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Avatar: The Way Of Water movie review: A visual spectacle soaked in old time Bollywood.
What: Avatar: The Way Of Water – James Cameron most awaited sequel of the phenomenon Avatar is a visual spectacle soaked in old time Bollywood.
Avatar recap
James Cameron broke my heart when the Tree of Souls - Vitraya Ramunong - was burned down in the first part of Avatar. It was a fantastic way of life. The tree that holds the secrets to a way of life that is creative, peaceful and offers serenity.
Avatar Part 2 has been a decade plus in showing up on the big screen. Visually it’s a spectacle. And that’s a joy to behold. Strange new worlds are no longer new to us. From Wakanda to Asgard we have seen all kinds of worlds. We have travelled through galaxies in spaceships and seen worlds crumble with just one snap of Thano’s gloved fingers. Then are we entering this world of the Na’vi with jaded eyes?
The trailer is deceptive. Looks like there are super bad guys who have become Na’vi and are going to infiltrate the simple people and bring down more havoc. They don’t look like Jake Sully… But if you thought you were going to see a repeat of the first Avatar film, you would be wrong. But first, a little recap. After all, you are going to watch this film after 2009.
Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) who had lost the use of his legs takes the place of his fabulously intelligent brother Mark and becomes a Na’vi clone of himself. His mission on the planet Pandora is to infiltrate the Na’vi and tell them to assimilate with us Earthlings because we have guns and technology that is superior. Earth people whom the Na’vi call sky people have landed on Pandora to destroy the planet by harvesting the rich resources instead. But Jake Sully is in love with their princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and turns on his own kind because he realizes that the Colonel is not exactly the good guy Sully thought he was. Sully sees Neytiri’s people - her parents, and other folk) die. The film ends when Jake decides to stay in his avatar form and goes to the Tree of Souls and offers his consciousness to become a full Na’vi and remain on Pandora.
Avatar 2 is a natural progression of life on Pandora. Jake is now a father. And you’re like this is Bollywood inspiring Hollywood. From action to emotion. This is going to be a full Masala film. Father teaching son to hunt, with mother looking on, sibling rivalry, Also when children are involved, one of the kids feels lost and unloved, one ignored, one knows that one doesn’t belong and the little kid is as irritating as all kids are in Bollywood films.
Bollywood has always touted family values and Hollywood the dysfunctional family. Here, we will see a mixture of the two. You will see themes that are universal, and your heart will melt in moments that matter to you. I watched in tears through the IMAX 3D glasses as a son felt invisible because the older sibling was such a perfect child. I cried in the darkness of the theatre when the lost child befriended an animal. It is literally Pink Floyd’s ‘Two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl’.
That is the sliver of the story that I will be giving away in the review. Each character has a story you will resonate with. Jake Sully’s family has grown since we first saw them make out under the soul tree. So you too can relive your life on Pandora and see where it goes. A little mean voice inside my head says, ‘Remember Parvarish?’ Yes, James Cameron does a little bit of Manmohan Desai here, and a little bit of Kader Khan there, and we see an end worthy of a fantastical epic Bollywood masala film with a humongous budget.
Speaking of budget, I don’t care what the movie cost, it is very worth every single penny invested. Whether it is a scene straight out of Moby Dick where the fishermen chase the big whales for their precious blubber (i bet you will choke on your popcorn when you hear what they call that precious thing in this film), or a scene where two opposing family members are forced to become friends, if you sit down to analyse it, you will groan. But you realise that jealousy, rivalry, first crushes, and caring for animals is universal and exists in other planets too. I loved the film for its universality.
And even though it’s like old Bollywood films - over three hours long - Avatar: Way of the Water is such a visual treat that you will be staring at the screen mesmerised. Nothing else matters when you are watching the creatures and plant life underwater. In fact it’s so magnificent you want to save our rapidly warming seas and decide you will join some effort being made everywhere to preserve the beauty of Earth. We don’t have an option, no planet Pandora to go to. So save the planet message really hits home. The action? Superb. A couple of moments will make your heart jump and then you'll let that breath go and say, 'Woah!'
And that is how modern day epic movies are made with a story well told.
Just a little note: The filmmakers know that it’s well nigh impossible to watch a movie which is so long. Everyone needs an intermission. At least can we hit the pause button on the projection at the right moment?
Also watch our Avatar : The way of water video review
A cinephile who chills on cinema around the globe. Her rants & grants entirely depends on the movies she comes acrosss. if not watching films can be heard talking about them. FB/manishalakhe More By Grouch on the couch by Manisha Lakhe