#REVIEW: “AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER”

Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

This Review for AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER contains no spoilers.

Act One: Set many years after the original movie, ex-marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his warrior wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) live peacefully with their four children in Pandora. As the respected chief of the Omaticaya clan, Jake (now in the Na’vi form of his original Avatar) tranquil existence in the lush forests is threatened by the return of the Sky People, led by the maniacal Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang). In a head-scratching plot twist, and despite being killed in the first movie, Quaritch is back – this time as a Na’vi Avatar – bigger, stronger, and spewing B-Movie villain inanities. When it becomes apparent that his family is the target of Quaritch’s murderous rage, Jack relocates, with his brood, to a distant chain of islands. The Metkayina inhabitants are led by its Chief Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) alongside his pregnant wife Ronal (Kate Winslett) and their teenaged children. Despite the chance of dangerous repercussions from the violent Sky People, Tonowari harbours these refugees and endeavours to teach them a new way of life.

Act Two: This is primarily about the two chiefs’ offspring and set mostly underwater, which Jake’s adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) takes to…well, you know… like a fish to water! This Act is hypnotically-magnificent.

Act Three: The final hour is epic filmmaking with heart pounding action sequences.

James Cameron is brilliant in so many aspects of Filmmaking, that his lack in writing believable dialogue can be jarring and tonally inconsistent at times Admittedly, I winced a few times when many of the villains opened their mouths, spouting clichéd pronouncements with blustering bravado.  Not to mention some of the dilaogue to which Kate Winslet’s Ronal is relegated. But one does not go to see a James Cameron movie expecting Playright’s masterpiece.

Vacillating between intimate and enormous, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is a visual, visceral odyssey masterpiece. With a daunting three hour and twelve minute running time, I was completely enamoured and captivated throughout. From the Māori warrior inspired Body Art to the astonishing underwater sequences, every cinematic element in this movie simply defines excellence. The physicality of the performers’ animated Stop-Action movements enhances the thrilling action sequences to levels I had never experienced. The 3D effects are mind-blowing, especially underwater with its surreal creatures. A true spectacle.

I was one of those who questioned if we really needed a sequel to a movie that was a monster hit 12 years ago. The answer is unequivocally YES. If you can, see AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER on an IMAX screen in 3D where you can relish the spectacles on screen and the plot twists I never wrote about!

20th Century Studios Canada release AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER December 16, 2022.