by Greg Uke, Reporter

Back in 2009, the cinematic community experienced the first Avatar movie. It was a bold production for its time, not only for the quality of its CGI but also for the stark visual contrast between the pure magic of Pandora and the ugly vulgar technology of Earth. Moviegoers were enchanted by a visual feast of alien flora and fauna, charmed by the virtuous robust spirituality of the Na’vi people, and then smashed in the head with guilt and shame by the evil greedy humans whom they sadly were forced to identify with. The moral lesson of this fable was clear. If we ever venture out into the stars and visit another planet, hopefully, humans won’t act this way.

Good job James Cameron.

Fast forward thirteen years, and the story continues with Avatar: The Way of Water (which we will refer to as TWOW onward). One of the first things that struck me about this film was the level of continuity it had. TWOW is a HARD continuation of the original story, faithfully utilizing the same characters and advancing the same plotline after a thirteen-year hiatus. It does this beautifully, transforming Pandora from a one-hit wonder into a stable setting with an ongoing metaplot. The writers build upon this gorgeous planet with painstaking detail, and in TWOW we are treated to a vibrant vision of the planet’s oceans. Make no mistake: TWOW is a feast for the eyes which will mesmerize viewers for years to come.

Despite their thirteen-year hiatus, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana’s characterizations of Jake Sully and his wife Neytiri are spot-on throughout the movie. They don’t get much screen time because the story is mainly about the Sully children. Particularly Lo’ak (Britain Dalton); the middle son who struggles to find his place in the shadow of his heroic father and elder brother Neteyam (Jamie Flatters). Stephen Lang’s performance as Colonel Miles Quaritch is a refreshing change of pace from the first movie, as this villain gains a lot more depth and color before the end.

Honorable mentions also go out to Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) and Ronal (Kate Winslet), who brings a refreshing change of perspective as the leaders of the Metkayina Clan (water people) and reluctant hosts to the Sully family. The catty friction between Neytiri and Ronal is great fun to watch. Jack Champion’s representation of Javier “Spider” Socorro is also particularly powerful because, despite his extreme loyalty, Neytiri still gives him her “lukewarm alien stepmom” routine. Sigourney Weaver’s role was minor by comparison, though her presence in the movie is important to the plot she has very few lines and less screen time.

Plotwise, this movie is both gratifying and a hot mess. The message of human evil despoiling a beautiful planet is still very much alive, but in TWOW the writers chose to sideline it and focus on the Na’vi people to give them a greater depth of character. That means they have personality flaws and are no longer depicted as perfect little Pocahontas clones, which further cements their believability. It also leaves them open for self-improvement and interpersonal relationships, which is at least half of what this installment is about.

While the action elements could easily be summarized in a single hour, most of the movie is spent showcasing character development and the oceanic environment. These things are a joy to watch, but they detract from the apparent theme at the beginning of the movie. There is a feeling of wrongness that comes from showcasing the battle for Pandora, then totally abandoning it for most of the movie. This faux pax is offset by the engrossing nature of the plot shift, but viewers walking into TWOW expecting a cool action movie have a very long wait ahead.

Overall

Avatar: The Way of Water features bold visuals and interesting character development that make it a joy to watch, even as its drifting plot leaves one uncertain about what to expect next.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Avatar: The Way of Water – 4/5 stars.

Stay tuned to ComicsOnline for more reviews, exclusive interviews, giveaways, and everything geek pop culture!