Avatar: The Way of Water – Movie Review
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver (Screenplay)
Writer: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman, Shane Salerno (Story)
Cast
- Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation)
- Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy)
- Sigourney Weaver (Alien)
- Stephen Lang (Don’t Breathe)
- Kate Winslet (Titanic)
Plot: 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.
Runtime: 3 Hours 12 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Avatar: The Way of Water starts by showing us how Jake (Worthington) and Neytiri (Saldana) have started their own family on Pandora. Peace has come to the planet, until humans return again, destroying most of the homeland. Quaritch (Lang) has seen his memory placed into an avatar, seeing him leading a mission to track down Jake.
Jake takes his family to safety needing to learn from a water tribe. This sees him needing to let his children learn their place in the world, as the enemy comes searching for him.
Verdict on Avatar: The Way of Water
Characters
Jake has become a great warrior to the Na’vi, he has started a family that has adapted to the environment. When his tribe becomes a target for humans once again, he finds himself needing to protect his family. He must learn a new style of surviving to fit in with the new tribe and let his own children learn their place in the world.
Neytiri sees her family needing to move away, something she isn’t used to. She tries to help Jake understand that their children need to learn and not be as strict with them. However, she continues to show her fearless warrior side.
Quaritch has returned, with his memories placed into an Avatar. He leads his unit on a mission to stop Jake, becoming the very thing he hated to fight against. However, he does seem to show a more restrained character than his human form.
Kiri is the unexplainable daughter of Gale, she has been taken in by Jake and Neytiri. She shows a connection to the planet, unlike anyone Na’Vi before her. We also get to see the rest of the children, who fit into the typical figures who want to impress their father.
Story
The story here sees the Na’vi facing a fresh battle against the humans. Jake needs to protect his family from an old enemy while learning a new way of life. All while the battle for Pandora rages on and the Na’vi continues to learn more about their own planet.
In the core of this story, we don’t get much original material. It falls into the typical father being too strict on his rebellious children, while trying to protect them. While the children continue to put themselves at risk as they get involved in understanding their own place in the world. never listening to instructions. It is this on rinse and repeat and doesn’t give the story any justification to be 3 hours long.
Themes
Avatar: The Way of Water might well be the most visually beautiful movie you will see this year. The special effects are jaw-dropping but at times the film focuses more on showing them off, than telling the story. Taking everything to the water does give the film a chance to introduce more creative versions of creatures from our own world. However, this does feel like we are watching a glorified nature documentary by the end.
Final Thoughts – Avatar: The Way of Water is a visual masterpiece being held back by a bland story.
