A little-known fact about me. I used to write movie reviews quite often. I wrote them on Facebook after every movie I saw in a cinema, and then there once was a movie news/review website in Latvian that kindly gave me access and permission to write reviews. And, if I am not mistaken, I even had a movie blog. Therefore, yes, I was not immune to the movie blog craze that swept the internet.
I did not plan on writing movie reviews here. But one can argue that Avatar: The Way of Water is not really a movie. It is an experience. A shock to the senses. Thus an article is justifiable.
We saw this movie in Brussels on an IMAX screen in an HFR 3D format. What is an HFR format, you may ask? HFR stands for high frame rate. The standard movie format is 24 frames per second; whereas HFR is usually 48 frames per second. At least Avatar: The Way Of Water was shot in 48 frames per second, thus making the movie look more real, the action more immersive, and at times you forget that the world you see on the screen is not real. But not all scenes in the movie are HFR. Dialogue scenes, for example, are shown at 24 fps. If I have understood it correctly, then James Cameron shot the whole movie at 48 fps but used a filter of some sort to make non-action scenes visible at 24 fps. Therefore, in my humble opinion, he managed to create one of the best if not the best HFR movie thus far.
I have seen “The Hobbit” which was shot in HFR. Remember it? Do you remember audience reviews? Their complaints of headaches and difficulty following what is happening? Therefore when it was announced that the Avatar sequels are going to be HFR, I had my doubts and concerns. Which in retrospect was not called for. Because if one thing a true movie fan knows then it is to never bet against the great James Cameron.
This movie runs for 3 hours and 12 minutes. Seems long but is not. Everything you hear about the visuals, the special effects, the sound design, and the action sequences is legit. They truly are breathtaking, stunning even. My girlfriend who initially thought she won’t like it after the screening said that it was really worth it. Also, note that she has not seen the first movie, so she went to this one completely blank. And she enjoyed it.
The plot? This is a movie about family, the environment, and the destructive nature of humans. Maybe watch Seaspiracy before going to the cinema. I am sure that at one point during the movie you will make the connection (hint: shark fin soup).
I am a James Cameron fan. I have seen the Titanic, Avatar, and Aliens many, many times. And while watching his new film I often found myself seeing aspects of these previous films. I will try not to give away too much, but the water aspect is the biggest giveaway. Also, there is a ship sinking and action sequences in an Aliens-like setting. I will shut up now.
As of this writing Avatar: The Way of Water has made 1.5 billion dollars. It will get past 2 billion, of that I am sure. Will I go see it again? Probably not. But I will try to get my hands on a DVD or something to see more of this masterpiece. Luckily we will not have to wait 13 years for the next installment.
One more thing. Some of you may wonder, what is so special about IMAX? Just ask Mr. Gold.
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of cinema projection standards developed by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. It is known for having much larger screens and much higher resolution images than traditional film formats, as well as a specialized projection system. Because of these features, IMAX is often used for special events, such as the release of blockbuster movies, and for movies that have particularly spectacular visual effects or are meant to be experienced in a more immersive way. Many people consider the IMAX experience to be superior to traditional movie-watching, as the larger screens and higher quality images can make the viewer feel more like they are a part of the action on screen.
Go and see Avatar: The Way of Water.
Kind regards,
Olaaf
