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Film reviews

Avatar: The Way of Water Review

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Thirteen years in the making. Many rewrites and considerations. A budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars. And most importantly, a film directed James Cameron. And it is finally here, Avatar: The Way of Water.

Cameron has absolutely maxed out Avatar: The Way of Water out, bringing cinema to new heights. A truly breathtaking experience, it tops the brilliance of the first Avatar film. The technology behind the film is absolutely beautiful with many amazing concepts. Cameron makes each fragment of Avatar: The Way of Water have meaning.

In Avatar: The Way of Water, Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington) has a family now with Neytiri (played by Zoe Saldana). Jake has lived the Na’vi lifestyle after the events of Avatar, and he has adapted to the Pandora rituals. Their children are Neteyan (played by Jamie Flatters), Loak, (played by Britain Dolton), Tuk (played by Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), and Kiri (played by Sigourney Weaver). The enemy Quaritch (played by Stephen Lang) makes his way back into the realm and has returned for payback, putting Jake and his family at risk. They must find a place to keep safe. Jake and Neytiri meet other creatures like them and their habitat is the new home for Jake and Neytiri and their children. Their new friends are Tonowari (played by Cliff Curtis) and Ronal (played by Kate Winslet). But to survive Jake and Neytiri and their family must learn to live in this new environment—the sea. Hence the title Avatar: The Way of Water. Their new underwater life is exhilarating, but can Quaritch reach them in their new home?

Avatar: The Way of Water is a continuation film that is done faithfully and correctly. Cameron’s use of technology and his writing prove that he is a master filmmaker. His directing takes his audience to a vibrant world underwater, the most immersive experience yet: one with sea creatures, new worlds, new possibilities, and new connections.

The visuals with the character relationships are where Avatar: The Way of Water is the most magnificent. Jake has been with the Na’vi for a while, and he has grown to be true to the world he accepted in the first Avatar film. Also, with being married to Neytiri he has raised his family to be warriors like her. Avatar: The Way of Water makes its audience feel the vibe of protecting the ones we love in Cameron’s imaginative world.

The action sequences in Avatar: The Way of Water feel very real, thanks to the technologies surrounding the film. Cameron uses high frame rates in many moments that are above the standard limits for films, and it’s done perfectly. Cameron puts his directing to the test, and he passes with flying colors. Avatar: The Way of Water is pure adrenaline.

So the time that fans have been waiting for has finally arrived. Avatar: The Way of Water is here in all its 3D grandeur. The film can be seen in either real D 3D, Dolby Digital 3D, or IMAX 3D, and 3D is definitely the only way to go to get the full feel of Avatar: The Way of Water. I saw the film in Dolby Digital 3D, and I felt like I was scuba diving for hours. All these years I’ve waited I knew that Avatar: The Way of Water was going to be one amazing adventure, and it was well worth the wait. It was the most spellbinding and amazing experience I have had in ages.  Four stars for Avatar: The Way of Water.  


 

Film reviews

Spoiler Alert Review

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It’s hard to see Jim Parsons in a role without thinking of him as Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory. Parsons is quiet with a nerdy sense of humor. His personality and characterizations always have positivity. In Spoiler Alert, he is a caring character in this one-of-a-kind dark comedy. Spoiler Alert is a film where Parsons’ character comes out of his shell for someone he loves.

In Spoiler Alert, Parsons plays Michael. He is a man of a few words, an introvert. He finds himself in a relationship with Kit, played by Ben Aldridge. They have a special connection. They have their moments of frustrations and disagreements, moments where they feel their relationship is in trouble. But all of that is set aside when Kit is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Kit’s parents, Marilyn and Bob, (played by Sally Field and Bob Irwin), are empathetic and love Kit as much as Michael loves him.

Spoiler Alert is narrated in fragments by Parsons. It’s a film that displays love and acceptance in the good and bad times. Despite the sadness and questions that spiral through the film, the chemistry between Michael and Kit is strong and devoted. Spoiler Alert’s title speaks for itself, as the premise enters uncharted discoveries with Kit. The deep empathy of Spoiler Alert, the connection and acceptance, is what drew me in.

The sadness of Kit’s parents and Michael brings a deep melancholy to Spoiler Alert. But the melancholy keeps reminding its audience that Kit and Michael are in love. Michael is Kit’s top fan and his devoted partner. The cancer though, hits both Michael and Kit hard. It challenges their emotions and the past and the present moments of their relationship. Can Michael help Kit fight the cancer? Is Kit stronger than he sees himself? Spoiler Alert is engrossing and its empathetic moments will enthrall its audiences.

Spoiler Alert may seem at first glance to be a depressing film, but Parsons is revolutionary and Aldridge is brilliant as well. Both actors deliver charming and deep performances. Field is also amazing in her role. And regardless of the sadness, Spoiler Alert is mesmerizing, touching, and endearing. One of those feel-good holiday films to remind people to stay connected. Three stars.

Film reviews

The Whale Review

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Brendan Fraser delivers one of his best performances in years in The Whale. His performance displays human emotions to the core. Director Darren Aronofsky has an eye for directing brilliant films based on honest feelings. The Whale is Aronofsky’s most humanistic film, and it will touch his audiences.  The message of how time is of the essence in our one precious life truly resonates.

The challenges of obesity and health problems play a major role in The Whale. Some moments in the film may seem repulsive regarding this difficult subject matter. With Fraser as the lead character who struggles with weight problems, he plays the role of suffering and feeling alone brilliantly. The Whale is a race for the one who is obese to find light in his life. The light may not have the best anticipated outcomes, but it serves to benefit others in the film.

In The Whale, Fraser plays Charlie, a remote English teacher in Idaho. Charlie chooses to work from home because of his morbid obesity. His caretaker is his friend Liz (played by Hong Chau). She helps Charlie with his meals and other essential tasks. Charlie cannot do a lot by himself because he is dangerously overweight. He also continues to eat unhealthy foods and has been in a bad mental state of mind for some time. There is one thing Charlie cares about which is his daughter Ellie (played by Sadie Sink). Aronofsky’s directing is superb in displaying the disconnect between father and daughter. Ellie resents Charlie because he abandoned her, and Charlie resents himself. The Whale is a landscape of Charlie’s errors, and his obesity is the epitome of his struggles. Aronofsky is not afraid to direct films with deep emotions.

Charlie’s suffering in his home is filled with difficult feelings. The audience can see each fragment of his unhealthy life. They also see his struggles with Ellie and Liz. Will Charlie ever find a way to get his act together? Will he ever try to lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle?  Many of these questions are hard ones and the film covers many hard health-related situations caused by poor life choices. As someone who has had issues with my own weight and mental health, The Whale hit close to home for me. Yet, I felt quite moved by the film.

In the end, I thought The Whale was deep in human emotions. Fraser’s performance was spellbinding, and the directing was filled with raw feelings. The Whale is a triumph, a ride of brilliance and love. Three and a half stars.