“Avatar: The Way of Water” finds Jake, Neytiri, and the Nav'i again battling humans who have found their way back to Pandora. With the Earth dying, humanity's forces need to create a habitable world Pandora and take revenge on the locals for the humiliating defeat incurred last time. Pandora is back and looks better than ever, swapping the forest setting for the ocean and introducing new characters and creatures. Though the nearly three-hour runtime may be daunting, much of the time is utilized to get the audience acclimated to our new surroundings, truly immersing us in this alien world.  

Though the main story thread involving Stephen Lang's Quaritch hell-bent on revenge is relatively shallow, there's far great depth given to Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) now that they have a blossoming family. Not all of it works. Spider, an adopted son of Jake and Neytiri (Jack Champion), has waffling allegiances that don't always feel earned, regardless of how they lean. He's also the only human character in a Nav'i family, making him stick out both visually and thematically. Still, focusing on the Sully family dynamic provides the space for much more character moments. It allows the audience to get better invested in the story and not rely solely on spectacle to capture the audience's attention.   

About the spectacle, though. Cameron has always been a master when it comes to pulse-pounding action. He has truly outdone himself, literally. “Avatar” (2001) was a landmark in special effects, but the visuals here exceed the original in nearly every capacity. The sea creatures and underwater sequences are unlike anything I've seen before. The marriage of the stunning visuals and the action set pieces, particularly in the last hour, are something to behold. Much of that final act plays like a greatest hits album of Cameron's filmography, incorporating callbacks to “Titanic,” “Aliens,” “Terminator,” and the first “Avatar.” 

Like the original, an earnest environmental message permeates the entire film, adding a layer of thematic richness. That and the added character depth make this sequel a more well-rounded viewing experience than its predecessor. Even without those elements, though, “Avatar: The Way of Water” would be an absolute must-watch on the largest screen you can find, and it's not very often that we're treated to a spectacle quite like this.

— 4 / 5⭐