The First Reviews Of ‘Avatar: The Way Of The Water Are In
© 20th Century Studios The long-awaited blockbuster hit London last nightPressure is mounting on James Cameron. Director Avatar became one of the highest-grossing films of all time ($237 million, Portfolio Watcher), which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time ($2.92 billion). He won three Oscars. Now, 13 years later, he's hoping to make a fresh start with the sequel, Avatar: The Last Airbender .
In fact, he signed an extensive franchise deal. Avatar 3 has already finished filming and is expected to be released in 2024 , with two more installments in 2026 and 2028. dated – but for now we're focusing on The Way Of The Water, which premieres in London on Tuesday night. After a frantic three hours, viewers were immediately rewarded with the lifting of the embargo on social media reviews, so reviewers' initial reactions were spot on.
It's fair to say that David Sims of The Atlantic backs it up: "AVATAR: WATERWAY really has legs." from the air... it's an Avatar movie: a slow start, an amazing second act with lots of world-building and cool creatures to keep you happy, then an hour of emotionally intense and crystal-clear action. Everything around you to send home full and happy
Entertainment Weekly 's Yolanda Machado broke down the shots, but they reminded her of a few other movies (a great tip for everyone at the end): “James Cameron is a master of technology...and his direction is the best way. here. While the movie is a technological marvel with an amazing world as a whole, it's just... Dances with Wolves and Free Will for Gen Z!
Amon Warmann of Empire magazine said it was mixed but better than the first film: “I liked it, I didn't like it. The good news is that the 3D is good again (yay!) and the action is pretty amazing (especially in the last act). But many scenarios feel like you have to stop and start again, and the high frame rate was a godsend for me. This movie is definitely fun to watch. And in general, I liked Waterway better than Avatar 2009, simply because it was less white in the face than the original.
Digital spy Ian Sandwell calls it a “masterpiece,” but he offers a caveat: “Unsurprisingly, Waterway is a visual masterpiece, with rich use of 3D and beautiful scenery. It suffers from a thin story and too many characters. juggles, but James Cameron pulls it together in an extraordinary final act full of emotion and gut-wrenching action.
MovieZine's Alexander Cardella adds that, unsurprisingly, it packs a powerful emotional punch: “While it doesn't quite live up to expectations, Cameron's excellent sequel adds intense family drama. Tariffs are higher. New favorite characters lead the way. Get ready to howl at the CGI whales and fall in love with Sally's kids, 3 hours has never been shorter.
Collider 's Perry Nemiroff called it "pretty incredible" but the world-building needs a real boost, with actor Britton Dalton saying, “I was sure James Cameron would raise the bar with the effects, but this footage is amazing. big picture after the next one. But what I was most interested in was how the technical skills still felt in service of character and world building. As for the plot, it's very cinematic and I'm looking forward to a second viewing where I can revisit some of the details. may watch, but on the surface it's a very moving study of community and family dynamics. The returning cast is great, but the newcomers are the big stars, especially Brittany Dalton as Lo'ak.
IndieWire 's David Ehrlich said of the trio's participation, "Imagine if you were foolish enough to bet against James Cameron, or Sigourney Weaver's teenage alien daughter, or giant papyrus whales. Light years better than the premiere, and certainly the most was one of the good theaters. experiences of a century found dead in a ditch. I wasn't looking forward to Avatar 2 (although James Cameron + Law is doing well), now I can hardly *wait* for Avatar 3. I wanted it and it was very impressive.
So any hype or a new genre-defining masterpiece? Make up your own mind when it hits UK cinemas on December 16.
