Avatar: The Way of Water

 4/4

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Jamie Flatters, Britain Dalton, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Edie Falco

Rated PG-13 for Sequences of Strong Violence and Intense Action, Partial Nudity and Some Strong Language

It's been 13 years since "Avatar" debuted at the box office, toppling his previous film "Titanic" to become the all-time box office king (it was temporarily ousted by "Avengers: Endgame," but a re-release put it back on the number one spot).  Of course it wasn't supposed to take this long for the inevitable sequel to be released, but due to James Cameron's perfectionism, development of new technology and the Covid-19 pandemic, its initial release date was pushed back from 2015 until today.  The dramatic changes in the film industry have made Disney executives very nervous.  After all, thirteen years is a long time to wait, and it will take a miracle to return it to public consciousness.  And even if it did, would enough people actually go out to see it, or will they wait for streaming?

I hope so.  Because it's awesome.

If there's any reason to go back to the theaters, it's "Avatar: The Way of Water."  As much fun as "Top Gun: Maverick" was, this is better.  James Cameron does not make "small" movies.  For him, bigger is better.  But he's a true-blue filmmaker.  He doesn't just throw special effects at the screen in huge expensive gobs like your average superhero flick.  He's a storyteller.  He creates characters the audience can care about and identify with, regardless of whether or not the viewer has a pre-existing relationship with them (that said, seeing the original is more or less mandatory for those interested in the sequel).  The stakes are high and the audience has an investment in the outcome.

"Avatar: The Way of Water" begins some time after the Na'vi have repelled the attack by the overzealous humans.  Jake Sully (Worthington) has married Neytiri (Saldana) and the have five children: sons Neteyam (Flatters), Lo'ak (Dalton) and daughter Tuk (Bliss), an adopted daughter Kiri (Weaver), and a human baby left behind nicknamed Spider (Champion).  Pandora is at peace, until mankind comes calling again.  General Ardmore (Falco) recognizes that Earth is dying and intends on colonizing Pandora for the human race.  To help her achieve this goal, she has inserted the mental data (memories, personality, etc) of Miles Quaritch (Lang) and his cronies into newly grown avatars.  Quaritch is itching to get revenge on Jake, and will do anything to get it.  Forced to go on the run, Jake and his family end up with the Metkayina clan on the island coast.  But a bloodhound like Quaritch doesn't give up easily, and it isn't long before they reunite for a grudge match.

Let's get this out of the way now: "Avatar: The Way of Water" is inferior to its predecessor.  It has some pacing issues (particularly in the first half hour) and some of the characters are underdeveloped.  That being said, it's also more ambitious.  Cameron has expanded his canvas and set up some storylines that will be explored in the sequel (or sequels, if "The Way of Water" makes enough money).  In fact, one could argue that, even at a lengthy 3:12 minutes, the film is too short.  The opening in particular is shortchanged; it moves at lightning speed and plays as if the length of time between the two films was merely an intermission.  It creates a barrier to involvement that the film eventually overcomes but can't be overlooked.

Acting wasn't the biggest selling point of the original, and that hasn't changed.  The cast is solid, to be sure, but no one tries to upstage the story.  They do what is required of them and that's all that can be asked.  The exception is Stephen Lang, who devours his role with relish.  As vile as Quaritch was in the original, he's even worse here.  It takes a heroic actor to create a character whose comeuppance is demanded by the audience, and Lang shows no fear.  He holds nothing back, not flinching for a moment in displaying Quarich's sadism.  Although it's a long shot, Lang could merit an Oscar nomination for his work here.

James Cameron has always been at home when he pushes special effects to their limits.  Whether it's flying a Harrier jet in downtown Miami or sinking the Titanic, Cameron has never toned down his ambitions.  He sets out to do the impossible and then does it.  Not only that, he does it with true skill and craftsmanship.  He choreographs his action scenes in such a way that it pleases the eye, raises the adrenaline and always reminds us of who is who and what they are doing.  That is a testament to Cameron's talent.

Storywise, "Avatar" does cover some of the same ground in both subtle and obvious ways (it should go without saying that "Avatar" wasn't original either).  But Cameron is unafraid to push the story in new directions either.  A bond that develops between Lo'ak and a sea monster is touchingly presented, for example.  And the cruel hunting of a whale-like creature is even harder to watch than the one in "In the Heart of the Sea."

The red meat of the film are, of course, the action scenes, and they don't disappoint.  The climactic battle is on a smaller scale than in the original, but it's no less exciting.  It's actually a relief that Cameron doesn't try to top the battle in the Hallelujah Mountains, for doing so would threaten to push the film into parody territory.  It's tremendously exciting because it's exceedingly well choreographed and because we have an investment in the outcome.

I really hope enough people go out to see "Avatar: The Way of Water" in the theaters because that's where it's really going to pay off.  Cameron has arguably bitten off more than he can chew and it could have used a bit more breathing room, but if bumping up the rating gets even one more person to make the trek to the theater, then I have no guilt over any possible rating inflation.  Just go see it.  Don't be lazy and wait for streaming.  Don't be intimidated by the 3+ hour running time (it feels like it passes by in no time at all).  Just go.  It's more than worth your time and money.  Adventure doesn't get much more epic than this.