Avatar: ‘The Way of Water’ Review

This long-awaited sequel delves deeper into the fantastical world that James Cameron constructed for the original. Featuring a more elaborate story, on top of improved visuals, which come together to build a massive and awe-inspiring experience.

‘The Way of Water’ takes the Pandora we know and love and fills it with new characters and concepts. The stars of the previous film step aside to allow these new characters to blossom and develop through their own storylines. Each one a tale of self-acceptance and trust, which eventually culminate into an exciting climax. The final fight is impressively shot, if a little messy at times, especially as the action drags on. However, it sets up for a more emotional climax which ties together the plots and themes of the film in a beautiful way. For me, this interwoven collection of journeys is a breath of fresh air amidst the formulaic narratives seen in other adventure films, which often sacrifice emotional development to cram in as much action as possible. As a result, the film thrives with its increased number of characters and storylines.

Like the original, the sequel is also a massive step forward for film technology and CGI. To shoot ‘The Way of Water’, Cameron and his team combined new 3D cameras with improved animation technology so that he could capture performances in water, and achieve more realistic underwater visuals. This was to match his vision as director, as this film focuses mainly on the beautiful oceans of the world (as the title suggests). This innovation is paired with well-crafted cinematography, and uniquely designed alien landscapes to create otherworldly shots. What’s better, is that the film gives the audience time to appreciate the most stunning images. For these reasons, the film is mesmerising, and leaves the audience fully immersed in the world.

I was also impressed with the world building of the film, considering the ambitious plans for the future of the Avatar franchise (which includes 3 more sequels). It’s become a trend in larger franchises to litter their films with unresolved details and extra characters, forcing the audience to watch all of their previous instalments just to understand what’s going on in one. ‘The Way of Water’ avoids this to some extent. Although some plot points are left unresolved by the end, the film concludes with its characters having completed their individual journeys. This creates a satisfying, self-contained narrative. And any hints towards the wider world of Avatar (and the future sequels), are small, and sprinkled carefully throughout the film, as to not overwhelm the audience with information or pressure.

To conclude, ‘The Way of Water’ is a unique film experience with stunning visuals, and a more ambitious narrative than its predecessor. It features carefully planned world-building, and sets up future films without taking away from its own plot.

By Matthew

BFI Film Academy