Review | Avatar: The Way of Water movie review – James Cameron’s ocean-set sequel is intoxicating, with mesmerising visual effects
- James Cameron’s sequel to Avatar, the highest grossing film ever, combines visual effects with a story about prejudice, isolation and environmental exploitation
- Ex-soldier Sully (Sam Worthington), his wife, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and their children have to flee the forest for the ocean where they meet an aquatic clan
4.5/5 stars
“The most dangerous thing about Pandora – you may grow to love her too much,” remarks Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in James Cameron’s sequel to Avatar.
Fans of the original, still the highest-grossing movie of all time, will surely agree. The faraway planet at the centre of Cameron’s sci-fi is an intoxicating place, even more so here.
The Way of Water sees former marine Sully now fully embedded in this world of blue-skinned aliens, the Na’vi. With his wife, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), he has five children, both adopted and biological.
There will be trouble in paradise when Earth’s “sky people” return. Antagonist Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), killed in the original, is back from the grave, his consciousness implanted in another avatar. He leads a platoon to capture Sully, seen as the leader of the Na’vi insurgency.
Sully and his brood have little option but to flee their forest home. They head for the ocean, where they meet the Metkayina clan, turquoise-coloured creatures with fins and tails suited for the water.