One of the most anticipated and highly pressured return of the box office relied on James Cameron to deliver an epic response to the first Avatar movie. Avatar smashed box office records, won awards and captivated the world with its visionary visual effects and creativity. Now, nearly 15 years later, the world returns to Pandora, in Avatar: The Way of Water, hoping the anticipation delivers… and it delivers.
James Cameron’s creativity sparks a whole new level of interest for the World of Pandora, and reintroduces characters that audiences have fallen in love with since 2009, while introducing a whole “water” based Navi civilization to conquer a new challenge.
Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) lead the Navi in the aftermath of the first war between the Navi and the RDA (sky-people). Sixteen years of peace, prosperity and the great rebuild of Pandora and the Valley of Mo’ara. Jake Sully is the newly appointed chief of the Omatikaya clan and raises a family with Neytiri (two sons Neteyam and Lo’ak, daughter Tuk, and adopted children Kiri and Spider). Neyeyam (Jamie Flatters), Loa’s (Britain Dalton), Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li-Bliss) are three biological children and Jake and Neytiri, while Spider and Kiri are adopted children whole provide audiences a complex and compelling story. Kiri, played by Signory Weaver, is the 14 year old daughter of Dr. Grace Augustine’s Navi’ character from the first movie. Dr. Augustine died in the first film, unknowing she was pregnant. On the other hand, Spider, the adopted son of the Sulley’s is actually the son of Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), the franchise’s villain and main antagonist against the people of Navi and Pandora.
Family means everything and the bliss of the story is immediately shattered when Jake notices a bright light shining in the night sky — a new star? No, the return of the sky-people, the RDA are returning to Pandora to colonize as audiences learn Earth is dying. Col. Miles Quaritch is back and seeking revenge, but there’s one thing different; he’s 10 ft taller and blue. His core memories have been attached to an Na’vi. The majority of the movies decisions are based on one factor: “fight or flight for family”. Do we stay and fight for the entire Na’vi people of Pandora, or do we run to protect our family?. At first, Jake and his family flee to a new sector of Pandora — introducing the World of Water, and the Metkayina clan led by Townowari (Cliff Curtis) and his wife (played by Kate Winslet). Townowari is aware of who Jake Sully is and what occurred on Pandora six years ago, so the question of “fight or flight for family” carries over to new judgement.
In and out throughout the film, we are made aware and learn about the regions children as they teach Jake’s sons the way of water. A breathtaking nearly 30 minute experience with one of the “whales” (Tulkun) provides a calm serenity of understanding our oceans and the creatures who inhabit it. But with every James Cameron movie, there is a reason and the Tulkun’s bond with the Na’vi will be imperative for success against the RDA. Cameron ties together the ideas and plots of many portions of this film in a unique and rewarding way to culminate the films epic finale.
In what felt like nearly an hour long, the films final battle of family and good vs. evil, we see the Metkayina clan, the Na’vi, the Sulleys and the creatures of water, against Quaritch and the RDA.
A truly captivating and intense climax brings all levels of intensity and effects to the films blockbuster expectations. At nearly 3 hours and 20 minutes long, Avatar: The Way of Water sends audiences on a whirlwind of realistic and jaw dropping effects, corny dialogue scenes, a message of good always defeats evil, and the importance of family.
December 16th 2022, the world experienced Pandora again as Avatar: The Way of Water released to a thunderous applause from audiences and critics. Instantly climbing box office charts, Avatar exceeded expectations and capitalized at nearly $2.3 billion worldwide, breaking box office records. The film currently sits at 3rd all time on the box office list, behind Avengers: Endgame and the first Avatar. This marks James Cameron’s third film in the Top 5, with Titanic being the third movie.
The film also comes with three-hours of bonus features highlighting the vision, planning and creation ofAvatar: The Way of Water. In three separate categories audiences are taken “Inside Pandora’s Box” where filmmakers, and the cast discuss building the World of Pandora, how the movie was captured and edited. Audiences are also taken underwater to learn about the creatures of the undersea, the challenges of fixing entirely in water, and how the cast adapted to water.
Returning cast of Pandora — Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang discuss their incredible evolutions of their characters from their first introduction in 2009 to their present day on Pandora, nearly 20 years later. We’re also taken inside to meet the new cast and the next generation of Na’vi that become apart of the Avatar family.
More sections of “Inside Pandora’s Box” introduce moviegoers to how the sounds, effects and sights of Pandora were made digitally, as well as the filming locations in New Zealand were transformed to be Pandora.
Avatar: The Way of Water is available on all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu and Movies Anywhere. It is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, intense action, partial nudity and strong language.
To celebrate the digital release and Earth Month, fans can continue to participate in the “Keep Our Oceans Amazing” campaign, which launched with the theatrical release of Avatar: The Way of Water. This initiative supports The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and its work to protect 10 of our oceans’ amazing animals and their habitats, connected to the beauty of Pandora. From now through July 31, 2023, fans can create their very own Avatar-inspired ocean creature. For every creature created in the Virtual Pandoran Ocean, Disney U.S. will give $5 to TNC U.S. to help them achieve their global goal of protecting 10 percent of the ocean by 2030.
Visit www.avatar.com/keepouroceansamazing to learn more.
Ever since he was young, Matt was enamored and glued to anything Disney. From the movies, to Playhouse Disney, to frequent visits to Walt Disney World. Disney was Matt’s childhood. As he grew up, and his interests went from movie fandom, to park operations fandom, his desire for spread to Disney Parks and his urge to work for Disney. Since then, he has completed numerous Disney College Programs, and is currently a proud Cast Member at his favorite park, EPCOT, having been apart of the opening teams for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Creations Shop, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’s Treasures of Xandar.
