Avatar: The Way of Water
2022 ‧ Sci-fi/Action ‧ 3h 12m
Well, I’m going to be straightforward with you and I really liked this film. I missed it in the theatre due to some health issues. And needless to say, I missed some great 3D shots. I mean that’s the feeling I’m getting after watching it in the comfort of my home in 4K with a nicer sound system.
Storyline
Like the Avatar, it is also rendered in a narrative style by Jake Sully. After the Naʼvi people claimed their home back from the sky people, they sent humans back to planet earth except for some science people and a baby - Spider, and they chose to stay. Jake and Neytiri had three children (Neteyam, Lo'ak, Tuk), and Kiri was born from the Avatar of Dr. Grace Augustine.
And then, one day, the sky people returned to Pandora with advanced pieces of machinery and resources. This time Quaritch returns as a Na'Vi Avatar with his blue team to kill Jake Sully. Time passes and losses on both sides, but when they point guns at the children, Jake and Neytiri decide to leave home and find a place far away from this madness - this is what Avatar 2 is all about, family matters.
Jake Sully: I know one thing. Where ever we go, this family is our fortress.
They found shelter among the Metkayina Clan and bonded with the people and water animals, especially with the Tulkans - amazing creatures, by the way.
Quaritch and the team find this place, and the chaos begins. And at the end, Jake realizes something that paves the way for Avatar 3.
I can't save my family by running. This is our home. This is our fortress. This is where we make our stand.
A different approach
I remember after releasing the film in the theatres, everyone said the visuals were top, but the story was not as good as the first. In a way, yes, the story is different, but establishing the new characters and new atmosphere takes time. There is no easy trick in this situation - only narrating the layers one by one, by taking its time. After watching the film, I’m familiar with every character. I think this chapter is all about the upcoming films. This is the 3 hours long foundation.
The visuals and atmosphere are top! Absolutely mind-blowing.
Everybody says, “sky is the limit”. But in James Cameron’s case, I don't think there is a limitation. He imagined a world with all types of - even minute details - species with a back story and everything. That is one-in-a-million thinking.
My favorite was the Tulkun - a large, intelligent marine species native to the oceans of Pandora. Maybe because I like whales so much. I really liked the story linking with the theme, especially the fin and hand connection.
The only thing I find not right is that chief Tonowari and his people were missing after beginning the battle - I mean, where did they go!!!
Spider is not like a 15-year-old human, and I think he adapted to the Na’vi culture. The mind connection between Spider and Quaritch is also portrayed subtly but perfectly, I’d say. Maybe it is a way to construct a bridge between humans and the Na’vi people. Well, so we can guess what Avatar 3 is all about.
Neytiri never showed any affection to Spider, maybe that will also be the storyline in the next chapter, but in the end, Jake says, “A son for a son”, which resonates greatly with everything just happened.
Also, Spider and Kiri - there is a great bond between them, and we can see that throughout the film. Aaah, and Kiri’s father - I think the whole concept is now she was born from Eywa. She was also outstanding. She connected with water and marine species so fast.
The connection between Neteyam and Jake was absolutely amazing - the firstborn will always be the protector of the family if something happens to the father, Jake was trying to raise him like that, but fate had a different path. The film brilliantly shows Jake’s feelings after the loss in the dreamy world when they connected with Eywa!
Neytiri also showed motherhood feelings by watching them from a distance, and that smile really showed happiness when they realized he was with Eywa now.
The People say we live in Eywa and Eywa lives in us. The Great Mother holds all her children in her heart. Happiness is simple!
You just have to slow your heart down. Be real calm. Breathe from here. The way of water has no beginning and no end. The sea is around you and in you. The sea is your home before your birth and after your death. The sea gives and the sea takes. Water connects all things. Life to death. Darkness to light.
Overall I have no criticism except for the missing of the water people from the battle. The whole film is on the point of “Sully’s stick together”, So maybe the director is trying to make this battle with humans vs Sully’s, I guess.
Now that the drama is established, I think Avatar 3 is going to be awesome.