video review : Avatar : The Way Of Water

video review : Avatar : The Way Of Water

James Cameron’s Avatar is comparable to his Terminator movies in that a so-so science fiction flick is followed by a sequel that totally blows it out of the ocean. The Way Of Water at the start seems underwhelming, too much like a visual and narrative rehash of its predecessor, until you’re spirited away to a new world and the brilliant title concept comes into play.

The gist is simple. Several years have passed. “The sky people”, led by a resurrected and vengeful Colonel Quaritch, have returned to Pandora. The Sully family; Jack and Neytiri now have three kids of their own and two they’ve adopted; are therefore forced to leave the Omatikaya in order to keep them safe from harm, which eventually endangers their new Metkayina friends.

Everything about this Avatar is better than the original. It’s an aquatic, ultimately Titanic, adventure. The characterization is especially improved. Jack and Neytiri are actually likable here and their daughters, along with their son’s potential girlfriend Tsireya, provide plenty moments of cuteness. It’s a tulkun (whale) named Payakan though who’ll steal your heart.

my rating : 5 of 5

2022

video review : The BFG

video review : The BFG

This Disney adaption of The BFG, a 1982 children’s book by Roald Dahl, might have been big fun if director Steven Spielberg had taken more liberties with the plot. The first few minutes, in which a giant old man snatches a little orphan girl in the dead of night, are somewhat intriguing, but the story doesn’t really go anywhere interesting from there. The dream catching bit is silly and the Giant’s bombastic lingo is annoying, though scenes in which he hides her from Giant Country villains offer playful suspense.

my rating : 3 of 5

2016