'Avatar 2' First Reactions Praise James Cameron Masterpiece - Variety
By: Zack Sharf (Variety)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
After 13 years of anticipation, James Cameron's "Avatar: The Way of Water" has finally been unveiled for members of the press following the movie's world premiere in London. The first reactions to the film are overwhelmingly positive, with many journalists blown away once again by Cameron's boundless imagination and pristine visual effects.
"Happy to say 'Avatar: The Way of Water' is phenomenal," wrote Fandango's Erik Davis. "Bigger, better & more emotional than 'Avatar,' the film is visually breathtaking, visceral and incredibly engrossing. The story, the spectacle, the spirituality, the beauty - this is moviemaking & storytelling at its absolute finest."
"Happy Sad Confused" host Josh Horowitz raved, "James Cameron once again shows filmmakers how it's done. I've said it a thousand times. Never doubt him. 'Avatar: The Way of Water' is how you do epic blockbuster-ing. Emotional, visceral and as big as movies get."
"I had faith James Cameron would raise the bar with the effects but these visuals are mind-blowing," Collider's Peri Nemiroff added. "One stunning frame after the next."
"Avatar: The Way of Water" once again centers on Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), now parents who are forced to protect their family from a new threat to Pandora. The cast also includes Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Kate Winslet.
Even before "The Way of Water" screened for press, it earned a rave first reaction from none other than Guillermo del Toro. The Oscar winner wrote on Twitter that the "Avatar" sequel is "a staggering achievement," adding, "It's a chock-full of majestic vistas and emotions at an epic, epic scale. A master at the peak of his power."
While the film's three-hour-and-10 minute runtime has been making headlines for weeks, it doesn't appear anyone was too bothered by the length. Cameron himself has said he doesn't care if viewers leave the theater to use the bathroom.
"I don't want anybody whining about length when they sit and binge-watch [television] for eight hours," Cameron told Empire magazine over the summer. "I can almost write this part of the review. 'The agonizingly long three-hour movie…' It's like, give me a fucking break. I've watched my kids sit and do five one-hour episodes in a row. Here's the big social paradigm shift that has to happen: it's okay to get up and go pee."
"Avatar: The Way of Water" opens in theaters nationwide Dec. 16 from Disney. Check out first reactions to the film below.
Someone texted me, "what's the most visually impressive part of the movie?" And I responded, "The whole thing honestly." — Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) December 6, 2022
Happy to say #AvatarTheWayOfWater is phenomenal! Bigger, better & more emotional than #Avatar, the film is visually breathtaking, visceral & incredibly engrossing. The story, the spectacle, the spirituality, the beauty - this is moviemaking & storytelling at its absolute finest. pic.twitter.com/RicnpDghrx — Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) December 6, 2022
James Cameron once again shows filmmakers how it's done. I've said it a thousand times. Never doubt him. AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is how you do epic blockbuster-ing. Emotional, visceral, and as big as movies get. @officialavatar — Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) December 6, 2022
Unsurprisingly, #AvatarTheWayOfWater is a visual masterpiece with rich use of 3D and breathtaking vistas. It does suffer from a thin story and too many characters to juggle, yet James Cameron pulls it together for an extraordinary final act full of emotion and thrilling action. pic.twitter.com/opr6CRyOwk — Ian Sandwell (@ian_sandwell) December 6, 2022
As for the story, it's A LOT of movie & I'm eager for a 2nd viewing to revisit some details, but on 1st watch, it's a mighty effective exploration of community & family dynamics. Returning cast is great, but the newcomers are major standouts, particularly Britain Dalton as Lo'ak. pic.twitter.com/OtZXNr6zMw — Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) December 6, 2022
As an Avatar stan, I had high hopes for #AvatarTheWayofWater and for me it totally delivers. Sure it's a little long, but worth it for the gorgeous visuals, wonderful new characters. A total thrill. — Kara Warner (@karawarner) December 6, 2022
Have now seen #Avatar twice and am overwhelmed by both its technical mastery and unexpectedly intimate emotional scope. Yes the world is expanded and sequels teased but the characters are most important. Cameron is in top form, especially in final act. Good to have him back. pic.twitter.com/PR9drN5Zph — Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored) December 6, 2022
I saw you #AvatarTheWayOfWater - if you think you've seen #Avatar think again. Only repeat from the OG is that 'never experienced anything like it' awe. Better than 1st? Easily. The 3D water world & creatures are so surreal it is downright moving. There's a major Titanic homage. pic.twitter.com/EInKRDeumD — Nikki Novak (@NikkiNovak) December 6, 2022
Avatar: The Way of Water is a never-ending visual spectacle.
It's a better, more complex story than the first with solid emotion but the characters could grow a bit more. It's definitely long, running on incredible visuals & techniques which are 3D's best.#AvatarTheWayOfWaterpic.twitter.com/ezySHunXOe — BD (@BrandonDavisBD) December 6, 2022
A staggering achievement- AVATAR TWOW is chokefull of majestic Vistas and emotions at an epic, epic scale. A master at thepeak of his powers… https://t.co/tG6I16JlhM — Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 24, 2022
Avatar: The Way of Water - Like remembering you can dream. To breathe, cry. To believe in hope again. What was once lost is found again. #InCameronWeTrust — Alex B. (@firstshowing) December 6, 2022
So, #AvatarTheWayOfWater: Liked it, didn't love it. The good news is that 3D is good again (yay!), and the action is pretty incredible (especially in the final act). But many of the storylines feel like they have to stop and start, and the high frame rate was hit & miss for me. pic.twitter.com/eY4G76R1AJ — Amon Warmann (@AmonWarmann) December 6, 2022
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I saw Avatar and overall enjoyed but didnt find it all that engaging as a story. The new one may have that same problem with me. However, there is no denying that when it comes to technical achievement in visualization for the movies James Cameron has no equals. He is the best to have ever done it.
Eh, a glorified cartoon.
Seems that it will be another big win for fellow Canadian James Cameron. Hope I live long enough to watch this one. Long ago there were movies that actually displayed a music-filled intermission in the middle when they were that long, but I guess they don't do that any more because it probably caused huge lineups at the washrooms. Anyway, that's not needed for home TV viewing where the movie can be paused. Forgive me for thinking about those things but the subject is mentioned in the seed above, and it's relevent for geezers like me.
“…when it comes to technical achievement in visualization for the movies…”
…look no further than Stanley Kubrick.
Fuck you dude. I am not going to sit in a theatre for over three hours.
Good luck to all the people that want to sit there surrounded by kids for that long.
eh... it wouldn't be the first 3 hour movie I've sat through. I'll probably see it in 3D if it's available at my local theater. I tend to pick early showings where there are less people in general. The last movie I saw in the theater, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, had maybe 8 people total.
I am surprised they don't make 3D home televisions.
They did, but it didn't last long. It was less than a fad in the home entertainment market.
From the same link above:
I recall from long ago watching the first 3D movies Bwana Devil and House of Wax when they first came out. When the tiger appeared to jump out at the audience it actualy freaked everybody out. Never saw another 3D movie since, However I went to see the third Hobbit film in 4D but I think I enjoy movies better when I don't get mist blown in my face, my seat jiggled and my back punched.
I recall many decades ago going to the hologram museum in New York City, and wondering if one day people could have a TV hologram watching room in their homes - a hologram movie filling the whole end of a room.
I just noted that I talk a lot about recalling things. Well, I've have a lot of amazing experiences and adventures in my lifetime, and at the age of 85 I can do a lot of recalling, thankfully becsuse demetia or Altzheimer's hasn't yet occurred to cloud those recollections.
Like it or not, he has a point . And there are movie theaters now where you can feel like you are sitting in your living room, with the comfortable seats and the place for snacks.
People who will watch six straight hours of a television show can do three hours in a movie theater if they are interested in the movie.
I am sure people will. I just won't be one of them.
People sitting at home can also pause and do other things.
I just think it is a long time to have kids sit still and watch.
Lol!
To each their own but I find it interesting that three hours of this is problematic for you.
Now if they redid Heavy Metal I might be tempted. As long as I get to smoke a doobie beforehand...
They've been talking about a reboot of Heavy Metal since 2019. There was more rumors about it going forward this last spring, but until I see them filming I'll be doobious... HAHAHA! I have the original on DVD and the sound track on CD somewhere in a box.
They would fuck it up.
It is all Hollyweird is good for these days.
I bet you’re more of a midnight Rocky Horror Picture show person.
Don't Dream It Be It....
Thought so ...
You may think that is some kind of insult, but I don't. We use to have a theatre that has round tables with chairs and they served pitchers of beer. They did the midnight showings and it was a blast.
And you would be wrong. Care to guess again?
The fact that I even know about such things might by a good hint.
Then I apologize. I seem to get a lot of shit.
No worries, it was just an observation.
I’ve been to more than one of those midnight showings and they were a blast. Some of the strangest people I’ve ever seen though .....
That was actually my name on Newsvine....
Avatar hasnt gotten a lot of Oscar buzz but that could be because the great majority of critics are just seeing it now. If it is as good as these reviews make it seem I think it will be a big player at the Academy Awards.
There is some Oscar buzz about Brendan Fraser for best actor for his role in "The Whale".