Saw it last night and thought it was enjoyable. This is kind of how I break it down.
Visual Effects-A++++
Just a stunning as the first although the colors are a little flat this time around. Also seemed like the Na'avi people are more cartoonish. Also if you saw the first one you won't be as blown away by them because many of the scenes seem to be recreations of the first, except in the water.
Story/Plot-B-
Almost seemed to be a re-telling of the first, except in the water. There is a little difference but the underlying message of Corporations/Military Bad...Hippie, indigenous people Good. Not much character development as the characters from the first are still the same. Some sad parts as well. Overall I didn't feel this story regressed or progressed the Avatar Universe. It was just there.
Execution of story-C-/D+
This is where the movie just really stalls. As mentioned above it's the same message of corporate greed and the unempathetic motives of the military automatons. The main characters are still the same people. No real sense of timeline, etc. We do, however, get some new characters in the form of Sullys children but even they were the typical teenage angst tropes we have seen over and over again. And there were a couple of sub plots that ended up going nowhere. I DO think Cameron may bring those in into future sequels but they weren't necessary to this movie. In fact I would say they actually become a red herring and by the end of the movie you just don't care about them. Not to spoil too much about the movie but a couple of those subplots have to do with some of the new characters and where the hell they came from.
Overall-B/B-
The story is just not that great and definitely not as thought provoking or cathartic as the first since we've already been exposed to it. We were already invested and wanted to see new adventures for Jake and the Na'avi people but unfortunately we don't get that. But the technology and visual effects make it worth the watch. Don't waste uour money on the 3D either as I didn't think it enhanced yhe overall experience. It's worth the price of admission though.
Visual Effects-A++++
Just a stunning as the first although the colors are a little flat this time around. Also seemed like the Na'avi people are more cartoonish. Also if you saw the first one you won't be as blown away by them because many of the scenes seem to be recreations of the first, except in the water.
Story/Plot-B-
Almost seemed to be a re-telling of the first, except in the water. There is a little difference but the underlying message of Corporations/Military Bad...Hippie, indigenous people Good. Not much character development as the characters from the first are still the same. Some sad parts as well. Overall I didn't feel this story regressed or progressed the Avatar Universe. It was just there.
Execution of story-C-/D+
This is where the movie just really stalls. As mentioned above it's the same message of corporate greed and the unempathetic motives of the military automatons. The main characters are still the same people. No real sense of timeline, etc. We do, however, get some new characters in the form of Sullys children but even they were the typical teenage angst tropes we have seen over and over again. And there were a couple of sub plots that ended up going nowhere. I DO think Cameron may bring those in into future sequels but they weren't necessary to this movie. In fact I would say they actually become a red herring and by the end of the movie you just don't care about them. Not to spoil too much about the movie but a couple of those subplots have to do with some of the new characters and where the hell they came from.
Overall-B/B-
The story is just not that great and definitely not as thought provoking or cathartic as the first since we've already been exposed to it. We were already invested and wanted to see new adventures for Jake and the Na'avi people but unfortunately we don't get that. But the technology and visual effects make it worth the watch. Don't waste uour money on the 3D either as I didn't think it enhanced yhe overall experience. It's worth the price of admission though.
