Early reactions have been posted for Avatar: The Way of Water, and they're giving the film high praise. Out on December 16, Avatar: The Way of Water sees writer-director James Cameron back on Pandora. The official synopsis reintroduces Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) as parents who have formed a family and are doing everything they can to stay together. They must venture from their home and explore the regions of Pandora to do so, but as an ancient threat reemerges, Jake is called to fight against the humans. The Avatar sequel also stars Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, and Edie Falco.
After its world premiere in London, the first reactions to Cameron's film are being posted, and they're claiming that Avatar: The Way of Water is as impressive and groundbreaking as the first. Some mention the film's long runtime being a deterring factor. However, its visuals, more complex story, strong character development, and ethereal world-building are what seem to make Avatar: The Way of Water deserving of critical success. Also praised is the film's use of 3D, making it a technical achievement with purely artistic intentions that don't go unnoticed. See the early reactions below:
Can Avatar 2 Beat The First One At The Box Office?
These positive early reactions are good omens for Avatar: The Way of Water's commercial success. The film faces a lot of challenges as its wide release approaches. It reportedly cost $350 to $400 million to make, making it one of the most expensive movies in Hollywood history and raising the stakes for it to succeed at the box office.
With early reactions praising the film and specifically holding it higher than the original, the likeliness of Avatar: The Way of Water surpassing its predecessor at the box office becomes less impossible. It's a big goal to achieve as the first film became, and still is, the highest-grossing movie of all time with over $2.9 billion in earnings worldwide. Another challenge is that Avatar was released in a very different climate in terms of exhibition. Now, theatrical releases overall inherently suffer from the same affliction: not many people go to the movies anymore. That aside, the praise it has started to garner bodes well and suggests Avatar: The Way of Water could have massive box office potential.
It is also important to note that the film's use of 3D, like the first, truly enhances the moviegoing experience and isn't just a gimmick. As ticket prices for a Premium Large Format (PLF) like IMAX 3D cost more, Avatar: The Way of Water's chance of beating the first movie at the box office becomes a possibility if enough people not only decide to watch the film in theaters, but choose to see it in a PLF screening as well. Avatar: The Way of Water's newfound good word of mouth is as promising as it is relieving, as the film comes with the baggage of high expectations for a theatrical release in an exhibition landscape that isn't too kind to such releases. Come December 16, audience members will see the film for themselves and decide whether it deserves the gargantuan goal it sets out to achieve.
Source: Various (See Above)
