3 points better, dammit.

Both movies, though - casting genius. Or ESP. Hard to say.

Alien, 1979, with Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerrit, Yaphet Kotto, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Harry Dean Stanton, Veronica Cartwright (they look so young). Not to mention it pretty much put Ridley Scott on the map.

Seven years later, it's Aliens with Sigourney again, along with the yummy Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reiser (Helen Hunt so would not have been mad about this guy), Bill Paxton (also looking damn young). Written and directed by James Cameron. "Get away from her, you bitch." Nobody writes a toughened-up heroine better than Cameron (or marries them).

But where has Mr. Cameron been? What has he been doing? Who has he been terrorizing to put story and spectacle on the silver screen for our viewing pleasure?

Fear not, "a film by James Cameron" is coming - not soon - but it's coming. Avatars, starring Sigourney Weaver (shocker), is scheduled to open December 2009.

I told you not to hold your breath. After all, he is the "king of the world." He's going to take all the time he wants.