Avatar: The Way of Water

      If there is one thing director James Cameron knows, it's how to film epic films in water.  After a thirteen-year drought, he has come roaring back with the first of multiple

sequels to Avatar. The new film has a three hour plus running time and much of it takes place in and around water. The time flies by though as we are treated to mind blowing visuals (especially in IMAX 3D, which is the best way to see this film) and considerable action.

     Returning to Pandora are Sam Worthington as Jake Sully and Zoe Saldana as Neytiri. Since the new film takes place years later, they now have a family of 2 sons, Neteyam and Lo'ak, an eight-year-old daughter, Tuk and an adopted teen daughter, Kiri. Sigourney Weaver, a human in the first film, is the voice of Kiri. Also living with them is "Spider", a human boy born on Pandora. They live peacefully in the forest, until, of course, humans come back to threaten their existence.

     The threatening humans are back to colonize Pandora for their own and leading the military ground forces is General Ardmore, played by Edie Falco (an interesting casting choice). The main villain, however, is once again Major Miles Quaritch played Stephen Lang, who, yes, died in the first film but has been resurrected as a recombinant avatar, embedded with Quaritch's memories. He is bigger, stronger and scarier.

     When Quaritch and his recombinant troops invade the forest, the Sully family is forced to leave and end up in an entirely different region of Pandora, taking refuge among the Metkayina reef people. Leading the Metkayina are Cliff Curtis and Kate Winslet. It's a fairly simple plot. Jake and his family learn to live with the reef clan and Quaritch wants him dead.

     The personality of the actors shines through the motion capture, makeup and special effects. Much of it is brand new technology that is remarkable. Seen in IMAX 3D, the film is an immersive experience.  The sights and sounds of the film are incredible. In addition to the beauty of Pandora's fauna and flora, the action scenes are thrilling. Mr. Cameron and his writing partners amp up the final battle to a new level of intensity. Of course, you have to buy into the science fiction element of the entire story and if you do, you will be greatly rewarded.