An imaginative and immersive crowd pleaser, Avatar: The Way of Water is a 13-years-later sequel that was worth the wait. And, as with James Cameron’s celebrated 2009 predecessor, the big draw is once more the visual splendor on display. Yes, the special effects (in all their motion capture and intricate VFX glory) are awe inspiring from the very first frame to the very last. The immense detail and emotive believability make it so there are no issues getting lost in these character’s eyes. Plus, the vibrant colours, unique creature designs, and explosive action CGI are A-grade throughout - not like some “spotty” effects heavy superhero flick (you know the ones). And don’t dismiss the 3D offering as some cheap gimmick either. Cameron and company clearly made the film with 3D in mind, and it certainly elevates the viewing experience. And while the first film was accused of being mostly style of substance, this installment ups the emotional stakes, even if the character count is fairly overstuffed. It’s important to note that the film is well over the 3-hour mark, so some “lulls” are to be expected. Luckily, the climax is an action spectacle with lots of narrative payoffs. Could it have been shorter? Absolutely. But leave it to James Cameron to pull out all the storytelling stops to make it an entertaining rollercoaster of emotions. The plot points are all very familiar and universal in their scope mind you, so don’t expect a reinvention of the wheel or anything. The import thing is that it works. I guess those 3 other planned sequels aren’t such a bad idea after all.