By Noor Abdullah, Staff Writer
Avatars, the 10-foot tall blue alien-like figures, are dominating theater screens and TikTok FYPs. The craze started with the first Avatar movie released in 2009 and has come back with the latest movie released this past December.
The first movie which was simply named Avatar started the saga, introducing the Na’vi people of Pandora. It all started in the year 2154 when the Resources Development Agency (RDA), a human organization from Earth was determined to obtain resources found on the moon of Pandora. They were having trouble as the atmosphere on Pandora was toxic for humans and the Na’vi, the advanced, warrior species that called Pandora home were mistrusting of the Earthly newcomers. The RDA solved this problem by creating Avatars, human/Na’vi hybrids that were like vessels for a human mind to inhabit and control. Due to an unfortunate accident, Jake Sully, a paraplegic finds himself in an Avatar, with blue skin, working legs, and a mission from the RDA: get close to the Na’vi and convince them to leave the resource-rich lands they call home.
Jake strays from his commitment to the RDA and begins questioning their orders when he falls in love with the Na’vi warrior Neytiri. When a battle comes and the humans threaten the Na’vi way of life, Jake sides with the Na’vi. He permanently claims his place with the Na’vi by disregarding his human form for his avatar and becoming chief of the clan.
The second movie Avatar: The Way of Water was released on December 16, 2022, and takes place about 15 cinematic years after Avatar and we are back in Jake and Neytiri’s lives, this time they share the screen with their own kids. The golden child and oldest son Neteyam was acted by Jamie Flatters. The second son, Lo’ak was rebellious but loyal to his siblings and he was acted by Britain Dalton. Tuk the youngest daughter was acted by Trinity Bliss when she was just seven years old. The most fascinating casting decision was that of Kiri’s, Jake and Neytiri’s adoptive daughter who was biologically Dr.Grace Augustine’s child; actress Sigourney Weaver played Dr.Augustine in Avatar and again acted in the saga by playing her on-screen daughter Kiri. Lastly, the Sully’s adoptive son Spider was acted by Jack Champion. Jamie Flatters (Neytam) summarized the cast’s feelings about working in the Avatar saga saying “The fact it was Avatar and to work with James Cameron’s team made life feel like fiction.”
The first Avatar movie was remarkably successful and to this day holds the record for the highest-grossing movie in history having earned nearly $3 billion in ticket sales. But what made the film so successful? The effort that was put into these movies was clear with a thrilling and emotional script and impressive animations that left viewers on the edge of their seats. But the most impressive parts of the movies were the CGI and animations. The first movie was 60% CGI and the second is nearly 100% CGI, with only two shots in the film containing no visual effects. The producer James Cameron set the new standard for CGI when the first film came out and has spent many years improving his already impressive animations. The filming of Avatar: The Way of Water began in 2017 and was completed in three years. Cameron has spent the years since then perfecting the way the characters and Pandora looked on screen. He also improved the way the actors’ expressions appeared on their CGIed characters by filming with new skull caps fixed with cameras that closely monitored their eyes, mouths, and movements.
The story of the film is also noteworthy: although the movie is entirely fiction and follows blue aliens on a faraway moon, it covered a variety of relevant topics. It depicted race relations through the relations of the humans with the Na’vi and the destruction of natural habitats for the sake of greed as the humans pillage Pandora of natural resources. Overall, the Avatar saga presents the true nature of humans and as we see it largely from the view of the Na’vi, we can understand how violent and ignorant humans appear in their treatment of other beings and environments.
With the new cast, improved CGI, and dramatic plot, does Avatar: The Way of Water have a chance of beating its predecessor and taking the title of highest-grossing film? Only time will tell, but the film’s future is looking hopeful as it has already raked in $1.5 billion in the month since it was released.
James Cameron’s saga continues to draw in millions of viewers and those who have watched the first two movies can expect to be back in the theaters in December 2024 when the third Avatar movie is set to be released.
