Avatar 2 - The way of the water

×

©2022 20th Century Studios

Ten years after the war

On the moon Pandora, about ten years after the war, the Na'vi live largely unmolested by humans. Only a handful of scientists were allowed to stay, including Grace Augustine and her colleagues. All other earthlings have left the place that was once chosen as their new home.

 

Former Soldier Jake Sully lives on in his avatar (photo above, left) after his body succumbed to the planet's atmosphere, which is toxic to humans, and died. This was made possible by a natural network called Eywa, with which the native beings can connect.

 

Peace is a fallacy

Sully has started a family with his girlfriend Neytiri and is having four children. As the only human among them, young Spider (photo above) lives among them and becomes a comrade, always equipped with a breathing mask. He was too young for a cryostasis journey back to Earth.

 

So the remaining ones could actually live peacefully. But then we would certainly be in the wrong film. So it happens that the humans now return better equipped. Their goal is to exploit the moon with its priceless treasures.

 

Now comes the revenge

Colonel Quaritch did not survive the first adventure, but the marines managed to transfer his spirit into an avatar (photo above). Some of his comrades also completed such a transfer into a body viable on Pandora.

 

The old warhorse did not take the expulsion from paradise well and seeks personal revenge against Sully. The ex-soldier in his new form quickly learns how to move in nature and on the back of flying animals like the Mountain Banshees.

 

Diving into the idyll of the sea

The return of the hostile Recons from Earth is quickly noticed by Sully and his family. Eventually their forest is torched. So they decide to leave the area and go into hiding in the island kingdom of Metkayina.

 

There, the water Na'vi, who are used to life in the sea and have webbed feet and a fin tail, are in charge. Chief Tonowari and his wife Ronal (photo above) have reservations, but they eventually grant the family asylum. But how long can they hide from the pursuers?

 

Sigourney's Three Roles

In the film, Sigourney Weaver embodies the human scientist Grace Augustine and was a motion-capture model for her avatar as well as Sully's daughter Kiri. Three jobs in one film!

 

Incidentally, the film was supposed to have been released in 2015, but the state of technology at the time and ultimately the pandemic delayed the release date by seven years. It was only later that it became possible to produce 3D shots with motion-capture suits in pools of water, which were indispensable for Part 2.

 

×

Fantastic visualisation

Like Part One, the sequel sets a benchmark in 3D film technology. Everything is designed to immerse the viewer in the world. The effects do not act as an eyewash but as a tool for new visual experiences.

 

One example is the interiors of the one-person submarines. Filmed from the interior, one can see the curvature of the boat's dome, the reflections from the interior and the correspondingly distorted exterior. Breathtaking and essential to spatial comprehension.

 

 

Music and sound

The orchestral music by composer Simon Franglen is opulent and fits well, but it doesn't really stick in the ear either. In fact, the film was once again overloaded with bombastic music.

 

In contrast, the sounds are wonderfully rich and convey the kinetics of the battles vividly. Naturally, there are lots of water sounds. If you have to go to the bathroom because of the gurgling and bubbling - welcome to the team.

Shortcomings

The main criticism and perhaps the only flaw is the inconclusive plot. For me, the motive of revenge is not at all sufficient for a three-hour battle orgy. Why would the other Recon soldiers join such a commando and do so that enthusiastically?

 

Director Cameron wanted to make the film unpredictable, but it has indeed become very predictable. In the end, however, I don't find that so bad.

What succeeded?

Countless beautiful scenes in forests and sea

Groundbreaking 3D visualisation

Unique design of the creatures and vehicles

 

 

Summary

A long three hours pass in no time at all with this immersive action thriller

 

My tip is to think less about the background of the plot. Only the small social stories of the Na'vi remain conclusive, which are touching, but too human for my taste.

 

It's curious that you simply keep your fingers crossed for three hours that everything works out fine with the expulsion of evil humans from the habitat. Why not use the Na'vi language across the hole movie and not just occasionally?

 

What the film lacks is the science fiction element of the first part, which was very appealing. Of course, travel and resettlement are now omitted and everything revolves around adventures on Pandora.

 

Actors

The list is devided in "real person" actors and the ones working in motion performance for Avatars and Na'vi. Tough job for both of the teams.

 

Infos to Avatar 2 - The way of the water