In case you missed it, James Cameron dropped a new trailer for his highly anticipated sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, which hits theaters on December 16. It’s been an agonizingly long wait for fans of the film — myself included — who have endured countless articles explaining how and why the biggest movie of all time was a failure.
This new trailer won’t help such people see the light — it’s basically just more Avatar — but it should serve as an enormous confidence booster for those nervous about the sequel. Here’s a list of the coolest moments in the new Avatar: The Way of Water trailer, just in case you haven’t already watched it a billion times — like me.
James Horner’s Music
Right off the bat, I need to give props to my man James Horner. The late composer’s work on Avatar was one of the better scores released in the latter stages of his career, and it’s a shame he wasn’t around to build upon the ideas established in the original film.
Luckily, long-time Horner associate Simon Franglen has stepped into the conductor’s chair for the sequel. Judging by the trailer music, it’s clear the intention is to lean heavily on Horner’s original score, which makes me all kinds of happy — and sad. Indeed, the two-plus minute trailer is played over cues from Avatar remixed with a synthesizer and light choir, bathing the entire presentation with a sense of foreboding doom. I can’t wait to hear this soundtrack on the big screen!
World Building
The original Avatar gave us a taste of the various tribes inhabiting Pandora but didn’t get into specifics regarding their cultures. The Way of Water trailer presents several different clans adorned in different shades of blue and boasting physical alterations that allow them to function in their respective environments.
At this point, I’m still unsure what the plot of Avatar 2 focuses on, but Jake and Co. appear to be searching for something/someone with a strong heart that may or may not reside underwater. As such, perhaps the Omatikaya must venture into uncharted waters (pun intended) to find what they’re looking for, which will pit them against the other tribes. What if these people sat out of the War of Pandora and incurred scrutiny from the other tribes? In the trailer, we see one of the tribal chiefs, Tonowari (Cliff Curtis), tell Jake (Sam Worthington) he wants nothing to do with his war, which means he will definitely have everything to do with Jake’s war at some point in the film.
There’s much to the world of Pandora, and we’ve only scratched the surface. I can’t wait to see the various creatures, tribes, and locales Cameron conjures on our second visit.
Action/Spectacle
No James Cameron film is complete without intense action. The new trailer only offers a few brief glimpses of the battles to come, but you can be sure the acclaimed director of Aliens, Terminator 2, and True Lies will deliver mind-blowing set pieces unlike any you’ve ever seen.
Cameron’s willingness to push the envelope in terms of special effects and action guarantees you’ll get your money’s worth when you head out to see Avatar 2 on December 16. Even if the story or characters flop out of the gate, there will likely be enough jaw-dropping spectacle to impress even the most cynical moviegoers.
Special FX
Speaking of which, the VFX on this sucker looks incredible. I’ve spent hours watching YouTubers pour over the updated CGI, pointing out major/minor details general audience members may not fully respect. Seriously, dive deep into the VFX of The Way of Water to fully appreciate the efforts made by Cameron’s team. They’re swinging for the fences on this one — respect the ambition, people!
Quaritch
A while back, I interviewed Stephen Lang, aka Quaritch, who revealed that the powerful military leader would appear as the antagonist in each Avatar sequel (should we get them). How he returns remains a mystery, though online videos suggest the RDA transfers stored brain data into avatars to resurrect deceased members of its company. That explains how Quaritch reappears to exact bloody vengeance on Jake Sully, or maybe the second iteration of our dastardly villain opts to challenge his position in the world following his unexpected rise from the grave. Lang did mention that Quaritch goes on an incredible journey, so perhaps he sees the light and eventually turns to Jake’s side, where he must contend with copies of himself … or something.
There’s a shot in the trailer that seemingly gives credence to this theory. We see Quaritch’s avatar — at least, I think it was Quaritch’s avatar — crush a human skull in his hand. Is this Jake’s head? Or his own? Maybe this is a turning point for the character where he realizes how inhuman he’s become and decides to switch sides and kick ass with the blue squad. Time will tell.
Jake and Neytiri
I get that Jake and Neytiri were a less attractive copy of Jack and Rose, but that didn’t make them any less likable. I’m excited to see where Cameron takes the famed blue couple in the sequel. Are they celebrities? Is Jake still Toruk Makto? Does he regret turning against his people? Does Neytiri regret linking with Jake? Did Jaytiri live happily ever after, or have problems arisen from the decisions they made in their youth?
Neytiri, in particular, goes through various stages in the trailer. We see her trying to shoot a bow and arrow while pregnant, watch her panic inside a sinking vessel, and later receive a pep talk from Jake following what looks like a violent encounter with the RDA. Has time softened our badass Na’vi? Will she need to rediscover her inner warrior to protect her family?
The Biggest Event Film of the Year
More than anything, Avatar: The Way of Water looks like a must-see spectacle that people will talk about for a long time. The sequel has the look and feel of a massive pop culture phenomenon, provided Wakanda Forever doesn’t steal too much of its thunder when it hits theaters next week.
Still, James Cameron is no slouch. This is the man who delivered The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, and Titanic; all considered some of the greatest blockbusters ever produced. I doubt he’d spend over a decade building a half-assed motion picture.
No. Avatar: The Way of Water will change cinema forever or give the internet something to whine about for the next decade. Either way, this new trailer suggests that this latest trip to Pandora is one worth taking.
