From Childhood Wonder to Adult Reflection

When the first avatar was released, I was only 12 years old . To my young eyes, the movie was incredible and I remember watching it with my parents in the comfort of our home. I remember it was also played numerous times and at some point, I had the pirated version of it on my laptop. I like the theme and the overall story but I didn’t understand the deeper issues that it tried to convey. For me, it was about humans going to an alien place inhabited by blue creatures and fighting them. The visual effects were also cool and it captivated me. To me, the release of the second sequel feels like how older people might feel about watching Top Gun. I have some level of excitement and nostalgia. That is why, I was taking my mom to watch this as we both have seen the first one a couple of times.

On our way, the friendly driver was asking us why we’re choosing to watch it at the cinema. “ Why not watch the pirated version?” he asked. We laughed and told him that we’re now addicted to watching movies at the cinema. I add, “ the experience is different”. I mean, it’s true.

Watching them at the cinema gives me more focus than when I watch it at home. Not to mention, during this Avatar: The Way of Water, the chairs sort of moved with the action on screen, which added an extra level of immersion to the experience. And it wasn’t even the 3D cinema. My mom and I chose for the middle seats in an empty row to have some extra space and privacy while watching the movie. And before the film started, we also grabbed some popcorn to get ready for the three-hour experience.

Avatar The Way Of Water

The latest installment of 'Avatar: The Way of Water' begins with flashbacks to the events of the first film before diving into the current life of Jake Sully, who is now living amongst the Na'vi with a family of mixed race. Things seem to be going well for Jake and his loved ones until the arrival of the humans, also known as the "sky people," who are seeking revenge and looking to settle on Pandora due to the depletion of resources on Earth. They “sky people” have discovered the way to turn themselves into Na’vi and some of the best soldiers were chosen to hunt down Jake. When they arrived, their forest was burned down and many of Pandora's resources were exploited. Jake was struggling to fend off the new, enhanced soldiers with limited resources. As the conflict escalates, the Na'vi seek shelter in one of Pandora's floating mountains/forests. Jake, Neytiri, and their children eventually seek refuge with the water clan, who live in the south of Pandora.

In this installment, they also showcase that Pandora is not just composed of forests, but also includes clans who inhabit the islands. As the film progresses, it follows Jake and his family as they try to adapt to their new surroundings with the Water clan. Despite facing challenges, they eventually win over the clan's leaders, Tonowari and Rona, and are able to start a new life. However, the hunt for Jake and his family persists. During this hunt by sky people, we are shown that the humans were killing tulkun, a dinosaur-like whale to extract anti-aging serum in the process.

Then, during the chase of Jake Sully and his family, he had to sacrifice something that is meaningful for him. Will he be able to protect his family and his new home?

A Step Up from the First Avatar

I have to say that this avatar has better visual effects than the previous one. It also has a more developed story that goes beyond just the exploitation and colonization of a new place. With these improvements, it was certainly worth 3 hours of my time.This film also portrays humans or those with more resources as greedy, only concerned with money and not considering the consequences of their actions. Some people may see connections to real-world environmental issues considering it highlights the natural beauty of Pandora and the destruction caused by humans. However, my mom and I viewed the story as one about family and their efforts to protect themselves from outsiders trying to divide them.

My mom even mentioned that her favorite character was Spider, who helps his biological father to survive due to a moral conflict while in the end getting back with Jake’s family. For my mom, this movie message was more about the importance of family and being there for each other. For me, this movie touches on several themes, including colonization, the challenges of being biracial children, adjusting to a new environment as an outsider, and trying to fit in. There are many different layers to this film that you can pick apart and consider. Overall, this movie presents a nuanced exploration of various social and personal issues.

Should you watch it?

I can assure you that this movie is worth 3 hours of your time. You will experience an emotionally powerful cinematic experience. A bonus point if you watch this at the cinema or even better 3D/4D experience. The thought-provoking themes and some messages that it tries to convey will make this a memorable movie-going experience. I did not regret watching this with my mom and having her share different ways of seeing the movie was a refreshing way to look at it. So, I highly recommend you to go watch this with your family too and see what they have to say. Last but not least, I can say that 2022 is the year of water!