My Biggest Frustration With Avatar: The Way Of Water

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Kocok Group

On one hand, it was a very pretty movie and I enjoyed it. But I think for me my expectations were already pretty low because let’s face it, it’s James Cameron. His entire career is making pretty movies with basic plots. He’s never been a literary genius when it comes to his movies and I didn’t expect this one to be any different.

Temperance Quill

I wonder if they are planning on exploring these themes further in the 3rd movie. Weaver’s character will definitely get more screen time, and they even kept the villain alive so there’s a chance (though slim) that he might get more interesting. Honestly, Avatar 2 felt incomplete to me, like it’s part 1 of a longer story that was stretched over 2 movies for the sake of money. Avatar 2 and 3 were even filmed simultaneously so I wouldn’t be surprised if they work better as a single story.

If you're going to gloat about something that took 13 years to perfect, make sure it's not a boring carbon copy. I actually like the first one more because at least it wasn't boring.

Aud Pod

Honestly, as someone in the VFX industry, you'd be surprised how many of us hated Avatar and had zero interest in this movie. If it wasn't for a film as strong as District 9, Avatar would actually have killed my desire to go into this industry! District 9 has a story that needed VFX to tell it properly, but didn't go over the top or lean on it to make up for a lack of story. Avatar, like Michael Bay, and other big shiny VFX movies was a terrible movie. These crappy movies only stand out for their VFX and I did not want to be a part of that nonsense. I want to be an artist that helps make great stories possible, not waste years working on making a trash movie look pretty. Even though Avatar 2 wasn't exactly a flop, I'm sure they still expected better at the box office, and the lack luster response currently has me hoping they're having a good rethink about how many of these dang movies they want to pump out. I'm beyond over wasting money on garbage movies, especially those made by a notoriously horrendous man to work with. I've heard nothing but bad things from anyone unfortunate enough to work with Cameron. On Avatar, there were rotating vfx artist scape goats so he always had someone to take the brunt of his frustration out on just so people could get a break from his constant anger. I wish society would stop rewarding pretty trash media made by scumbags that abuse those making their garbage product actually worth watching.

Jack McAllan

I don't think I'll be back for the next films- it's OK, but maybe I'm looking at it with rose tinted glasses and it just doesn't hold up to the original Pocahontas theme. It needed to move past Pocahontas into new territory, which I guess is where "family" comes in, but that was handled weakly.

Paul Jacques

100% It's a cheap hook unless it's handled in graduations. I'm watching 'Last of Us' and the slow transformation in Joel accepting "not family" is a master class in writing and acting. You know this will pay-off down the line.

Paul Jacques

I hadn't considered the transhumanism or children as separate from their parents themes in the movie, but it's interesting to consider. It does however go along with my biggest gripe about the film (aside from pacing), introducing themes but not building on them. Like I can't speak with authority about the issues with Spider's dreads or things of that nature, but his relationship with his "not dad" and rejection by Neytiri get mentioned maybe once, and then in the big climactic battle they're supposed to have this emotional impact that isn't earned.

Rogue Command