The long-awaited sequel to the 2009 sci-fi epic “Avatar” is nearly here. And while expectations are sky high, the film is receiving mixed reviews from critics.
“Avatar: The Way of Water,” which arrives in theatres on Friday, is once again directed by Canadian filmmaker James Cameron, and stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet and more.
According to 20th Century Studios, the film is set more than a decade after the first film, and “tells the story of the Sully family, the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.”
“The Way of Water” is one of the priciest film’s in Hollywood’s history, with a production budget of between $350 and $400 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Here’s what critics are saying about “Avatar: The Way of Water”:
The Star’s movie critic Peter Howell gave the film 3.5 out of 4 stars, pointing out that Cameron is “at his best in the water”:
James Cameron’s “Avatar” sequel comes 13 years after the original sci-fi adventure and packs many characters and incidents into its more than three hours. But it’s time well spent for a movie set in deep space that turns out to be a truly immersive epic.
Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney called the film “hugely entertaining”:
In terms of narrative sophistication and even more so dialogue, this $350 million sequel is almost as basic as its predecessor, even feeble at times. But the expanded, biodiverse world-building pulls you in, the visual spectacle keeps you mesmerized, the passion for environmental awareness is stirring and the warfare is as visceral and exciting as any multiplex audience could desire.
Nick Schager of The Daily Beast was also critical of the film, writing that “‘The Way of Water’ isn’t worth the 13-year wait”:
There’s something absurdly ironic about Cameron continuing to peddle fantasies about nature-attuned, highly spiritual, Indigenous people gallantly slaying the forces of advanced civilization via a wholly artificial affair that — produced by Disney with the priciest cine-gadgets available — is literally the Most Modern Movie Ever.
Alas, anyone hoping for such self-awareness, or even the slightest sense of humor, will be sorely disappointed. The Oscar winner’s latest does nothing if not take itself oh-so-seriously, be it with regards to its endless barrage of sound and fury or its puffed-up narrative about Pandora’s Na’vi resuming their good fight against villainous humanity.
In a 3 out of 4 star review for USA Today, Brian Truit says the sequel “bests the original film in almost every way”:
It’s a gorgeous and stunning thing to look at, with awesome sights of underwater fauna, and the new movie is an emotionally charged outing that again dips into themes of colonization while adding environmental issues and relatable family drama.”
A.V. Club critic Tomris Laffly called it “sweet-natured, splendid, and dizzyingly futuristic”:
Avatar: The Way Of Water not only delivers upon everything its predecessor established, but advances them in ways gleaming and ocean-deep, through the eyes and heart of a cinematic storyteller with a passionate and well-documented love of the sea.
Peter Bradshaw, critic for The Guardian, gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, calling it “a soggy, twee, trillion-dollar screensaver.”
Drenching us with a disappointment that can hardly be admitted out loud, James Cameron’s soggy new digitised film has beached like a massive, pointless whale. The story, which might fill a 30-minute cartoon, is stretched as if by some AI program into a three-hour movie of epic tweeness.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman offered a mixed review:
The underwater sequences are beyond dazzling — they insert the audience right into the action — but the story of Jake Sully and his family, now on the run, is a string of serviceable clichés.
“The Way of Water” had its world premiere in London on Tuesday, Dec. 6. James Cameron, who contracted COVID-19 this week, was unable to attend the North American premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Upon its release, the original “Avatar” was a commercial and critical success, easily topping the box office and earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of 82 per cent. The film was praised for its groundbreaking use of visual effects, including 3D technology.
13 years later, it still holds the title of the highest grossing movie of all time, having earned more than $2.8 billion in ticket sales.
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Monica has a BA in Journalism and English from the University of Massachusetts and an MS in Journalism and Communications from Quinnipiac University. Monica has worked as a journalist for over 20 years covering all things entertainment. She has covered everything from San Diego Comic-Con, The SAG Awards, Academy Awards, and more. Monica has been published in Variety, Swagger Magazine, Emmy Magazine, CNN, AP, Hidden Remote, and more. For the past 10 years, she has added PR and marketing to her list of talents as the president of Prime Entertainment Publicity, LLC. Monica is ready for anything and is proudly obsessed with pop culture.
