For the last 13 years, James Cameron has been busy at work investing in his beloved Terminator franchise and dabbling in projects for other big box office draws like Titanic and Aliens. Yet, within that sphere of massive productivity, the three-time Oscar winner managed to squeeze in the much-anticipated sequel to his 2009 billion-dollar hit Avatar.
To the delight of fans, Cameron and all the hardworking cast and crew wrapped Avatar: The Way of Water just in time for the 2022 holiday season. Written by Cameron, and Mulan scribes Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, the second (and certainly not the last) addition to the growing Avatar franchise introduces audiences to new characters and a new world outside of the forest-laden Pandora.
Sam Worthington returns as Jake Sully, leading a new family of minors with Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldana. After several years, the vindictive Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is back for sweet revenge in a hunt for Jake that puts everyone in his vicinity in danger. The family seeks solace with a new village of the Na’vi race, but the transition comes with a multitude of issues as they adjust from being an extension of the forest to connecting with the way of the water.
While we’re reintroduced to familiar faces, including that of Sigourney Weaver who plays Kiri, it’s refreshing to see a new variation of the species and their approach to co-existing with nature. The storyline very well embodies the unavoidable complexity of being different and struggling with assimilation while upholding the root of one’s foundation.
The writers do so well to give audiences the sensibility of being a part of this world that the thought of losing any being that plays a part in the scope of the story becomes an agonizing probability throughout the various scenes that threaten the lives of the characters. Be prepared for a tearjerker moment — someone will die, and the reasoning behind that is because of one character’s continuous foolish choices.
Going into the film, I’ll be honest in that I thought Avatar 2 was too similar to another box office hit, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, because of the introduction of a new native race heavily reliant on the world of the ocean. However, somehow, someway, Cameron and the writers were able to deliver a newness and refreshing take on this concept that made the film feel like an entirely different story. To their credit, Avatar 2 spent more time with exploring the beauty of the smallest details, from plants to animals, and because of that the film stands out.
From the quaint moments of relearning how to connect with nature in the new environment to the action-packed battle scenes between the “demons” and the village, Cameron Et al. does not disappoint in presenting spectacular visuals with such impressive detail that it felt similar to watching a nature film at an amphitheater dome or playing an all-immersed, virtual video game.
With that said, I highly recommend seeing Avatar 2 in IMAX 3D to get the most out of the experience. While wearing 3D glasses can be a nuisance for some, it is well worth the small inconvenience for one of the most technologically advanced and innovative films of all times.
The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, CCH Pounder, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass, Jamie Flatters, and Britain Dalton.
Avatar: The Way of Water premieres in theaters on Dec. 16.
