It’s safe to say that James Cameron is one of the modern era’s most groundbreaking and popular action directors. His filmography shows that the director knows how to marry the hi-concept blockbuster with strong character-based storytelling. “Terminator,” “Aliens,” and even “Avatar” are all considered action classics. “Titanic” was the rare romance-disaster epic that was both a box office hit and an Oscar-winning darling. And “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” is considered one of the greatest sequels of all time.
Hell, Cameron is partly responsible for the recent (and thankfully short-lived) 3-D resurgence when he wanted audiences to experience his bombastic “Avatar” in all its sensory overload glory. Not to mention the many camera and film systems he developed to realize his grand visions over the years.
However, three James Cameron films (two as writer/director and one as producer/co-writer) are becoming overlooked and “lost” thanks to limited availability. These three films are only available on the old-fashioned DVD and have never been upgraded to hi-def formats like Blu-Ray and 4K. They’re not even available for streaming.
Ironically, such a technologically advanced director has left these three films to languish in the relic of physical media and on the inferior standard definition format.
You can still watch these films, but you must buy the DVD and dig out your old DVD/Blu-Ray player. Chances are you own a big-screen HD or 4K TV, and watching a standard definition DVD is a frustrating experience. The picture quality is grainy with washed-out colors, and depending on your audio setup, the sound isn’t much better. This is a shame because if you’ve seen a Cameron movie, he always goes big and pushes the boundaries of visual storytelling.
So, without further ado, let’s look at the lost films of James Cameron:
THE ABYSS (1989)
Cameron’s underwater epic, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn, follows the crew of deep-sea oil riggers dragged down a vast chasm in the ocean, only to discover an alien species has made the deep sea their new home. “The Abyss” is one of many firsts for the director. It was his first big budget, his first PG-13 rating, his first underwater epic (Cameron’s favorite habitat), and his first film to underperform at the box office.
There were also many groundbreaking visual effects, like the still amazing water tentacle sequence, one of the first extensive uses of CGI. There’s also the Oscar-nominated cinematography of Mikael Salomon, which makes its exclusion from the high-definition formats even more maddeningly. This is arguably as strong as Cameron’s “Aliens” and one of his more atmospheric and introspective films.
The DVD Info:
A deluxe, two-disc special edition was released way back in 2002 to much fanfare. The classic disc included the “director’s cut” and a bevy of special features. The director’s cut is fascinating as it adds 28 minutes of additional material, including an incredible tidal wave sequence created by the underwater aliens. It seems those aliens aren’t’ so cute and cuddly after all, threatening the land dwellers unless they stop their violent ways. It’s a fascinating addition that I’m surprised Cameron cut.
There’s also a fantastic making-of documentary that is a brutally honest account of the hellish shoot. Approximately 40% of the film was filmed underwater, with the actors wearing specialized diving suits. And Cameron was in full demanding auteur mode pushing his crew to the brink. Don’t expect actors and crew smiling and hugging, saying how great it was to work together. Instead, we get almost confessional interviews with the cast, like Ed Harris recounting the harsh working conditions. I wish more special features had this kind of honesty.
TRUE LIES (1994)
James Cameron’s first feature after the massive success of “Terminator 2” is one of his more unique and an outlier in his filmography. “True Lies” is an action-comedy that is a wacky blend of James Bond, the classic screwball comedy with a dash of the “Thin Man.” It’s Cameron’s first attempt at comedic material, and he handles it quite well, with some genuine, funny moments mixed with his usual hi-octane action sequences.
The film features the perfect pairing of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jaimie Lee Curtis as Harry and Helen Tasker, a seemingly ordinary suburban couple with a moody teenage daughter. The catch is that he’s a secret super spy, and she thinks he’s a dull computer salesman. A comedy of errors ensues when Harry believes that Helen is having an affair with a rogue agent, only to discover that he’s just a sleazy used car salesman scamming bored housewives. The film is loads of fun, with supporting turns from Bill Paxton, Tom Arnold, Eliza Dushku, Tia Carrere, and Charlton Heston (wearing an eye patch!)
Sadly, the movie hasn’t aged well since its 1994 release. A subplot with middle eastern terrorists, portrayed as bumbling keystone cops smuggling nuclear bombs into the U.S., is no longer funny after 9/11. There’s slight misogyny in the treatment of women characters, with Curtis’s Helen tricked into doing a strip tease by her undercover husband. And Dushku, who played the couple’s daughter, revealed in 2018 that she was molested (she was 12 during production) by a stunt coordinator.
The DVD Info:
Fox studios released a bare-bones DVD on May 25th, 1999, in the format’s infancy. There are no special features, and the picture quality is terrible. HBO had it available for streaming a few years back, so a high-definition transfer exists.
STRANGE DAYS (1995)
The third film on my list wasn’t directed by James Cameron, although he produced and co-wrote the script (with screenwriter Jay Cocks) and released it under his Lightstorm banner. Instead, he handed off directing duties to his second ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow, giving her the first big-budget, high-profile release of her career.
“Strange Days” is a cyberpunk thriller set three days before New Year’s Eve 1999. Much of the plot focuses on the illegal SQUID technology, a VR device that lets you record memories, complete with emotions and sensations, onto a disc that you can sell on the black market. The film’s dark vision of 1999 America, where inflation, hopelessness, corrupt police, and boiling racial tensions are unnerving since it resembles 2022. There’s also a subplot where a Malcolm X-style rapper, Jericho One, is executed by racist LAPD cops, obviously inspired by the Rodney King beatings and the subsequent LA riots.
This is my favorite of Cameron’s lost films, as “Strange Days” is full of originality and ambition. Bigelow’s direction is sublime, especially the groundbreaking “playback” POV sequences. We also get an eclectic mix of actors like Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, and Ralph Fiennes (playing against type as a sleazy black-market hustler.) There’s a lot of “The Matrix” in the DNA, but it’s more grounded and gritter with a damning social commentary.
Sadly, “Strange Days” bombed upon its 1995 release, a massive setback for director Bigelow. Audiences were in no mood to see a violent, R-rated film that reminded them of the LA Riots, and they couldn’t buy into the advanced hi-tech SQUID technology that was supposed to be invented in the next four years. Fortunately, Bigelow bounced back with the Oscar-winning “The Hurt Locker” and “Zero Dark Thirty,” but “Strange Days” remains a forgotten footnote in her filmography.
The DVD Info:
Like “True Lies.” “Strange Days” was released on September 28, 1999, on a bare-bones DVD. In a baffling decision, the movie didn’t have an anamorphic transfer, resulting in the widescreen film being window boxed, surrounding the picture with black borders, and shrinking the image. It’s certainly still watchable, but the groundbreaking visuals would benefit significantly from a high definition or 4K transfer.
STATUS UPDATE
There have been glimmers of hope concerning these three lost films:
Per “The Abyss,” it seems Cameron has taken a break from his 14 “Avatar” sequels and has approved a 4k transfer of his underwater epic. He even praised the Academy Award-nominated cinematography of Mikael Salomon. The hopeful Blu-Ray and 4K disc are expected to be released later this year, most likely close to the release of his “Avatar” sequel.
As for “True Lies,” a TV reboot has been picked up to air on CBS in 2023. Matt Nix developed the TV version, directed by McG and produced by Cameron. The weekly series will star Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga as the married spy couple. This is broadcast TV, so set your expectations accordingly. Hopefully, an HD or 4K release will appear to promote the TV reboot.
And “Strange Days” did receive a “special edition” Blu-Ray release in 2009. The disc boasts an excellent transfer with HD picture, sound, and generous extra content. The catch is that it’s a region-locked disc, only available in Germany. So, unless you have a region-free Blu-Ray player, you’re out of luck. I’m baffled why Fox hasn’t released this in the North American market, especially after Bigelow became the first woman to win the Best Directing Oscar for “The Hurt Locker.” Here’s hoping we can get a U.S. release soon.