Avatar: The Way of Water is indeed under the water.

The Way of Water is a sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 cinematic marvel ‘Avatar’. In the days since the film’s release, it has proven a hit with audiences, taking in nearly $900 million globally across its opening weekend. The budget for the film is $350-460 million (2900 Crores INR).

Courtesy: twitter. Avatar - the way of water

Directed and produced by James Cameron, he also co-edited and co-wrote the film. This epic sci-fi film is a delight to watch, it’s extraordinary VFX, virtuoso filming in 60fps and 3D shooting in its production has made it the biggest blockbuster of all times. Its appealing to all age groups but what’s bothersome it doesn’t stand up to the expectations of audiences and the level of Avatar (2009). James Cameron has created another auteur magnum opus but dare I say only in direction. James Cameron has never let his audience down with his auteur skills and the diegesis of his films but with the Way of Water he may have flunked on his writing. Avatar is a stunning technical achievement and a great example of James Cameron's innovative filmmaking. The visuals are breathtaking and the special effects are truly remarkable. The story however, is not engaging rather confusing.

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) have been living a peaceful life in Pandora with their four kids for fourteen years. However, when the so-called "sky people" of Earth arrive looking for Sullys (to avenge their loss in the last battle in Avatar 2009), the Sullys are forced to flee to distant environment altogether. They flee to Metkayina (tribe of water) led by Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) and Ronal (Kate Winslet). Here, the Sullys must learn the ways of the reef people, who have thicker tails, flexible and fluid arms as fishes and a more turquoise complexion than the forest tribe Omitcaya, Sullys are used to. Along the way, they do learn how to swim, to ride like Metkayina on amphibious skim wings (sea rides), speak the language of the sea, and bond with sea creatures. But when the threat of sky people continues to lurk around them Jake fights against humans along with the Metkayina to save their tribe.

The diegesis and auteur impression of James Cameron has been throughout his filmography. The way of water does have few star trek, and titanic visual similarities. The story is bland, confusing and stale, and too many characters and multi-subplots make it difficult to sit through 3 hours of run time. The script just isn’t engaging enough to make it a worthy sequel, and it’s difficult to overlook the lack of depth in the storyline. There is undeniably an inconsistency in the screenplay and editing and to understand the situation, one needs to take a closer look at the characters and their motivations throughout the film. In the climax, the Metkayina tribe marches to fight the sky people but after a great fight between Sullys and sky people the Tonowari and the rest of the Na'vi tribe were not present in the battle; somehow Cameron forgot the continuity of the characters and the scene.

The film does look an amalgamation of the first act of The Poseidon Adventure, and the second half of Titanic which makes it further disappointing. Although, it's amazing to think of all these elements coming together to create an action-packed, suspenseful climax which is nearly an hour long. The movie is too long, and the wow factor has faded. Some of the fights while too long are exciting and have prodigious special effects. The thought of a hyperbolic action showdown in a watery world with exploding or collapsing metal structures is sure to be an unforgettable cinematic experience. It is not the epic masterpiece, but it is still very important to recognize the hard work and effort that went into making the film. The visuals and action sequences of the movie are absolutely striking. But it's a pity that the film wasn't able to capture the excitement and wonder like its prequel.

The introduction of water Navi with larger tails and the addition of underwater scenery provides a new and unique experience for viewers. Additionally, the new golden whale goo that halts human aging serves as an interesting premise for the story. The visuals are stunning, and the special effects were amazing and really added to the action-packed scenes. The integration of CGI in the film is still a relatively new concept, and filmmakers are still figuring out the best way to make it work. When it comes to the financial stakes of certain films, like The Way of Water, it's understandable that filmmakers would want to make use of the technology to maximize its potential to generate revenue. It remains to be seen how much of an impact 3D will have on the film's overall success, but it's clear that James Cameron is doing his best to make sure the format is being used to its full potential.

Ultimately, it may not have been the most satisfying film experience, but it was an enjoyable one nonetheless.