You’ll believe guys can be blue.

Blue is back. That’s what a lot of people are saying. “Blue is back!” The audience in my IMAX theater chanted this when Avatar 2 ended and the Regal was forced to start it up again. Too bad when the projectionist went to plug the IMAX projector back in, she tripped on the canister containing Act 3 and fell into the crowd- where she was torn to shreds. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) makes his return to the big screen- 13 years after his first. We’re back on Pandora with a big ol’ Sully family and of course, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) is right back in the fold with bow & arrow in hand. A lot has been said about Avatar‘s legacy over the past 13 years. I won’t go through all of the criticisms and sequel speculations but many forget that at the end of the day, the proof is in the pudding. Cultural impact, toy sales, public memory, box office, strange guys who think they’re Na’Vi… Who gives a damn! Will the movie be good? Should we put our chips back on Cameron or back in the pantry? (my chips are Hint of Lime. God bless them.) Buddy, let’s just see the movie then we can make up our minds on Avatar‘s future! 

            How does a film convince us it needs multiple sequels? Give us an immersive experience and we’ll want to come back. That’s a philosophy James Cameron brings to Way of Water and it pays off. The film’s focus on the oceans of Pandora gives us an experience that improves on the (very good) original. The underwater cinematography is a dive into an oasis of color and species- shots of this ocean could fuel a three hour movie on its own. I experienced the film in IMAX 3-D with high frame rate which is also how I experienced the original movie a few months back. Maybe experiencing the first in the same theater got me used to the HFR and 3D? I had no issues with the visual choppiness or liquid movement. It’s understandable if a viewer does, I still would like to experience this film in a calmer 24 FPS. Regardless of the frames, this is immersive Blockbuster filmmaking that we don’t see much of in recent times and Cameron makes an absolute meal out of the technology at play.Avatar has gained a reputation for being a technical achievement but story-light. I don’t think that’s fully the case for the original but I’d absolutely say that isn’t the case for this sequel. Yes, Cameron tends to use cliches to tell his story but it’s only a real hindrance if you are purposefully avoiding the big picture. The build-up, world-building, and the cathartic, bone-crushing action make for an incredibly exciting piece of sci-fi-action filmmaking. The pacing is a lot more energetic than the first. Jake Sully’s family is a great addition to the world of Pandora. Sully’s human roots allow for his children to have an immediate sense of relatability. The protagonists have a natural characterization and Cameron tells a familial story, giving the film a personal touch. As for the whales? They may be some of the best characters put on screen in 2022. Avatar: The Way of Water is as personal and emotional as it is big and epic. It’s a worthwhile sequel which improves on its predecessor.

RATING: 8.5 out of 10