February 10th, 2023

Recently I watched Avatar: The Way of Water, and all I have to say is it surpassed all of my expectations. James Cameron is a highly talented director with films such as Avatar, Titanic, The Terminator, and Aliens, so it was fair to assume that this film would be successful and enjoyable. However, James Cameron took this film even further.  

 

With the original Avatar having- in the true sense of the phrase- a huge cultural impact, fans were anticipating the sequel for 13 years. The first film, released in 2009, was one of the first ever in 3-D. As this form of film technology was quickly skyrocketing, it took Avatar right to the top with it. We all know Avatar as a cinematically beautiful film. With a colourful world full of animals and creatures we have never seen before, this film utilized the power of 3-D to the greatest extent and created an immersive experience like never before. 

 

After viewing the film for a second time I can safely say that it just gets better with time. Its timelessness allows the film to open up new aspects you have never seen before. Each scene holds many small details, which when noticed enrich the plot even further. With each viewing, the story becomes clearer and this allows you to focus on a new specific thing each time. 

 

Family plays an important role throughout the film. It is at its core the story of Jake Sully learning to expand his capabilities and care for others besides himself. We see him become a leader, a husband, and a great father. Although Jake is the main character, we learn so much about everyone and each character is so greatly crafted that we as viewers build bonds with everyone. 

 

When it comes to camera work, I only have good things to say. There is a great mix of shots including close-ups, low shots, long shots, and camera movements including tracking shots, zooms, and tilts. One of my favourite tricks is the use of a fade to black between shots. This represents a change in plot or development occurring over time. This is not something seen often in films and the fact that James Cameron felt safe enough to use it multiple times speaks to the power of this film.

 

Running just over three hours this film never leaves you with a dull moment. Each scene is crucial to the story and there is a perfect balance between action and stillness. The length may seem jarring but it is everything but overwhelming, this movie leaves you craving more, and thankfully we have more sequels coming soon.

 

By By: Milica Kolovic

Categories: Pop Culture