Avatar 2: The Way of Water

The teaser is dropping on Thursday night (with a weeklong theatrical exclusivity with Dr. Strange 2) so I figured I'd break the seal here. I'm sure it will be long on visuals and short on dialogue and plot (similar to the first Avatar teaser way back in 2009). Nonetheless, I'm excited to see what Cameron has done with the new toys over the past decade.

It's such an odd film and projected series. It's not live action in any meaningful way, but it's not being billed as animated (which it essentially is).

Worthington remains a big ZERO in terms of presence, charisma, and ability to transcend what was a very tropey story. Cameron's strong point has never been dialogue or plot innovation, so he needs strong leads to help infuse the film with energy that elevates. I know in this case, the visuals are doing 90% of the heavy lifting, but having such a dud as the lead remains a negative for me.

I'm sure I'll see this at some point, but unless reliable reviews and/or WOM are very strong, this will be something I watch at home.

At long last, Zoe Saldana can stop being a green space badass and return to her roots of being a BLUE space badass. This is the way...of water.

But will Worthington take it...to the next level?

I mean, it's gonna be worth seeing in the theater for sheer spectacle if nothing else; I'm just not particularly optimistic about it delivering much better on the story level than the first did. Cameron is never not worth a watch, but it's a pretty consistent trend over the course of his career that his stories have gotten thinner and hackier as his action and spectacle have gotten bigger and fancier.

I think Cameron is well worth seeing in theater. His spectacle tends to be more advanced than typical Hollywood spectacle, because I'd argue he is also a master of story construction and organic tonal progress. Argue about the story all you want, but his script structures tend to be ironclad, and he is still the best director of big budget action working today. When Spielberg wants to give him a run, he's capable of it, but that is about it.

I just want to take the time to point out that the title being announced as Avatar: The Way of Water confirmed a scoop a couple years back about what all of the subtitles for the sequels are. So, assuming none of them have changed, I think we can mine a lot of discussion out of this roster alone...

Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Seed Bearer
Avatar: The Tulkan Rider
Avatar: The Quest for Eywa

I'm still disappointed that one of them isn't subtitled "Quaritch's Revenge". That fan suggestion always sounded delightfully old school videogame-y to me.

Incredibly ambitious to think enough of the audience wants 4 more Avatar films, but then that's Iron Jim in a nutshell really. Totally looking forward to Avatar 2 on the big screen anyway. Sure Worthington the human wasn't that charismatic but Worthington the Thundercat has potential.

Yaknow, it's gonna be pretty funny if, in the last thirteen years, Worthington went and actually developed charisma and acting ability.

Thinking about it, there's no way Avatar 2 can end on a 'happy' ending. If they want to make 3 further sequels then surely the only way for Avatar 2 (at least) to end is for the evil humans to decimate everything. But it's a tricky tightrope because you don't want to bum the audience out this early into the franchise.

The Schlocketeer wrote:

Avatar: The Seed Bearer

In all seriousness I hope Cameron doesn't go overboard with the spectacle (like the first) and delivers a story that isn't thinner than the gravy they serve at Swiss Chalet.

If something's going to bring me back to the theatre, it's going to be Cameron. Even with a Swiss Chalet gravy-thin plot you know you're gonna get a full sucrose-laden Toblerone spectacle bonus (only a Canadian is gonna get this) - probably in 4D, Sensurround and Smell-O-Vision.

Saw the trailer. Looks pretty. Doesn’t really tell you much what it’s about besides being a demo presentation.

Good imagery in the teaser, certainly.

I'm curious about how Cameron is going to keep the story from being a pure retread... because it sure feels like it's heading that way.

I saw the OG Avatar twice on big screens (and before that I saw the opening 15 minutes or whatever back when they were screening that as a promo) but I've never seen it on a TV. Because I'm afraid to.

Belloq87 wrote:

Good imagery in the teaser, certainly.

I'm curious about how Cameron is going to keep the story from being a pure retread... because it sure feels like it's heading that way.

Especially with Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and even Matt Gerald coming back. Pretty much every notable cast member from the original returns, even if their character died, save for Michelle Rodriguez. She must have really pissed Cameron off or something.

I enjoy Avatar more than most, but it felt like a closed off story. In many ways, I suspect this first sequel will be like him starting over again and actually having to flesh out the world so it can sustain multiple entries. I just hope it doesn't feel too repetitive.

Trailer has officially dropped. No Papyrus font, though!

Man, Horizon Forbidden West is really looking good...wait... I'm being handed a note...

Ten bucks says Disney sabotages this at the box office like most of their other 20th Century titles.

“Whoops, guess nobody these movies!”

And then the 20th century brand gets carted off into a warehouse, placed right next to Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures.

Boy, that trailer really does absolutely nothing for me. "Well, that's a thing, I guess."

chrknudsen wrote:

Boy, that trailer really does absolutely nothing for me. "Well, that's a thing, I guess."

Pretty much my reaction. I'd be hard pressed to spot any big VFX advances here since 2009 (Not saying there aren't any, but I think we're approaching a plateau in CGI as a whole, short of perfecting digital photo realistic people)

You can't say it doesn't look spectacular but waiting 13 years to release the sequel is going to work against it.

Yeah, that's another problem. That unique 'wow' factor isn't a guarantee anymore.

Oh, you say that, but wait 'til you find out what kinds of alien genitals are in store this time!

I’m not really looking for a wow factor with these. That’s probably how Cameron wants to hype them up like last time, but I’m ignoring that whole aspect. I just want to have an enjoyable time at the movies like I did with the first, especially if the 3D is as good.