After thirteen years, the very evil Colonel Quaritch returns for his revenge in Avatar: The Water Way, the film by James Cameron. Not to spoil too much, Stefano Lang he just says it returns “with blue blood” -although not quite like a prince- and ensures that, when it comes to playing him, he doesn’t put himself in the shoes of a villain.
“I understand that other people do it and I don’t argue about it, but it doesn’t help me to see it that way. I take it as a multifaceted character who has a mission, an agenda of him and he’s trying to carry it out,” the actor recounts clarion in London.
With his “personal agenda” he refers to revenge on the protagonists of the film, by Jake Sully and Neytiri (Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña), both leaders of the Blue Ships and three meters tall. Colonel Quaritch strikes again, this time in a new body but with similar beliefs as in the previous film.
fond of the bad guy
Stephen Lang speaks fondly of his character and smiles like the Colonel he embodies. Have perfect teeth and very clear and bright blue eyesor so they appear on the film set inside the Corinthia Hotel in London, where this newspaper has come to interview him.
Lang was born in New York and has worked in theatre, film and television since 1985. Married to Kristina Watson for over 40 years and has four children. This year he turned 70, it seems much less.
When asked how he was preparing to play his character after more than a decade, he replies, first of all, referring to his physical appearance: “I never stopped preparing, because I’ve known for a long time that I would be back. It’s easier for me to keep fit than to lose it and then get it back.”
And he comments: “For a long time I kept the shape I felt that way needed to represent Colonel Quaritch”.
-Your character goes through many changes, what challenges did you find for this sequel?
-There were technical challenges, because in the first film I was a “live” action character, and now I’m a digitized character. It was a challenge that I enjoyed because I believe digitization is one of the processes that define the Avatar world.
He says he also encountered “more internal” challenges when Colonel Quaritch himself changed. “He’s got Pandora (the universe that the film shows) flowing in his blue blood, he feels it the path of water is happening within you and that doesn’t make him so comfortable,” warns Stephen.
The pleasure of being back with Cameron
-What was it like working with James Cameron again?
-It’s been a pleasure, you’re working with the best. It’s very challenging, I always say that what Jim demands of others he also demands of himself. It is highly collaborative. He has tremendous respect and affection for his actors.
-What can you say about the improvements in relation to visual effects?
-Honestly, the technology and visual effects of the first film were already amazing. Staying at that level would have worked very well. But obviously the technology had to change, because Jim was interested in it digitized underwater shows, something that hadn’t been done before. This was extremely difficult to do, but he found a way to do it.
Regarding the result, he says he was surprised by the “beauty of the film” and, at the same time, that he appreciated the fact that “the very intimate and passionate story of a family is clearly expressed and is not obscured by visual effects or by technology”.
“I think this sequel will be welcome, I hope it has the same cultural insertion as the first one,” Lang says, noting that this film, in addition to getting a certain distraction that people want to find in movies, also has topics for discussion and even sum to action”.Try to raise awareness without giving a sermon absolutely not,” he adds.
And he says he’s excited, but not nervous: “I know it’s great. If people don’t like it, well, I don’t know what to say. It will be your problem, not mine.”
A man and his own corpse
-What does Avatar represent for you?
-It was a boom for me, I think it’s always nice to be associated with a film that’s doing well and no film has done as well as this one, in that sense it’s excellent.
I personally feel enormously satisfied and proud to be a part of this truly remarkable effort that has also had a cultural impact. It feels good.
-What is the scene of the sequel that you liked the most?
-There is a moment when I come across the corpse of my old self, and the very concept of finding oneself, of finding one’s body, was so strange to me that it was simply fascinating to act.
-Do you dream of Avatar and water?
–I dream more of flying than of water. Colonel Quaritch is most comfortable on land, quite comfortable in the air, and least comfortable in the water.
-What can you tell us about upcoming movies?
-I can’t tell you anything, except that things will get really tough, until the probable calm arrives.
London, special envoy.
WD extension
Source: Clarin
