Avatar: The Way of Water

The other reason Avatar: The Way of Water will succeed is its refreshing story about family. Ultimately, it’s the story of a father who wants to protect his children, and the only way he knows how is to run. In other words, if they simply hide, the danger will pass, but like good cinema, Sully ultimately has to confront the danger head-on. Yes, there is an environmental message. But, unlike the first film, it’s not annoying. The theme is basically, don’t kill whales. It’s not obnoxious and agreed upon as a universally accepted practice.

Also, unlike the original, the story is meant to appeal to young teens and families in general by pulling back on the harsh military aspects. Jake’s children are bullied when they arrive amongst the reef people. But, they learn to adapt and rely on one another as they uncover a great secret amongst the water and the whales, or whatever Pandoran word they use.

“…Cameron understands why the first film was so popular…”

Avatar: The Way of Water is much less violent than the first. Avatar already established that the Sky People are dangerous and hate nature, so here, the danger is already known and present. Though the violence is scaled back (slightly), the action sequences are quintessential James Cameron — scary, thrilling, and dangerous. It’s almost an homage to Cameron himself. The final action piece has a Titanic feel, and the CG boat effects are spectacular.

It’s no secret that Avatar: The Way of Water needs to make a lot of money, and my prediction is that it probably will. Cameron makes a lot of smart moves in this anticipated sequel. First off, Cameron understands why the first film was so popular: the world of Pandora. His second smart move was to scale back the military themes and make this about and for families. No agendas; it’s all about family.

Let me be honest for a moment. After seeing the first Avatar for the first time a few months ago, I walked away feeling that it is a bit overrated. It’s too cute with an obnoxious environmental message. I definitely enjoyed Avatar: The Way of Water much more than the first. Its message of family and the portrayal of a strong father and mother protecting their children is refreshing. Cameron, along with Tom Cruise, brought back simple, feel-good storytelling, and I’m thrilled to see this one a second time.