One of the main criticisms of James Cameron’s Avatar was that its soldier-turned-native story had been told many times before: it was just Dances with Wolves in Space or Pocahontas with Smurfs trained by Cirque du Soleil. As far as complaints go, this was odd – plots gain classic status for a reason. But it certainly can’t match this decade-in-the-making sequel that has almost no plot to speak of, original or otherwise.
“The way of water has no beginning and no end,” two characters solemnly declare at separate points. They’re absolutely right, but then there’s not much of a setting either – or at least the traditional kind, as the danger mounts and the tension and excitement builds. Instead, to borrow a favorite Gen-Z phrase, Cameron and Disney have spent an estimated $350-400 million on Hollywood’s first “no thoughts, just vibes” blockbuster; the audience must let the computer-generated universe of Avatar overwhelm them as our heroes paddle past coral, frolic with plesiosaurs, and gossip with six-finned whales. The problem is that said universe is invariably garish, making watching the film feel like being plastered with turquoise cement.
Is it impressive in purely technological terms? yes New, improved 3D makes characters feel vividly present, aided by dynamic switches in frame rate (number of images projected per second) that make action scenes look as slick as a 23rd-century video game. But who wants to spend three hours watching a video game? Despite the script’s much hand-waving towards weighty themes like anti-colonialism and environmentalism, it’s hard to remember a film that feels less tethered to the real world. You know what would be more emotional about the wonders of nature than a lot of computer generated fish for 400 million dollars? Real fish.
Without wanting to sound like an Avatar racist, it also doesn’t help that the Na’vi all look so alike, meaning the cast’s distinctive on-screen personas get lost in the pixel wash. There’s no great loss when it comes to Sam Worthington, whose on-screen persona hunt is about to enter its 23rd year. But Stephen Lang—whose villainous Colonel Quaritch returns after having his mind conveniently transplanted into a Na’vi body—loses all the facial furrows and cruelly glistening muscles that made the Homo sapiens version of the character so much fun to watch. As for Kate Winslet, even after watching the movie I have no idea who she’s playing – the credits said Ronal, but that wasn’t very helpful.
The story, prepared by Cameron and a team of four, is a classic part of the extension of the franchise, where nothing meaningful happens or important changes, and all the pieces return to their original positions, ready for the next installment. And with the juicier fantasy of the first film now redundant – no one’s jumping between bodies anymore – all that’s left is the ongoing human vs. Na’vi feud.
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