DIRECTOR: James Cameron
PRODUCER: James Cameron & Jon Landau
WRITERS: James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (story/screenplay)
& Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno (story)
PERFORMERS: Sam Worthington Zoe Saldana Sigourney Weaver Stephen Lang Cliff Curtis Joel David Moore CCH Pounder Edie Falco Jermaine Clement and Kate Winslet
James Cameron has been known for pushing the envelope of visual effects to next step and the last time that happened was twelve years ago with a dream project of his... that film was called "AVATAR". When released in 2009, that film did more than just change filmmaking, it brought a new visual perspective to what is now called 'the digital age of filmmaking'. Now, after twelve years of waiting, debating and anticipating... the follow-up to that visual masterpiece from 2009 has arrived!
AVATAR: The Way of Water is the sequel to the groundbreaking gem from 2009 audiences all saw and loved (yes, some even hated). Here, the story of Jake Sully (SAM WORTHINGTON) continues with his newfound home and family with his wife Neytiri (ZOE SALDANA). Life is great, he has kids, he's no longer a paraplegic, what could possibly go wrong? Well, that question is answered when an old enemy returns and in a big way. From there, the focus is shifted from the forest to the ocean where another population of people exists. Here, Cameron returns to a familiar territory he's clearly no stranger to: underwater filming (Remember his 1989 flick The Abyss?).
While the first one was Star Wars meets Fern Gully, this one is actually Star Wars meets Free Willy. The reason for that? Because the theme of the Ocean, the wonderment and the underwater sequences that are displayed here. They are just so incredible that you think you're actually underwater for real! The Star Wars theme still applies as far as the good vs. evil theme. But with the Free Willy application, the bond between the people and the sea creatures and the need to defend their home as well as their own. The one thing that stands out is the bond between Sully's younger son and a creature whale for an outcast (just like the aforementioned film about an orphan boy and a whale held captive). You believe their friendship is real, you believe they're the only two beings who understand each other better than anyone else and they stick to each other like glue (PROVERBS 18:24).
For the human side, you either like hating them or you hate them period. The only one you don't is the Jack Champion character, who in a sense of Mowgli from The Jungle Book, that tries to integrate into the Na'vi life despite his human nature. Once the humans show up, your heart beats immediately and when they do what they do, you're absolutely outraged at their actions just like you were with the first one. When production on this commenced, there were rumors about Stephen Lang and Sigourney Weaver returning and because both were killed off, you think... what? But somehow Cameron made them work in this one as they are playing different characters of their past human selves. Who would have ever thought of that?! Weaver's performance, in particular, has actually proven she can so much more than what she did before. Lang, on the other hand, needs no introduction. He comes back with a vengeance and pulls no punches in his motion capture performance as an alien version of his former human self.
This entry is so visually stunning that it's impossible to take your eyes off the screen. Once you're in this world, you never want to leave it. All the ocean scenes are just so beautiful, especially underwater. This was nearly like going to the movies underwater since The Abyss or Titanic. No one knows how to bring film underwater better than Cameron does! That's something that's been missing in action for a long time and he's here to bring it back! While the film does have visual moments of satisfaction, it also has some of the downsides too. The story was just as complex as it was, the evolution of the characters was also milked a bit (but still played out very well). Not too Disneyfied, but not too aggressive either. Serious when it needed to be, very tender moments here and there, more specifically action packed all around. The stakes are so high in this one, you almost get edgy (courtesy of the climax at the end). The themes were very well identified in this, including family and loyalty (ACTS 16:31) also acting as a strength as well as a weakness among the Sully clan.
Avatar: The Way of Water was more than just way of water, but way of visual storytelling and more groundbreaking effects to back it up. To do this in a live action presentation, that's just revolutionary by itself. Many films of the past that involved themes like this came and went, but they have nothing on this one! And given the way things look here, you can bet we're bound to get more in the near future! Who knows, the next sequel may just be about protecting the people. Might as well since this is Cameron's own Star Wars franchise because he created it, only he won't be as careless as George Lucas was with his former property. If you haven't seen this in theaters, see it now! You will not be disappointed, but don't take it too seriously either. If you want to understand how these play through, go back and watch the first one. Then see this one afterwards and everything else will follow. Remember, you are on Pandora, not in Kansas anymore.
#filmsof2022 #filmreviewsof2022 #avatar2 #avatarthewayofwater #jamescameronfilm #20thcenturystudios #lightstormentertainment
MY RATING: 5 out of 5