What Avatar: The Way Of Water’s Early Reactions Reveal About The Movie

Early reactions to Avatar: The Way of Water suggest that James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel could go above and beyond what the original movie achieved back in 2009. Despite spending 13 years in relative limbo, Avatar 2 looks to have delivered and built on the visual legacy established in the first movie. However, for all The Way of Water‘s plaudits, there are some familiar criticisms for a franchise that – while influential – is perhaps not as universally adored as other science fiction epics. In many cases, the early reactions to Avatar: The Way of Water prove that Cameron has doubled down on his effects-first ethos from the original. The result is genuinely innovative and looks to have pushed filmmaking boundaries to the limit. Given the ubiquity of jaw-dropping effects in modern cinema, standing out from the crowd is no mean feat. Yet, according to many viewers, the film does just that. While this does not excuse some of the movie’s weaker areas – with storytelling still a major concern for some – there is general agreement that Avatar: The Way of Water is one of the most spectacular-looking movies ever. Here’s what all the early reactions reveal about Avatar 2.Related: Avatar 2 Is Setting Up A Future Way Bigger Than 5 Movies

Avatar: The Way Of Water’s Technical Feats & Visuals Are Stunning

One thing that almost every early reaction agrees on is that Avatar 2‘s technical achievements are genuinely breathtaking. In particular, viewers have remarked on the realistic quality of the underwater sequences, the beautiful rendering of Pandora’s landscape, and the advancements in the mo-cap technology that made the first film so remarkable. If nothing else, it’s clear that the movie looks incredible.

Although major tent pole releases are often subject to hyperbole, whether good or bad, the sheer number of reviews commenting on the visuals does suggest that Cameron’s follow-up delivers an effects masterclass. As Fandango‘s Erik Davis explained (via Twitter), the film is “film is visually breathtaking, visceral & incredibly engrossing,” highlighting the quality of its effects. Davis went on to praise the “the spectacle, the spirituality, the beauty,” once again demonstrating that, from a technical perspective, Avatar: The Way of Water goes above and beyond.

Avatar: The Way Of Water’s World-Building Is An Improvement

One criticism often leveled at the first movie (and occasionally James Cameron as a filmmaker) is that it neglects effective world-building for a focus on technical brilliance. While Pandora as a landscape was beautifully rendered, the culture of the Na’vi, humans and other aspects central to populating a believable sci-fi universe were somewhat absent. In this regard, however, Avatar: The Way of Water seems to have turned the tables.

As Collider‘s Peri Nemiroff put it (via Twitter), “I had faith James Cameron would raise the bar with the effects but these visuals are mind-blowing. One stunning frame after the next. But the thing I dug most is how the technical feats always feel in service of character & world-building.” This demonstrates that, while he hasn’t neglected the effects’ aspect of the project, Avatar 2 is also committed to fully fleshing out the world of Pandora in a way that wasn’t seen in the first film. For fans eager to learn more about the idyllic planet, this can only be a good thing.

Avatar: The Way Of Water Is A Proper Blockbuster

It may seem obvious, given that the film cost a reported $350-400 million, but many early Avatar: The Way of Water reactions agree that the film provides a blueprint for bringing a genuine blockbuster to the big screen. Such is the scale and scope of the project that it almost demands a cinematic viewing experience. In an age where streaming is on the rise, this is not something to take for granted.

One endorsement of Avatar 2‘s blockbuster credentials came from fellow filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The acclaimed director declared (via Twitter), “I say it again: Avatar 2 – seeing it you realize how long it has been since you saw a MOVIE-MOVIE (like that, in caps).” If nothing else, this indicates that Avatar: The Way of Water has a sense of grandeur and ambition perhaps lacking from other box office rivals. Thanks to Cameron’s approach, seeing the film in the cinema is a must.

Avatar: The Way Of Water Has A Genuinely Good Story

For all Avatar‘s innovation and central role in making 3D filmmaking mainstream, the first movie in Cameron’s planned quintology received a fair amount of flak for its derivative central story. Despite the visual wonder, the film often felt like a mash-up of Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves – an approach mercilessly mocked in the South Park season 13 episode “Dances with Smurfs”. This time around, however, Cameron seems to have refined his approach to good effect.

Multiple early Avatar: The Way of Water reactions have praised the movie’s story, with many calling it a vast improvement on the first. Brandon Davis of the Phase Zero Marvel podcast said the movie delivers a “more complex story than the first with solid emotion,” while Digital Spy‘s editor Ian Sandwell declared (via Twitter) that the film culminates in “an extraordinary final act full of emotion and thrilling action” – despite having some reservations about the rest of the plot. All this suggests that, in expanding his universe beyond a broad colonial narrative, Cameron has improved on many of the first Avatar‘s less original elements.

Avatar: The Way Of Water Can’t Juggle All Of Its Characters

Although the strength of the story has been a welcome surprise for early viewers, many agree that Avatar: The Way of Water‘s biggest failings come with its characters. In fact, both Davis and Sandwell were among the harshest critics of the expansive roster, with Sandwell stating the film “does suffer from a thin story and too many characters to juggle.” This indicates that, while Cameron has indeed made strides towards overcoming the first film’s flaws, Avatar 2 is by no means perfect, especially when it comes to character development.

Avatar: The Way Of Water’s Runtime May Divide Audiences

A further point of contention – identified and acknowledged by James Cameron himself – is Avatar 2‘s runtime. At 192 minutes, the film is 30 minutes longer than the first Avatar – which was also criticized for its excessive runtime. Although many early reactions state that the movie is so visually engrossing that the time flies by, there’s no doubt that asking any audience to maintain focus for three solid hours is a risk.

Interestingly, Cameron has been bullish when questioned about Avatar: The Way of Water‘s length. As the filmmaker explained to Empire in a summer 2022 interview, “I don’t want anybody whining about length when they sit and binge-watch [television] for eight hours… 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.” This indicates that, while Cameron is aware that Avatar 2‘s runtime may put off or even annoy cinema-goers, it’s a sacrifice worth making from his perspective in order to deliver on his vision.

Avatar: The Way Of Water Is Even Better Than The First Movie

For all the potential stumbling blocks of plot, runtime, and character development, almost every early Avatar 2 reaction agrees that it is an improvement on the first Avatar movie. Erik Davis declared it, “Bigger, better & more emotional than Avatar,” while his Fandango colleague Nikki Novak wrote (via Twitter) that the “Only repeat from the OG is that ‘never experienced anything like it’ awe,” adding, “Better than 1st? Easily.” These select comments, and several others like them, demonstrate that Avatar 2 represents a significant improvement on the first film – a not inconsiderable achievement given its success.

Whereas the first Avatar won equally effusive praise for its visuals, critical and audience responses have always wavered on its status as a truly great sci-fi story. As times have moved on, and what felt momentous in 2009 has become more commonplace, Avatar‘s legacy has perhaps been unfairly tarnished. Even with some potentially divisive elements, however, the early Avatar: The Way of Water reactions suggest that the follow-up really can establish the franchise as a genre classic. While it remains to be seen whether it will resonate with audiences, the early signs are certainly promising.