By: Reiley Bartel, Online Editor
Looking for a fun action movie about blue people in space? Wanting a movie about a new world, the military, and beating the odds? Look no further. “Avatar: The Way of Water” is, in my opinion, one of the best movies that came out last year. This long-awaited sequel did not disappoint. It was fun, action packed, full of heart, and always had me on the edge of my seat. One second you were laughing, the next you were crying, and then you were cheering for the tribes to pull out a win against the military. It will be in theaters until the end of February, so make sure to catch it before it’s gone.
I loved this movie. I have been waiting for it to come out since I discovered what “Avatar” was years ago. I was worried at first that the sequel wouldn’t be very good because that tends to happen with sequels, but it was not a disappointment. The main character, Jake Sully, had a family with Neytiri, three kids of their own, one adopted, and even an “adopted” human child. It was amazing to see the continuation of the first story and a more in-depth explanation of the culture and way of life.
You really need to see the first Avatar movie, which came out in 2009, to properly enjoy the second. In the first movie, Jake Sully, a military vet who was paralyzed, was sent to Pandora, the world of the Avatar, because his twin brother died. His twin was a scientist, and he was supposed to be the one who was studying the native people, but because he no longer was, Jake had to take his place. At first, he was ignorant and clumsy, but this is what got him in with the people. Though they were wary, because they knew he was a “Sky people,” or someone who did not belong, and they had been wronged before. Also in the first movie, Sully fell in love and fought with all of his might to help the Na’vi win the battle.
After a nice set up at the beginning of the second movie, everything went downhill quickly, much like in the first, and Jake was forced to leave his home to protect his family and his tribe from the “sky people.” They move away from their jungle home and go live with a water dwelling tribe with a much different way of life than they are used to. It’s a struggle to fit in with their people, but I think they adjusted quite well. At this point, we are about an hour and a half into the movie. It’s three hours and 12 minutes long: I know, super long, but totally worth it.
After the struggle of fitting in starts to dissipate, a new hardship comes along, and that is, you guessed it, the “sky people.” The American military has come back in and is determined to take out Jake and his family once and for all, and it doesn’t even make sense why. Sure he was the problem in the first movie, but now that he isn't in the way of the “gold mine” under the sacred tree, I don’t really understand the chase, but I was there for it nonetheless.
Obviously, there are a few twists that I don't want to give away, but I will say, though it’s probably obvious, Jake and his family win in the end.
I would recommend this movie to anybody and everybody, and if you haven’t seen the first one, it’s on Disney Plus. The second will also be on Disney Plus July 8.
PHOTO: Curtesy Photo, The Playlist
