The 13-year absence that film fans have had from the world of Pandora has proven to be worth the wait as James Cameron delivers on his promise of another mouth-watering and revolutionary cinematic spectacle.
Avatar: The Way of Water is a visually stunning and thought-provoking film exploring themes of environmentalism, colonisation, and family. Cameron has once again pushed the boundaries of filmmaking with this latest instalment of the Avatar franchise, delivering an epic and immersive experience that transports audiences back to the breath-taking world of Pandora.
The film picks up a few years after the events of the first Avatar, with a human colony thriving on Pandora and the native Na’vi people fighting to protect their homeland from further exploitation. The story follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a former marine who has fully embraced his life as a Na’vi, as he and his wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) lead the resistance against a ruthless mining company that is determined to strip Pandora of its valuable resources.
It goes without saying that the most striking aspect of Avatar: The Way of Water is the incredible attention to detail in its world-building. From the vibrant and diverse flora and fauna to the intricate cultural customs of the Na’vi, the film immerses audiences in a fully realised and believable alien world. The special effects are truly breath-taking and this film somehow surpasses its predecessor in creating a realism around the world of Pandora and the Na’vi who inhabit it.
The film also tackles important and timely themes, with a strong message about the dangers of exploiting natural resources for profit and the importance of respecting and understanding other cultures and ways of life. The conflict between the human colony and the Na’vi is a metaphor for the real-world conflicts between colonists and indigenous peoples, and the film manages to explore these issues in a thoughtful and thought-provoking way.
With Cameron being a huge environmentalist himself, you really feel the passion he has put into the Avatar project and get the sense that he is trying to tell us that Earth is our Pandora. Thus we must take more care of it and show more appreciation for the natural wonder which is our planet.
Despite all of these positives, Avatar: The Way of Water is held back by some minor issues. Cameron’s sequel does follow an almost identical story to the original which was disappointing to see and the issues of slightly clunky dialogue and basic character writing follow on from the original.
Jake Sully as the lead protagonist and Quaritch (Stephen Lang) are particularly uncompelling and lacking in depth and in my opinion, Avatar: The Way of Water cannot be seen as one of the cinematic greats.
In spite of these issues, Avatar: The Way of Water remains a cinematic marvel and a must-see for fans of the franchise and anyone who appreciates ground-breaking filmmaking. With its stunning visuals, detailed world-building and thought-provoking themes, the latest instalment in the Avatar series certainly lived up to expectations.
4/5