Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Avatar : Way Of Water 

This is one of the best sequels ever made! This film needs to be seen on the biggest screen with the best sound system possible. I saw this film in IMAX 3D and it blew me away with the experience you get from seeing this in format as it truly transports you to the world and makes you feel like you’re in pandora. Part of the thrill of seeing this film is the big screen experience so I cannot stress enough if you have the opportunity see this film in theatres you’ll never forget it. 

Firstly, Thos film is narratively and visually more striking than the first film and I’ll tell you why. Now the amount of pressure James Cameron was under for this sequel was enormous. As when Avatar first came out in 2009 no one knew what it was only that it was a immersive original world cooked up from this filmmakers brain that went on to become the highest grossing film of all time and still remains to this very day. So we have lived in a world of knowing what Avatar is for 13 years now so their is a certain level expectation people have for this sequel since it’s been so long and on top of the film being a industry changing film in terms of box office and also influential the first film was. So all of that pressure he knew was monumental for this sequel as he pushed what you can do with the camera with the first film and even pushed it further with The Way Of Water of what you can achieve technically onscreen. Now I can say that the result he gives with this follow up to the monumental first film is better than the first and it’s all due to the great writing at hand. A lot of people will say this is a very visual film and the only good thing that makes it stand out is the technical marvel of what you’re seeing in front of you which I disagree with. The film yes is visually striking but that is not the only strong aspect of this sequel the story this time around I felt to be way more stronger in terms of character development, emotion and also the important message he wants people to take away from this film. As If Avatar Was about protecting the Forest then this film is driving home the message that we need to take better care of the ocean and the amazing animals that live in it. As what Cameron drives home with that is powerfully brought to the screen in very emotionally raw ways as he shows the sheer horrors of the living hell these animals go through. Now the way it’s presented is in very gut wrenching ways that will bring you to tears but James Cameron presents it in a very raw way which I highly respect him for doing. The characters also feel very much evolved since we last saw them as the first film was about Jake Sully trying to find a way into this tribe for the government and then falling in love with their way of living. Now seeing how he’s been in that world for so long it’s all he cares and loves on top of the fact he’s a father who has many kids to look after and the people of Pandora as well theirs a lot of pressure on him to be a good leader but also a good dad. The film shows how the characters have adapted to their settings since the first film in great ways that present fantastic situations for them to show off how layered they have become and the stand out for depth of their character is definitely Jake. Now James Cameron bringing a family dynamic into the film some may call cheesy and a bit of a clique but he does it in such a way that feels not just fresh but perfectly right for the direction of this Franchise to go into. As the first film was very much about trust and being welcomed into a family this time around it’s about protecting your family at any cost and it’s beautifully brought to the screen in very touching moments that will have you engaged the whole way through as we see how emotionally rewarding and also terrifying being a parent or caring for loved ones can be. The film is three hours and twelve minutes and I can confidently say theirs not one scene I would take out of this film as it never felt slow or that it was dragging in certain aspects but it moved along greatly it earns the three hour runtime and takes advantage of by expanding the world we have come to know in great ways and also by showcasing fantastic character moments for the ones we have come to love and Introduce new ones for us to fall in love with. All the kids we are introduced  to I felt had great moments to shine and really present who they are and weren’t just characters that fell into the background but they actually served a great reason to be involved in the narrative of the story at hand. The film’s narrative is I believe stronger then the first in so many ways if it’s the great depth and layers he goes to for the characters, the family dynamic that will rip your heart out and bring you to tears, the raw and honest message of taking care of the environment and the creatures that live in the water he truly has woven a incredible story that surpasses the first film by a huge margin. Then you have the visuals that are some of the most amazingly composed and striking images you will ever witness with your two eyes. As Avatar in 2009 changed the game with its visuals and is still a feast for the eyes so James Cameron of course pushed it even further to top what he did with the first film and he does just that in such a amazing way. The shots and sequences brought to this film is truly beautiful imagery that will have you asking yourself how did they accomplish that as it’s a technical marvel that deserves such praise for how pretty this film is to look at it shows the beauty of the water and the sheer scope of its tale but also will draw you into the action sequences as if your in the middle of it the framing and shot composition is amazing. I would go as far as saying it’s James Cameron’s most beautifully shot film of his entire career it honestly is groundbreaking with what it achieves with its visuals.

Secondly, The performances are incredible in this film and will rattle you to your very core. Now Sam Worthington is an actor who I feel is criminally underrated for his talents and what he brings to this sequel to Avatar is truly amazing. As he explores places of Jake we hadn’t seen in the first film and he takes on the responsibility of being a father and a leader and brings that emotional stress to the screen in such a genuine and gripping way that tops his performance he gave in the first film. As here he has so much more to present as the character has changed so much since we last saw him and Sam really explores the headspace he’s been in since we last saw him in a truly solid performance. Then you have Zoe Saldana who isn’t in the film as much as I had thought but when she is onscreen she very much plays the voice of reason and tries to be a supportive mother but also is constantly worrying if her kids will be alright due to the high dangers they face out in the water. Now she could of easily of just been very emotional and done the big dramatic moments and just let that be her whole character but she didn’t she brought such depth and emotional weight to the character and sure she isn’t in the film as much but she really shines when you see her as you feel her heart on her sleeve in a sensational performance by Zoe Saldana. And then theirs a new up and coming actor who really impressed the hell out of me Britain Dalton he plays the family outcast and how he just wants his fathers approval to be a good son but also wants to be his own person and enjoy his life without his father constantly telling him how much of a screwup he is and the way he brings that emotionally to the screen was fantastic. He is one of the most important characters of the film and the way James Cameron shows the evolution of new character was fantastic as I felt the performance by Britain really stood out to me and I hope more people acknowledge what he does in the film as it’s a terrific performance. Everyone else in the film all gave amazing performances but it’s these three that truly stood out to me everyone brought their A game and was outstanding. 

Lastly, Avatar : Way Of Water is one of the best sequels ever made. James Cameron packs so much heart, pulse pounding action, great world building and game changing visuals that will have you wanting to run back to theatres to see it again and again. I cannot stress this enough see this in theatres on the biggest screen as this is a theatre experience you must have to truly soak up the amazing work that was put into this film as it truly is unlike anything seeing it on the big screen. Avatar : Way Of Water builds upon what we already know about pandora and expands upon it in such a terrific way that also drives home an emotional message about the environment which James Cameron shows in Brutal honesty. This film has some of the best action sequences in any film I’ve watched all year the last hour of this film is epic in every sense of the word along with great emotional beats that will bring you to tears Avatar : Way Of Water is a visual masterpiece and an incredible sequel that will have you stunned by what James Cameron has achieved this film is phenomenal. I recommend everyone go see this film don’t walk run to see this film. 

This film follows Jake now a father with the responsibility of being a leader but also a dad and when their home is threatened and have to find a new means of a home they learn to adapt to the water which they never knew before. 

Rated PG - 13 : Partial Nudity|Intense Action|Sequences of Strong Violence|Some Strong Language

Sam Worthington : Sam delivers a knockout performance that will hit you like a punch in the chest! Now he gave a great turn in the first movie showing how someone takes a horrible situation of being psychically restricted and feeling totally free by having the ability to run and have advantages in a whole new reality he wouldn’t be able to access in his own world. It was a truly solid performance. That being said what he brings to the film this time around is a lot more deep in character along with emotion as sure we got to see him have moments of emotional vulnerability with his relationship with the girl he falls in love with and as great as that is how his character has changed since we have last seen him shows a whole new look on the character which I love. As here he takes on the responsibility of being a father who has to look out for his people and his community yes but also his family and that puts a lot of pressure on him and the way Sam presents those challenges the character faces was done in such a gripping and stern emotional way that can be genuinely felt through every frame of his performance. He is very tough on his kids and a lot of the reasoning behind it is due to him being totally traumatized from the experiences he’s had years prior to having kids and also his training in the military so his mindset is very strict. His kids don’t see it that way they only see their dad being a hardass on them and his wife even tries to calm him down when she feels he has been a bit much with the kids but he only sees it as that he could of lost them but also comes to realize if he keeps putting barriers and rules up their only going to resent him. He also knows that his kids shouldn’t pay for the sins and demons he faced before they were born and that’s for him to battle and it’s such a complex arc his character goes on. The way Sam Worthington brings this emotionally subtly charged performance to the surface was beautifully done as the way he delivers his lines to the look in his eyes you can tell so much of what is in his heart with just a look and then him bring you to tears with just the execution of a word. I feel his performance is way more stronger in The Way Of Water in comparison to his performance the first time around as he has so much more to work with in terms of character and really gets to explore emotionally more of who Jake is and he wastes no time showing what has been going on in his mind and heart as he bares it all out in such a terrific and touching way that will have you in total awe. I will go as far as saying this is one of the best performances of the year as Sam Worthington digs deep into his heart to show the complexity that’s gone on with sully since we have last seen him and he is able to bring the vulnerability of a father and the toughness of a leader of his tribe balancing that emotional act incredibly well it’s a truly outstanding performance by Sam Worthington. 

Zoe Saldana : Zoe rips your heart out in this film! Now she’s not in the film as much as the first film as she was the co lead of the first film and here she takes on a supporting role this time around. As she serves as the voice of reason and tries to keep the family safe and tensions low as the situation their in isn’t the best but tries her best and as the film progresses we see it becomes harder and harder for her to not crack under the pressure and stress she has on her shoulders. In the second hour of this film she really kicks into high gear with her character as when her kids are put in harms way she goes to a dark place that we had never seen her go before but since she’s become a mother her entire lifeline is her kids and If anyone has a intent to harm them she’ll harm anyone that even thinks of doing that. The way Zoe brings that motherly loving voice of reason is amazingly shines through her delivery you can feel the raw emotion ripple in her voice as it’s coming from such a real place and she acts with her heart and Salanda wraps you up in every moment she’s onscreen with her fantastic commitment to the character. As their is a moment in the film where she acts as a total killer and her actions in that moment in the film is a huge highlight for her character as it also reflects who she is as a mother and as a person that she’ll do whatever to protect her kids even if it’s in violent means to protect them from harm as she goes on a rampage of people and it to a extent is terrifying to see that she can go so bleak within a moments notice. That being said the sheer heartache she goes through in the last hour of this film tears you apart and Zoe Salanda is put through the ringer of emotions and blows you away with showing the sadness in her heart and then the unhinged rage that she unleashes due to the tragedy she has fallen on her and Zoe Saldana truly explores such depths of this character that will amaze you and bring you tears as every action she does is justified from trying to be a good mother while also trying to be the one holding it all together for her kids. But when she cracks in moments of violence upon her family that vulnerability she presents is outstandingly brought to the screen by Zoe’s raw supporting turn that will keep you in constant awe of what she’s accomplishing onscreen. 

James Cameron : Cameron is a genius filmmaker! Now this man is the Tom Brady of big scale filmmaking and what I mean by that is she constantly is one upping himself. He has given us trailblazing science fiction with Terminator, big scale romance films based off real tragedy’s like Titanic and lastly crafting sequels that surpass the originals like Aliens, Terminator 2 and now Avatar Way Of Water. What he accomplishes with this sequel is jaw dropping good as from a technical aspect he has once again pushes what you can achieve with CGI as the visuals in the film feel like a documentary in its presentation. He has had a deep love with the water his whole life with his past work on titanic, ghost of the abyss and now Avatar 2 he constantly likes exploring the depths of the ocean. Here it’s on full display in such a beautiful otherworldly presentation as he brings the audience back into pandora topping the visuals he did the first time around with some of the most beautifully crafted visual films ever made. But he doesn’t let the visuals drive the story he matches the big scale awe aspect with a fantastic narrative that as I mentioned previously tops the first. As the plot of the first film we have seen in other films before but here he shows a story that tugs on your heart strings while also building upon the first film in a truly fresh way. As for him to make this whole film about family and how far would you go to protect your kids even for the the antagonist was a great way into this world as we are seeing the story for a lot of the film through the kids point of view which I thought was so smart. As we are seeing characters we love from these children’s point of view and how they view them and not only is that a great way of showing your story but it also lets us spend time with new characters and fall in love with them and giving them their own emotional journey to go on. As a lot of times when you make sequels they spend a lot of time fleshing out pre existing characters we saw in the previous film and the new characters kind of fall short a lot of the time but Cameron avoids that flaw and expands the character we come to love while also giving the new characters time to shine on their own. He was under a insane amount of pressure to knock this film out of the park due to the groundbreaking success of the first one and I think what he brings to this film not only matches the quality of the first one but by far surpasses it as he also once again tackles very heavy topics such as parenthood, vengeance and protecting our environment. Now him tackling the whole environment tone never felt preachy but it works well and at times he gets very brutal with how we have become so bad at protecting the animals of the sea and it will shatter your heart at times and he wants that to happen because he wants to wake people up that we need to take better care of our planet. Now for some they may not like it but I find it very important and also he doesn’t just place it out of nowhere he makes the animals a huge aspect of the story that grows on you and you really care about them so when their harmed in any way you feel for them and Cameron shows some of the most honest environmental themes I’ve seen in a film in ages as theirs a sea character that is the heartbeat of this film and it’s not done in a lazy way but wins your heart over instantly and your constantly hoping this character will make it out unscratched and will end up being one of your favourite characters by the end of the film. The final hour of the film is Terminator 2 level action the sequences of action are truly captivating and pulse pounding that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Then he can show smaller more intimate moments and has fantastic scenes for character growth and depth that will bring you to tears. Overall Cameron presents a sequel that far surpasses the first which is no easy task while giving big spectacle visuals, pulse pounding action and great character depth with genuine Raw emotion that is felt through every inch of this film. Avatar the way of water is his an outstanding film that tells people why James Cameron is a master of big scale filmmaking. He never lets the big scale action and visuals take the focus away from the emotional heartbeat of the story at hand and it’s one of the best directed films of his career.