AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (2022)
It is said that you should not bet against James Cameron when it comes to box office grosses. The creator of some of the biggest films of all time: The Terminator, Titanic, The Abyss, and Avatar, certainly has his fair share of global movie phenomenon under his belt but can Avatar: The Way of Water join that illustrious list? The simple answer is, “Yes.” It seems like James Cameron was the one person to convince me that I should venture to a theater for the first time in three years to get the Big Screen effect and boy was it a thrill.
After being in a state of limbo for the past 13 years, The Way of Water finally made its big screen debut in glorious fashion. Not to flippantly throw a pun out but it certainly made, and has continued, to make a splash at the global box office.
Avatar: The Way of Water shines brightest when it shares it’s thrilling story but also lets the audience lose themselves, from time to time, in the incredible vistas of Pandora, the fictional planet where our heroes, the Na’vi reside. It is hard to imagine that what is shown on screen is not real but almost completely rendered within a computer. It is a feast for the eyes and Cameron knows this, he has always been a master of visual effects and this is no exception, hence why we are treated to so many beautiful locations and creatures to look at.
It is worth noting that it is clear that James Cameron has a deep love and appreciation for water, in general. He has made countless films that have centered around it and he, somehow, always leaves us wanting more. Perhaps that is why audiences are constantly drawn to his movies. They inspires us but as The Way of Water shows us, they can terrify us all at once.
While we are drawn to the visuals of his films, Cameron always ensures that the story being told is also engaging. From the beginning we are treated to a time lapse of what has happened on Pandora in the years since the events of the first film and we are even treated to the back story of our soon to be villain. It is best to go into the film with as little knowledge of the story as possible because it only enhances the thrill ride that we are taken on, the less you know. (Spoiler free synopsis below).
It would be impossible to tell a story like Avatar: The Way of Water without a strong cast. We never see them as human in The Way of Water (minus one young actor), so their movements and voices are the catalyst to drive our story forward. Cameron has never had problems finding strong actors to fill his roles and this film proves to follow that track record. A mix of veteran actors and new comers, give their all in telling a story that involves action, family tension and heartbreak. Although at times you may wonder which actor plays which Na’vi, you will soon realize that it doesn’t matter because they are all excellent and create an ensemble that proves they are better together than individually.
So if you are wondering if you should bet against James Cameron, this time around. The answer is no, The Way of Water lives up to all of the hype. Go in with as little knowledge as possible, be ready for a full 3 hours of excitement, and prepare to be entranced by the spectacle because it truly is an experience to behold.
Synopsis: Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their home. (IMDB)
