Avatar: The Way of Water 3D 4DX Review

Avatar: The Way of Water is the long awaited sequel to James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar. Set 13 years after the original, the humans have come back to Pandora in search of something new they can steal from the planet. And without spoiling anything, an old enemy has come back for revenge. Meanwhile, Jake Sully has started a family. But when his kids get into trouble with the humans, he and his family runs away to the water tribe. There, they learn all about this tribe's way of life, learn more about each other, and of course, learn the way of water. But even after running away, they'll soon be forced to confront the danger the humans will inevitably give them.

Was the first Avatar a good movie? Well, it depends on who you ask. There's one group of people who will look at the plot and point out the many flaws in the storytelling department, ranging from the bland characters, blatant environmental preachiness, and unremarkable dialogue. And those people do have merit to what they say. But then there's the other group of people who understand that Avatar is about more than just the story. It's also, and mainly, about the technological feats and overall experience. Personally, I fall into the latter category. You can read my review for the Avatar 3D Blu-ray here and the IMAX 3D experience here. Personally, I think in spite of the original film's flaws, it's still overall very enjoyable.

That's why I was interested in seeing what they were planning to do for the second movie. Although I wouldn't really say I was waiting 13 years for it, mainly because I was 5 when the first movie came out and hadn't actually gotten around to watching it until earlier this year, I'm still happy to say that Avatar 2 is finally here now. And for better or worse, whatever worked and didn't work about the first film is also, for the most part, what works and doesn't work here. I think this film proves that Avatar as a franchise, will always be about style over substance, which means people in the future will probably still be divided on whether or not Avatar is actually good. If you didn't like the first one, The Way of Water most likely won't win you over. But if you did, then it will deliver virtually the same goods, and a little bit more, to make it worth the price of admission.

Let's start with the elements that don't work, as just like with the first film, they can be a bit glaring. The story, of course, carries the simplistic "humans bad, nature people good" mentality that existed in the prior installment. This wouldn't be a terrible issue if they had further tried to develop it over the course of this film. But when you know the humans are on the brink of extinction, you can't help but want to see both the humans and the Na'vi try to work something out than have everyone be made statically good or bad. It also makes the film feel more cartoonish than it deserves to be, which doesn't really work for a three hour epic. Beyond that, though, there are also a few other elements that stick out like a sore thumb. I don't want to delve into spoilers, but I will say there are of a couple of plot twists involving the villains that are honestly a bit dumb. Remember how the first film was about saving the forests? Well, this movie becomes about saving whales. And it remains just about as preachy about it as before. While the dialogue remains remains mostly decent throughout, there are a few lines such as "What's up, cus?" or "That's cool, bro" that might have a couple of people rolling in the aisle. And quite honestly, the film's 3-hour runtime isn't entirely well deserved. There are some scenes and moments that definitely could've been stood to be cut down in the editing room.

But if you can get passed the elements I mentioned above, Avatar: The Way of Water also has some very genuinely good elements that deserved to be talked about. Of course, the main attraction to this film are the visuals and its surreal CG world. And in terms of that, Avatar 2 not only delivers, it surpasses the first one in virtually every way. I want to keep most of the technical details for the 3D review. But for now, I will say this is the certainly the best Pandora has looked in ages. The colors pop right off the screen and the details on the creatures and environment are incredible. The direction remains just as strong, if not stronger, than the first movie. And it draws you right into the film. The action, especially in the climax, is truly something to witness. And the score, even without James Horner at the helm (God bless his soul), is still fantastic. Whenever the movie takes its time to introduce us to these kinds of wonders, you get so swept up in it that its faults become easy to forgive.

Yes, Avatar 2 is mainly all about the experience. But even with that, the story does actually pack in a few pleasant surprises this time round. And a lot of it revolves around the new family dynamics introduced here. Jake Sully is a bit more developed here than in the first movie, and so is his wife. But their kids also have their own interesting story arcs, which for the sake of spoilers, I will not get into. It leads to some greatly effective emotional moments later in the film that are actually well-earned and built up through the movie. From the Avatar universe, this was something intriguing, and it brought the film a sense of emotional richness missing greatly from the first movie.

All in all, just like its predecessor, whether or not Avatar: The Way of Water is a good movie depends on who you ask. And if you ask me, I say this is a film well worth watching. Yes, it suffers from some of the same stupid choices and cringe-inducing characters the first one had. But just like the original film, it more than makes up for it with the engaging experience it delivers. From a technical level, James Cameron has reached a new high with stunning visuals, state-of-the-art animation, and stellar 3D (but I'm getting ahead of myself). And while I was probably expecting a bit more from a story standpoint than what I got, mainly because of how long this film kept taking to get done, the parts that worked really did work and made it feel like a genuinely good movie. If you weren't all that into the first Avatar because of all its faults, passing up its sequel is certainly understandable. But personally, I think that just like the first one, and even more so, whatever the film does poorly, it more than makes up for with the things it gets really right. Overall, I say this is another trip to Pandora well worth taking. And if you're coming to Avatar 2 simply for another three-hour escapism, than I'd say it's probably worth the 13 year wait.

OVERALL FILM RATING: 4/5

The relationship between Avatar and 3D is something that needs no delving into. Chances are you already know how it changed the cinematic landscape to include more theatrical 3D releases that made films much more engaging experiences like with How to Train Your Dragon or Legend of the Guardians, or added nothing and make the whole trip nauseating like with infamous Clash of the Titans. Either way, the impact Avatar had with its usage of 3D was phenomenal. So with its sequel out now, after taking 13 years to get made, directed by the same director, and having that director being James Cameron, I think its no question this one would immediately be amazing in 3D. But much to my surprise, not only does The Way of Water have better 3D than Avatar, it might just be my new favorite 3D film of all time, rivaling IMAX: Hubble 3D for the number one spot at the top of my list.

If you've seen my review on Avatar's 3D, I noticed how well it utilizes the technology and how strong the depth was. However, I did have a few small nitpicks with it, mainly being the use of flatness in the wide shots. It wasn't a huge issue overall. But with the high amount of wide shots and their surprising 3D-ripe composition, it was a bit disappointing. This issue became less of a problem on the huge IMAX screens, but it was still a choice I'd rather Cameron not have made. While Avatar 2 does continue the trend of making wide shots flat, I didn't mind it nearly as much because of how surprisingly few there were. Most of them were in the first 30 or so minutes of the film and they were high over the jungle, ocean, and sometimes in outer space, just like the first Avatar. But luckily, this film kept those shots to a minimum, and instead focused mainly on things on the ground, where the 3D is at its strongest.

That's really the only complaint I have about the film, and its so minor it's barely anything worth complaining about. The rest of the film, though, is pure 3D eye-candy. When the film starts out in the jungle, we're thrusted right back into the 3D world of Pandora the first film left us with. The trees, the plants, the foliage, and animals all make excellent composition that protrudes the screen and moves far back into it, so much so you wouldn't believe it. Scenes where the Na'vi are flying the pterodactyl-like creatures are engaging with the added dimension. And even the indoor shots still manage to stun with impressive depth, giving proper shape and size to rooms the characters inhabit, the use of 3D holographic video messages, the presence of mirrors, and even a use of a hallway shot similar to the mesmerizing corridor shot from the beginning of the first film. Right from the get-go, you know this is going to be another top-notch 3D presentation.

When we head over to the water tribe, the 3D really gets ramped up another notch. Remember how I said the use of wide shots is limited here because of how much the film focuses on characters close to the ground? Well, it's because of that we get ample shots featuring distant cliffs and mountains that go back so far into the screen it's simply dazzling. We seldom ever got shots like that in the first film, and the use of it here immediately puts it a few "leagues" above the original Avatar. But the 3D gets even more dazzling when we actually get into the water. Whether we're above it or under it, the depth remains ever-strong. The surface of the water and the way it comes out of and goes back into the screen, much like we've seen in Jaws (1975) 3D earlier this year, is a treat. Underwater, though, is when the experience becomes fantastic. Fish and story characters swimming around have great 3D composition and is a blast to see. Surreal structures from the coral to the underwater creatures to the foliage all are used excellently to make the third dimension a must for experiencing the movie. Add a wide range of saturated colors and unusual shapes and sizes, you have something truly incredible. It probably even tops the likes of those IMAX documentaries such as Under the Sea and Into the Deep. Especially in sequences which involve whales, whether their jumping out of the ocean or swimming in it with a Na'vi boy, utilizing camera movements that will have you sucked into the film. We even get some shots from inside the whale that have great shape and can exemplify claustrophobia. I could go on and on giving examples of just how well the 3D is used here with the water. But I don't have the time, they're simply too many notable shots. Just see the film for yourself and see why James Cameron decided to set his new film in the water.

The action in the film also remains equally mesmerizing as the underwater sequences. On the military bases, all the mechanical structures take up the space in ways that use great 3D composition, with the same surreal futuristic technology that made the first film fun to watch in 3D. Here, though, they make full use of it in ways the first film doesn't do. The most notable is in the climax when the big battle on the ship. With fire and explosions taking place around the ship, and the Na'vi flying on their creatures shooting arrows at men in submarines and helicopter, you can't turn away from action in 3D. Scenes where the ship is sinking and characters are stuck in the corridors while their filling with water make for some claustrophobic and well-choreographed 3D. The amount of space taken up by the man-made structures, whether on the deck, above it, or below it, is simple staggering.

As far as pop outs go, James Cameron makes sure there is no shortage of them. Everything from water splashes to fire to ash to spears to guns to missiles to water to fish to arrows to the Na'vi characters to all sorts of surreal creatures to all sorts of surreal underwater and above water landscapes are all popping out so far you wouldn't believe it until you see it. And judging from my experience with The Polar Express last week, I can imagine they would be even more fun on the IMAX screen. I didn't see it that way, but even still, James Cameron proves here that using things to protrude the screen doesn't have to be just another gimmick the 3D can provide, but a great way of making the film even more immersive.

Once again, the native 3D to James Cameron's direction already makes it a given that Avatar: The Way of Water would shine in 3D. But personally, I had no idea the end result would be this incredible. The original Avatar certainly has created a reputation for having some of the best 3D you'll ever find. And while I don't personally think it's my number one favorite like so many others do, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and give it credit for all the ways it has inspired so many future filmmakers to use 3D later in their own productions. However, Avatar 2 takes everything the first one did and build upon greatly, creating a 3D experience that's truly one-of-a-kind. So much so that it might not just be the best 3D film I've seen all year, but also the greatest 3D film of all time. If not that, it's still at least in the top 5. I know we all have different preferences on what we deem as great 3D movie. But if I can safely say that a 3D film beats Avatar, that's definitely saying something. Is Avatar: The Way of Water worth seeing in 3D? How can I say anything other than "absolutely"?

3D RATING: EXCELLENT

4DX Post Script:

As I said in the title of the review, I not only saw the film in 3D, but I also saw it at Regal's 4DX. While the main purpose of this review is to inform about how well the 3D works, it's also worth mentioning how well the 4DX experience plays into it. For those of you who don't know, Regal's 4DX is a 4D movie experience that combines the 3D with motion seats that vibrate and move to the action, water spraying, wind, mist, strobe lights, and more. For more information about how it works, check out this video. In short, it's the cinematic version of those 15 minute 4D theme park rides such as Shrek 4D and Honey I Shrunk The Audience. So does 4DX provide a great experience with Avatar: The Way of Water? Just like the 3D, I'd have to say absolutely. Yes, the screen isn't quite as big and the sound system isn't as loud as IMAX. But the 4D effects more than make up for it. Some of the best ones come in scenes where there's action, certainly. When characters are riding creatures that are swimming underwater or flying in the sky, the motion seats move to make you feel there. And sometimes, you'll feel like you'll get thrown out of your seat. Underwater, the motion seats work more subtly, but they still make you feel underwater with the main characters. And of course, there's plenty of water spraying. When someone gets hit with an arrow, you feel it with a kick in your seat. And when someone shoots on arrow, you feel it with a gust of air right by your head. And the wind and rain effects also continue to work to make the film more immersive. All of it especially comes together in the chaotic climax with constant action, jerky camera direction, explosions, water, and flying that sometimes feels like Cameron specially designed this film for 4D. If you're planning on taking a nap sometime during this three-hour venture, think again. I don't know if Avatar: The Way of Water is particularly a much better experience in IMAX 3D than 4DX 3D. But if you haven't tried out the format yet and it's at a theater close by, I encourage you to try out this film in the format. You will certainly get your money's worth.

High-Frame Rate Post Script:

Allegedly, James Cameron released this film in HDR 3D in select theaters, just like he did with the Avatar re-release a few months ago. I believe it, but at the theater I was at, I didn't really notice it, even though the description on Fandango said this theater carried HDR. Anyway, the film was still fantastic. And if Cinemablend is to be believed, I should probably be thankful I missed out on it and was spared some nausea.

Other sources that review this movie's 3D:

Cinemablend's To 3D or Not Review: https://www.cinemablend.com/3d/to-3d-or-not-to-3d-buy-the-right-avatar-the-way-of-water-ticket

Tommy Boy 3D's Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAJQ7JOULTc

Go Find Fun's Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq83m1hiYSc

Real Future Picture's Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Eeaf65Rao&t=105s

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Avatar: The Way of Water may not be the best film of the year, and chances are it might not be the highest grossing either. Time will tell if the case is actually otherwise. But even then, there's still plenty to like about this film. From the visuals to the action to the world-building to even the surprising emotional dynamic between Jake Sully and his family. Are there things to complain about, sure. And for some, its highlights might not be enough to forgive its story-related faults. But if you're looking for fun escapism to Pandora, this film more than fits the bill. And of course, if you're going to see it, 3D is absolutely the way to go. Cameron never envisioned this film in 2D, and to see it that way would probably diminish the experience somewhat. But not only that, the 3D here is some of the best I've seen in a 3D movie ever. It beats the first film in virtually every way, not just from a movie standpoint, but from a 3D one as well. The depth is outstanding, the world is surreal and mesmerizing, and the overall immersion factor brought by the third dimension is insane. If you're looking for a big-screen experience to dish out on this Christmas season, do yourself a favor and go see Avatar: The Way of Water. Even if you didn't really like the first, I encourage you to see it anyway and experience one of history's next greatest 3D masterpieces. And you might even get 3D trailers of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Ant-Man 3, and Guardians of the Galaxy 3.Of course, look for the biggest screen you can. But if possible, maybe also check out your options to see if you can catch a 4DX showing nearby. Couple that with some absolutely stellar 3D, you'll have yourself a 3-hour tour you'll never forget. Now, all I hope is that Disney will come its senses and plan to release a 3D Blu-ray of this come time for its home media release.

DID YOU LIKE "AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER" IN 3D

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