AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER: Cameron’s Triumphant Return To Pandora

Thriteen years after James Cameron introduced the world to Pandora, the fierce Na’vi, and their way of life, the acclaimed filmmaker finally delivers his promise to return with an emotional adventure of epic proportions. Avatar: The Way of Water is the long-anticipated sequel to the 2009 smash hit, and the impressive visual effects, compelling soundtrack and captivating performances are still found within this world, in a thrilling ride that is able to improve upon the original movie. The wait was worth it, with Cameron delivering his signature direction focusing primarily of character development and performance before even thinking about the explosive action.

While the three-hour runtime can be felt over the course of the story, the film manages to stand out from the rest of the blockbusters released during this year, excelling on every technical aspect that you can think of, while crafting this diverse world full of exotic creatures and mesmerizing landscapes. Make no mistake, while the movie does take place in a visual environment designed to impress you, the actual story is about a family and their struggle to stay together and protect their people, attaching the action to a very strong emotional core. The stakes are actually raised by making them smaller.

Cameron Puts Family First

More than a decade after the events of Avatar, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) have formed a family, having three kids of their own and two adopted children. The Sullys live a peaceful life until humans return to Pandora for the first time since they were defeated by the Na’vi. Still obsessed with exploiting Pandora’s natural resources, the humans build a base to continue extracting whatever they can, damaging the  ecosystem and Na’vi villages in the process. War ensues when the memories of the deceased Colonel Miles Quaritch are implemented on a Na’vi body (played once again by Stephen Lang) in order to infiltrate areas not accessible to humans.

When developing an action blockbuster with such a big scale, it can be easy to get lost in the spectacle and not put too much effort into crafting the characters.  But in true James Cameron fashion, Jake, Neytiri, and their kids are the heart and soul of The Way of Water. The Titanic director stays true to his style, with the film not being particular about the end of the world, or an effort to save the universe, but a family struggling to survive and just doing their best to create a better life for themselves. With fantastic performances from the young actors, particularly Britain Dalton as Lo’ak, the Sullys are easy to love, making their journey across the reef emotionally engaging.

The family is forced to leave their home, and when they arrive at a new region, they must adapt to a new lifestyle that is very different from the ones they were used to in the Omaticaya forest. Their dynamic is very human, with Jake and Neytiri clearly not having a lot of experience when it comes to good parenting, and teenagers who struggle with their impulsiveness as well as filling their roles as the most important family in their village. Every Sully has a purpose, and the magnificent chemistry they share is treated with care, making evident the way Cameron worked for years on the script.

A Technical Achievement in Filmmaking

Added to Cameron‘s great capacity for storytelling, the visual effects in the first Avatar sequel are astonishing, with our first dive into Pandora’s oceans displaying a whole new catalogue of creatures and underwater shots. Special equipment was developed by Lightstorm Entertainment to be able to handle motion capture performance underwater, marking the second time the Na’vi franchise revolutionized the possibilites computer-generated imagery can bring to the table. Of course, pretty graphics aren’t enough to make something truly unforgettable, with Cameron‘s direction being laser-focused on capturing emotion and meaning between the forests and shores of his creation.

The passage of time is noticeable in the visual language of the movie, as not only do the visual effects look even better than the last time, but the visual language of the film has also received an update. In an impressive manner, Cameron seems to understand what makes modern blockbusters visually appealing without falling into the trap of inserting too much “visual noise” on screen. Between the chases, battles and fights, the camera guides you smoothly to focus on the characters’ emotions without getting lost in the explosions or the dozens of Ikrans flying around with Na’vi riders commanding them.

Brilliant, Emotional Acting From The Sullys

It is no secret that motion-capture performances don’t get as much recognition as they deserve due to the digital effects involved in enhancing the performances, but Zoe Saldana delivers the strongest performance in the film. The first time she played the role of Neytiri in 2009, she portrayed a fierce warrior that slowly learns to trust in Sam Worthington‘s Jake Sully. This time, she steps into the shoes of a mother doing her best of raising her children while trying to lead her people. Once again, Saldana is captivating in the role, making Neytiri a fearless warrior,a skilled fighter, and a loving mother.

Worthington himself vastly improves his performance from the first film, playing Jake with the earned wisdom of a strong leader and an experienced fighter. The dynamic the leading couple has with their children is what breathes new air into the characters, allowing them to add a layer of complexity to their stories. Moving forward, it might become more clear how Avatar is not the story of Pandora, or the Na’vi, but simply the tale of Jake, Neytiri, and the growth of their family. And, in a very wholesome manner, it doesn’t get bigger than that.

Conclusion: Avatar: The Way of Water

Incredibly impressive visual effects adorn James Cameron‘s triumphant return to Pandora, which focuses on the emotional start to the Sully family’s journey. The ensemble cast of the film shine with engaging chemistry with each other, led by Zoe Saldana‘s powerful portrayal as Neytiri. After more than a decade of waiting, Avatar: The Way of Water makes a statement as the most spectacular blockbuster of the year, providing a thrilling ride through the mesmerizing world of the Na’vi.

Avatar: The Way of Water was released in theaters on December 16th, 2022.

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