Avatar: The Way of Water (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Avatar: The Way of Water' is the long-gestating sequel to James Cameron's epic 2009 hit, Avatar. This sequel returns us to the wondrous forests of planet Pandora, set some 15+ years after the 1st film. After his human form was killed, Col. Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is resurrected as a Na'vi avatar. On assignment from the military, he - along with other solider avatars - is determined to colonize Pandora {for its life-saving resources} as replacement for a dying Earth. What Quaritch doesn't know is that he left behind a human son, Spider (Jack Champion), who has become part of Jake Sully (Na'vi-ed Sam Worthington) & Neytiri's (Zoe Saldana) family, along with teen Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), daughter of the late Dr. Grace Augustine (Weaver, again); Kiri has a mystical connection with the Na'vi deity, Eywa.
Together with these 2 adoptees, Jake & Neytiri have 3 biological children: eldest son Neteyam, younger son Lo'ak, & young daughter Tuk. Fleeing from vengeful Quaritch & his treacherous "Sky People", they take refuge with the far-off island-dwelling Metkayina Reef clan with hesitant Chief Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) & his pregnant spiritual wife, Ronai (Kate Winslet). The turquoise-colored reef-dwellers are an aquatic clan who introduce them to a wondrous bioluminescent underwater world. That's where Lo'ak befriends an outcast Tulkun (an enormous, sentient whale creature). Jake & his family assimilate to the oceanic Reef culture. But with time, relentless Quaritch brings the war of the "Sky People" to the water clans, their magical creatures, & Jake's family. Epic action, tragedy & catharsis ensue.
It is hard to overstate how visually impressive & technically game-changing this film is. It is a spectacular entertainment that, despite some issues here & there, dazzles our senses, & even makes us feel something for its characters. 'The Way of Water' is not a film you see for its layered plot or scintillating dialogue. But simply put: James Cameron Knows. How. To. Make. A. Grand. Scale. Entertainment -- full stop. Simple-but-effective large scale storylines + visual wonder + propulsive action = a winning combination. And add in potent themes of anti-imperialism, pro-environment, & familial love for good measure. Short of George Lucas back in the day or Steven Spielberg when he's firing on all cylinders, there's just no one better. Cameron makes remarkable use of the underwater sequences, creature designs & the overall immersive experience on Pandora. As is usually the case with him, I was blown away by the majesty on the screen.
Sam Worthington & Zoe Saldana are our anchors as Jake & Neytiri. Stephen Lang's one-dimensional villain from the 1st film is expanded upon this time; giving him some development centered around the Spider character. All the young actors do a great job {Jake & Neytiri's kids & Tonowari & Ronal's}. I was most impressed by Sigourney Weaver, who not only once again plays Dr. Grace Augustine in flashbacks/dream sequences, but rivets as Grace's biological daughter, Kiri - who Jake & Neytiri take-in as their own. Kiri is a vulnerable being for mysterious reasons, but I most loved the connection & kindred spirit she has with the water creatures. To that, there is an enormous subplot involving the Reef tribe's sacred alien whales - the Tulkun - that is as soul stirring as anything you'll see this year. They are amazing sentient creatures and, their safety is at risk in the face of the Sky People's hunting of them.
The action scenes come mostly in the 3rd act/3rd hour, but there are moments of pulse-racing peril throughout {the initial attack on Pandora, the heart-rending whale scenes}. There's even a ship-sinking sequence that, while wildly impressive, also goes on a touch long for my liking. At 190 min. in length, I feel that a bit could've been trimmed from the intro segment, as well as this elongated climax to bring it down to something resembling 170 min. or so; but I digress. All throughout, Cameron punctuates the kinetic action with Simon Franglen's soaring music that calls upon the late James Horner's original themes. Russell Carpenter's camerawork {blending live-action with CGI} is stunning. Ditto that for the eye-popping production design. Now this movie may not be the most intellectually meticulous movie out there and, while it emotionally moved me, it didn't devastate me in the same way as, say, Cameron's Titanic did. But along with RRR & Top Gun: Maverick earlier this year, comparing this film to other action spectacles makes them all feel downright rote. 'The Way of Water' wholly exemplifies what the term 'cinematic' means today.
Together with these 2 adoptees, Jake & Neytiri have 3 biological children: eldest son Neteyam, younger son Lo'ak, & young daughter Tuk. Fleeing from vengeful Quaritch & his treacherous "Sky People", they take refuge with the far-off island-dwelling Metkayina Reef clan with hesitant Chief Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) & his pregnant spiritual wife, Ronai (Kate Winslet). The turquoise-colored reef-dwellers are an aquatic clan who introduce them to a wondrous bioluminescent underwater world. That's where Lo'ak befriends an outcast Tulkun (an enormous, sentient whale creature). Jake & his family assimilate to the oceanic Reef culture. But with time, relentless Quaritch brings the war of the "Sky People" to the water clans, their magical creatures, & Jake's family. Epic action, tragedy & catharsis ensue.
It is hard to overstate how visually impressive & technically game-changing this film is. It is a spectacular entertainment that, despite some issues here & there, dazzles our senses, & even makes us feel something for its characters. 'The Way of Water' is not a film you see for its layered plot or scintillating dialogue. But simply put: James Cameron Knows. How. To. Make. A. Grand. Scale. Entertainment -- full stop. Simple-but-effective large scale storylines + visual wonder + propulsive action = a winning combination. And add in potent themes of anti-imperialism, pro-environment, & familial love for good measure. Short of George Lucas back in the day or Steven Spielberg when he's firing on all cylinders, there's just no one better. Cameron makes remarkable use of the underwater sequences, creature designs & the overall immersive experience on Pandora. As is usually the case with him, I was blown away by the majesty on the screen.
Sam Worthington & Zoe Saldana are our anchors as Jake & Neytiri. Stephen Lang's one-dimensional villain from the 1st film is expanded upon this time; giving him some development centered around the Spider character. All the young actors do a great job {Jake & Neytiri's kids & Tonowari & Ronal's}. I was most impressed by Sigourney Weaver, who not only once again plays Dr. Grace Augustine in flashbacks/dream sequences, but rivets as Grace's biological daughter, Kiri - who Jake & Neytiri take-in as their own. Kiri is a vulnerable being for mysterious reasons, but I most loved the connection & kindred spirit she has with the water creatures. To that, there is an enormous subplot involving the Reef tribe's sacred alien whales - the Tulkun - that is as soul stirring as anything you'll see this year. They are amazing sentient creatures and, their safety is at risk in the face of the Sky People's hunting of them.
The action scenes come mostly in the 3rd act/3rd hour, but there are moments of pulse-racing peril throughout {the initial attack on Pandora, the heart-rending whale scenes}. There's even a ship-sinking sequence that, while wildly impressive, also goes on a touch long for my liking. At 190 min. in length, I feel that a bit could've been trimmed from the intro segment, as well as this elongated climax to bring it down to something resembling 170 min. or so; but I digress. All throughout, Cameron punctuates the kinetic action with Simon Franglen's soaring music that calls upon the late James Horner's original themes. Russell Carpenter's camerawork {blending live-action with CGI} is stunning. Ditto that for the eye-popping production design. Now this movie may not be the most intellectually meticulous movie out there and, while it emotionally moved me, it didn't devastate me in the same way as, say, Cameron's Titanic did. But along with RRR & Top Gun: Maverick earlier this year, comparing this film to other action spectacles makes them all feel downright rote. 'The Way of Water' wholly exemplifies what the term 'cinematic' means today.