Avatar: The Way of Water by Marc Primo

"Avatar: The Way of Water" initially struggles to find its footing, reintroducing viewers to Pandora in a narratively clunky manner. However, Cameron's true passion shines in the mesmerizing mid-section of the film, one of his greatest achievements. To reach the captivating essence of the story, he hastens through some setups. We are reintroduced to Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), now fully immersed in Na'vi culture, who joins forces with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). They have built a family with two sons—Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) and Lo'ak (Britain Dalton)—and a daughter named Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss). They also serve as guardians to Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), the offspring of Weaver's character from the first film.

Family harmony shatters as the 'sky people' return, led by Colonel Miles Quaritch (played by Stephen Lang) in his Na'vi avatar form. Seeking revenge on Jake for his human form's demise, Quaritch brings ex-human, now-Na'vi soldiers as primary antagonists, though not the only ones. "Avatar: The Way of Water" portrays the military and planet-destroying humans as the true villains, yet their motivations sometimes appear ambiguous. Quaritch's relentless pursuit of Jake and his family lacks clarity, other than for plot purposes. Still, Stephen Lang's portrayal of a man consumed by madness is compelling.

"Avatar: The Way of Water" centers around a fundamental question posed by Sarah Connor in the "Terminator" movies: fight or flight for the sake of family? Do you evade and seek safety from a formidable enemy or confront and combat the oppressive evil? Initially, Jake chooses the former, leading them to another corner of Pandora, where James Cameron explores his enduring fascination with water. The in-air acrobatics of the previous film give way to captivating underwater sequences in a domain governed by Tonowari (portrayed by Cliff Curtis), the leader of a clan known as the Metkayina. Tonowari, a family man himself (with Kate Winslet as his wife), grapples with concerns about the potential dangers the new Na'vi visitors might bring, yet he cannot turn them away. Once again, Cameron delves into moral quandaries regarding responsibility in the face of a potent evil, a theme that resurfaces in the form of a group of commercial poachers from Earth. These audacious individuals dare to hunt sacred water creatures, and the resulting sequences are so visually stunning that you must remind yourself of their fictional nature.

The film's midsection shifts focus from Sully/Quaritch to the region's children as Jake's boys learn the ways of the water clan. "Avatar" expands in ways the first film didn't, tying together multiple stories in an ambitious and rewarding fashion. While some ideas and plot developments set the stage for future films, the project benefits from a larger canvas for storytelling. The protagonist is the entire family and the planet they live on, while the antagonist encompasses everything threatening the natural world and its connected beings.

Viewers should note that Cameron's dialogue hasn't improved. Some lines unintentionally elicit laughter. However, his approach to character melds old-fashioned storytelling with breakthrough technology, offering undeniable charm. Unlike many blockbusters, Cameron avoids unnecessary mythologies or backstories, striking the right balance to keep this fantastical world relatable. Admittedly, his themes of environmentalism and colonization may lack depth for some, and his appropriation of elements from Indigenous culture is rightfully seen as problematic. However, if this film sparks discussions about these themes within families, it becomes a net positive, surpassing blockbusters with no intellectual nourishment.

There's been much talk about the cultural influence of "Avatar". In a decade dominated by superheroes, the Na'vi seemed forgotten. But while watching "Avatar: The Way of Water," I was reminded of the impersonal nature of Hollywood. It's the personal touch of creators that truly makes blockbusters leave a lasting impact. Think about how George Lucas and Steven Spielberg brought their iconic films to life. "Avatar: The Way of Water" is undeniably a James Cameron blockbuster, and my faith in his abilities remains unwavering.