Posted in: 20th Century Studios, Disney, Movies | Tagged: avatar, avatar 2, Avatar: The Way Of Water

Avatar: The Way of Water – The First Script Was More Like Avatar 1.5

Published Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:47:12 -0600

Last updated Sat, 17 Dec 2022 12:39:44 -0600

Some people judge Avatar and Avatar: Way Of The Water by meaningless things like plot, dialogue, characterisation, acting, and even politics. They are wrong to do so. Oh sure, it's tempting and a common cause of criticism of this movie franchise from its two films, thirteen years apart. But they really don't have anything to do with this film's qualities that make it a masterpiece. Both Avatar and Avatar: Way Of The Water are gonzo blockbuster films in a category that contains Fifth Element, Valarian, Jupiter Ascending, and Mortal Engines, far more concerned with creating a reality to visit and experience on many sensory levels, far beyond mere tripperies like the plot, dialogue and acting. Basically, at heart, they're French and owe more to France's cinematic history than Michael Bay or Martin Scorcese. I utterly adore the Avatars; I saw the sequel yesterday at an Odeon Deluxe screen and will also be seeing it on Friday in IMAX. I will then compare and contrast.

During the virtual press conference for Avatar: The Way of Water, Sam Worthington, who plays Sully, spoke with BBC Radio One DJ Edith Bowman about developing and getting the script for the first time. He told Bowman, "Well, to be honest, I… Jim, you know I'm okay to say this? Gave me a script that was Avatar one point five, that, you know, unto itself, is amazing and detailed and full of what they've kind of gone through over that gap. And I think it was part of, you know, Jim realised that story was about them being warriors and taking on the battles of the clans and things like that. But it almost didn't feel… as you said, you wanted to explore what this family dynamic is, the natural extension of this love story. But it gave us a good jumping-off point to understand how to fill in that gap that's missing, you know? To be honest, most people would've stuck on that one, but not this guy. It was pretty amazing, yeah."

How they came to this version of the film and whatever they have to use to justify it, Avatar: Way Of The Water is a beautiful cinematic experience for a world I have waited thirteen years to go back to. But especially if you are French.

Avatar: The Way Of Water is on general release from Friday, December 16th. It's glorious, but see it in 3D on the biggest screen you can.

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