Avatar: The Way of Water - Review - The Good, the Bad and Everything In Between

My review for James Cameron's 'Avatar: The Way of Water'.
00:00 Intro
01:57 The Good
07:46 The Bad
17:20 Box Office Prediction
19:40 Every Cameron Film Ranked
Use Promo Code WRONGREEL at www.manscaped.com/
Follow Me on Twitter: / gknout
Check Out My Podcast Wrong Reel: wrongreel.com/
Wrong Reel T-Shirts for Sale: teespring.com/stores/wrong-reel
#AvatarTheWayofWater #JamesCameron #Avatar

[@heartshinemusic]

I saw it yesterday with my 72 year old mother. It was freaking amazing and everything was new, because barely anything was spoiled in the trailers. The movie never felt long and I dig Cameron's philosophy that it is an experience. I liked exploring the ocean world! Wouldn't have minded another half hour (maybe we get another extended version like with the first Avatar.)

[@StagShiftZayas]

The lore is half the reason I love Avatar.

[@FlashmanForever]

I think it's unfair to say that the backstory is "just about whaling". The exposition clearly tells us that the humans return in force in order not to just exploit resources as in part 1 but now to engage in wholescale ethnic cleansing settler colonialism. They want to make Pandora the ersatz home of humanity. Jake leads an effetive guerilla resistance through hit and run attacks on the settler infrastructure. Although the coverage of this part is very condensed, we learn that this guerilla war has been going on for a year. When Jake learns that Quaritch has returned as an avatar and has Spider as a captive, he knows that it's only a question of time until his mountain stronghold gets smoked out. To save both the people and his family, he decides to go into exile - however, to no avail as Quaritch is determined to hunt him and his family to the ends of this world. And, before people say this is unrealistic, read up on what the US goevernment did with groups of Native Americans numbering between 20 and 300 when they tried to flee to a safe place (Sappa Creek massacre in 1875, Nez Perce war 1877, Cheyenne Exodus 1878/79, Geronimo in the 1880s).

[@mystere4838]

Your comment is perfect. On top of all the weird, unwarranted complaints with this movie like bad dialogue and bad story, the whaling complaints are ridiculous and it is only a side plot point if that.

[@FCSchaefer]

Well, James, you've convinced me to give this movie a chance even if I'd rather go see James Cameron's Piranha III.

[@dylankurtz8423]

Not worth it, still mad I went and paid $14 and would've rather bought Piranha 2 on blu ray lol

[@highwind1991]

The 3D re-release of Avatar restored my initial love of that film. So I've been looking forward to avatar 2 since even that first trailer was released. I don't know how much money this movie will make, but it's not going to flop. And we need to stop this hilarious cycle of doubting James Cameron everytime he releases a new film

[@sunitamosesesq]

Please watch it in IMAX 3D if possible. It's amazing!

[@charlieherbst4623]

I watched it and I was completely blown away. I blinked maybe 5 times. Entertainment at its finest.

[@WarlordRising]

Cameron hasn't really penned a decent script since Strange Days in 1995. Brilliant technical wizard, but should avoid writing dialogue.

[@AtlantaGuns]

Yea I mostly hate 3d movies but this movie I made sure to watch it on IMAX 3D. It was breath taking, gorgeous movie. Story wise I like the first movie better but this one was not bad. Good to finally see fathers done right. Hope it makes $3B

[@dylankurtz8423]

It will make 1 if that, will probably be the most overrated movie of all time

[@TheGoodwolfe]

Thanks James; I feel validated that you have described so much more succinctly my exact feelings about this film, the first Avatar and your ranking of Cameron's main body of work as a Director. All are spot on! This film, like the first is stunning visually, but overly drawn out with weak dialogue & character development. I saw the first film in IMAX 3-D, and was blown away, but realized how average it was as a film when I later saw it on my 32" TV. Also, "Aliens" IS the best Horror, Sci-Fi, Action movie ever made!

[@joeladair8442]

Nothing about Avatar 2, just happy you put the first Terminator above T2. I love both movies, but the human element in the first is just better in MHO. Why Michael Biehn didn’t become a bigger star is lost on me.

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

Was the 🍿 any good?

[@4Everlast]

The save the animals part is just a layer of this wonderful beast of a film, this was Cameron's own original universe as everything he's done before it was based on actual events, it was someone else's sequel or the studios took over, this is all his, a living monument.

[@chippewaguy4193]

When you said he directed piranha 2 I was thinking of the one with Gianna Michaels.

[@dylankurtz8423]

I don't remember Gianna im that, I know Riley Steele was in the remake

[@OdinAesthetic]

Good job in selling the movie to me. No bullshit: you're my #1 trusted reviewer. At my current state of experience ( aka age ) cg in movies has a very high rate of disconnect. I don't see cg beings as real. This hurts most movies. My fear with this one is : that would happen. And I'd be stuck for 3 hours.

[@jesserochon3103]

Rest easy my friend. The alien people look like literally real living breathing beings Cameron filmed on the real Pandora. This movie has the most realistic effects I have ever seen. It all looks totally real.

[@tdistel]

I second Jesse. The effects are simply amazing. I actually felt I was watching a live action movie.

[@shadf7902]

Dont worry, many have reported sleeping thru it lol....

[@dnice4145]

Is the visual spectacle enough? Was thinking of seeing it over the holidays, but 3 hours of uninteresting story? I loved his paranah film.

[@judithforever9494]

It’s completely worth it, especially in 3d

[@judithforever9494]

The action scenes are the best you will ever watch

[@SimonCoulton]

Just came back from seeing this, and while I enjoyed it, it did seem very surface level. Was the main plot Jake protecting his family? Was it the whale brain juice (a throwaway 2min part of the movie)? Was it the humans terraforming pandora because the earth is dying (another throwaway by the general)? Is Kiri somehow an immaculate conception? How did Quaritch even know who Jake was in his little video flashback? Just felt a little too light on in terms of fleshing things out.

[@jadapandy]

My God, this movie is DA BOMB!!!! Blows away ANY Marvel or DC movie. My new all-time favorite film! Cameron raises the bar - Again!

[@purefoldnz3070]

agreed

[@seed4suffering13]

I definitely want the theatrical experience to return but this isn't that film for me. Yeah it looks good but I don't care. Personally the return to the theatrical experience (if I was able to go) would of been Terrifier 2.

[@twintalk2943]

Top five favorite reviewer. Been excited for your thoughts

[@batgurrl]

I watched it for your rankings, I found Avatar, which I saw on HBO to be overrated and overlong. No interest in the sequel. I agree with your rankings to a certain degree but I put them 3 True Lies 2 T2 and Aliens is fine at #1. Ellen Ripley is my favorite action Hero. I saw Titanic zero Times in the movie theater.

[@BD-yd5dl]

nice job going in to details for the good and the bad

[@marca5883]

On another subject, I watched bones n all last night & wow! Great recommendation James👍 I do hope avatar 2 is good...

[@dylankurtz8423]

I can't wait to see that, I'm sure it's better than Way of water

[@VixCrush]

Hi James. Always interested in your point of view. Andor is my favorite show of the year so far. I caught up on Dark and watched 1899. Dark thumbs up 1899 thumbs down. I also have been watching Slow Horses and keeping up with Yellowstone. I am a huge avatar fan and I'm sure I will like this one. I'm hoping for a return of the Expanse sometime. If the Yellowstone spin off 1883 passed you by I would recommend going back and watching it. It is just 1 season and is a tragedy but really mt favorite show of the last few years which i say a lot as I enjoyed Severence and all the star wars stuff and a bunch of other stuff.

[@TJ_mx]

1:01 VERY well said sir

[@db.1304]

Movie business needs a big win, but does it deserve it? Every review I've seen on Avatar 2 mentiones how bad the story is, for me thats like 70% of what makes a movie so not really compelled to watch it... if they want a big win (like you said in the video) maybe do better movies.

[@franciscooctavius5957]

“Somebody else’s face mess……” LMAO. Great line James. Thanx for the review. I’ll prob go see this but honestly can wait too.

[@TheLiberalPersuasion]

Taking out an hour of this movie would be ridiculous. 20 minutes could’ve been removed from the middle act but an hour that’s silly.

[@martinritchie7576]

There was only 5 people in the theater I was in, I have not been in a full theater since the pandemic started,

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

Was the popcorn 🍿 any good?

[@Ghaffar_KH]

Gonna go see it tonight, can’t wait!

[@dylankurtz8423]

Hope u were as underwhelmed as I was!

[@Ghaffar_KH]

@@dylankurtz8423 I was! The only thing it has going for it is the great visuals, which in this day and age doesn’t really mean much to me. Very weak story, characters, and writing overall.

[@furynotes]

Well. You could argue. That most of James Cameron Movies are about culture war. Even Titanic. Just people aren't thinking hard enough about the messages in his stories. The only one that doesn't really is Piranha II: The Spawning. With Abyss the Cold war was edited out mostly.

[@limliza992]

More time should be delicated to explore the feeling of Spider who are controversial and on Kiri. How is Kiri born and why she has special abilities? On the whole, the movie has excellent visual, emotion, pace and actions.

[@tobz475]

She is like Pandoran Jesus i guess

[@jakecorenthose2901]

Cameron's fixation on photo realistic VFX is the worst thing that ever happened to him. I watched this movie and, like the first, found myself missing the days when Cameron wrote characters I gave a shit about and cared about tangibility in his films. This was so artificial. I couldn't connect to anything or anyone. Also, why are we still trying to make Sam Worthington a thing? He was a bore in the first and he was bore in this. What happened to dynamic protagonists like Sarah Connor, or Brigman from the Abyss, or even Lenny Nero from Strange Days which Cameron wrote? Did he forget how to write compelling characters? Just awful. We lost a talented filmmaker. Ranking: Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, The Abyss: Director's Cut, Aliens, True Lies, Titanic, Avatar, Avatar 2, Piranha 2.

[@amcaesar]

I'm grieving over the loss of Cameron after 1997. It's a sadness I didn't allow myself to feel before today.

[@jakecorenthose2901]

@@amcaesar For me it started when it became clear that he was gonna drive this Avatar thing into the ground. The announcement of several sequels was the last straw.

[@amcaesar]

@@jakecorenthose2901 I wish he could comprehend the word "no" when it's spoken to him.

[@Dancestar1981]

I agree

[@redcomet0079]

*This was the best review I’ve seen on this film*

[@modelcitizen1977]

If I’m going to take the family to the movies, I’m dropping a minimum of $100. I spent nearly $140 for Avatar 2. (Gotta love those $9 sodas.) I can’t afford to do that for every movie, so it needs to be an event film like Dune or Avengers or anything by James Cameron. Anything less just seems like wasting money, and that’s why theaters are dying along with the rest of the industry, in my opinion. There’s so much riding on the success of the film that unless you’re a top name director, you’re not allowed to tell an interesting story.

[@shekwaga]

Even watching it on IMAX 3D and I got bored around the 1 hour mark during the "we are one with nature scenes". Had to get up and walk around the theater for 45 minutes.

[@jorijoestar4998]

Titanic is my favorite of his movies purely for the practical effects.

[@theikimashoclub5719]

The good: visuals, world building...the bad: everything else especially how the movie makes the military look weak (the personnel and equipment)

[@musicmann1967]

I'm looking forward to the experience of seeing this movie in Imax 3D. I thought the first Avatar did it best (3D) and I suspect this will be a upgrade on that from an experiential standpoint. The first Avatar had dopey dialog too, (and jesus christ...unobtanium?) Please. I don't know how a man as smart as Cameron doesn't know his dialogue is dumb. But I'm just looking for the ride, to be honest. If I get more than that, great. I enjoyed the first movie, (and again upon re-release too) hopefully I'll enjoy this one too.

[@purefoldnz3070]

unobtanium is a real scientific term

[@musicmann1967]

@@purefoldnz3070 Sure, as a catch-all term referencing an element (or even technology) that doesn't exist. Still, it's silly sounding AF

[@purefoldnz3070]

@@musicmann1967 it may sound silly to you but doesn't change that is an scientific term. In the movie its a room temperature superconductor that isn't found on earth but it might as well be Spice Mélange with Avatars obvious parallels to Dune..

[@musicmann1967]

@@purefoldnz3070 In the movie, they're assigning that name to a single element as the elements actual name, as if scientists assigned it, not as a general term, and it sounds completely silly to me.

[@purefoldnz3070]

@@musicmann1967 its a movie about blue alien space cats and that's the part that sounds silly to you. Okaaaay.

[@deanot1000]

Amazing I can't wait

[@DingbatToast]

Since the advent of massive high-quality 4k+ HDR home screens and awesome hifi quality sound, i totally disagree that the random quality movie experience is desirable or preferable to the home experience. I think the cinemas have to seriously up their game if they want to get me away from the comfort and exclusivity of me and my family or friends watching together at home.

[@salomaonplanetsaturn6038]

First Avatar - was my real introduction to 3D. Since then... I tried to watch a couple of them in movie theaters - Prometheus (was good) , Rio (cartoon about parrot - best 3d since Avatar, for my taste) and the rest ...either bad or useless. 2d IMAX is my format of choice (I'm sure we discussed it here). ---- Avatar 2 trailers looked underwhelming. I had a feeling that the movie was going to have exactly the same story beats as the previous movie. Literally zero interest! You are the second person, who encouraged me to check it out. Runtime filled with dances ? 😞 Cameron got too much power (deservedly so) . Whether we like it or not - producers need to have control over crazy creators (directors) and chop movies if need be. At least it looks good, only Netflix can spend 150 - ,200 million on a movie , and still look like shit ) Cameron - won't allow it ☺️ I will check it out and hopefully enjoy it. My friend who saw it , said exactly the same thing as you - "best action scenes of a year". I don't trust reviews from the media, but trust you 🧐 Thank you 🦆👻 "Santa looks after his sack and so should - you" - James pls tell me, it is your gag and idea for line ☺️☺️☺️

[@jmil843]

Have you been watching the second season of Gangs of London on AMC+??

[@amcaesar]

Are you digging it? I have it ready to watch but I'm hesitant because Gareth Evans didn't come back to work on it...

[@jmil843]

@@amcaesar yeah not as good as the first but still very good imo

[@amcaesar]

@@jmil843 Now this is news I can use.

[@klass_1221]

Thanks, James. I really liked this sequel. But I agree with one of your bad points. It's too long. Cut out about an hour. It was beginning to look like "The Whales of Water". 😆 Yes, we get it, James Cameron. You love, Love the ocean! To me, Way of Water felt like a Disney movie. More family-oriented. Its a must-see in a 3D theater. Otherwise, you will not see the spectacular effects. That's part of the awe. If you watch it in regular format or wait til streaming. It will most likely not appeal to those that didn't watch it in the theater. The story has strong callbacks to his previous films. I saw similarity from Aliens, The Abyss, and Titanic in this. EDIT: By the way, nice Jimmy Cameron list. I agree with your top 3. Yes, True Lies!

[@TheLiberalPersuasion]

I also don’t agree that the dialogue with all that bad. I thought it was fairly good in the movie was genuinely moving. It’s funny how nobody ever holds marvel films or Star Wars films to the same standard when it comes to screen writing or dialogue or plot etc. when they are just as simplistic. Personally, I don’t give a damn I’m not going to this movie to see Shakespeare. I understand what this is about. It’s a spectacle, a sci-fi, fantasy film, and the story is obviously a good story or it wouldn’t motivate people to return for multiple viewings.

[@davidgeorge1664]

I thought TOP GUN MAVERICK was out standing

[@fullmetalb5241]

Maybe I'm just lucky with theaters, or I go at times when there is limited people, but I literally never have this awful theater experiences that people always complain about. I love the theater experience. I normally have to watch movies twice to make sure my love of the theater experience isn't making me enjoy something more than I normally would.

[@joeladair8442]

Same here, I always wait at least two weeks after a big movie comes out to go see it and usually go to a weekday matinee. I’m guessing that online movie reviewers have to go see movies on opening night with a packed house. It only takes an asshole or two ruin everyone’s experience. Conversely, if everyone is respectful, it probably makes the viewing experience a lot more cool.

[@tobz475]

I have seen it 2times and i want to watch again

[@darrylmars]

So true about the experience of seeing a good film in a crowded theater, & the sorry state of studio products today. Last film I remember seeing in a theater was Endgame, picture was too dark due to (wrong bulb in projector?), no restrooms open or water in fountains, etc.. First Avatar was very pretty, but nothing else.

[@Lee86THUNDER]

Visuals are god tier. Dialogue was opposite tier and cliche as can be, the kids, marines, and antagonist were purely annoying. The bro count was to the point of saying shut up out loud almost. But visuals and some acting were enough to keep me in and wanting to watch again

[@mattlawson714]

I can’t agree with you more about preserving the theater experience. Our culture has gotten so used to everything being assessable from home. It’s like we forgotten what made big blockbusters matter: seeing them in the theater. Sure, there are drawbacks, you can’t pause the movie to go P, but I just went and saw the new avatar and got stuck sitting next to a 400 pound guy in the baby a few rows up who would occasionally make a little bit of noise, and I still had an amazing time. The fat guy knew he was fat. He was very courteous and kept his arms crossed the entire movie.😅

[@theaztec]

Movie theaters in USA are very old, including the premiere screens in Mexico even the regular cinemas are better

[@levitabusman]

This was an amazing movie, 10/10

[@chanwooksook]

love the first part at its time and it was somethig spectcular in imax back then. so this time was super excited and waited almost two month for a good place in imax. and...fell asleep in the middle...its so boring ....yeah visuals are great and its a nice moral tale for kids, but its so uninteresting and cartoonish and story is all over the place... i wanted so much more from the sequel AT LEAST AS AN ADVANTURE AND SOMETHING NEW AND COOL LORE VISE. but they just got stuck in this blue lagoona resort and showed a lot of really nice footage of sea life. and while the previous avatar was really amazing in this forest life and mysterious creatures and new in visuals and some spirituality with a sacred tree, this time around i was not impressed with lore and visuals at all....maybe this whole sea life is just boring....except for the last sea fight - it was great. and i really loved the bad guy and his son dynamics. but most characters were so blank and also boriiiiing... and why all these green guys were so nasty and not friendly in the first place (and acted like fucking bullies - and these maniac kids deliberatly tried to murder the blue kid) ....with the blue ones and were constantly pissed off by the fact that they did not know the water world. Damn, the coolest hero on the planet came to visit you, who gathered clans and defeated army of space aliens, and you are unfriendly and vile and brag that you have better tails fro swimming... and please explain the logic of our hero's family leaving home in the first place ...they just left their tribe to be slaughtered by the bad guys mercenaries who are about to arrive with Mowgli snitch...

[@chung2055]

I’m watching it this week. I know when I will be going to the bathroom, during the movie lol

[@davidguy209]

1 - Terminator 2 2 - Aliens 3 - The Terminator Don't care about any others

[@jules-yi8rn]

I watched the original Avatar in 3d and it was amazing....I'll watch this one the same way. JC has never been great with dialog...it's about the visuals, man🙂

[@GoogleVideoMan]

Incredible

[@jadapandy]

This movie was so damn satisfying, it deserves to make OVER 2 billion! Either way, Avatar 3 WILL come out, and the small threads hinted at in 2 will be answered. And I for one cannot wait!

[@brianhiles8164]

(01:55) A bikini made of mesh makes neither a good bikini or good sun protection. (Note that one cannot capitalize the _S_ in _sun._ ) But maybe it is good filmmaking....

[@fjalarjohannsson8595]

350% agree - Aliens

[@RobbieE33]

I don't really understand why people like this movie so much... It looked great but without a proper story and plot it just kinda falls flat to me. Only a little more exposition about the villains (situation on earth) and their motives would have helped a lot. The characters apart from that 1 son and kiri had some development. The rest were very 'NPC' like. The kids getting captured like 5 times got kinda repetitive and silly in the end... But my biggest disappointment was with the music... I watched it in Dolby Atmos but i thought it was kinda basic and not that memorable. It's just didn't do anything for me... All in all just a 7/10 for me

[@4Everlast]

The homages to him self are just a re-cap of his career, don't see anything wrong with it, S.Raimi did the same with Universe of ...

[@emmanuelellis4996]

Marvel needs to hire James Cameron studios

[@csmemarketing]

Your review sounds paid off. According to other reviewers, there is almost no action scenes, and the graphics are gorgeous, but only on the level of videogame cut scenes, which were always beautiful. No real jump in graphics.

[@emmanuelellis4996]

Disney owns most of the movie content and they don't care about good stories

[@rololoy2]

First movie that I ever watched twice

[@PixelMurder]

The blockbuster cinema industry is very similar to the blockbuster industry in gaming of nowadays. They can spend half a billion dollars, but the budget for the story feels like 5000 bucks, it's not even on a good fan fiction level. Stories are written by nerds nowadays, and all they know is cliché and big fireballs because they learned it by watching Star Wars and playing Mass Effect. And the result of it is a product worthy of a lot of memes and a long and depressing movie/game sins video. They have the balls to spend half a billion, but they don't have them to not copy their own material. They can see the success of a good product and want to cash in, but instead of writing a refreshing new story with new characters for it, they copy themselves, the whole plot. Okay, sometimes somebody dies in the process, but you can be sure that there will be a replacement for it, or an avatar with a cloned memory.

[@silentdawn21]

the fact that the navi barely wears cloths is because they are indigenous tribal forming many clans and factions. They connect with the world, they have shamans, they have ceremony, even their weapons are bow and arrows or spear and bolas. the list goes on. even before the sky people invited, they don't need technology or guns or cloths just like tribe people on earth. they just happen to be exposed to those and I think James Cameron wants to tell us that they are the natives in their world and the sky people are coming to invade them

[@shadf7902]

First avatar was ok,pretty to look at. 13 years later, I couldbt care any less,I see no point in this movie.

[@nerad1994]

Lots of good, lots of bad, but definitely not ugly.

[@zoloegaming]

The lore is super deep, people have published books… lol

[@HellfireHellesto]

Theres far too few of movies to choose from? Thats a bunch of bullshit. The film industry as a whole is oversaturated. The provlem is that because going to the movies is so expensive coupled by people not choosing to go to the cinema for various reasons, be it cost, the ability to get a homegoing experience better than one use to be able to get, the fact tbat one can wait a month or two and itll be on streaming, the fact that people just have a multitude of other interests... the list goes on... people dont venture to the cinema unless its a huge big budget film that the home going experience just won duplicate. But too few of movies? Whatre u smoking?

[@portertikkanen9082]

If China wasn’t being devastated by COVID then it would be amazing.

[@DrDetfink]

Avatar opened not long after District 9 which was way more interesting than Cameron’s paint by number plot. Since this movie is bound to be re-released 2 more times I’ll see it much later.

[@nafisaustin5063]

No current Hollywood creator is good enough to make a 3 hour film , good, because they are to busy focused on themselves and not the fans … 🔥🔥🔥 Disney

[@univeriseman8008]

Avatar 2 Black Panther 2 Black Adam These movies belong in the same film genre. Epic action vfx heavy family friendly blockbusters. Avatar 2 wins

[@jefferysteen1041]

I just can't get into Avatar!I watched it twice all the way through but I just don't dig it!So no way am I going to sit through the 3 hour sequel.

[@pdog-tu7yb]

He is so very wrong about the lack of interest in the lore and history. There is a ton of interest in that as well as the speculative biology and politics.

[@sprinkle61]

I'm sorry to say this, but Theatrical releases are all but dead, and I have seen this movie before. This is just like the fall of the arcades. There was a time when the arcades were full of great games, but over time there were less and less, with most games just going strait to consoles. In the end, there were a few last harrahs, like Street Fighter 2 and a D+D action game, but they were the only reasons to go to an arcade, and once the consoles were good enough to port them, the arcades were done, and movies will be the same. Yes, the big screen is nice, but most normies have really nice TV's at home, and the experience just isn't worth the absurdly high cost of actually going to a theatre anymore. I have not been to the theatres since the second Disney Star Wars release, and I doubt I will ever go again.

[@DialloMoore503]

I’m probably Jim Cameron’s biggest fan and I was very disappointed. The kid that played Spider is a very bad actor, sorry to say. All of the stuff involving the kids was pretty cringe. The dialogue was also bad; Too many tribal chants, too much hissing and shouting, too much sentiment and tears and anger. And I can’t stand jokes in the middle of scenes that have danger and peril and high stakes. I’m quite surprised Cameron had multiple writers this time, because it didn’t show. I love long movies, but this was unnecessarily long. This should’ve had about 30 minutes cut from it. Only good things I saw was that Cameron still has his visual touch. I love how Cameron uses flames in his films. That’s it. I’m disappointed in this sequel. It wasn’t worth the wait. All of that technology for underwater filming and those 3D didn’t really impress me. I liked the first one better.

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

Will wait to see it on streaming. Not worth it now.

[@SEAKPhotog]

Been wondering what you thought of this. I sadly and honestly have little desire to see it. The first one was cool in a ground breaking kinda way but even tho computer animation sorta fascinates me, I'm just not jazzed to experience this world again. You did hit a nerve when you said you don't think natives of the world are visually appealing. I don't either. It's shallow maybe but man, their appearance annoys me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for aliens in most forms but dang, the natives of this world evoke a negative reaction in me. Don't know why... 🤷🏻‍♂️ I'm also put off by the whaling analogy. I don't mind political messages in movies and I'm all for saving whales, ecosystems, planets and cultures but dang, whale exploitation isn't exactly a new or interesting topic, even if they're alien whales. You're also not the first/only reviewer to mention the terrible dialog. I think I'd like to be engaged by more than spectacle at this point and dialog is key. Oh, I agree with your Cameron movie rankings. Anyway, thanks for the review. I'll definitely watch it when it's available on a service but think I'll skip the theater release unless my step daughter talks me into it 😉

[@kev30631]

I saw it. The recap parts with voice over narration in the beginning, is too long. The story is simplistic and doesn't move the narrative enough after 10 years of waiting for this. Dejavu If you ignore that, the movie is entertaining if only to admire the long fx porn sequences. You have looooooong stretchs of fx bragging with no dialogue.

[@Dancestar1981]

13 years actually

[@kev30631]

@@Dancestar1981 thank for the correction. Did you enjoy the movie? What's your review. If you're seen it

[@slimdude2011]

This review would've been better without all the F-Bombs, which were unnecessary.

[@lupusHegemonia]

Avatar 1 was a "Pocahontas" sci-fi-space version, with incredible visual & sfx effects; which I don't mind Cameron STOLEN "Pocahontas" story, I love this story (even the old animated one). The problem is... Avatar 2 is not another "Pocahontas" sci-fi-space film, because Avatar 2 HAS NO PLOT/STORY AT ALL!!! The film looks like... Cameron went to this fiction planet and he made a... "National Geographic" Planet Pandora" documentary... and that's all, all stops there!!! There is no plot/story at all! It looks like Cameron's 6 years old KID wrote this "story" and Cameron said "Oh boy, that's nice writing, let's make it a film"!!! For my kid-daughter, she loved it (she hasn't watched the Avatar 1 though). For me, except the AMAZING VISUAL & SFX EFFECTS (and score/music)... I was DAMN EXPECTING MORE - I was expecting to see... A FILM, A STORY, SOMETHING!!! It's like you reading a novel book... the writer is describing the fantasy land, the fantasy environment... and nothing at all!!! It's like TOLKIEN wrote the "LotR", he detailed wrote about MIDDLE EARTH... and he FORGOT TO WRITE THE PLOT ITSELF!!!! To me... I think Cameron for the last 15 years is not making movies, but... CGI SHOWCASES!!! It's like those folks they uploading videos in KZbin of Bethesda's SKYRIM game (in 4K graphics, superb lights/shadows, etc)... but there is NO PLAYTHROUGH, it's just a 4K graphics showcase, the character simply walking around to no-where (simply to show you the amazing visual results of the game's modding)!!!! So, that's what Avatar 2 is... a CGI SHOWCASE, without story AT ALL!

[@Dancestar1981]

It’s the sequel nobody needed

[@Dancestar1981]

You’re not an idiot story is the prime driving force of the art form and it has been lost

[@melishek0001]

Bad writing and one-dimensional characters are hidden behind the visual style. People all behave like they are in a trailer park and there is a lame pretense of something deep. Please do not compare this to Top Gun and Batman!!!

[@BellaBella-jw9ef]

I appreciate your review, but I just didn’t like it.

[@jadapandy]

This movie EARNS the running time. Not everything has to be spectacle. I disagree with you, James. Its called storytelling! Characterization. My entire family were never bored during the whole run time.

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

Cinematic experience is dead. #StreamingWins

[@tom-66]

After the abysmal True Lies, I couldn’t take Cameron seriously.

[@klass_1221]

...."the abyss"mal True Lies. I see what you did there. 😏

[@purefoldnz3070]

2:51 disagree here. This Avatar series is pretty much Dune. You even have whales now with the spice mélange in their brains.

[@Dancestar1981]

Dune actually has compelling narrative

[@twcckm2225]

Boring and none sense, give my money back.

[@andreasesser4641]

As much as I respect James Cameron, I just don't care about New Age Sea Monkeys.

[@fattiger2000]

They are the blue skinned hindu gods of old. This is what they are based on. Avatar means "incarnation".

[@KareNEexpert]

Yet here you are; commenting.

[@DNGMaestro]

That’s because you’re super edgy.

[@andreasesser4641]

@@fattiger2000 From what I recall from the first one, Avatar is also a reference to the fact to the guy using this technolodgy to turn into an alien. So he is using "avatar technology" so to speak. The aliens are also based on cats with their giant eyes and feline features, because people like cats. This is supposed to make you like them more.

[@tobz475]

Still type it in every avatar related video

[@jadapandy]

Bad dialogue?! C'mon James! Sounds like other lame reviewers who stated that. I am a professional writer. And a film aficionado for decades. Not ONE time did I roll my eyes for stupid dialogue or actions. Not saying it's fucking Shakespeare. But Avatar 2 dialogue isn't as cheesy as recent Marvel and DC fare, or John Wick.

[@peterlenham3180]

Sorry but Terminator 2 is EASILY Cameron's best film. The others are so far off it's laughable.