Avatar’s sequel is an ode to its 2009 standout

I’m not afraid to say it: I teared up two times watching “Avatar: The Way Of Water,” the highly anticipated sequel to its 2009 counterpart, “Avatar.”

While the first Avatar introduced the clash of two worlds, the second focuses on its aftermath; namely, on Neytiri and Sully’s family, who have been forced to relocate to a water clan. The duo have four children, one of whom’s biological mother is Dr. Grace Augustine. Being that the sequel took 12 years to premiere, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was it going to compromise some of its outer-worldliness? Was it going to forget what made the first one so great?

The short answer is no. Director James Cameron sticks true to his artistic vision, and this movie does the two things that its forerunner did best: flexing its CGI muscles by having its characters explore their ethereal surroundings, complete with plants that glow in the dark and animals that feel, and creating a cultural commentary by highlighting the constant conflict between the Na’vi and the skypeople.

With “Avatar: The Way of Water” already being the 10th-highest grossing movie ever made, it’s fair to say that the world of Pandora—the transcendental, magical world of Pandora—is here to stay. In regards to acting, there’s one undeniable truth that this movie and the first one have in common: Zoe Saldana (who plays Neytiri) remains the most believable Na’vi for me. It takes expertise to convey emotion through CGI, but her character never fails to sell anguish and determination. Having to uproot her life several times—thanks to Sully—she is often caught between looking back and looking forward. Anytime I hear her wail, it gives me chills.

I also like how her character feels authentic to the first movie. She still uses her father’s bow and arrow, never a gun, and her ability to hit anyone with one shot stays the same. One of my favorite things about “Avatar” is that it genuinely excites me. The ripples of water, the bioluminescence of the night, the cascade of color—the visuals coupled with the soundtrack make it desirable enough that in the theater, I caught myself turning to my mom and saying, “I wish I could be there,” or “I wish I could do that.” And I think that’s what keeps audiences coming back to the franchise: not only does it have a great storyline, it offers a type of escapism.

However, there were a couple things that deterred from its escapism aspect this time around. Many of the young Na’vi called each other “bro,” which was weird to hear in the “Avatar” universe. Sully, Neytiri and their kids also had these bluetooth-like devices, which I expected from the skypeople but not from them. This movie takes place in the future, so it’s not unrealistic for them to have these, but seeing this made it feel not so far from home. Nevertheless, I have mostly good things to say about this captivating and emotional sequel. Despite it being over three hours, there really aren’t any dead spots—so make sure to empty your bladder beforehand.

Or, per my brother’s advice, “just wait for it to come out on DVD so you can pause it anytime you want.” I’ll leave with this: if you loved the first movie, this is a must-see. Even though I couldn’t stop thinking about SNL’s Papyrus skit every time I saw its subtitles, I’d still give it a 9/10.