First Avatar 2 reactions praise film as 'visual masterpiece': 'Never bet against James Cameron'
The first film critics have made their way back to the mythical world of Pandora, and they have a lot of thoughts.
The reactions to the first screenings of James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water landed online on Tuesday, and so far have been overwhelmingly positive, with most praising the blockbuster sequel's stunning visuals.
"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."
Uproxx's Mike Ryan tweeted, "Yeah never bet against James Cameron. Trying to spare hyperbole, but I've never seen anything like this from a technical, visual standpoint. It's overwhelming. Maybe too overwhelming. Sometimes I'd miss plot points because I'm staring at a Pandora fish." He continued, "Someone texted me, 'What's the most visually impressive part of the movie?' And I responded, 'The whole thing honestly.'"
The sequel, which is 13 years in the making, will return audiences to the beautiful planet Pandora, with Zoe Saldaña reprising her role as Neytiri, a native Na'vi, and Sam Worthington as Jake Sully, the human soldier-turned-Na'vi. The film follows their characters' family and the new threat they face. New additions to the cast include Edie Falco, Michelle Yeoh, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, and more.
While the visuals seem to be receiving near universal acclaim in much the same way as its predecessor did, some critics found the story elements to be lacking by comparison. Scott Mantz wrote, "The story itself is weaker than the first and feels drawn out at 3 hours & 10 minutes, but it's always great to look at & the last hour is amazing."
And EW editor Yolanda Machado likened it to a Free Willy for Gen Z. "James Cameron is a technology master...and his direction is at its most precise here," she wrote. "The film as a whole, while a technological marvel with a breathtaking world, is just [laugh-cry emoji]. Dances with Wolves and Free Willy for Gen Z."
Avatar: The Way of Water will be released on Dec. 16. See the reactions in full below.
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
James Cameron is a technology master... and his direction is at its most precise here. The film as a whole, while a technological marvel with a breathtaking world, is just 🤣. Dances with Wolves and Free Willy for Gen Z!
Pee beforehand. #Avatar #AvatarTheWayofWater— Yolanda Machado (@SassyMamainLA) December 6, 2022
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER: Yeah never bet against James Cameron. Trying to spare hyperbole, but I’ve never seen anything like this from a technical, visual standpoint. It’s overwhelming. Maybe too overwhelming. Sometimes I’d miss plot points because I’m staring at a Pandora fish
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) December 6, 2022
Avatar The Way of Water: lol imagine being dumb enough to bet against James Cameron. or teen alien Sigourney Weaver. or giant whales subtitled in papyrus.
light years better than the first & easily one of the best theatrical experiences in ages. streaming found dead in a ditch.— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) December 6, 2022
As someone who LIKED -- but didn't LOVE -- the first AVATAR, let me tell you:
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER blew me away.
Vastly superior in visuals, story telling and performances, the sequel left my jaw on the ground for the entire runtime.
James Cameron is the GOD of sequels. pic.twitter.com/1cw6C94O4f— Jake Hamilton (@JakesTakes) December 6, 2022
James Cameron & Co. deliver yet another riveting, awe-inducing masterclass in world-building with #AvatarTheWayOfWater . Immersive, emotionally engaging & epically entertaining, it’s a thrilling ride. CG artifice melts away where we’re just watching the characters’ humanity steer pic.twitter.com/6CksGpEumJ
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) December 6, 2022
I was fortunate enough to see #AvatarTheWayOfWater this morning and listen, whatever that ticket ends up costing you, it’s worth every cent. I could have watched it all day long.
— Kris Tapley (@kristapley) December 6, 2022
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is breathtakingly beautiful with the most incredible VFX I have ever seen (I saw it in 3D); the story itself is weaker than the first and feels drawn out at 3 hours & 10 minutes, but it’s always great to look at & the last hour is amazing. #Avatar pic.twitter.com/8dEhtvRb4P
— Scott Mantz (@MovieMantz) 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
#AvatarTheWayOfWater is an awe-inspiring blend between a nature documentary and a blockbuster - a thrilling three-hour-long travelogue through the oceans of Pandora with deep feeling in its foundation and an unspeakably epic third act that will leave you breathless and in tears. pic.twitter.com/f1Z6SiQQAh
— Zoë Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) December 7, 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
#AvatarTheWayOfWater is pretty incredible. I had faith James Cameron would raise the bar w/ 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. pic.twitter.com/MXeN3z8BnP
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) December 6, 2022
Avatar: The Way of Water is an EPIC, STUNNING, CINEMATIC ADVENTURE. It delivers on both action & heart while giving fans an intriguing story that feels earned & warranted. Never doubt James Cameron. Biggest issue: feels like a stepping stone for what's next.#AvatarTheWayofWater pic.twitter.com/dQBEfBkN7z
— Tessa Smith - Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) December 6, 2022
Just saw #AvatarTheWayofWater I was a big fan of the first one and I’m a big fan of this one. Emotional and absolutely stunning. It’s such a cinematic experience. I don’t know if it’ll win over a lot of people who didn’t like the first one but I was happy to be back in Pandora.
— Kristian Harloff (@KristianHarloff) December 7, 2022
Just finished 3D version. #AvatarTheWayOfWater is visually stunning.Especially love the sea creatures such as Tulkuns and The llu. Those creatures added the emotional level of the film, making you really care and think more about our planet. Battle scenes are epic. pic.twitter.com/vudNj8rjT7
— Maggie Ma (@MaggieMa_LA) December 6, 2022
Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.
Related content: