REVIEW: Avatar: The Way of Water

It took me a [few days] to get around to this film review, simply because I was so floored by its visuals that it took a while to unpack my feelings on the story.Avatar: The Way of Water is a fitting sequel by director James Cameron to his 2009 masterpiece, with effects and storytelling that surprisingly exceed the original across the board. Picking up on the story of Jake Sully and his life on Pandora more than a decade later after the events of the first Avatar, this film explores what happens when a family is forced from its home as a consequence of making a stand.While the script left a bit to be desired—there’s some plot holes and some character inconsistencies that stood out—the story at its core was a moving family drama and a heartfelt exploration of humanity. It’s full of heart. That said, the performances weren’t as strong as what I saw in the first film, marking something of a letdown. And honestly, some of the secondary characters were ones I could have done without.The visual elements of this film are breathtaking, amplified by excellent sound design that immerses you into a beautiful world that you’ll want to spend days in after leaving the theater. The characters feel real too. And those underwater scenes—whoa, those are incredible.Overall, even with some flaws here and there, this is a movie I can’t wait to watch again.The bottom line: A stunning visual triumph with a superior story to the original, this is a film that everyone should catch in the theater—ideally IMAX 3D. 8.5/10