Avatar: The Way of Waterwas a spectacle to witness in theaters, not just because it features the most stunning visuals we’ve ever seen in film history but also because of the anticipation viewers had suppressed for nearly 13 years since the firstAvatarfilm. It’s almost as if the wait was worthwhile becauseAvatar: The Way of Waterstepped upin many respects, even if it couldn’t outdo the original film in every way.
With James Cameroon taking his time setting the technology that could turn his visions into cinematic imagery, it is reasonable to state thatAvatar: The Way of Wateris far superior to the originalAvatarin terms of immersive experience. However, as previously stated, the movie failed to meet viewers' expectations in many other ways, which might be avoided in the next film,Avatar 3, by focusing on a few details we will review in this article. So, here are some thoughts on howAvatar 3could improve on its predecessor.
Less Family Drama
The representation of family connection is the main highlight ofAvatar: The Way of Water, and it sets the tone for the rest of the film. In fact, many of James Cameron’s films revolve around the phrase “about family.” Whether you’re talking aboutthe classicAliensfranchise, which thoroughly explored the beauty of motherhood with Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), who loses her daughter in space, or theTerminatorfilm series, which is often viewed as a machine slasher movie but entails a lot about how a broken family pulls itself back together.
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Even in the first film,Avatar, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is introduced after learning of his brother’s death. So, while Cameron enjoys emphasizing the value of family in his films, he went a little overboard inAvatar: The Way of Water. Although the movie never lost steam thanks to the emotional hook that kept it together, it lacked other elements that may have made it more epic than it already was.
The idea of Jake Sully’s family seeking refugee at the Metkayina clan was a brilliant depiction of how the Na’vi prioritized their family above all else. However, rather than covering the same ground in a three-hour film that ended with Neytiri making the heartbreaking decision to point a knife at Spider’s neck, the film should have focused more on the real enemies, the humans.
In any case,Avatar 3could avoid this cliché and focus on more important things while emphasizing the significance of family, which is also the driving force behind these characters.
Avoiding the Use of a Recurring Antagonist
Although many fans were excited to find thatColonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang)would return inAvatar: The Way of Water, many others believed it was unnecessary. The filmAvatarmade us dislike Quaritch enough, with him burning down Omatikayan homes and cruelly killing several of them. Finally, just when we believed he was gone for good,Avatar: The Way of Waterbrought him back as a Na’vi individual.
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His quest for vengeance on Jake Sully and his family was an intriguing element of the film, but it also felt a little repetitive, and considering how Spider (Jack Champion) saved Quaritch from drowningat the end ofAvatar: The Way of Water, many believe he will come after Jake’s family again in the next installment. Contrary to popular belief, Quaritch should be given a redemption arc inAvatar 3, and instead of being an enemy, he could play a crucial part in Spider’s character development.
Avatar 3 Needs a Wow Factor
Avatar: The Way of Waterstunned viewers in numerous ways, whether through the underwater’s transcending beauty when it reflects the significance of Eywa and how Kiri connects harmoniously with her or the introduction of the oceanic Na’vi clan, The Metkayina. However, the film was mostly about the oceans and their inhabitants, with little to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
For instance, rather than focusing on warfare as it did inAvatar, the film places a strong emphasis on portraying the world of Pandora. Fortunately, with James Cameron’s announcement thatAvatar 3will include a Fire Na’vi tribe, we can expect far more than a fresh concept.
However, if Cameron decides to spend an excessive amount of time detailing the landscapes of the Fire Na’vi tribe, he risks replicating the flaws ofAvatar: The Way of Water.
Although it is quite doubtful because people will be less interested in deserts and volcanoes than in oceans, it might be preferable if the filmmaker intended to introduce them as some sort of evil figure. So far in the franchise, we’ve only seen the positive side of Na’vi, as if there is no evil on Pandora. Given how this new disclosure shows Pandora’s unfamiliar side, it would give fans something to look forward to while also sparingAvatar 3of a recurring theme.
