James Cameron returns triumphantly to Pandora with an unparalleled cinematic epic. Avatar: The Way of Water submerses you in an alien ocean of adventure, retribution, and tragic violence. Humanity’s assault on the Na’vi and their magnificent world’s unspoiled riches begins in earnest. Enemies long thought dead are reborn to threaten everything Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) holds dear. His beloved family must run for their lives as the leaders and symbols of a fierce resistance. I can say without hyperbole that Avatar: The Way of Water is the greatest 3D film ever made. Nothing you’ve previously seen touches its visionary scope.
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Fifteen years after RDA’s expulsion from Pandora, life has changed dramatically for Jake Sully. Toruk Makto and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) have successfully rebuilt the Omaticaya clan. They have four spirited children and an equally rambunctious interloper. The composed Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) has to keep younger brother, Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), out of trouble. Adopted daughter Kiri (no spoilers) has a deep and mysterious connection to Eywa. She’s idolized by their lovable youngest, Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), a fixture at her siblings’ side. Rounding out the energetic youth is Spider (Jack Champion), a human teen raised along the Sullys with a Na’vi sensibility.
Deadly Adversaries Reborn
20th Century Studios
Jake’s worst fears are realized when he notices new stars appear in the night sky. Ships are entering Pandora’s atmosphere. RDA lands with a massive force. General Frances Ardmore (Edie Falco) has brought new weapons to the fight. A platoon of Avatars led by Jake’s greatest adversary has evened the physical score. They are just as strong as the native Na’vi, and most importantly, aren’t recognized as invaders by Eywa. Neytiri’s “demons” have come back to kill and conquer.
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Jake must hide his wife and children if they are to survive. Ardmore will annihilate the Omaticaya to get them. They flee to the seas of Pandora, where thousands of islands can shield them from RDA’s wrath. The Metkayina aren’t happy to see the family of forest Na’vi. The pregnant Tsahìk, Ronal (Kate Winslet), warns they will bring destruction. But clan leader, Tonowari (Cliff Curtis), honors the asylum request of Toruk Makto.
Passing the Narrative Torch
20th Century Studios
Avatar: The Way of Water passes the narrative torch to a new generation. The Sully children and Spider are the clear focus of this second chapter. Jake has raised his offspring like a Marine unit. He expects orders to be strictly followed without fail. Lo’ak’s rebellious nature causes major conflicts with his father. This in turn opens their family to insidious attack. Troubled relationships are a central theme with surprising outcomes.
Cameron gives little exposition before plunging into a densely layered plot. He follows the same approach from the original. A voice-over from Jake catches you up to speed within minutes. Then it’s pay attention or suffer some modicum of confusion. There are many new characters, creatures, and settings with odd names. Familiarity kicks in after the first hour, but be aware there’s no spoon-feeding of important details.
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Cameron’s life focus of oceanic preservation plays prominently throughout. RDA’s ruthless colonizers decimate the environment while pillaging resources and killing indiscriminately. Tulkun, whale-like creatures with superior intelligence, suffer the same grisly fate as their real-life inspiration. These scenes are absolutely brutal. Devastation pervades to make a succinct point. Mankind, with our unceasing greed and tyranny, bled the Earth dry. Pandora becomes the next target of unquenchable avarice.
James Cameron Crushes Expectations
Avatar: The Way of Water has a three-hour and twelve-minute runtime. I blinked my eyes and it was over. The film is enormously engrossing. The sound and visual effects are the best to date. I originally wrote three paragraphs exalting its technical glory, but superlatives are overrated. Some may find the HFR (high-speed frame rate), 48 frames-per-second enabled by TrueCut Motion smoothing, unsettling. You’re missing greatness by seeing this film in standard theater formats. Allow your eyes to relax and absorb the cinematography’s breathtaking magnitude. Spend the money to experience Avatar: The Way of Water on the biggest 3D screen available. This is why we go to the movies, escapism and storytelling on the grandest scale. Cameron didn’t waste thirteen years goofing around. He crushes expectations.
Avatar: The Way of Water is a production of Lightstorm Entertainment and TSG Entertainment. It will be released theatrically on December 16th by 20th Century Studios.
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