Avatar 2: The Way of the Water is now the 7th highest-grossing film of all time. With the resounding success of the movie, among both critics and fans, James Cameron has already begun turning his eyes towards the next lot of Avatar sequels. In fact, Avatar 3 is done filming, and the first cut has already been handed in at an estimated 9 hours long. But with the success of the first two movies in the franchise, Cameron needs to up his game to maintain the following for the next three movies currently in the pipeline. One of the biggest criticisms of Way of the Water was that it felt too similar to the original Avatar movie. Clearly, the sequels will need stronger storylines if they have any hope of reaching the heights of the first two.

There are already rumors floating around about what the next films may entail for Jake, Neytiri, their children. Cameron himself has admitted to wanting to expose a darker side to the Na’vi, and may feature a new tribe of the blue species who draw their connection and power from sources of fire and volcanic energy deep beneath the ground. These Na’vi, known as the Ash People, could take the story in a very different direction from previous renditions. There are further claims that Cameron would eventually like to see the storylines move away from Pandora, and involve a possible trip to Earth in order for the Na’vi people to survive an ever-growing and unknown threat. But will this be enough to keep fans hooked, or will the later films flop once they no longer hinge entirely on the beauty of Pandora?

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The Avatar movies, by their very nature, are meant to make humans think about their connection to the Earth. They focus on the allure and enchantment of a world where the people work in harmony with the nature around them. Then invite all sorts of amazing possibilities that can happen when people work together to protect the creatures and the plants that in turn provide food, safe homes, and protection from the warfare of humans. Up to this point, the movies have displayed stunning visual effects, from the bio-luminescence that runs through the forest and ties all Na’vi people to the spirits in the earth and their mother Eywa, to the amazing underwater creatures in their rhythmic dances to the sound of rhythmic echo-location.

Way of the Water Tulkans

The settings in the first two Avatar movies have undoubtedly been the biggest factor in their overwhelming success. Both films have received high praise and even awards for their stunning visual effects. The films' attention to the smallest, most beautiful details contribute towards making a world feel real, and beyond that, worth fighting to defend. But beyond the magnanimity of the CGI animation, the stories have both been about colonization and the devastating effects of war.

There were so many plot points that felt similar in the first and second movies, including the integration of Jake (and his family) into a whole new tribe of people. The Sully family had to learn new ways and adapt in order to survive, just as Jake did with the original Omaticaya clan. There was also the difficulty in learning to form Zahalu with new creatures, just as Jake did with the Ikran in the first film. There was the devastation of fighting against human mechanical warfare, led by a cruel and malicious Quatrich, and the death of innocent creatures. Even the ending is similar, in which Jake Sully’s avatar opens his eyes in a determined and dramatic close, showing the resolution to fight to protect what is theirs.

Netayam death

Most significantly, both films featured the loss of a major character. Each one gave their lives to save those they loved, but ultimately succumbed to the gunshot wound of the maniac who was determined to take everything from Jake Sully. In the first film was Grace, who was claimed by Eywa at the sacred tree in the Omatikaya grove. In the second, it was Jake and Neytiri’s first-born son Neteyam, who was shot protecting his younger brother. Whilst both had heart-wrenching moments, there is only so often that audience members can see the same scenes enacted by different characters, before they begin to lose their impact. Cameron will need to rethink these moments for the next installments.

The next movies in the series can no longer rely on the visual effects and the mirrors to indigenous struggles that James Cameron aimed for in Way of the Water. They need to become original storylines that expand upon the story of the characters, rather than just the epic locations of the world. They also need to show more depth than the typical "Na’vi = good, humans = bad" paradigm that has been perpetuated in the first two. An entire race of people cannot be homogenous, and must have layers if it is stand the test of authenticity. Some fans have even begun to feel that Cameron is copying too much of The Last Airbender, by focusing on earth, then on water, then on fire. The storylines will need to get much stronger in the next few movies, or Cameron might just find that he loses his most devout fans.

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