Avatar: The Way Of Water Review - 7 Ups & 3 Downs
Ups...
7. The ASTONISHING Visual Effects
To the surprise of not a single living soul, Avatar: The Way of Water is a jaw-dropping feast for the senses, and the greatest VFX showcase Hollywood has produced to date.
Anyone claiming the effects aren't a tectonic leap from the 2009 original might need their eyes checked.
Cameron's smart decision to shift the focus to water gives the film a distinct aesthetic compared to its predecessor, in turn demonstrating that the decade-plus he's spent perfecting underwater performance capture was certainly not wasted.
Beyond that, the Na'vi simply look astonishingly lifelike and expressive, ensuring there are zero uncanny valley issues to speak of.
It all combines to ensure The Way of Water is destined to age as impressively as the first Avatar, and it's of course a dead lock to win the Best Visual Effects Oscar.