Avatar 2: The Way of Water

Hi y’all, I hope everyone had a very Happy Valentine’s Day and felt the love! Whether that’s romantic, familial, friendships, or self – Valentine’s Day is a day worth celebrating. Which brings me to my next movie review, Avatar 2, whose plot was built on unconditional familial love.

The long-awaited sequel to the film Avatar, Avatar 2: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron, was met with both excitement and anticipation from fans around the world when it was first released, and I am pleased to say that I finally had time to sit down and watch it.

I know what you’re thinking, girl it came out over a year ago. And while that is true…. the movie is 3 hours y’all. I have to get my mind right for 3 hour movies… and that just might take me over a year to do.

My Thoughts

One of the key themes of the Avatar franchise is the idea of interconnectedness – of all living things being connected in a vast network of energy and life. This concept can be applied to relationships as well, as we are all connected to one another in some way, whether through friendship, family, or romantic love.

The themes of interconnectedness and unity that are central to the Avatar franchise can serve as valuable lessons for us viewers in our own lives. By reflecting on the relationships depicted in the film, we can gain insight into how to nurture and strengthen our own connections with the people around us.

In the original Avatar film, we saw the relationship between the protagonist, Jake Sully, and the Na’vi princess, Neytiri, develop and grow as they navigated the challenges of an alien world and a conflict between their respective cultures. Their love story was central to the film’s plot and served as a powerful metaphor for the importance of understanding and empathy in relationships.

In Avatar 2, we delve deeper into that romantic connection, but also saw the two expand their love by having a family. And each child they showed up differently for, especially Jake Sully. At times he was gentle, other times he was stern, but you could tell that no matter what he was just protective.

While watching it made me think about how I show up differently in my own relationships. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing because I am not going to be the same person to my mom, that I am to a friend, and not even to a boyfriend. My heart posture may remain the same, but the way I interact with them all depends on the relationship and the level of comfortability in all circumstances.

Even though I don’t have a boyfriend right now. LOL

My point is, just as the characters in Avatar must learn to understand and empathize with each other in order to coexist peacefully, we should strive to cultivate understanding and empathy in our own relationships. Because if Jake Sully didn’t he probably would have lost each and every one of his family members mentally or emotionally, before he ever did physically.

Standout Scenes

Speaking of Jake physically losing his family, there are a couple of moments that stood out to me. And I’m going to list them in no particular order. Well… actually it’s fair to say the first scene on my list has me in shambles.

• Neteyam’s Death. Let’s talk about it. Because I was undone. For those of you who have not seen Avatar 2 yet, Neteyam was the eldest son of Jake Sully and Neytiri. His death was a heartbreaking moment that left me in tears, showcasing the depth of emotion and connection that the characters bring to the screen. The loss of Neteyam was a pivotal moment in the film, and it will be interesting to see how this event shapes the characters and their relationships in future installments. Especially Jake Sully and his second eldest son, Lo’ak, who was with Neteyam when he got… “hurt.”
• Spider. For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of the film was the evolving dynamic between Spider and the colonel, as well as Jake Sully’s family. The tension and complexity of their interactions added layers to the story. I am curious to see how these relationships will continue to develop in the third movie because Spider let the Colonel go without telling Jake, or anyone… for that matter.
• Kiri’s Evolement. I appreciated the inclusion of Kiri in the story and how she was taken in as one of their own by the characters. This sense of unity and acceptance added a heartwarming element to the film. However, that longing for self-awareness and her biological mother added a realistic touch to her character. I enjoyed that they allowed her to explore what it can feel like to be “different” from those around you, even when you know you are surrounded by love.
• Transition to Water. I think the writer’s usage of water in this film is symbolic of how all things are connected. It seemed like on land a lot of division occurred amongst the Na’vi. But once they got in the water, most of the time it acted as a healing agent. Whether it’s between characters or even with the creatures of the sea, the characters were able to do a lot of self-discovery while in the water.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the new Avatar film and would give it a solid 9 out of 10. The visuals, engaging storyline, and compelling characters all came together to create an unforgettable cinematic experience. I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here and am eagerly anticipating the next film in this saga.

As always, don’t forget to check out my last blog post here and #letsgettothegoodpart. 😊