Avatar: The Way of Water: The Quiet Brilliance of James Cameron
2009’s Avatar was truly a unique phenomenon. It became the highest grossing film of all time and has since become both surprising and impressive considering the changes within the film industry. Its subsequent fading from public consciousness aids to the uniqueness of the Avatar legacy. The last 13 years have been filled with fruitless conversations about the film’s relevancy, uncertainty of the future of the franchise, and most recently doubt in James Cameron’s ability to do it again. Avatar was a cinematic marvel, one that presented a cinematic experience unlike anything up to that point. While it was appropriately lauded for that accomplishment, that achievement quickly became a footnote in the discourse.
Recreating a once in a lifetime cinematic experience seems impossible. Furthering the innovation that helped to paint Avatar’s legacy seems ludicrous. But so does doubting James Cameron. He’s the single most successful director in the history of cinema. However, that is exactly where we found ourselves heading into the long awaited sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water. Modern discourse doesn’t allow for this, but all the doubting of James Cameron should stop. The Way of Water is everything he said it would be leading up to this film. Frankly there is no hyperbole, particularly in describing this filmmaking and visuals. The Way of Water is breathtaking. A cinematic experience rivaled by none. A visual masterpiece that can only be envisioned and executed by a master filmmaker. James Cameron elevates the creativity and innovation of the groundbreaking Avatar by presenting an even more lush and immersive Pandora.
Cameron uses the advancements in technology to bring you as close to Pandora as possible. All throughout the film, but particularly in the second act, you step into this world. You can reach out and touch the environment around you, which has been said before but in the case of The Way of Water feels more literal than metaphorical. His usage of higher frame rates creates pristine action sequences and a further immersive environment. Enough can’t be said about the cinematic experience that is The Way of Water. It’s amongst the best I’ve ever had, along with being the most impressive film I’ve ever seen.
To talk about The Way of Water’s cinematic excellence is easy and could fill the next 13 years. It’s a marvelous accomplishment, deserving of all the praise. However, further excellence exists in The Way of Water. Such excellence allows for this film to also be among the best of the year. That comes in the film's story. Far be it for one to be surprised by the storytelling execution from one of the greatest filmmakers ever. But it is easy for it to be overlooked amidst the grand spectacle. Cameron so effectively uses that spectacle to add depth to the story. Pandora is a setting that lends further exploration. So while our new characters venture out into Pandora we gladly tag along just to take in the full beauty of this incredible world.
It seems simple, almost too simple to be this effective but moments like Kiri floating in the water or laying in beautiful grass that breathes with her, Lo’ak finding a new friend or the whole family learning to acclimate to their new environment. These sequences, of which there are many, are all adding much needed depth to the film. We are not only seeing the wonder of Pandora, but we are patiently and subtly learning about each of these characters. Spending time with them in these, none plot heavy moments, is similar to spending time with anyone. The time itself is the added depth and value that creates the emotional attachment. This is the quiet brilliance of James Cameron. To have the confidence to create this world and this movie is one thing, but to understand that this level of patience will create the emotional payoff it needs for success, is another thing altogether.
Similar to its predecessor, The Way of Water carries a simple plot, with rather obvious themes. For a spectacle as grand as this, those choices make sense. Again, it’s the execution of the themes that is ultimately important. The aforementioned patience, coupled with a fully realized world and complete characters allows for the themes to resonate so strong. As a father, Jake Sully’s relationship with his sons hits very hard. However, it’s not a relationship that excludes those without children. We can all relate to the father/son dynamics at play. We all want to be seen by our parents, and it’s the understanding of both parties that creates space for the emotional payoff in that moment.
A much-improved Sam Worthington, along with a clear direction for his character also makes the Sully family plot/themes resonate quite well. A rather simple, and even corny phrase “Sully’s stick together” is ultimately the main theme of the film. Jake and Neytiri struggle to find the balance of fighting to protect what is there and keeping their family safe. This powers all of Jake’s decisions and explains why some of them are so bad. But it’s the raw emotional attachment of wanting to keep everything you love safe and that is completely relatable. Fear can dominate decision making if you let it and there is no more powerful generator of that fear than one’s family.
His fear stretches into his parenting struggles. The Way of Water presents a Jake Sully that is in a tough position. A soldier that is thrust back into a war but this time his sons are active participants alongside him. Here Jake struggles to keep the reins on two teenage boys anxious to fight and not understanding the consequences, while trying to balance that with being a loving and protecting father. We see his militaristic style of leadership take hold early, seemingly birthed from fear. Throughout the film we see it melt away as he begins to see his sons for who they are and stops letting fear guide his choices. It’s a beautiful development for this character that pays off massively in the third act.
Herein lies the beauty of The Way of Water. You get everything you could ever want from a visual perspective and a cinematic experience. It’s innovative, breathtakingly beautiful and unlike anything else. A true experience. Also, it packs an emotional punch. One that comes through subtly, with patience and skill. It’s a masterclass in film but also in storytelling. Whilst we are distracted by a dazzling display of filmmaking. The storyteller is laying seeds that will harvest at the end of this film and for films to come. While the storytelling isn’t as innovative as the filmmaking, or as complicated as we often desire, its execution is nearly flawless. Similar to its backdrop, the story offers plenty to reflect on and discover on return viewings.
Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) even with the step back she takes from the center, brings a beautiful dynamic to the story. She is the Matriarch, who beautifully marries the warrior with the loving mother. She also has the most viscerally emotional moment in the film. Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) whose story is explored mostly without dialogue or plot, becomes the most interesting character in this world. Her connection to Pandora is unlike any others and that connection, when explored, is beautiful in all contexts. Quaritch (Stephen Lang) returns as the big bad, and brings in his own father/son plot, one that is much different from Jake’s. He also fills out the world more and is the catalyst for larger capitalistic themes and even cloning. There are new tribes, humans, and places of this world we’ve yet to see or fully explore. Even with all of this the film feels far from overstuffed. Its simplicity prevents it, while making all of this fully accessible. Each visit to Pandora allows you to choose your adventure essentially. That is a remarkable accomplishment.
Rarely does a blockbuster live up to its expectations. Whatever those expectations may be: a financial fanbase, world building, franchise building, we, as a community (studios included), place all of these expectations on these films. We declare what is a success and what is a failure and demand it meet certain qualifications. And no film of my lifetime has been saddled with expectation quite like The Way of Water. What can happen in the midst of all that expectation is we forget what’s actually important. Movies are magic and this film, unlike any that I have ever seen, captures the wonderment, spectacle, emotion and magic that movies can be. The Way of Water is a true experience, an achievement of filmmaking and creativity. It’s one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen and something that should be experienced as intended. See this film on the biggest screen possible, with an open mind and full engagement with the spectacle before you. Embrace its heart on its sleeve story and enjoy the beauty of what movies can be.
