“Avatar: The Way of Water” was finally released 13 long years after the release of the first Avatar film. Known for its stunning visual effects and beloved storyline, many fans awaited the release of the sequel with high hopes to match the awe and reverence of the first. So does the sequel live up to the name of the original? 

When “Avatar” came out in 2009, the amazing scenery and CGI technology wowed the audience and critics. It won many awards and introduced amazing visuals that enticed many to see it. “Avatar: The Way of Water” again used breathtaking visuals and the newest technology to produce a beautiful film. The scenery and CGI technology certainly lives up to the high bar set by the first film, displaying the visually stimulating planet of Pandora. Incredible creatures and brilliant settings made for truly amazing visual effects, rivaling the beauty of the first installment.

The first “Avatar” is a notoriously long movie, coming in at two hours and forty-two minutes. “Avatar: The Way of Water” is also incredibly long, running for three hours and twelve minutes in total. Is all this runtime really necessary? Many argue that this duration of time is too long and could be cut down to better fit a more traditional length. Is every scene vital to the plot? 

There are mixed reviews when it comes to the plot. Some say that almost every scene is done to further enhance the depth of the movie. There is something for everyone, whether one wants to see action, romance, coming-of-age, and even some comedy. Others believe that there is too much packed into this movie, therefore the reason for the long runtime. Some critics have said that the plot is like many other movie plots, without much originality. 

Personally, after seeing the full movie twice in theaters, I liked it more than most other movies I’ve seen. As a harsh critic, I form my opinion based on the substance of the plot, and usually I am not impressed. However, the plot of this film was well-executed and well-done. The unique settings and characters made for gorgeous scenery that added to the appeal. Although I believe some of the runtime could have been reduced, particularly in the action sequences, most of the scenes were done to further the character development, so I did not mind the overall length. There really is something for everyone in this film, and I enjoyed seeing the different aspects of each character’s storyline. The long runtime created a connection with the characters that paid off in the end, pulling on my emotions that otherwise wouldn’t have been there. 

This movie went hand in hand with the first, flowing well from the original to the sequel. Overall, I give this movie a 7/10, particularly for the artistic advancements and emotional depth and character development behind the plot.