roll clip!

Watch As James Cameron Tries Not to Throw Shade at Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Give poor James Cameron a break. What’s a millionaire director to do when asked to choose sides between two of the world’s most famous filmmakers? Sure, the interviewer simply asked him for his thoughts on the latest edition of the Star Wars franchise, but he couldn’t not take the opportunity to stand up for his buddy George Lucas. Cameron initially tried to soften the blow, saying, “I don’t want to say too much about the film, because I also have a lot of respect for [Star Wars: The Force Awakens director] J.J. Abrams.” But then, he continued: “I have to say that I felt that George’s group of six films had more innovative visual imagination. This film was more of a retrenchment to things you had seen before.” By Canadian-director-sitting-in-a-garden standards, that’s what we call a sick burn. Don’t worry, J.J., you still have time to win over the heart of Mr. Avatar — Cameron ends the clip saying, “For me the jury’s out, I want to see where they go with it.” Your move, Abrams.

James Cameron Is Not So Sure About Force Awakens