The long-awaited sequel to James Cameron's Avatar has finally arrived, and it's undoubtedly just as much of a spectacle as the first. Avatar: The Way of Water brings Jake Sully and his new family out of the jungle and into the ocean. The improvements to the franchise are a good excuse for having audiences wait thirteen years for the follow-up.
While the first movie did an excellent job of wowing audiences with its visuals, the sequel has improved on some of what the first film did so well. From character development to the change of scenery, the movie is just as impressive as its predecessor, if not more so.
11 The Graphics Are Somehow Even More Breathtaking
The first film introduced audiences to an impressive display of motion capture technology and CGI. It almost seemed impossible to beat, yet somehow, the sequel is even better. It's widely known that the primary reason it took so long for the sequel to be completed was the continued improvement of graphics.
Considering the newer set of the ocean and plenty of underwater scenes, it's understandable that advancements would need to be made. They certainly proved the time it took was well worth it. Both graphics in and out of the water are unbelievably realistic.
10 A Change Of Scenery Refreshes The Story
Everything about the second film is linked to the importance of water, which in turn can give and take life. The water is not only a setting but an important theme. The Sully family must enter the unfamiliar territory of the shores in the Metkayina region, and their new home provides a refreshing background for audiences.
It's captivating to see the familiar characters attempting to fit into the oceanic environment. It continues to be both daunting and beautiful, particularly the underwater flora and fauna. While also centering itself as almost a character in the plot.
9 Action Sequences Keep Audiences On The Edge Of Their Seat
Avatar has plenty of action scenes to keep audiences engaged, but the first film is just under three hours, while the sequel has a runtime of over that amount. Some might find sitting in a theater chair for that long uncomfortable, but the movie does well to incorporate several tense moments of action. These scenes hardly give audiences a moment to exhale.
From the kids getting captured twice to getting stuck in a sinking vessel, the intensity of the scenes makes the film surprisingly easy to sit through.
8 Aging Up The Characters Ever So Slightly Is A Minor But Valuable Detail
Jake Sully and Neytiri carry their bond over into the sequel along with their four children. Though their kids are fresh new faces to audience members, the two parents are still skilled warriors, if not more so. Though animated characters, the filmmakers ensured the two would begin to show signs of aging, even if only slightly.
Eagle-eyed viewers might notice that both characters show early stages of wrinkles in their faces and an old scar or two. They look mature. That little attention to detail makes the characters all the more real.
7 The Importance Of Family Is Relatable For Many
The fact that the franchise is planned to have five films in total might make audiences question the fate of the two main characters, but their children may be more important in the movies to come than expected. The kids play a driving force in the film for Jake and Neytiri.
It's heartwarming to see the two in their domestic bliss of family life, even when external forces disrupt it. The fact that their kids were included and not stuck in the background makes the film much more relatable. The addition of these new characters helps it to reach a wider audience.
6 The Plot Feels Better Thought Out
Though the film is not without its faults like the first one, The Way of Water's plot doesn't feel like a repeat of other films. The prevailing theme focuses more on the values of family and life. Jake and Neytiri abandon their home to keep their children safe, which makes for a refreshing change of scenery and an opportunity for the characters to grow.
This time, the antagonistic humans return from the "dying planet," but they're ready to embrace life as avatars. Audiences see more of Pandora, a different side of Miles Quaritch, and The Sullys adapting.
5 The Soundtrack Makes Neytiri A Singer
Ninat is the best singer in the first film, according to Neytiri, but the latter is also exceptionally talented in the art. The soundtracks of both movies are similar. However, the sequel's music seems even more ethereal. In addition, audiences get to hear Neytiri singing, even if it is a melancholy melody.
The orchestral pieces are just as moving, with chorus accompaniments that elevate every scene. The music complements each moment, from underwater journeys to tribal beats introducing new characters. The soundtrack is remarkable.
4 The Parallels Between The First And Second Are Important
There are too many parallels to count that tie the second film to the first, but they are more than typical plot devices. Jake's journey from human to Na'vi is reflected in Quaritch's entire struggle to adapt to his new avatar body. Lo'ak is just like his father from his attitude to befriending a giant beast.
Then Kiri's unexplained passion for Eywa reflects her mother's adoration for the same being. These moments remind audiences of scenes from the original to connect the stories but also detail character growth.
3 It Doesn't Try Too Hard To Top The First
Often, sequels fail to surpass expectations from fans and critics alike. Whether a sequel attempts to go bigger and better with less money or take a franchise in an entirely new and often weird direction, it's not common for sequels to succeed. The Way of Water has been incredibly hyped by its creators for years, but the hype isn't without reason.
Audiences have been on the fence about whether it's "better" than the original or not, but the fact remains that it doesn't need to be better. It just needed to continue the story without doing too much, and it does that. The movie is a solid follow-up story that moves the plot of the alien moon along.
2 The Message Of Conservation Feels Stronger
Conservation is a vital element of the first movie, but the reliance on this theme is even more prevalent in the sequel. Aside from the Sullys continuing to protect their home--the jungle--from human encroachment, there are other villainous forces in the film out to massacre Pandora's whales for youth preservation fluid.
The Tulkun, or "space whales" of this film, are large gorgeous creatures whose fate might break several hearts. Audiences familiar with oceanic animal welfare might find the tactics used to hunt the mother Tulkun and her baby similar to whaling--still practiced today.
1 Recycling A Villain Is Surprisingly Not A Bad Idea
They could have chosen to introduce a new villain in the sequel, yet they brought Quaritch back into the story, even after death. His consciousness being transferred into an avatar body makes for an interesting transition and unique juxtaposition of his disdain for the Na'vi.
His character, though somewhat different from human Miles, is still a hateful monster. However, the addition of his son adds a layer of empathy to his character. He continues to hunt Jake Sully and Neytiri, putting more people in danger and creating an even greater conflict than in the first film.