Avatar: The Way of Water, James Cameron’s aquatic marvel

Between Titanic and Avatar, James Cameron didn’t release a film for 12 years. He spent all that time working on and developing the technology used to make Avatar, and now he’s taken another 13 years simply to ensure the technology to shoot motion capture under water existed AND worked well. And that wait has paid off.

Avatar: The Way of Water picks up well over a decade after the first one, as main characters Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington from Under the Banner of Heaven) and Neytiri (played by Zoe Saldana from Guardians of the Galaxy) live happily with their four children. One of these children include Kiri, the Na’vi child of Sigourney Weaver’s character’s avatar from the last film, who is also played by Weaver (from Aliens and Ghostbusters).

The family is forced to leave when humans return to Pandora with intention of colonizing. Leading the Marine force trying to clear the way is the resurrected and clone Colonel Miles Quaritch (played by Stephen Lang from Don’t Breathe), who has had his mind permanently placed into an avatar. The Sully family decide to head to the Metkayina, a water tribe far away from their forest home. As they learn the way of water, the marines start scouring the ocean in search of bloody, colonial violence.

James Cameron has been very vocal since making the first Avatar about his inspiration in the plight of Indigenous peoples. Humans are making things worse for the Na’vi, and the only reason they do it is because they need the resources to continue their colonial lifestyle. It’s a devastating cycle, and one that can only end with the understanding that we are all connected. We are all part of the same cycle, the same existence, and that is the way of water.

This sequel to the highest grossing film of all time is focused on water, and not entirely for thematic reasons. James Cameron is a filmmaker similar to George Lucas, in that he is a blockbuster filmmaker who is quite interested in pushing the boundaries of the medium. With the first film in 2009 he focused on the advances made in motion capture, and this film is another demo reel for the advances in motion capture. The technology has evolved so that motion capture can now be shot underwater, and all actors playing Na’vi characters do film many scenes underwater. Kate Winslet (from Titanic), playing the healer and wife of the Chief of the Metkayina tribe, reportedly held her breath for 7 minutes underwater for the filming of one scene.

Marshall McLuhan once said the medium is the message, and in that regard this film’s message is that motion capture looks damn good underwater. The high frame rate technology in the first hour, predominantly above water, is the film’s weakest section visually. But once the cameras and motion capture technology go underwater, this films sings like no other visual masterpiece has before.

In terms of performances, the two standouts are easily Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang. Weaver’s character is a typical teenage girl, but one incredibly concerned with the the truth of her birth parents. That question seems like it will be the defining arc of this series going forward. Even though there is a massive difference in age between actor and character, Kiri does feel and act like a young teenager.

Lang returns as the villain from the first film, but almost completely moves to motion capture here. His character takes time to adjust to his new body and abilities, and gets the chance to show off a lot of humanity. His villain is easy for many to identify with, which makes his horrifying actions all the more poignant and impactful for the viewer. This film also features tons of great performances, motion capture or otherwise, from newcomers to this franchise like Edie Falco (from the Sopranos), Cliff Curtis (from Fear the Walking Dead), and Jemaine Clement (from What We Do in the Shadows).

This film might not eclipse the box office success of the first film, but it certainly looks like it could. It’s a gorgeous thrill ride best watched on the biggest screen you can see this on. Go see it in 3D, or on 4DX, or whatever type of unique cinematic experience you’d like to. This film, and presumably its numerous sequels in the coming years, will become one of the defining blockbusters of the 2020s. This film gets a 4/5.