The long wait of 13 years has been worth it. With Avatar: The Way of Water, James Cameron busts a common perception that sequels of highly-acclaimed films often do not live up to the original. Avatar: The Way of Water is a hypnotic saga celebrating the bond between humans and nature, while highlighting the importance of strong family ties. A James Cameron fanboy lists five reasons why Avatar: The Way of Water is a treat that is definitely not to be missed and is best enjoyed in 3D.
The forests of Pandora to the coast of Metkayina
The events in Avatar: The Way of Water take place more than a decade after the alien planet Pandora is destroyed by the Sky People (humans). Former US marine corp Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who is now married to Na’vi princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and has four children with her, is the chieftain of the Omaticaya tribe.
Their peace is short-lived as the Sky People once again target their beloved planet. Jake has no option but to find someplace else to keep his family safe. With his old enemies hot on his trail, the Sullys shift to the pristine coastal landscape of the Metkayina.
Old and new characters: Jake Sully’s expanding family
The Sullys are a big brood by this time. Jake and Neytiri have two sons — Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) and Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) — and a daughter, Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li). They also have an adopted daughter Kiri, who has the genes of the deceased Dr Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver). Another human kid, Spider Socorro (Jack Champion), who was left behind in Pandora when the Sky People were driven away, wants to be a part of the Sully family but Neytiri has misgivings about him.
The Metkayina, who give shelter to the Sullys, are led by Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) and Ronal (Kate Winslet). Tonowari and Ronal are parents to Aonung (Filip Geljo) and Tsireya (Bailey Bass).
And Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) returns to Pandora in a new ‘avatar’ to exact revenge on Jake and Neytiri for leading the uprising of the Na’vis against the Sky People in Avatar.
The Sullys stay together
Remember Hum Saath Saath Hain — Sooraj Barjatya’s multistarrer about a large family rallying together through thick and thin? Well, Avatar: The Way of Water is all about loving your family. Cameron laboriously reminds us that a family always sticks together and it is the duty of the patriarch to protect his kin. “The Sullys stay together. This is our biggest weakness and our greatest strength,” says Jake.
The aquatic life and Cameron’s message
The way to coexist in harmony with nature is the lesson that Cameron offers this time. “The way of water connects all things. The sea is our home before our birth and after we die,” a character tells the Sullys while teaching them the skills of leading an oceanic life.
Unlike the aggressive Sky People, the Na’vi do not exploit the planet for selfish needs. They have a spiritual connection with the aquatic animals — whale-like Tulukuns are soul-relatives of the Metkayina people. They can also speak the language of the fish and form a unique bond with sea creatures called Ilu (which resemble a seahorse). Cameron drives home the need to conserve nature and help it retain its pristine form.
The grandeur of the visual spectacle
The immersive experience of Avatar had us in awe when it released back in 2009. Having set the bar very high for his peers, Cameron rises to the occasion himself and takes us on a captivating ride in The Way of Water.
In a fitting follow-up to the lush green forests of Pandora, the scenic beauty of the home of the Metkayina clan will make it hard for you to take your eyes off the screen, with its gorgeous underwater reefs and oceanic flora and fauna.
The breathtaking climax is mounted on a grand scale, with moments that are a throwback to another classic from Cameron, Titanic, where Jack and Rose are trapped in the lower decks of the sinking ship. The Sullys, too, fight off the gushing waves of the Atlantic Ocean to survive.
