Titanic and Avatar are by far two of the most successful James Cameron movies – moreover, they are some of the most successful movies in history. Even to this day, they remain a crucial part of pop culture with people watching them again and again.
This kind of success often leads to comparisons, so it’s not a surprise that fans and casual viewers alike tend to compare the two movies trying to determine which one is better. Whether it’s the soundtrack or the costume design that makes one of them superior, it’s worth looking at the two blockbusters to find out.
Titanic: The Costume And Set Design Is Magnificent
Titanic became such a successful movie not just because of the money that was invested in it – but because of that money being used correctly and wisely.
One of the aspects of the movie where this particularly stands out is the costume and set design. All the dozens if not hundreds of extras look appropriate for the times with Jack and Rose getting some of the most magnificent costumes of all. Sets were also meticulously designed to resemble the iconic ship as perfectly as possible.
Avatar: The CGI Looks Very Realistic
It would probably be an understatement to say that Avatar has good CGI, because it’s not just good – it’s realistic CGI for a movie that was also shown in 3D which partially helped the technology to become a staple in cinema.
The movie itself was filmed with the help of the new motion capture techniques and stereoscopic filmmaking which were considered a breakthrough for cinematic technology.
Titanic: The Story Is Universal
The biggest reason why Titanic became the first movie ever to reach the $1 billion mark was not that it was the most expensive movie ever made but that it had a universal story that was beloved by people of all ages and backgrounds worldwide.
It’s a disaster movie based on a historical event which also happens to be a love story about two people from different social classes and backgrounds. Who wouldn’t love a movie like that?
Avatar: The Action Is Breathtaking
Avatar is not a slow-burn kind of sci-fi movie – on the contrary, it is an epic science fiction film packed with action scenes that take place in the air and on the ground.
Most of these action scenes used at least some kind of CGI and yet, they look as real as they could be. Because everything and everyone – from the Na’vi to the flora and fauna of Pandora to the human tech – looks real, the action during which these elements interact looks just as real and breathtaking.
Titanic: The Acting Is Impeccable
When there is a disastrous action event coming up in the movie, it’s hard to focus on characters because the spectacle is all the audience can keep their eyes on.
And yet, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio do such an impeccable job in this movie that their performances make the characters incredibly relatable. Viewers empathize with them and that’s what makes them truly live on screen. Winslet even got nominated on the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes while DiCaprio got a nomination for the latter.
Avatar: The Na’vi Culture Is Extensive
One way to know that there was a lot of thought put into a particular creation is by looking at how much time and effort the creator dedicated to developing the background of this work.
Even though the Na’vi have a lot of time dedicated to them within the film, their culture is actually more extensive than that – and Cameron was the one developing it. He also hired a linguist to develop a language for these characters that can be heard in the movie.
Titanic: The Soundtrack Is Memorable
Titanic probably has one of the most memorable soundtracks in history. Composed by James Horner with vocals by Norwegian singer Sissel, it manages to evoke all the right emotions in all the right scenes throughout the entire movie.
Moreover, the soundtrack features one of the most iconic songs in movie history. Horner and Will Jennings wrote the song “My Heart Will Go On” and then Celine Dion recorded the demo. Initially, the song was a secret because Cameron didn’t want to use any songs in the movie, but Horner managed to persuade him in the end.
Avatar: The Movie Is More Successful Overall
Though Titanic was the highest-grossing movie for many years, Avatar was the only one that managed to surpass it. Still, audiences seem to love the two movies equally as evidenced by the ratings on IMDb.
On the other hand, critics prefer Avatar to Titanic judging by the ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, though the very same critics have criticized Avatar for ripping off a number of other properties (including movies like Pocahontas and Dances with Wolves).
Titanic: The Love Story Feels More Genuine
For large-scale movies, love stories are kind of a second thought or at least not the main focus. In Avatar, this is particularly evident with the relationship between Jake and Neytiri not being very believable.
On the other hand, Titanic dedicates a lot of time particularly to the relationship between Rose and Jack and the way their love blossoms despite all of the challenges they face.
Avatar: The Conflict Is Grander
Obviously, a historical disaster like the sinking of the Titanic is big enough to feel grand, especially considering that it actually happened and many people died in the process.
That being said, Avatar still has a much grander conflict despite being fictional. Earth has run out of resources and humans now want to get them elsewhere, on the mythical Pandora that has inhabitants of its own. A war is inevitable.
