Avatar: Way of Water Reimagines Colonization

Heaven Woldai, Entertainment Writer

The current series, Avatar, releases a film in theaters, Avatar: The Way of Water, after 14 years. The movie continues the story of Jake Sully and Neytiri, displaying their children, new friendships, and marriage. In the film elements of historical colonization were present.

Avatar: The Way of Water focuses on the plot of the first avatar continuing the idea of colonization among Pandora. As Colonel Quaritch’s plan is reactivated we see the efforts of humans trying to colonize Pandora once again, however the team is much more malicious. Killing innocent people, kidnapping children, and involving citizens in gunfire are all representing ideas of early colonization in Europe. The film’s theme enhancing the higher societies that the people of Pandora are in, as well as their great biodiversity can be a representation of the imperialism behind the Sky people. A message can be seen through Avatar’s efforts of portraying European colonization, the message being based on how colonization has ruined ethnic and indigenous communities in today’s world.

Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, who’s also known for his roles in Terminator Salvation and Clash of the Titans. Seen from the first Avatar we are able to create high expectations for Worthingtons presentation in Avatar: The Way of Water, Worthington was able to easily fulfill those standards. Sam’s voice fit the visuals of his character Jake through his slight monotone and heavy passion. Neytiri is played by Zoe Saldana, a famously known actor through her marvel production, Guardians of the Galaxy. Saldana was able to bring a lot of heart to Neytiri through her powerful and realistic scenes.

The plot behind Avatar: The Way of Water has many surprises, and portrays multiple different lessons and ideas. With the film being 3 hours and 12 minutes, it does sound long yet it’s mesmerizing disregarding the time.The time was the perfect length to portray the story and was so entertaining that you’d leave the theater wanting to watch more.

With Sully as Kuei of Pandora, the chief, his main purpose is to protect his people and keep his family safe. Pandora is at a constant war with “Sky People”, the US army, the sky people often send multiple attacks and with those attacks they’ve lost many lives. The sky people being tired of their losing streak, they restart Colonel Quaritch’s original objective, turning into an avatar and immersing themselves into Pandora’s community to secretly attack and gain insider information on the Na’vi, a tribe the US army is targetting. As this old plan iterates Sully needs to prepare for war along with the warriors of his new home.
colonization, the message being based on how colonization has ruined ethnic and indigenous communities in today’s world.

Overall, Avatar: The Way of Water was an exceptional family film fit for all ages. The voice performances are excellent, the plot provides multiple plot twists. The length of the movie was perfect, and the plot consisted of many plot twists with an interesting story. The film provides us with a historical resemblance of colonization. I highly recommend Avatar: The Way of Water.