When Spielberg made Jaws in 1975, the fully realized, complex humanity of his characters was part of the film’s appeal. But in the 1980s, rounded, naturalistic, human characters only got in the way of the dependable delivery of huge thrills. In the work of directors like James Cameron, characters struggle to have more than one dimension; they’re flecked with a light dusting of humanity so you can easily root for them.
