Avatar: The Way of Water is set to engulf viewers in the beauty and wonder of the planet Pandora's oceans. James Cameron's Avatar sequel takes performance capture technology to the next level as Jake (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and their children are forced to seek sanctuary with the Metkayina clan.
With its expansive cast of new and familiar faces, plus its lush world-building, Avatar is a big-screen experience in every sense of the word. The movie is released in the UK on December 16 and it's previewed to a select group of critics in the USA and the UK. This includes reactions from the recent world premiere in London. So, what did they make of it?
Unsurprisingly, #AvatarTheWayOfWater is a visual masterpiece with rich use of 3D and breathtaking vistas. It does suffer from a thin story and too many characters to juggle, yet James Cameron pulls it together for an extraordinary final act full of emotion and thrilling action. pic.twitter.com/opr6CRyOwk
— Ian Sandwell (@ian_sandwell) 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
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
I saw you #AvatarTheWayOfWater - if you think you've seen #Avatar think again. Only repeat from the OG is that 'never experienced anything like it' awe. Better than 1st? Easily. The 3D water world & creatures are so surreal it is downright moving. There's a major Titanic homage. pic.twitter.com/EInKRDeumD
— Nikki Novak (@NikkiNovak) December 6, 2022
Avatar: The Way of Water is a never-ending visual spectacle.
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) December 6, 2022
It’s a better, more complex story than the first with solid emotion but the characters could grow a bit more. It’s definitely long, running on incredible visuals & techniques which are 3D’s best.#AvatarTheWayOfWater pic.twitter.com/ezySHunXOe
While #AvatarTheWayOfWater doesn’t really exceed expectations, Cameron's stunning sequel adds a touching family drama. The stakes are higher. New likeable characters take the lead. Prepare to cry for CGI whales and fall in love with the Sully kids. 3 hours never felt so short.
— Alexander Kardelo (@dunerfors) 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 is a film to be admired more than loved - some remarkable spectacle, some throwback to Titanic set pieces, some really lovely visual flourishes. But it’s also interminably, ploddingly overlong, and more impressive than truly absorbing.
— Christina Newland (@christinalefou) December 6, 2022
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— Robbie Collin (not parody) (@robbiereviews) December 6, 2022
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER absolutely owns bones. I was slapping my seat, hooting, screaming for the Na’vi to take out every last one of those dang sky people
— David Sims (@davidlsims) December 6, 2022
Click here to book your tickets for Avatar: The Way of Water, opening at Cineworld on December 16. Remember to tweet us your reactions @Cineworld.