There are few movies that 'wow' you in your lifetime. When you come out of the cinema you feel like you've come out of a different place. It can be due to both how visually engrossing the movie is or because of a great screenplay and characterization. Avatar The Way of Water definitely falls in the first category (goes without saying) and how. I think I can definitely say that this is the BEST visual experience I have had in a theatre.
I had my reservations about this movie when I saw the trailer. The trailer didn't feel much different than the previous film and also considering how so many movies come with high budget visual effects these days as compared to 2009. But when you watch this on an IMAX screen you will realize why the trailer wasn't really impressive because you'd need the visual medium to go with it. This movie felt like I was watching a game and in a very very good way. Back in 2009, Avatar had impressed me visually but I hadn't seen it in IMAX. This time around you'd have to give it to James Cameron's detailed efforts and the movie visually justifies all the research and time he has put it in. The movie starts in Pandora and it immediately takes you back to the familiar world which we had seen 13 years ago. However, the movie goes to a whole new dimension when the world (or should I say way) of water is introduced. The underwater visuals are mind blowing and it is much better than what I thought they would be. A few scenes are beyond a human mind's imagination. The people who walked in late in front of the screen in the theatre post interval with their food and beverages looked underwater, that's how good the visuals and 3D effects are! It is safe to say that James Cameron has started another revolution in the movie making this one.
Avatar's (2009) plot wasn't a groundbreaking one but it still was gripping and many characters had a great emotional arc. The Way of Water's plot is pretty simple and straightforward and also continues from where we left off previously. There are many moments where one can easily guess what happens next and also what caused something. The set up for the sequel is pretty obvious as well, unlike the first one. This movie finds it very difficult to establish an emotional connection between its characters and the audience. There are way too many characters (especially teens and kids) and some are written for a very obvious role. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana almost kinda play the supporting roles here and I really missed their chemistry which was seen in the first movie. Stephen Lang and Sigourney Weaver are back again (you'll know why) but this time their characters don't really make the impact as much as the previous one. I would have definitely loved to see some changes especially with respect to those two characters. Apart from that there are many supporting characters and some usual suspects who try to bring the humour and the classic 'human' overconfidence. There are some great goosebump moments in some frames, however the same cannot be said with respect to the action sequences. Some of the new animals introduced this time probably connected with me better than the speaking characters :P Although the background score is pretty good, I feel there was some room for the element of surprise. I wish there was one classic theme associated with the movie like how the Terminator, Star Wars and Indiana Jones are remembered. However, all these shortcomings don't affect your viewing experience in any way.
Avatar: The Way of Water is groundbreaking (literally and figuratively) in many ways for a modern day cinema where every other movie comes with top notch visual effects. Unfortunately a lot of experience is dependent on one watching it in IMAX 3D. I believe that it wouldn't be the same if one watches in 2D or at any average 3D screen. So I'd recommend you to wait for the chance to get to see this on an IMAX screen in case you don't have easy access to one.
I had my reservations about this movie when I saw the trailer. The trailer didn't feel much different than the previous film and also considering how so many movies come with high budget visual effects these days as compared to 2009. But when you watch this on an IMAX screen you will realize why the trailer wasn't really impressive because you'd need the visual medium to go with it. This movie felt like I was watching a game and in a very very good way. Back in 2009, Avatar had impressed me visually but I hadn't seen it in IMAX. This time around you'd have to give it to James Cameron's detailed efforts and the movie visually justifies all the research and time he has put it in. The movie starts in Pandora and it immediately takes you back to the familiar world which we had seen 13 years ago. However, the movie goes to a whole new dimension when the world (or should I say way) of water is introduced. The underwater visuals are mind blowing and it is much better than what I thought they would be. A few scenes are beyond a human mind's imagination. The people who walked in late in front of the screen in the theatre post interval with their food and beverages looked underwater, that's how good the visuals and 3D effects are! It is safe to say that James Cameron has started another revolution in the movie making this one.
Avatar's (2009) plot wasn't a groundbreaking one but it still was gripping and many characters had a great emotional arc. The Way of Water's plot is pretty simple and straightforward and also continues from where we left off previously. There are many moments where one can easily guess what happens next and also what caused something. The set up for the sequel is pretty obvious as well, unlike the first one. This movie finds it very difficult to establish an emotional connection between its characters and the audience. There are way too many characters (especially teens and kids) and some are written for a very obvious role. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana almost kinda play the supporting roles here and I really missed their chemistry which was seen in the first movie. Stephen Lang and Sigourney Weaver are back again (you'll know why) but this time their characters don't really make the impact as much as the previous one. I would have definitely loved to see some changes especially with respect to those two characters. Apart from that there are many supporting characters and some usual suspects who try to bring the humour and the classic 'human' overconfidence. There are some great goosebump moments in some frames, however the same cannot be said with respect to the action sequences. Some of the new animals introduced this time probably connected with me better than the speaking characters :P Although the background score is pretty good, I feel there was some room for the element of surprise. I wish there was one classic theme associated with the movie like how the Terminator, Star Wars and Indiana Jones are remembered. However, all these shortcomings don't affect your viewing experience in any way.
Avatar: The Way of Water is groundbreaking (literally and figuratively) in many ways for a modern day cinema where every other movie comes with top notch visual effects. Unfortunately a lot of experience is dependent on one watching it in IMAX 3D. I believe that it wouldn't be the same if one watches in 2D or at any average 3D screen. So I'd recommend you to wait for the chance to get to see this on an IMAX screen in case you don't have easy access to one.