Studio: Twentieth Century / Disney
Release Date: June 20, 2023
Rating: PG-13
Film: 4.5/5
PlotThirteen years after
Avatar changed the landscape of movie making, innovative writer/director James Cameron kept fans waiting 13 years for the next film in the franchise. Fans, including myself, filled theaters helping the film gross over $2.3 billion worldwide as it currently sits at #3 on the Top Lifetime Grosses list behind the first film ($2.9 billion) and
Avengers: Endgame ($2.8 billion). Granted, none of these figures are adjusted for inflation, but you can’t argue with Cameron’s success of filling the seats.
My ThoughtsThe film begins fifteen years after the events depicted in the first film as we find Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) living as a Na’vi and has started a family with Neytiri (Zone Saldaña). When the humans return to Pandora with both revenge and profit on their minds, the Sully family is forced to go into hiding and seek refuge with the water clan Metkayina. Their way of life is much different than the Sully’s are used to, and they must learn how to swim, forage from the ocean, and bond with sea creatures because at some point, the humans are coming and all hell is going to break loose.
While many of the thematic elements are the same from the first film, I found this screenplay to have more emotional weight since the film focuses on the Sully family and how Jake is struggling to be a good father to his kids while at the same time fighting for their very survival. At three hours and twelve minutes, the film could have been edited down a good thirty minutes because there are a lot of scenes that look absolutely fabulous from a visual and technical point of view but do little to move the plot forward.
Disney/Fox has been stubborn with only sending out digital copies of their films over the past year or so, but I politely asked my contact at the studio if there were any way I could review the 3D version and he was kind enough to send along a copy. While I’ve seen the film in theaters and in 4K on the Kaleidescape, I really wanted to experience the film how Cameron intended and I have to say, the 3D experience is jaw-dropping.
I own nearly 100 films on the Blu-ray 3D format but the only film I’ve watched in 3D over the past few years is the original
Avatar, which still looks amazing to this day. This sequel takes the visuals to the next level though and the depth and detail transports you to Pandora and drops you right in the middle of the world. I wasn’t sure how the underwater sequences would look and it turns out there was nothing to worry about—this is a reference 3D presentation from beginning to end and is the new King of the Hill in the mostly defunct 3D world of home video. One thing that really helps this film is it’s split over two discs for the 3D presentation and it has a lot of room to breath and isn’t bit-starved one bit.
The DTS-MA 7.1 presentation is nearly as impressive as the 3D visuals and is one of the best you’ll hear on a 4.7” platter. Dynamics are top-notch and the surround envelopment of the track will showcase every speaker in your room, especially the LFE channel. Initially I thought this was the same Atmos track found on the 4K K-scape download, but then realized that Neural:X was engaged on my processor. In all honesty, I really couldn’t tell that the overhead effects weren’t discrete. The sound designer on the film gets an A+ for their attention to detail and creating a realistic world to spend three-plus hours in.
3D Video 5/5 (AVC)
Audio 5/5 (DTS-MA 7.1)
Special Features:Inside Pandora's Box (A series of featurettes on the challenges facing cast and crew as filmmakers devise new technologies to push the limits of cinema)
- Building the World of Pandora – James Cameron and a team of talented artists combine years of research with their design skills to build the world of Pandora with new characters, creatures, indigenous clans, underwater environments and the take-no-prisoners hard-tech world of the RDA.
- Capturing Pandora – James Cameron’s approach to performance capture has the cast performing in a volume rigged with infrared cameras to capture their movement, and head rig cameras to capture emotion on their faces with only the boundaries of imagination to limit them.
- The Undersea World of Pandora – Co-production designer Dylan Cole and his team conceive of the marine creatures required for Avatar: The Way of Water while James Cameron and his stunt team devise extraordinary means to bring those creatures to life in a performance capture tank.
- The Challenges of Pandora's Waters – James Cameron tackles the “non-trivial challenge” of performance capture above and below the water’s surface, utilizing a wave machine and current generator to reproduce ocean conditions, and underwater vehicles to replicate creature movement.
- Pandora’s Returning Characters – James Cameron reunites with his returning cast – Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang. Together they discuss the amazing evolution of their characters in Avatar: The Way of Water.
- Pandora’s Next Generation – Meet the talented young newcomers who have been cast as the next generation of Na’vi and follow them through the adventure of making Avatar: The Way of Water.
- Spider's Web – James Cameron introduced the human character of Spider into the fabric of Pandora – thus creating a host of technological challenges on set…and an incredible journey for the young actor, Jack Champion.
- Becoming Na’vi – The Avatar cast is immersed in the culture of the indigenous Na’vi, living off the land in the Hawaiian rainforest and training in a multitude of disciplines in preparation for their roles.
- The Reef People of Pandora – In true James Cameron-style, the Metkayina reef clan has been developed with great attention to detail, bearing unique evolutionary traits and a culture – with new dwellings, new clothes and different way of life – all a result of living off the ocean.
- Bringing Pandora to Life – Once James Cameron completes his virtual production process, every sequence is turned over to Wētā FX to bring Pandora to life – with unprecedented advancements in facial performance, environments and making CG water look real.
- The RDA Returns to Pandora – Co-production designer Ben Procter and his team present an armada of new vehicles and human technologies that the RDA brings to Pandora – in concept design and with practical builds.
- The New Characters of Pandora – Meet the important new characters of the Avatar saga played by Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell and Jemaine Clement.
- The Sounds of Pandora – Hear how James Cameron worked with composer Simon Franglen to create the distinctive music of The Way of Water while building on James Horner’s brilliant score for Avatar, and learn how Chris Boyes created the immersive sounds of Pandora.
- New Zealand – Pandora’s Home – The production of the Avatar sequels is so thoroughly ensconced in New Zealand that James Cameron considers The Way of Water a “New Zealand film.” Hear reflections from the cast and crew, including the remarkable New Zealand crew, on making the film.
More from Pandora's Box (Additional featurettes that highlight special teams within the production)
- Casting – Discover the screen tests that won the talented young cast their roles in Avatar: The Way of Water.
- Stunts – The Avatar stunt team isn’t just creating breathtaking action, they’re driving the story. From racing underwater on ilus, flying the skies on ikrans, to maneuvering RDA speed boats, the stunt team leaves you breathless and wanting more.
- The Lab – Explore the Lightstorm Lab, the backbone of virtual production for the Avatar films. Comprised of specialized teams, the Lab builds & supports every aspect of the production – environments, motion edit, Kabuki, sequence, post-viz and software development.
- The Troupe – Avatar’s Troupe is the Swiss Army Knife of acting, while playing dozens of roles on set, in the performance capture volume and on live-action sets, they bring life to Na’vi clans and RDA Recoms. They also play Na’vi-scale puppets on the live-action sets.
Marketing Materials & Music Video (Marketing materials used to build audience awareness of the film)
- Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength) Music Video – Multi-Grammy-winning, music superstar, The Weeknd, performs his emotionally packed end title song in the official music video for the smash hit “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength).”
- Theatrical Trailers 1 & 2 – Avatar: The Way of Water used two theatrical trailers to engage the audience. The first was a teaser trailer released 7 months before the film. The second was a standard trailer that premiered 5 weeks before the film’s release.
ConclusionThis is the third time I’ve watched the film this year and I was surprised I wasn’t checking the clock given the close proximity of the three viewings. My only real gripe with the 3D version of the film is the stopping point between the two discs is rather abrupt and sudden, so I’m not sure how much attention went into this break point. Regardless, if you you’re a fan of 3D then this is a must-buy for your collection. I’ll probably end up buying the 4K release as well to have in my collection, but for all intent and purposes, this 3D version will be my “go to” viewing unless it’s a large party viewing since I only have 6 pairs of glasses.
Reference Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Kaleidescape Strato + Server
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
SVS SB3000
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
M&K Sound X15+ Subwoofer
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
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