The First Reactions For “Avatar: The Way Of Water” Are Overwhelmingly Positive

I hate reporting bad news. I really do. I know sometimes it may seem like I take joy in the suffering of others, but only when they deserve it. I am not a monster. And when the suffering is my own, or that of you, gentle reader, it causes me great pain and emotional distress. Earlier this year, and the three years preceding, I reported on the development of Top Gun 2: Maverick, a movie I was sure would be a flop. Reader— it was no flop. Top Gun 2: OT8 And Lovin’ It went on to become the 5th highest-grossing movie of all time, netting its star, Tom Cruise, more than $100 million earth credits to spend at any Scientology center of his choosing. And so I come now to you, humbled and dispirited, to report that James Cameron’s entry into the pantheon of Sequels to Movies Old Enough to Vote (in middle school elections in this case), Avatar: The Way of Water, is being heralded as “moviemaking & storytelling at its absolute finest,” and Guillermo del Toro has called James a “master at the peak of his power.”

Unfortunately, this means that Avatar 2: Wet n Wilder just may go down as the biggest, most talked-about movie of all time. This means I’m shackled to this sequel naming bit for the rest of my natural-born life. Bad news, indeed! Variety reports (WITH EXTREME BIAS) that the first reactions from critics are all raves. The official reviews will be out on Tuesday before its release on December 16.

After 13 years of anticipation, James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has finally been unveiled for members of the press following the movie’s world premiere in London. The first reactions to the film are overwhelmingly positive, with many journalists blown away once again by Cameron’s boundless imagination and pristine visual effects.

“Happy to say ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ is phenomenal,” wrote Fandango’s Erik Davis. “Bigger, better & more emotional than ‘Avatar,’ the film is visually breathtaking, visceral and incredibly engrossing. The story, the spectacle, the spirituality, the beauty – this is moviemaking & storytelling at its absolute finest.”

“Happy Sad Confused” host Josh Horowitz raved, “James Cameron once again shows filmmakers how it’s done. I’ve said it a thousand times. Never doubt him. ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ is how you do epic blockbuster-ing. Emotional, visceral and as big as movies get.”

“I had faith James Cameron would raise the bar with the effects but these visuals are mind-blowing,” Collider’s Peri Nemiroff added. “One stunning frame after the next.”

While the film’s three-hour-and-10 minute runtime has been making headlines for weeks, it doesn’t appear anyone was too bothered by the length. Cameron himself has said he doesn’t care if viewers leave the theater to use the bathroom.

Yaaas, we stan a magnanimous king. His mind! King James said, “pay your money, but don’t piss your pants. Go on, head to the head, just don’t call it the throne, unless you’ve paid your dues.” And in HIS mind, it even rhymes. No wonder the dialog in his films feels so effortless. Seems there’s nothing he can’t do. Here are some of Avatar 2: Slippery When Wet‘s splashiest reviews on Twitter.

Avatar The Way of Water: lol imagine being dumb enough to bet against James Cameron. or teen alien Sigourney Weaver. or giant whales subtitled in papyrus.

light years better than the first & easily one of the best theatrical experiences in ages. streaming found dead in a ditch.

— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) December 6, 2022

Happy to say #AvatarTheWayOfWater is phenomenal! Bigger, better & more emotional than #Avatar, the film is visually breathtaking, visceral & incredibly engrossing. The story, the spectacle, the spirituality, the beauty – this is moviemaking & storytelling at its absolute finest. pic.twitter.com/RicnpDghrx

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) December 6, 2022

Someone texted me, “what’s the most visually impressive part of the movie?” And I responded, “The whole thing honestly.”

— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) December 6, 2022

Wait just a minute now, wasn’t Pandora the name of the planet in the first one? So what, pray tell, is a Pandora fish? I maintain this will be the corniest movie since Signs 2: It’s Corn!

Here are some looks from last night’s London premiere:

Pics: YouTube, INSTARImages