Only Cameron's previous effort Titanic and Star Wars: The Force Awakens have even come within shouting distance of Avatar's staggering nearly-$2.8 billion dollar run.

這個頭銜還不會被拿走，無庸置疑

Yet there seems to be no rush getting the obligatory Avatar sequels into theaters.

只有 Cameron 先前的作品，《鐵達尼號》跟《星際大戰七部曲：原力覺醒》

Last year, release dates were finally announced for the next films in Cameron's planned series, with Avatar 2 hitting screens on December 18, 2020.

能稍微接近《阿凡達》的驚人票房，大約 28 億美元

But if that bit of news slipped by you, it may be because the public's appetite for Avatar's continuing story may not be as ravenous as Cameron thinks — and because one massively successful film, even the most successful ever, may not necessarily translate to a sustainable franchise.

他們似乎還不急著讓《阿凡達》續集上映

Here's why we're more than a little concerned about Avatar 2.

去年，Cameron 終於宣布《阿凡達 2》的首映日期

Memories fade.

《阿凡達 2》首映日期會在西元 2020 年 12 月 18 日

Extremely belated sequels can sometimes work, but it's a tricky proposition.

如果你只是稍微瞥過這個新聞，可能是因為公眾對於《阿凡達》的後續故事

Blade Runner 2049 is an illustration of how it can go right creatively, but in general, audiences are now accustomed to the big-budget serialized storytelling of the Star Wars and Marvel franchises.

渴求程度不如 Cameron 所預期，而且因為一部大受好評的電影

Attention spans are relatively short, and fans usually have to wait no longer than a year for the next installment to carry the story forward in today's movie market.

即使是史上最成功，不一定能不斷拍攝續集

Avatar came out almost a decade ago, and when the follow-up hits theaters in 2020, it'll have been a full 11 years since the first film stunned everyone into repeat showings.

這就是為什麼我們對《阿凡達 2》有多一點點的關心

There's a chance that all the enthusiasm and fan fervor that drove the first film's success might not be as strong after so much time away from Pandora.

記憶消失

Climate change.

「引頸期盼已久的續集」這樣的策略有時候會奏效，但它是個棘手的問題

The vast majority of the hype surrounding Avatar in the months leading up to its release had more to do with the technology involved than the actual storyline or cast of characters.

《銀翼殺手 2049》的案例證明了運用得當會有創造性的話題，但通常

Avatar was promoted as the first movie to treat 3D not as a gimmick, but as a serious storytelling tool.

觀眾現在已經習慣星際大戰與漫威的大預算電影系列

As with Titanic before it, it was James Cameron's revolutionary filmmaking techniques that had audiences so intrigued by what he'd created.

觀眾對電影的關注時間相對較短，在現在的電影市場中，粉絲們

Avatar certainly delivered on its promise of a bold new world of CGI and an immersive 3D film experience.

不用等超過一年就能看到下一部續集，知道故事的後續發展

But upon revisiting the picture through a more current lens, the flaws of the film's storytelling come into focus more than the glowy space plants and Na'Vi costumes.

《阿凡達》將近十年後才上映續集，當西元 2020 年戲院上映

For one thing, it's now widely agreed that the film is derivative.

距離當時震驚所有人且讓人重複觀看的首集《阿凡達》已經整整 11 年

Even James Cameron himself has admitted to the central plot being an alien version of Dances with Wolves.

首集《阿凡達》成功造就的熱情與風潮

The film also leans into the same "white hero complex" that's become so problematic and it's been accused of ripping off everything from animated films like Ferngully and Pocahontas to Marvel Comics' Timespirits series.

在離開潘朵拉星球好長一陣子後，可能不會那麼強烈了

Even if none of the plagiarism accusations levied against Cameron are true, audiences may be more discerning now about these kinds of troublesome tropes and recycled plot points.

趨勢改變

High expectations.

在《阿凡達》上映幾個月前最主要的話題圍繞著

Even though it's not a sure-thing that Avatar 2 will succeed, Cameron isn't just planning to bring us one Avatar sequel — he's working on four of them, with release dates lated through 2025.

它所使用的科技手法，而非實際故事內容或演員陣容

These films are expected to be shot back-to-back with a combined budget of $1 billion, which is an enormous gamble, not only from a financial but also from a storytelling standpoint.

《阿凡達》宣傳時號稱是第一個以 3D 為故事敘述工具，不是僅設置機關體驗的電影

Cameron's silenced the doubters of his massive ambition before, of course.

就像先前《鐵達尼克》一樣，是 James Cameron 革命性的電影製作技術

But he's going to have to not only prove he's got enough material to justify making four full sequels, but that he can earn enough return on those pictures to compensate for the insane amount of front-end investment.

讓觀眾對他所做的電影產生很大的興趣

Considering no other film has ever come close to toppling Avatar's box office supremacy,

《阿凡達》 當然呈現出電影成像技術 (Computer-Generated Imagery) 的新境界

even the most optimistic studio executive has to know Avatar 2 might not live up to the gains of its predecessor.

以及身歷其境的 3D 電影體驗

One wrong move, and it could spell disaster for Lighthouse Pictures and Fox.

但當透過更現代的鏡頭重新造訪潘朵拉星球時，電影故事的缺陷

That's a lot of pressure for the filmmaker to be under, so it's a wonder why he didn't just opt to make one follow-up movie first and measure the audience's interest before plunging head-first into such an expensive undertaking.

讓大家無法聚焦在那些發光植物與納美人上

Trounced tech

首先，現在大眾認為這部電影缺乏獨創性

When Avatar first arrived in theaters, it was one of a kind.

即使是 James Cameron 他自己也承認其中主要的劇情就像是外星版的

Sure, audiences had seen 3D movies in theaters before, but none had ever quite had the kind of majestic color schemes and landscapes that this movie offered.

《與狼共舞》

Since then, though, such visual effects have become much more commonplace in blockbuster films, from the superhero sphere to the world of animated films.

這部影片同樣因為「白人英雄情結」有了大問題

Though James Cameron has insisted that his Avatar sequels are going to boast some similar technological breakthroughs to keep audiences intrigued, it may be tough for Avatar 2 to find new ground to break in that regard.

它也被指控因此毀了整部電影，從動畫片像《我的雨林朋友》和《風中奇緣》

Rumor has it, he may even be working on a way to deliver the experience without the use of glasses, but will it be enough to get people to the ticket booth?

到漫威漫畫《Timespirits》系列

It doesn't bode well for him that audiences have grown weary of seeing movies in 3D.

即使所有引來攻擊 Cameron 的剽竊指控都不是真的，觀眾

In recent years, ticket sales for 3D screenings have dropped like a rock—from about 20% of ticket sales in 2010 to 14% in 2016.

或許現在對於那些傷腦筋的橋段及再製的場景有更高的敏銳度

Even IMAX theaters have drastically reduced their 3D slate, citing the "clear preference" of consumers for 2D.

高度期待

Simply put: the groundbreaking CGI and industry-leading 3D that drove Avatar's must-see status in 2009 may be virtual non-factors in 2020, which means Avatar 2 will have to stand on its own merits.

儘管《阿凡達 2》未來不是理所當然會賣座，Cameron 不僅計畫

Quiet cast.

帶給我們一部《阿凡達》續集，他準備了四部續集，最後一集上映時程排到了西元 2025年

Apart from Sigourney Weaver, the cast of Avatar was made up of largely lesser-known actors who did a fine enough job, but haven't gone on to top the A-list.

這些影片預期會緊鑼密鼓地拍攝，總預算約 10 億美元

Zoe Saldana is an exception to that rule, as she's earned prime placement in other space stories like Star Trek and Guardians of the Galaxy since then, but the rest of the cast has remained relatively unknown.

這是個巨大的賭注，從經費觀點或故事敘述觀點來看都是

So, the fact that most of the original stars signed on for the sequels didn't exactly blow anyone away.

當然，Cameron 也曾讓那些質疑他的雄心壯志的人閉嘴

In fact, it may be problematic that Sam Worthington is coming back to lead all four films as Marine Jake Sully, since the actor has pretty much failed to break out in any meaningful way after his stint in the blue suit.

但他現在必須證明他有足夠的素材來製作四部續集

Since starring in Avatar, Worthington has put together a string of forgettable roles, including two ill-advised big-budget reboots and a bunch of movies that very few filmgoers have even heard of.

以及他能夠從這些電影中獲得足夠的利潤來補償

He's hardly a box office draw.

天價般的前期投資

Of course, he was even less so when the first film came out, but back then Cameron had the benefit of being able to draw everyone in with his magic filmmaking.

雖然考慮到沒有其他影片能推翻《阿凡達》的票房龍頭寶座

The biggest new name to join the fold is Kate Winslet, and even she's been on a career downslope lately.

即使最樂觀的工作室高層也必須了解《阿凡達 2》可能

So, we'll have to see whether sticking with actors who don't all command a crowd will work out in his favor again this time around.

無法達到前集的成就

Stiff competition.

只要踏錯一步，都可能為燈塔影業公司與二十世紀福斯招來災難

Disney may have a horse in the Avatar box office race before the second film hits theaters.

被嚴密監視對電影製作人來說壓力很大，所以很令人驚訝他為什麼

Not only are they licensed purveyors of Pandora-themed merchandise, but they've also recently launched a Pandora theme world at Orlando's Animal Kingdom.

不選擇先製作一部續集電影，試過水溫後，再一頭栽進如此費用浩大的事業，

In addition, they're in the process of purchasing the vast majority of the film and television assets of Avatar's distributor, Fox, which would make them even greater beneficiaries of the film's theoretical success.

科技衝擊

If the deal goes through as expected, Disney may try to avoid directly competing with the sequels.

當《阿凡達》首次於戲院上映時，它是前所未見的

Until then, though, the House of Mouse doesn't have to stand down against a long-overdue sequel to a one-time blockbuster that might not even reach its intended audience.

當然，觀眾們之前有在戲院看過 3D 電影，但從沒看過像這部電影呈現出

After all, they're already expected to bring forth new Star Wars entries through 2025, the year in which Avatar 5 is scheduled to hit screens—and Marvel has a road map for their cinematic universe lined up through 2028, and possibly beyond.

如此雄偉的色彩配置與地景

This kind of predictable competition didn't exist during Avatar's box office homerun, so in order for the sequels to succeed, Cameron will have to meet, and possibly even exceed, the storytelling and cinematic appeal of these well-oiled machine franchises.

然而，從那之後在許多大製作的電影中視覺特效變得不足為奇

Too far.

從超級英雄主題到動畫電影

Originally, only a single sequel to Avatar got the greenlight from the studio.

儘管 James Cameron 堅持他的《阿凡達》系列

But then Cameron started envisioning the story as a trilogy, but before long the creative process seemed to get completely out of hand.

將會有一些類似的技術突破以保持觀眾的興趣，這方面可能在《阿凡達 2》裡

Speaking with Variety, Cameron issued perhaps the most ominous sign yet with regard to the sequels' quality:

還是很難找到新領域去突破

"The Avatar story arc was originally meant to be a trilogy, but I overwrite, and my writers overwrote as well.

有謠傳說，他可能會想辦法讓觀眾不用眼鏡就能有 3D 視覺體驗

[...] Basically the first of the sequels cloned itself and became two films, so now it's four films.

但這就足以讓人們買票進場嗎？

And the studio's very happy with it.

觀眾對觀看 3D 電影感到厭煩，對他來說不是什麼好事

They have an opportunity to make more money, but it's also an opportunity to spend a lot more money, too, so there's a clench factor."

近幾年，3D 電影的票房一落千丈，從西元 2010 年大約 20% 的總票房

And that, in a nutshell, is why Avatar 2 and its sequels should raise some serious red flags: they're big-budget gambles, a return to a world which has taken little hold in the public imagination, with a questionable story stretched across far more films than should be needed to tell it.

至西元 2016 年只剩 14%

But, hey, if Peter Jackson could stretch The Hobbit into three feature-length films that made a billion apiece, well, what's to say James Cameron doesn't defy all odds again as well.

甚至 IMAX 戲院都大幅減少他們的 3D 電影排程，因為消費者對 2D 電影的「明確偏好」

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簡單來說：開創性的電影成相技術與 3D 產業成熟驅使《阿凡達》系列從

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西元 2009 年必看電影的地位，到西元 2020 年變成不看也無妨，這意味《阿凡達 2》必須依靠它自己獨有的價值

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樸素的演員