Avatar: The Way of Water is a smashing success. The new picture is a true surprise as a sequel to the highest-grossing film ever, which was derided for its predictable plot (and the relatively minor impact it had on pop culture). It's a sprawling epic about the nature of families, our connection with the natural world, and humanity's insatiable need for murder and pillage. Fans of the first film had to make allowances for writer and director James Cameron's clunky writing, but that is no longer the case with The Way of Water, owing to extra assistance from Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa (who both worked on the recent criminally under-loved Planet of the Apes trilogy).
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Perhaps most astounding is James Cameron's ability to create the finest high frame rate (HFR) film ever. Certain sequences are rendered 48 frames per second, giving them a smoother and more realistic gloss than the regular 24fps. This results in 3D action sequences that seem immensely lifelike – at times, HFR can make you forget that Pandora's beautiful alien species isn't real.
Unlike the handful of previous high frame rate films - The Hobbit trilogy, as well as Ang Lee's Gemini Man and Billy Lynn's Long Half-Time Walk - the Avatar sequel employs the technology in a novel manner. Rather than employing HFR throughout the film, Cameron uses it for key action moments, while slower conversation passages seem to be at 24fps. To do this, the whole film is shot at 48 frames per second, with the quieter parts using doubled frames to deceive your brain into viewing them at the standard theatrical frame rate.
If this seems perplexing, your brain may have a similar response while viewing the video. The Way of Water often transitions from hyper-real HFR to pseudo-24 fps in the same scenario – we counted approximately a dozen switches in a few minutes at one point. Cameron has been talking about this policy for years. In 2016, he said that HFR is "a tool, not a format," and he subsequently rejected Ang Lee's effort to use HFR for the whole duration of Gemini Man.
Cameron's two-pronged strategy for HFR is certain to be divisive. Even as someone who likes what the technology has to offer — immaculate 3D action sequences with no blurring or strobing – switching between high frame rate and 24 fps film takes some getting used to. My brain adjusted to the hyper-reality of HFR in 15 minutes with Gemini Man. I was nearly keeping an eye out for when the footage shifted in The Way of Water.
Despite the jarring format changes, The Way of Water's high frame rate film worked for us in the end. The video looks like a window into Pandora's planet at moments, with stunning views of verdant woods and rich waters. It gives all of Cameron's inventions, from giant flying fish-like animals to alien whales amazing language, and the appearance of living, breathing organisms. HFR also complements the sequel's more contemporary CG animation, making the Na'vi and their civilization seem more authentic.
Over the course of the film's three hours and twelve minutes, we were able to discern what the filmmaker was striving for, even if his ambition outstripped his grasp.
Avatar's re-release earlier this month similarly employed a mix of HFR and conventional material (in addition to brightening the picture and upscaling the film to 4K). But, despite grossing over $70 million on its own, there hasn't been much debate about how it used high frame rate film. You have a greater chance of seeing Avatar: The Way of Water the way Cameron intended. It will be shown in 4K, HFR, and 3D at all AMC Dolby Cinema sites as well as select IMAX cinemas.
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