Avatar: A Sequel Success

Does "Avatar" (2009) withstand the test of time?

Does the 2022 sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water," recycle its themes?

After binging both movies, two writers decide if the franchise reigns supreme

By Netta Eisenstein and Jenna Kriensky

The first “Avatar” was the highestgrossing movie in 2009, earning over $2.74 billion. “Avatar” was a smash hit, so the buildup for its 2022 sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water” was massive, as it took over 13 years for it to be released.

In the first Avatar movie, we meet Jake Sully, a paraplegic Marine living in the mid-22nd century, who is sent to the planet of Pandora on a mission to scope out the life of extraterrestrials on the planet and obtain their trust. Pandora is inhabited by the Na’vi, a humanoid species whose livelihoods are threatened by human presence. Because the Pandoran atmosphere is toxic to humans, humans are able to survive on Pandora by adopting Na’vi avatars.

Director James Cameron does an excellent job of adding complexity to all the characters, and the movie is well-paced, amazingly animated, and overall worth a watch.

“Avatar: The Way Of Water,” takes a closer look at Jake and Neytiri’s post-marital life as well as the looming threat of human colonization. The film centers around their four children, Neteyam, Lo’ak, Tuk, and Kiri, exploring the value of family and the lengths one would go to protect it. A threat surrounds Jake and his family, so they seek shelter from the water Na’vi, the Metkayina. “The Way Of Water”, also comments on the importance of respecting and preserving the environment and the creatures that inhabit it, describing the dangerous impact humans can have on their surroundings and the benefit of appreciating different cultures.

This moral was transmitted seamlessly in a mature connotation unlike some other movies with cheesy dialogues. This depth renders the movie more likeable since the viewer feels like the message actually pertains to the plot and isn’t just randomly added.

Overall, the characters in this movie are much more likable than in the first one, especially the children. The script is much more entertaining, revolving around one world and central story; however, Cameron manages to balance multiple subplots, tying them together in a more ambitious and seamless way.

My main issue with the movie was its length. The movie ran for three hours and 10 minutes long, which made sitting down to watch it take up an immense chunk of my day. Yes, it was thoroughly entertaining, but for people with short attention spans like myself, it was a bit trying at times.

Building on its predecessor’s impressive visual feats, the movie’s animation was incredible: Cameron is well known for his innovative use of special effects, and this film is no exception.

From stunning landscapes to spectacular underwater scenes and intricately-designed creatures, the animation far surpasses the first movie and any other film I’ve ever seen. Cameron’s use of motion capture technology is particularly noteworthy, as it adds a level of realism to the actors' performances that is truly remarkable.

However, it’s hard to overlook Cameron's enjoyment of the human hardware sequences, which have a rough physicality that starkly contrast with the light computer-game visuals of the rest of the film.

Despite minor flaws, like the run-time, “Avatar: The Way of Water” is truly a stunning and thought-provoking film that will leave a lasting impression on audiences. Its environmental messages, phenomenal use of visual effects and captivating storyline renders the movie a must-watch. It has been revealed that a third, fourth and fifth Avatar movies are in the making, with the third already filmed, as Cameron did not want the child actors to age too much. Both the script for the fourth and fifth has also been created. Cameron has stated that the first two movies set the stage for the next three, so if he keeps his promise and continues the precedent he has set, I’m very excited to see this franchise grow.

By Anonymous

“The Yale Admissions Committee has completed its evaluation of single-choice early action candidates, and I write with sincere regret to say that we are not able to offer you a place in the class of 2027.” Rejection sucks, to say the least. When I got the notice from Yale in December, the disappointment I felt at not being admitted almost equaled my agitation at the promise of another round of arduous and time-consuming essays — more words added to my to-do list. I dreaded opening the Common Application page and seeing all the work I had to do layed out in front of me. I had intended to apply to Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education, but by the end of December break, I was too burnt out to bother with its additional three essays.

Yale introduced me to the opportunity of becoming a molecular biophysics and biochemistry major. As someone interested in biology, physics and medicine, the major’s phenomenal program became even more appealing to me after thorough research. After my rejection, I looked at schools like Boston University, Northeastern and Tufts more closely, and I discovered that I could attribute the same passion I had for Yale to those schools as well, if not more.

Yale was never perfect for me — after researching the school’s distressing mental health issues, I began questioning if I would genuinely be happy at Yale. This uncertainty was furthered when I visited New Haven: after building up an image of the town, when I finally got to Yale’s campus, I realized I was actually more disappointed than excited. It’s true that the campus is gorgeous, flaunting gothic architecture and numerous dining halls; however, compared to Boston, I felt cramped and trapped in New Haven. With Yale as the city’s central focus and its main claim to fame being a half-way point between Boston and New York City, I realized that New Haven doesn’t offer a lot on its own. However, I would be lying if I said that Yale's brand didn’t affect me. Its prestige and status allow for eye-catching programs, but the flaws stuck out to me more and more as time went on. A dream school is blinding to both the realities of a school and other opportunities, and it took me a while to see that. Although getting rejected did hurt, what frustrated me more was the aftermath. Distant acquaintances with whom I had never discussed college texted me asking whether or not I got in; though, not as a friendly check-in, but rather as a means to sleuth out who got in and who didn’t for their own egos. The condolences of “any school would be lucky to have you” are nothing more but a pitying motivational slap in the face.

As this process advances to decisions being made and essays submitted, South’s facade of being a relatively positive admissions environment crumbles.There are individuals who constantly one-up others; those people have become more noticeable. Whether it’s jumping on tables after acceptances, giving unasked-for interview advice, joking about people not getting into programs that they did or copying exact essay topics from accepted students, some seniors only see applications as a competition to win. This mentality only fosters a much more degrading community for everyone involved. Ivy may be pretty, but it’s also toxic.