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Avatar: The Way of Water – Under the Sea

December 15, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Love him or hate him, James Cameron understands the cinematic experience.

Over the last 40 years, Cameron has made a name for himself of creating spectacles on the big screen. Through his career, Cameron has become known for his insane attention to detail, his lack of care for budgets and his passion for making the cinematic experience come to life. And, for the most part, the gambles have paid off. On three separate occasions (Terminator 2, Titanic, Avatar), Cameron has made what was then ‘the most expensive movie ever made’ and, each time, has made more money than the last.

(L-R): Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and a Tulkun in 20th Century Studios’ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Of course, arguably, the crown jewel in Cameron’s cap remains Avatar itself. When it was released in 2009, Avatar was viewed as a technological marvel. Featuring entirely fresh characters and a story that was not based on any pre-existing franchise, Cameron blew away the box office years before the Avengers faced their Endgame. But then, despite racking up nine Oscar nominations, the film only won three, all for technical achievement. As a result, Avatar felt like a surprisingly forgettable entry for what became the biggest box office film in history. Other than a physical manifestation of Pandora in a Disney theme park, the Avatar franchise was largely lost amongst a cinema dominated by caped crusaders and super powers. 

Now, Cameron is bringing us back to Pandora once again with Avatar: the Way of Water… and you will be glad that he did. 

Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) and the Metkayina clan in 20th Century Studios’ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

I won’t tiptoe around this: Avatar: the Way of Water is one of the greatest visual spectacles ever to be put on the big screen. That may sound like hyperbole, but I assure you that it is not. Cameron is notorious for waiting for technology to meet his cinematic, visions, often delaying production until he can create a spectacle so stunning that it leaves an imprint on your eyes. And he has done so again here. As such, Way of Water is so remarkable that one cannot help but experience a sense of wonder unlike anything we have seen since Spielberg first stood us in front of a brachiosaurus in Jurassic Park. This is the type of film which justifies the cinematic experience in ways that you have forgotten. 

As Cameron takes us under the ocean, the 3D effects and sound editing are so enthralling that you will believe what you see. (While I confess that there are brief moments that feel a little closer to a video game than reality, those moments are few and far between.) This is the type of film that reminds us why we go to the movies. Way of Water quite literally transports us to another world, awakens our senses, and makes us feel like we are breathing for the first time in a new environment. 

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios’ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Although over three hours long, Cameron packs a surprising amount of story into its runtime. Featuring some complex relationships and tensions, Way of Water is not merely a retread of the original film, although it certainly echoes it. In light of this, although not absolutely necessary, the first film is probably worth a rewatch before stepping into the sequel as Cameron expects that you remember the characters from his ‘magnum opus’.

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: the Way of Water revisits Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his wife, Neytiri (Zoe Sandana) as they navigate life and family on the world of Pandora. With four kids at home, Jake and Neytiri balance life as parents with their responsibilities with the Na’vi leadership. However, when the ‘Sky People’ return with an old foe at the helm, Jake and Neytiri must fight to keep their people (and family) safe, sacrificing the home they know in the process.

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios’ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. ©2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Since his first trip to the Floating Mountains, Cameron has continued to develop his world and especially it’s oceans. Whereas the first film emphasized the beauty of the natural world that we see, Way of Watershowcases the natural world that we do not. Taking us under the waters of Pandora for the first time, Cameron has created another world that still feels familiar. Cameron has always been passionate about the Earth’s oceans and, without question, the goal here is to emphasize the value of the world under the sea. Here, he wants us to understand the connectedness that exists between humanity and the aquatic world… and he is not subtle. (Though, to be fair, he never has been.) Crafted with meticulous love, each scene of Way of Water fills the viewer with a sense of awe and wonder, unlike any we’ve experienced in decades. In doing so, even if these landscapes are not of Earth, the film also serve as a call to protect our own natural world as well. (It’s also worth noting that, without giving too much away, themes of the perils of the whaling industry coming to play as well.)

(L-R): Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) in 20th Century Studios’ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Although a decade has passed since the first film, there are some things that have not changed. Given the amount of cultural change that has taken place in conversations about gender equity and toxic masculinity during that time, Cameron shows very little change in his characters. (For example, although he has been accepted in adapted into the Na’vi culture, Jake still lives his life through his lens as a marine.) This leads to a certain level of bravado within the film’s characters and relationships that feels like a throwback to 90s action films. Admittedly, from Alien’s Ellen Ripley to Terminator’s Sarah Conner, Cameron has always been the forerunner of strong female characters yet something still feels a little dated in the film’s writing.

Nevertheless, this is very much a film about fathers and sons. As Jake attempts to step into the role of fatherhood, so too does he struggle to understand his teenage boys. Torn between his family and his people, Jake believes that the ability to protect those they love is directly tied to his role as a parent and a father. (“A father protects his family. That’s what gives him purpose,“ Jake growls.) To Jake, protection is tied directly to masculinity his role as a parent, and as a father. However, as his young sons begin to display their own ideas and desire to step into adulthood, Jake has difficulty with his changing role. No longer are they the young boys that he had to care for. Instead, they are stepping into their own, and it causes tension within the family. 

Without giving any spoilers, this notion taps into the franchise’s ultimate theme of seeing one another fully. (For instance, “I see you,” is the mantra of both the Na’vi and the franchise’s new tribe, the Metkayina.) This is a franchise that is passionate about understanding the other in the fullest of senses. By being willing to recognize their strengths and abilities, Way of Water reminds us again of our connectivity as people and the importance that we have to one another. 

Quaritch (Stephen Lang) in 20th Century Studios’ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

It goes without saying that this is a film that needs to be experience of the big screen. With so much content in recent years, it has become more common place to say that we might as well wait to screen a film before it makes the jump to streaming. 

This is not one of those films. 

In short, Avatar: The Way of Water is an experience that must be seen on the biggest screen possible in order to be fully immersed into the dream world that Cameron has brought to life. Somehow, he has done the impossible. James Cameron has managed to bring the franchise that few remember back in such a way that you’ll have an experience you’ll never forget.

Avatar: The Way of Water is available in theatres on Friday, December 16th, 2022.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: 3D, Avatar, Avatar: the Way of Water, Disney, James Cameron, Kate Winslet, Sam Worthington

TIFF20: Akilla’s Escape

September 13, 2020 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Akilla’s Escape follows one night in the life of Akilla Brown (Saul Williams), a 40-year old drug trader who has decided that it’s time to get out of the game. Out on a routine hand-off, he is suddenly caught in the middle of a violent robbery. When he discovers that one of his attackers is , a fifteen-year-old Jamaican boy named Sheppard (Thamela Mpumlwana), he realizes that the young man is a member of the same criminal organization that he fell into himself as a child. As he attempts to help the him, Akilla must also confront his own upbringing as a youth (Mpumlwana again) in order to chart a new path for them both.

Written and directed by Charles Officer, Escape is a haunting experience that sits with you long after the film is over. Featuring bleeding colours and pulsating soundtrack, Escape visually creates two worlds and then blurs one into the next, highlighting the challenges of ever truly escaping the darkness entirely. Star Saul Williams—who also collaborated on the soundtrack with Massive Attack’s 3D—absolutely smolders onscreen as the elder Akilla, imbuing his character with confidence and humility. Not to be outdone, Mpumlwana is absolutely stunning as both the terrified Sheppard and the increasingly rage-fueled young Akilla. As a result of the film’s stellar cast and solid visuals, Akilla’s Escape is a gritty and visceral piece that serves as a tragic reminder of how difficult it can be to break free from our past yet Akilla’s journey also carries within it an admirable strength of character that feels hopeful. 

This is more than a film about gang life. 

This is a film with soul.

As he grapples with his own inner demons, Akilla’s journey is an example of what happens when our past collides with our present. Attempting to break the cyclical nature of violence and poverty, Akilla lives in a world that refuses to give him up. Ready to sell his profitable marijuana business, he believes the time is right to walk away, even if his business partners disagree. When he encounters Sheppard, Akilla’s personal journey feels as though it has come full circle. His desire to rescue the young man serves as both potential freedom for a youth heading down a dark path and redemption for his own lost childhood. (It’s worth noting here that Officer’s decision to cast the young Mpumlwana in both roles further highlights the fact that the elder Akilla sees himself in the young man.)

In many ways, Akilla’s father, Clinton (Ronnie Rowe), may be the subtle central figure of the film. Broken by his own childhood of violence, Clinton is abusive and filled with rage, passing on terrifying words of ‘wisdom’ to his young son. (“War is a matter of vital importance for the province of life,” he warns a wide-eyed Akilla.) Now grown himself, Akilla finds the words of his father ring in his ears, even as he kicks against them. Whereas Clinton pushed him towards violence, Akilla understands that hope lies beyond the barrel of a gun. For Akilla, his experience with Sheppard creates an opportunity to break the cycle and help someone take a new path, even as he carries his own scars with him.

As the credits roll, there is an intrinsic sadness within Akilla’s Escape that lingers. Though the film offers hope to its characters, this is a piece that shows the tragedy of generational pain and its affect on the future. As such, though Akilla’s past may be something he wishes he could forget, this is definitely a story worth remembering.

Akilla’s Escape is currently streaming on the TIFF Bell Digital Theatre as part of the Planet Africa series during the Toronto International Film Festival. 

To hear our conversation with Saul Williams, Thamela Mpumlwana, Donisha Prendergast, click here.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews, TIFF Tagged With: 3D, Planet Africa, Ronnie Rowe, Saul Williams, Thamela Mpumlwana, TIFF20

The Jungle Book – Updating a Classic of a Classic

April 15, 2016 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“Now this is the Law of the Jungle — as old and as true as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back —
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”

The Jungle Book is Disney’s new high-tech, live-action (sort of) remake of their 1967 animated film based on Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 book. The new version tries to find a middle path between the more light-hearted earlier film, and the darker, more mythic Kipling story. Director Jon Favreau purposely wanted to keep some of the elements of the earlier film that he loved as a child. But rather than produce a straight remake, he has created something much more enticing with much greater depth.

Because the film is mostly CG animation (assisted at various points of production with puppetry and motion capture), it has an amazingly realistic look to it. These are not cartoon tigers, wolves, and bears. They look real, even though they talk. That in itself makes the film a bit darker and scarier (especially for younger children). The action/adventure element can be intense at times, but that just adds to the enjoyment of the film.

thejunglebook55f856edc4aa8

The film is part coming of age story and part hero’s journey. This is the story of Mowgli (Neel Sethi, the only actual onscreen performer), a man-cub discovered alone in the jungle as an infant by the panther Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley). Knowing that Mowgli would need “a people” to raise him, he was left with the wolf pack lead by Akela and Raksha (Giancarlo Esposito and Lupita Nyong’o). This is the only home and family that Mowgli has known. When the tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) discovers there is a man-cub in the jungle, he vows to kill it and anyone who stands in his way.

It is decided that Mowgli must leave the jungle for the realm of men. He and Bagheera start off on a journey to the human village. Along the way there are adventures—some fun, others quite dangerous—in which Mowgli must learn to make wise choices. He also must use his resourcefulness (a part of his human nature) as he makes his way. Among those he meets on the way are Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) a massive and seductive python, Baloo (Bill Murray) a slothful but lovable bear, and King Louie (Christopher Walken), a huge Gigantopithicus (a cross between an orangutan and a yeti) who wants Mowgli to give him the secret of man’s red flower (fire) so he can rule the jungle.

thejunglebook56b918f3de2d4

There are several themes in the story worth exploring. The first is what it means to be human and what it means that humans are animals. Mowgli, having been raised by the jungle animals, really thinks like them. He has had no contact with humans so he doesn’t know what they are like. Yet, he is also different from the animals. He has “tricks”. He creates and uses tools. He makes complicated plans to achieve an end. But Mowgli, even though he has certain skills as a part of his nature, is never seen as above the other animals. He feels he belongs to the jungle, and most of the animals accept him as he is.

Mowgli also must choose between two approaches to life. Bagheera, his primary mentor, and the wolf pack live by order and rules. The pack regularly recites the Law of the Jungle (taken from a Kipling poem). Bagheera (as played by Kingsley) has a military swagger. But when Mowgli meets Baloo, he is exposed to a much different understanding. Baloo lives for ease and pleasure. At first look, this may come across as the kind of difference between wisdom and folly found in the biblical book of Proverbs. But Mowgli learns that each way of living has its own rewards. It is not so much that he must choose between them as he must learn to balance them. Bagheera and Baloo also learn of the need to balance.

thejunglebook56b918f52fcee

But the key value that The Jungle Book puts forward is that of community. Mowgli alone may be resourceful and creative, but he is no match for the dangers in the jungle. That is why Bagheera gave him to the wolf pack to raise. Much of the film is built around the idea of community: Mowgli and the Pack, Mowgli and Bagheera’s relationship, and Mowgli’s working and playing with Baloo are all about the importance of being tied to one another. And when Mowgli and Shere Kahn must settle scores, as we know they must, it is the Law of the Jungle—“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack”—that sets the stage for the outcome. In Ecclesiastes it says,

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

The importance of helping each other and living in peace with others is at the core of The Jungle Book.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: 3D, animation, Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Disney, Giancarlo Esposito, Idris Elba, Jon Favreau, Lupita Nyong'o, Neel Sethi, remake, Rudyard Kipling

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