“Never bet against James Cameron!”: Here are the first reactions to “Avatar: The Way of Water”

It has been 13 years since we last visited Pandora, but it seems the anticipated return has been worth it, at least if we take into account the first impressions of those who were able to see “Avatar: The Way of Water” (“Avatar: The Water Path”) at its premiere on the night of December 6.

Among the factors that have been praised by those who have seen the film are, of course, its special effects, its action scenes and the technological advances used to make it. Less evident, but equally mentioned, is the performance of its actors -particularly relevant if one takes into account that more than half of the cast has been digitally altered into a Na’vi-, the continuous expansion of the world of Pandora and the introduction of a story that is not only exciting, but also emotional.

These comments should be encouraging for its director, James Cameron, who recently admitted that the film needs to gross about two billion dollars at the box office to start earning.

It should be noted that the first impressions of a film, even those given by the specialized press, do not always represent a complete picture of the film as in the case of a review. However, they serve to illustrate the mood and anticipation that builds around a film, even more so if it’s around one as long-awaited as this one. Without further ado, here are some of the notable opinions:

“Merry Christmas for real! #AvatarElCaminoDelAgua is a masterpiece of cinema! I enjoyed it even more than the first! Get impressive visual effects on the screen and touch the heart by reminding us of what really matters in life. Family, home, nature and survival. my favorite movie of the year.” -Amanda Salas, Fox Los Angeles film reviews.

“AVATAR: THE WATERWAY: Yes, never bet against James Cameron. I try to avoid hyperbole, but I’ve never seen anything like it from a technical and visual standpoint. It’s overwhelming. Maybe too overwhelming. Sometimes I miss plot points because I’m looking at a Pandora fish…” -Mike Ryan, by Uproxx.

“#AvatarTheWayOfWater is a show that lives up to 13 years of waiting. The scenes in the water humiliate any previous attempt to portray the underwater world in the blockbuster and the third act is incredible. I have a weakness for the unexpected homage to ‘Titanic’.” -Dani Mantilla, critic of the newspaper El Español.

“AVATAR: THE WATERWAY could be James Cameron’s sweetest, most tender and personal film. Possibly even the most emotional. She goes over all of his greatest hits, but is always totally honest. (James Cameron) will never leave Pandora. He loves this family. And when I’m done, so do I.” -Bilge Ebiri, film critic and director.

“Unsurprisingly, #AvatarElCaminoDelAgua is a visual masterpiece, with rich use of 3D and stunning views. It suffers from a light story and too many characters to juggle, yet James Cameron manages to deliver an extraordinary final act packed with emotion and fast-paced action.” -Ian Sandwell, film section editor at Digital Spy.

“Avatar: The Shape of Water is a never-ending visual spectacle. It’s a better and more complex story than the first, with solid emotions, but the characters could use some more growth. It is certainly long and is based on incredible techniques and visual effects that are the best of 3D.”-Brandon Davis, producer and host of the Phase Zero podcast – MCU.

“As someone who LIKED –but didn’t LOVE– the first AVATAR, let me just say: AVATAR: THE WATER PATH blew me away. Far superior in visuals, story and performances, the sequel left me with my jaw on the ground throughout the footage. James Cameron is the GOD of sequels.” -Jake Hamilton, co-host of the Reel Blend podcast.

“Avatar: The Water Path” will premiere in Latin America next thursday december 15 and in North America a day later.