An James Cameron's Avatar released in 2009 and stunned audiences with its ground-breaking visual effects and pioneering use of 3D. The film told the story of Jake Sully, a disabled former marine who becomes inducted into the culture and world of the Na’vi. The release of the film was one of the most significant cultural moments of the decade, and Avatar subsequently became the highest grossing film of all time - a position which it still holds.
Despite that success, audiences haven't been able to return to the world of Pandora on the big screen for over a decade. However, Avatar: The Way of Water, the first of four planned sequels, is set to change that when it opens on December 16. The sequel and its follow-ups are all set to be co-written and directed by Cameron, who has also helmed other sci-fi landmarks such as The Terminator and Aliens.
Now, a handful of critics have had the chance to get a look at the Avatar: Way of the Water trailer and are sharing their reactions on social media. The trailer, which audiences can see when it hits theaters alongside Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, provides the first proper look at the sequel. The video is being praised, first and foremost, for its “breathtaking” visual effects, which was one of the factors that made Avatar so successful back in 2009. Check out a selection of the reactions to the trailer below:
It won’t come as a shock that the film’s visuals are being widely praised, though what might be more of a surprise is a focus on the use of 3D. While 3D was once positioned as a cinema-changing technology, it has largely failed to match expectations, and wearing those plastic glasses has fallen out of fashion with moviegoers in the time since Avatar's release. However, Cameron’s use of 3D in Avatar: The Way of Water could shake things up once again, and make the film industry take a second look at the technology.
Visual effects aside, the Avatar 2 trailer reactions are careful not to give any insight into the sequel’s plot. The film’s recently revealed title hints that audiences will get to explore the underwater world of Pandora, but other than that, details about Cameron's franchise have been kept under lock and key. However, with the Avatar: The Way of Water release date edging closer, more information about the film is sure to be available for eager audiences soon enough.
Source: Twitter, various (see links above)
