Avatar: The Way of Water is a visual delight but the plot lacks punch
Released 13 years after the first instalment, James Cameron's film takes you through a spectacular visual journey, but the storyline is underwhelming.
It’s finally here.
More than a decade has passed since we set foot in Pandora in 2009, yet Avatar: The Way of Water feels familiar even without a rewatch. If the first movie was all about the planet’s sweeping mountains and lush forests, the sequel drowns you in stunning visuals of the sea and its beautiful flora and fauna as James Cameron continues to build a fascinating and rich world.
At the centre of it all is the Sully family. Over a decade has passed since the events of the previous film. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) have a bunch of kids now—two sons, Neteyam and Lo’ak, and daughter Tuk, as well as adopted daughter Kiri (born from Sigourney Weaver's Grace Augustine's comatose avatar), and a human son Spider (son of apparently-deceased antagonist Colonel Miles Quaritch).
But just as you immerse yourself in the beauty of Pandora with Jake narrating how his life has been in the last several years, the ‘sky people’ arrive once again and so does Quaritch. This time, it is not just to mine the planet’s resources but also to colonise it.
It is surprising how unprepared the natives are, especially since they are now led by Jake, who was an integral part of the last battle against the human invaders.
Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña in Avatar: The Way of Water
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Quaritch is still an interesting antagonist. Since he died in the last movie, his memories have been cloned into a Na’vi body and he has just one goal: to hunt and kill Jake Sully. So, in order to protect themselves, as well as the forest clans, the Sully family takes refuge with the Metkayina reef clan, and we are introduced to a whole new part of Pandora with a new set of people, with their own unique lifestyle, culture, customs, and heritage.
As the audience, along with Jake and his family, learn more about the ways of this fascinating clan, other minor plotlines emerge, some of which do not get fully fleshed out, despite the 3 hours 12 minutes runtime. The filmmakers are probably saving some of the mystery for sequels. In fact, the movie can feel a little slow at times. Even some scenes during the battle sequence towards the end—though action-packed—feel drawn out.
At the core, the story remains a typical good vs evil narrative, with themes of love, loss, spirituality, and nature. The basic plot is cliched and some of the dialogue feels a bit over the top, especially in the first half. The word ‘family’ gets thrown so many times almost as if the audience may have missed it the first dozen times. Also, there are a few jump-scare scenes that aren’t necessarily good or bad but didn’t really add any depth to the movie. It’s relatively easy to follow but it doesn’t really leave a lasting impression.
The movie's dazzling visuals leave a lasting impression
Cameron’s much-awaited masterpiece shines best during its silent moments—in scenes of nature that grab your full attention with dazzling visuals—with a new motion capture system. This should come as no surprise since the first Avatar movie too was technologically ahead of its time.
Of course, things have advanced since, and Avatar: The Way of Water uses it to its full advantage, delivering beautiful shots from the depths of the sea. The background score enhances this experience, heightening the impact of Cameron’s world-building abilities.
When it comes to the performance, all the actors have done quite well, but, like in the prequel, Saldhana as Neytiri and Stephen Lang’s antagonist Quaritch stand out. Also, the younger members of the cast are a delight to watch with their easy chemistry and playful performances.
In the end, however, there are two questions that need to be answered. Is this a worthy sequel? To an extent, yes. The movie manages to leave enough room for curiosity for the next three instalments Cameron is planning for this franchise.
And, will it be as successful as its predecessor? Probably not, but that has more to do with the current global waves than the movie itself. For one, the global box office is still nowhere near the pre-pandemic levels. Secondly, there is an economic slowdown, further impacting ticket sales across the world.
But then again, only time will tell.
Also, as the memes go, you should never bet against James Cameron.
Edited by Swetha Kannan