Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 13.
STORY: C-
It’s difficult to tell a story about big things. One common trick for explaining complex things is to focus on either a single person or a small group of people, instead of trying to cover everything. For example, explaining something as huge as World War II is a challenge. Steven Spielberg explains it quite clearly in his masterpiece Saving Private Ryan by following a small unit of soldiers carrying out a secret mission inside the massive war.
Avatar: The Way of Water uses this technique as well. It starts out as an epic tale of intergalactic war before slowly zeroing in on a hero and a villain, morphing into a story of revenge. The story’s flaw is allowing the bigger conflict on Pandora to fall by the wayside. Saving Private Ryan never lets you forget about WWII. Avatar: The Way of Water follows the hero and villain too closely. We’re left with a fairly entertaining revenge flick instead of a timeless, unforgettable film.
For taking place inside such an expansive, breathtaking world, the story ultimately feels small and underwhelming.
PEOPLE: D
You can tell me Princess Leia is in trouble and I’ll hop in my landspeeder immediately to defend her. If Marty McFly needs my help, I’m on a skateboard before you can say, “Nice Delorean!” If you tell me Sara Connor is in danger, I will walk out the door, turn slowly back toward you, and mumble, “I’ll be back,” faster than the Terminator can cock a shotgun with one hand.
Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I’ve lost most of whatever attachment I had to these characters over the last 13 years (which frankly, wasn’t very much to begin with). I think the filmmakers believe Avatar’s characters built up a lot more emotional connection with audiences than they actually did.
Just placing Jake or Neytiri in danger isn’t enough to stir deep feelings for them. Nor does seeing images of Quartich on screen again stir up any feelings of hatred. I needed more. The voice performances aren’t the most impressive I’ve ever heard. Most of the dialogue they’re forced to speak is worse. The lack of connection with these characters diminishes the impact of the entire movie.
FILM NERD STUFF: A+
This isn’t a perfectly made film. The editing is clunky at times. It could have been an hour shorter. But make no mistake … Avatar: The Way of Water is an absolute technical marvel.
Pandora is gorgeous, magnificent, breathtaking, dizzying, tactile, lavish, sumptuous, sublime, regal, astonishing, bewildering, enthralling and most importantly … thoroughly alive. This is never more true than when the Sullys explore the water realm of Metkayina.
It’s impossible to walk out of the theater without shaking your head in awe.
SHIPS (Elective Class): B
You probably don’t remember when the internet was invented. It was a world-changer. Here was a technology that would bring humanity together, that would shine light and knowledge to every corner of the globe, that would help everyone achieve every single dream they ever had. A truly monumental moment in the evolution of life on this blue marble we call Earth.
So what did we do when we first got this magnificent gift? We mostly watched cat videos, laughed at flying toasters, and asked Jeeves a bunch of stupid questions. In other words, we had this amazing tool, but for the most part we didn’t use it in the best way we could have. That statement also describes my feelings about this movie.
VERY MINOR SPOILER IN THE NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS!!!
However, if there’s one thing James Cameron knows how to do, it’s sink a ship.
Cameron spends too much of this movie showing off what he can do with the new (and genuinely freakin’ amazing) technology. But at some point a ship sinks, and we get the best part of the movie. It stops feeling like an art gallery on steroids and becomes an actual-for reals movie. The technology is finally used to serve the narrative instead of the narrative existing simply to showcase all of these amazing technological advancements. It’s a magical moment, the type of moment this movie needs more of.
FINAL COMMENTS:
James Cameron sets out to create a world that will sit next to Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter in the Widely Worshiped Mythic Franchise Hall of Fame (WWMFHoF). Sadly, I don’t think it’s going to make it in. Its craftsmanship is more than impressive enough to qualify. However, I think the focus on technology seduces the filmmakers away from telling an entertaining, important story.
Still, I can’t not recommend this movie. It’s certainly a “you gotta see this” type of film. It’s groundbreaking. It’s an amazing spectacle, especially in 3D. I just wish Cameron would have delivered a story whose emotional power comes close to matching the incredible world it takes place in.