Movie Review: Avatar: The Way of Water Is A Mesmerizing Myth
Avatar: The Way of Water was a gorgeous display of humanity, and proof that, whether you like James Cameron or not, he is phenomenal director who can stir visions with his visuals. Moreover, the 10 year wait feels so befitting for the stunning storyline and couple growth that is Sam Worthington’s Jake and Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri. If the first is about their love story and how it re-birthed them as persons, the second is about their family and how the very love you feel as a parent can confuse and even cower you to how you face the harshness of life.
It is NOT easy to face off with an invader or conqueror, and to some degree we all know the feeling of having our world taken over by someone that does not see we should even have life. Of course, when we enter Pandora, we are recapped to its 10 years of peace and prosperity before the sky people, aka human beings, return to colonize their world because our Earth is dying. Naturally, because we are a notoriously intelligent species, we decide that the best to make a new planet habitable is by burning it down. Hey, it had worked for us, right? Sarcasm aside, Cameron’s script is emotionally immersive, and immediately you feel defensive and saddened that this gorgeous world is being destroyed for the sake of making it “livable.” It is an irrational logic, one that juxtaposed the fearful choices Jake and Ney must make for their kids: Jamie Flatters’ Neteyam, Britain Dalton’s Lo’ak, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss’ Tuk, and Sigourney Weaver’s Kiri.
Personally, Zoe Saldana still deserves an Oscar for her role as Neytiri. There is such an underestimation and under-appreciation for how difficult it is to emote and animate an animated character, which she and Weaver do masterfully. Yet, you can read the worry and wonder of motherhood on Saldana’s every expression as she and must escape with their kids to the sea towns of Pandora. Seeing a whole new section of this wonderful world was so enriching as much as entertaining. I felt like I was watching a live-action fable as if I should be a little kid reading this best book of all time, except I’m a grown adult watching what many will deem the best film of 2022 and even their fave of all time. THAT IS HOW GREAT THIS MOVIE IS! But it is also gut-wrenching.
Having kids is not easy, and for characters like, Kate Winslet’s Ronal, Cliff Curtis’ Tonowari, or even Worthington’s Jake, it is enough to make you want to drown. Worthington captures the stress of loving your child so much, you almost want to leave the universe just to avoid the cosmic forces against them. Yet, his kids are as strong and rebellious as him, especially Dalton’ Lo’ak. He is wild and smart, Tuk is sweet and brave, Kiri is mystical and kind, and Neteyam is loyal and caring. It is an honor to know your kids are good people, and terrifying to know they are living in an unsafe world. Yet, Avatar: The Way of Water is not only a glorious myth about the family you create but the family you find either in friendship or the sheer responsibility we have as good beings to take care of others.
Probably, the most annoying role that will become way bigger in future sequels is Spider played greatly by Jack Champion as the child of Stephen Lang’s returning Quaritch, who comes back with his usual man-child villainy to destroy the Na’vi. The former is vital to the series future, in part, because he becomes a beaconing question: how do you measure love and loyalty with the family you choose over the family chosen for you? In essence, we do not pick our blood siblings or parents, and even if we meet people that carry that energy towards us it is still a symbolic, adoptive title. Yet, if someone rides for you enough, do they not deserve to be your “ride or die?” This question is palpable and powerful as three hours breeze into deep relationships, action-packed sequences, and a tale that deserves to be repeatedly seen in cinema. Avatar: The Way of Water is comes out December 16 in theaters.
