christian movie review of avatar

Avatar: The Way of Water (Christian Movie Review)

Verdict: A spectacular display of classic cinematic storytelling.

About The Movie

After thirteen years, the lush planet of Pandora is once again open for visitors. The long-awaited sequel to Avatar is not only charged with continuing the story of the big blue Na’vi alien species but also with combating another narrative—the popular internet talking point that despite being the most successful movie in history, Avatar is irrelevant and overrated. Well, mission accomplished on both fronts. Avatar: The Way of Water is a triumphant return, a spectacular display of classic cinema and a masterclass in filmmaking by director James Cameron.

Before taking the plunge, family audiences should be aware of some content elements. The movie maintains its PG-13 rating by the (blue) skin of its teeth, with plenty of juuust covered alien flesh on display, consistent profanity, and a heavy focus on pantheistic spirituality. More on those elements below. Simply taken as a movie, however, The Way of Water soars as high as the majestic floating islands of Pandora.

As with the original film, the story has a simple plot. The “sky people” (aka people from Earth) return to the planet of Pandora to harvest its valuable resources and get revenge on Jake Sully. Leaving the forests, Sully is forced to take refuge in the seafaring Na’vi tribes and learn their ways, as a forest Na’vi in water and metaphorical fish out of water. But when the war eventually finds him, he must lead the people to fight back.

If all this sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because, to a degree, it is largely a recontextualization and repackaging of the original story. James Cameron leans into broad-brush, classical “hero’s journey” storytelling. The plot may not be complex, but it has a mythic quality. While the basic story beats are similar to the original, the central difference is that it is now a story about family. No longer just star-crossed lovers, Jake and his wife, Nettiri, must confront the threat as parents. While some viewers might be unimpressed by the similar plot beats, having the characters take a comparable journey in a drastically different stage of life is an effective way to explore the central theme: the family as a fortress of strength (see below).

Visually, the film is stunning. I saw the movie in 3D on a large Dolby screen, and I’d be hard-pressed to recall a more immersive experience in a theater. It’s not just empty spectacle; there is beauty as well. Almost every scene showcases the sublime natural beauty of the planet, with perhaps the most believable CGI ever put to film. A movie is not a book; the visuals are as much a part of the experience as the story, and few—if any—films have achieved such a masterful and artful level as this. Particularly once the story shifts to the ocean locations, both above water and below, the film is spectacular to watch.

The movie is essentially a war film, and almost the entire final hour is non-stop action and battle scenes. At the same time, much of the 3+ hour runtime is allocated to purposeful exploration of both the world and its inhabitants. Avatar: The Way of Water is the type of movie that simply doesn’t often get made. An original epic that captures the best of both classic storytelling and cutting-edge visuals. It may not be as novel as the original , but the sequel surpasses its predecessor in many ways and is a worthy continuation of the story.

For Consideration

Profanity: 1 F-Bomb and frequent other profanities (“s—,” “d—,” “b—ch,” etc.). Several religious exclamations (“Jesus,” “Good God”). There are also several other rude/crude words or name calling.

Violence: Many characters are killed during mostly bloodless battle scenes (shot with arrows, slammed against walls, consumed by explosions, etc.). The only gruesome death is when a character has his arm severed (he is tossed from a boat and both the man and the limb are shown flying through the air and landing in the water).

Sexuality: Most of the aliens wear scanty tribal outfits that reveal all but the most private parts and leave the backside bare (although they are more or less obscured by the aliens’ tails). It’s mostly done in the vein of National Geographic rather than as highly sexualized, but there is plenty of blue alien flesh on display. The one unfortunate exception occurs at the beginning, when one such alien is shown floating in a liquid-filled medical tank, fully nude, with an exposed breast and nipple briefly visible. One male human character essentially wears a loincloth for the duration of the film.

Spirituality: The Na’vi have a pantheistic religion. Characters pray to the “Great Mother” and commune with the spiritual entity by connecting to “spirit trees.” While connected to the trees, characters are given visions of a sort of quasi-afterlife in which they speak with deceased characters. Characters talk about how all of nature is connected, and they perform various religious rituals (more on the faith elements below).

Engage The Film

Family as a fortress.

Avatar: The Way of Water is a story about families. Almost every storyline in some way ties back to this theme. It is refreshing for a Hollywood film to focus so directly on the importance of family. Whereas the first Avatar was largely a Romeo and Juliet tale of forbidden lovers coming together, The Way of Water charts the seldom-explored Hollywood path by exploring how that initial relationship matures over time and how the romantic pair grows into a family.

An opening voiceover by Jake Sully declares, “Happiness is simple . . . but the thing about happiness is that it can vanish in a heartbeat.” Family is what matters, where true happiness is found, but how does a family protect itself from the internal and external forces that try to separate them? That’s the question the rest of the story probes.

On two occasions, Jake muses, “Fathers protect their family. It’s what gives them meaning.” Jake had no fear charging into battle in the first movie. Now, with four children to look out for, he views life differently. He is less a reckless warrior on the attack and more a protective guardian willing to sacrifice everything for those he loves.

Two other quotes establish this theme: “This family is our fortress,” and the family’s mantra, “Sullys stick together.” While much of the story is about the protective role of parents and what they do to shelter their children, it also shows how the children stand up for each other. Brothers learn what it means to be brothers, despite their differences, and are also protective of their sister when she is being mistreated by young males from the other tribe.

There is also a pivotal element of children saving their parents. There is a powerful scene at the end of the movie in which both parents are trapped and defeated before their children guide them to safety—daughter leading mother and son leading father. The Sully family is far from perfect (Jake is overly hard on one son, among other struggles), but they believe in each other and fight to stay together.

Faith and Spirituality as Strength

The spiritual elements in the film can be approached in two ways. Focusing on the specifics, the pantheistic spirituality is clearly not consistent with a biblical worldview. It brings to mind the scripture, “They…worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator” ( Romans 1:25 ). While the film does not necessarily espouse spirituality outside of the fictional world of Pandora (James Cameron is not suggesting that a Great Mother embodies spirit trees and all living things on Earth), Christians should recognize the ways that the religion is inconsistent with biblical truth.

On a broader level, there are some aspects Christians can affirm. While the faith in question is clearly not Christian, there is a theme about the power of faith and belief. There is a moment when one of the Sully children has a “religious episode.” One of the doctors (a human in a Na’vi avatar) attempts to explain it away as “frontal lobe epilepsy,” but as the audience knows, the doctor’s assessment is not true. Later, her spiritual connection is put on full display when she rescues her family in a time of need.

There is a motif all throughout that what makes the inhabitants of Pandora strong is their faith and spirituality, in stark contrast to the non-religious and more scientifically minded human colonizers. Christians with no tolerance for fictional stories containing non-biblical faith are unlikely to appreciate the spiritual elements in this movie. But for Christians who instead look to the bigger theme of how characters wrestle with faith and spirituality, there are perhaps some interesting themes to explore.

Daniel holds a PhD in "Christianity and the Arts" from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author/co-author of multiple books and he speaks in churches and schools across the country on the topics of Christian worldview, apologetics, creative writing, and the Arts.

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Avatar: The Way of Water

Thirteen years after the blockbuster release of Avatar , James Cameron takes viewers back to the planet of Pandora and the Na’vi people in Avatar: The Way of Water . Since the events of the first film, Jake Sully is now living fully as his avatar, along with his companion Neytiri and Neteyam, Lo’ak, Tuk, and adopted teenage daughter Kiri, the biological child of Dr. Grace Augustine. They live a quiet, peaceful life until the planet once again comes under siege from “The Sky People” who want to harvest its resources and trap the indigenous population, along with an elite resurrection squad of soldiers targeting Jake specifically. Jake and Neytiri now face the choice of protecting their family and their people or disappearing. Through their journey, they learn of new tribes, customs, and creatures, as well as learning how to function as a family. They prefer peace, but when war comes to their doorstep, they rally together to defend themselves, delivering a heartfelt and thrilling adventure for viewers.

Dove Review

In the years since the big battle where Jake surrendered his human form and took his place as a Na’vi, he has settled with Neytiri and their children in the forest among the Omatikaya clan. They are joined by friendly scientist Norm and Spider, a human child left behind who is close friends with the Sully children. The Resource Development Administration (RDA) once again targets the planet for its resources, forcing Jake to lead a resistance against it. But the RDA has a secret weapon, a resurrected, cloned to avatar version of Jake’s nemesis, Colonel Miles Quaritch, and his fighting men, intent to eradicate the Sully family. Faced with endangering their clan and family, Jake and Neytiri make a long journey to live among the Metkayina, a coastal, more amphibian clan living on a spread of islands. The children immediately have a rough time fitting in and learning the customs, while Jake and Neytiri just want to fit in and live peaceably. Their middle son, Lo’ak, in particular, faces intense struggles, sending him to the ocean to befriend a new whale-like tulkun creature, Payakan, who he communicates with.

Minor Spoilers follow:

Col. Quaritch and his team track the family to the islands and begin hunting them and the tulkun in hopes of drawing out the Metkayina tribe, who revere the creatures. Spider, who was captured in the forest, becomes a reluctant guide to help find the family, but his allegiances remain to the Na’vi over his own human counterparts. Jake and his family enlist their new friends in their efforts to defend their children and preserve their way of life.

Every frame of Avatar: The Way of Water is expertly crafted, intentionally made for high-definition 3D rendering. In fact, so much of it feels like peering in a window at a world beyond the viewers’ reach. It is a next-level accomplishment from a director who continues to challenge himself. Also, at more than three hours’ length, the film lets stories and characters breathe and not feel rushed. There is so much time devoted to the family fitting into their new surroundings and caring for each other that viewers may sometimes forget the eventual war that’s coming. When the time comes to fight, like the scenes of relationship building, it’s intense and memorable, guided by the man who gave audiences epic sequences in Titanic and Avatar .

Family is the theme of Avatar: The Way of Water , specifically how Jake earns his place among the Na’vi and how he and Neytiri raise their children to be leaders among their people. They lean on each and learn from each other and even in their rough patches, they always return to a place of respect and honor. They also ingratiate themselves with their new tribe by their innocence and humility. In a larger sense, the tribe also represents family and community, and it triumphs over those who would wish to usurp it.

The language of the film is very much in line with the original, with many PG-13 profanities thrown around, with an “F” word and others such as “a—hole,” “sh-t” and “b-tch.” Many characters and creatures are in peril and even killed, either by the soldiers or the elements, but they are not explicit or gory.

Even though Avatar was a landmark release, its sequel, The Way of Water builds on that and surpasses it in scope and story. It dives deeper into the mythology of Pandora and its inhabitants, giving more of a human connection for viewers. Because of that, the stakes feel much higher when the final, nail-biting battle arrives.

Dove Rating Details

No overt Christian message. The religion on Pandora is integrated throughout nature, through plants that respond to human contact and animal type creatures the Na’vi can communicate with.

Jake and his family are positive role models, banding together when the time is right and looking out for those who can’t defend themselves. They are regarded as leaders for good reason.

Crude and obscene language throughout film (f-ck, sh-t, a—hole, b-tch, etc).

Characters frequently engage in battle, with dire non-explicit consequences such as loss of life, and creatures being speared.

The Na’vi are CGI creatures but are dressed in tribal gear, such as loincloths and draped clothing. Spider, the human teen left behind, spends the film in a loincloth.

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Movie Review: ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’

NEW YORK – Given that its predecessor remains the highest-grossing feature of all time, it may seem surprising that it has taken 13 years to release the sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” (20th Century). Is this second sci-fi epic worth the wait? The answer will largely depend on what priorities movie fans bring with them to the theater as well as what concerns the film’s content may inspire in them.

In crafting his follow-up, director James Cameron, the auteur of the original, shares writing credit with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Their script returns viewers to the fictional moon Pandora and continues the story of the kickoff’s two principal characters, the avatar of Earth-born ex-Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his Pandoran warrior wife, Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña).

Having chosen, for love of Neytiri, to continue life as a hybrid of human consciousness and a body in the likeness of the Na’vi – the 10-foot-tall, blue-skinned natives of Pandora – Jake has become the patriarch of a thriving family.

Besides sons Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) and Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), the clan includes adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) and, informally, human hanger-on Spider (Jack Champion).

When earthly intruders, an earlier wave of whom were defeated and sent packing at the end of Avatar,” return to Pandora in a renewed attempt to exploit its natural resources, Jake becomes the leader of the indigenous resistance. His high-profile role makes him a target, once again, for ruthless Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) with whom he clashed in the first outing.

Torn between his urge to continue fighting and his fears for those in his care, Jake makes the decision to go into voluntary exile. After an arduous journey, the Sullys find shelter in a distant set of islands occupied by a tribe, known as the Metkayina, whose lifestyle is centered on the ocean. The locals are led by matriarch and shaman Ronal (Kate Winslet) and her husband Tonowari (Cliff Curtis).

As Kiri explores her mystical powers and hapless Lo’ak struggles to overcome his status as a perpetual disappointment to his parents, the technically innovative visual flair that helped propel “Avatar” to lasting preeminence at the box office is present in abundance across a three-hour-plus running time. Indeed, the luxuriant aquatics on display are such as might have left the late Jacques Cousteau eating his heart out.

Meanwhile, Cameron and his screenplay collaborators establish themes connecting the proceedings to environmental issues, corporate greed, the fate of Native Americans and the Vietnam War. Their points, however, are conveyed in an excessively earnest tone and via some clunky dialogue.

More significant are the problematic religious ingredients included in their narrative. Villainous Quaritch, for one thing, has been scientifically resurrected from the dead. Additionally, the Na’vi engage in a form of pantheistic goddess worship directed at a deity called Eywa. Given that such a cult is obviously at odds with Christian faith, “Way of Water” is not fit fare for the impressionable.

As for those old and well-catechized enough to dismiss Eywa as eyewash, they’ll certainly be treated to a spectacle rarely rivalled. Yet, whether the mere act of lingering in the chambers of the sea, to paraphrase poet T.S. Eliot, will fully satisfy their cinematic aspirations – given that the depths of Pandora’s oceans are not matched by a profundity of either emotion or insight – will remain a matter of taste.

Look for: Clan solidarity and love for nature.

Look out for: Nonscriptural beliefs and practices, stylized but intense and momentarily disturbing combat, partial nudity, at least one use each of profanity and rough language, a few milder oaths, about a dozen crude terms, several crass expressions and an obscene gesture. The Catholic Moviegoer’s guidance is M – suitable for mature viewers. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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Avatar: Movie Review

Jesse Carey

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Watching Avatar , it’s easy to see why it is probably the most expensive movie ever made. That may be an unusual way to start off a review, but the sheer visual magnitude of the new movie from James Cameron makes everything else—plot, character development, dialogue, message—seem secondary. Though it’s being billed as a “3-D” film, our idea of 3-D movies don’t do it justice. Forget the headache-inducing paper glasses and gimmicky scenes of stuff popping out of the screen at you; this is a completely new kind of movie experience.

There are rumors that Avatar took almost 15 years to make—this is only sort of true. In actuality, the technology necessary to make the film reality is what has been years in the making. Cameron and his technical team actually helped develop a completely new kind of camera, one with two lenses, that mimics the way the human eye interprets spatial dimension. While watching the movie, you feel as though fictional world of Pandora (the distant planet the movie takes place on) is actually in the same room—not just an image being projected onto a movie screen.

The movie tells the story of a disabled former Marine named Jake Sully who has been recruited to take part in the very expensive “Avatar” project on Pandora. Along with being the destination to find the most valuable natural resource in the universe, Pandora is also home to a native population of humanoid creatures called the Na’vi. (They’re the 10-foot-tall, scantily clad blue aliens you’ve seen in all the commercials and posters). In order to help a massive corporation’s mining operations go smoothly, they’ve recruited scientist to develop “Avatars” to help them learn, and eventually negotiate with, the Na’vi. Essentially, Avatars are the bioengineered bodies of Na’vi that can be controlled by humans when they are connected into computer-operated brain-scan devices that look like high-tech tanning beds.

Jake, who goes between the world of the Na’vi in his avatar and the corporate outpost of the mining company in his own body, is being convinced to serve the heavy-handed political desires of the security firm used to protect it by the evil Colonel Miles Quaritch. Despite promises of fortune by the Colonel in exchange for military intelligence, Jake soon becomes immersed in Na’vi culture. It’s here where the story begins to mirror a Pocahontas-tale of love and colonization: he becomes close to the princesses (after being saved by here), begins to sympathize with the native population, and starts to question his own values in light of the community he meets in the new world.

The Na’vi are an intensely spiritual community. They believe that all of nature is connected through an unseen deity called Eywa. To the Na’vi, all life is valuable, and by connecting with life in the natural world, they can know their god in a deeper way. (And I mean “connecting” literally. They each have a ponytail-like spiritual appendage that allows them to tie into the “tree of souls” to pray).

Though the Na’vi practice a completely fictional religion, it’s clear that Cameron took cues from real-life faith ideas (including some from Christianity). There are constant references to being “re-born” and born again. There’s a scene where small, glowing seeds from the tree of souls descend upon and encompass Jake that seems like a reference to the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The idea of the Na’vi’s ability to connect to the spiritual world physically is also an interesting metaphor about the reality of prayer. But, there’s also plenty of other worldviews mixed in. Transcendentalism, a new ageish reliance on nature and energy, and even shaman-led chanting all make up elements of the Na’vi religion.

But while Jake and the audience start to understand the delicate way of Na’vi life, the conflict becomes clear as humans begin to destroy parts of the planet to mine in search of resources. Here is where Cameron’s metaphor for pre-emptive war and colonialism get a little heavy-handed.

Yes, a look at Western history reveals a startling reality about the horrible violence and depravation of rights that greedy societies are capable of. (And this is a subject that there is value in looking at further—if for no other reason than to prevent evils of the past from being repeated.) But, obvious references to current military conflicts come off as preachy, stereotypical and cheapen an interesting storyline. Taking a political stand isn’t always a bad thing, but because Avatar lacks any attempt at nuance or moral-conflict, it over-simplifies its message to the point where it discredits itself.

Unfortunately, this distracts from the broader story—one that could be more compelling if it allowed the audience think for itself. The larger metaphor could be seen an allegory for conflicts within the context of Western history, and is one that is worth exploring (and is done more effectively in films like Dances with Wolves and Terence Mallick’s New World ). As Focus on the Family’s Plugged Online put it, “Cameron’s message in Avatar is something like this: Genocidal plunderers are devoid of spiritual enlightenment and driven by their compulsive lust for another people’s resources.”

Overall, Avatar is visual masterpiece with lots spiritual, social, and political undertones that though, they come across somewhat heavy-handed, do offer some interesting consequences for Christians.

About The Author

Jesse Carey is a contributing writer for CBN.com and has a background in entertainment and pop-culture writing. He offers his insight on music, movies, TV, trends and current events from a unique perspective that examines what implications the latest news has on Christians. More

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Avatar: the Way of Water

Review of the movie.

by Andrew Sibley

Warning! This review contains spoilers .

The Avatar blue-giants are back on the cinema screen with the first of four planned sequels. Avatar: the Way of Water was released in December 2022, and in spite of its epic 3 hours 12 minutes duration, it has proved immensely popular. Estimated to have cost over US$400m in production costs, it has already generated a global revenue of over $2 billion for the Disney Corporation and currently ranks as the fourth all-time highest grossing movie. 1 Part of the costs was in developing new computer-enhanced techniques to capture the many stunning underwater scenes.

As with the first Avatar film, released in 2009 (see Avatar movie review by Carl Wieland ), the cast includes Sam Worthington, who plays Jake Sully, and Zoe Saldaña in the role of the Na’vi princess Neytiri. The ‘new’ evolutionary religious theme of the original Avatar movie continues here and readers are encouraged to read the aforementioned review as well.

Christians thinking of viewing Avatar: the Way of Water should be aware of the many ways in which it portrays things contrary to a biblical worldview. The film has a PG-13 rating in the US, 12 in the UK suggesting the film is unsuitable for younger children. Christian parents may also want to consider whether it is appropriate for mid-teens. The main action moves from the forest to the ocean, but this science fiction film continues the themes of the first movie: transhumanism, evolution, and the exploitation of the environment. It also encourages a New Age or neo-pagan view of reality, with influence from Eastern religions—The Na’vi people worship a mother goddess, Eywa, who has forbidden stone building, metal working, and use of wheeled transport. In Hinduism, an avatar is the physical manifestation of a god, while in the form adopted by the West it is a reference to the action of taking a virtual reality character in a video game. The company Meta (Facebook) wants us all to take up our own avatar in its virtual world. 2

Overview of the film

Without giving too much away, the sky people (‘evil’ humans) return to Pandora because Earth is dying and they wish to colonise the new planet and tame its wilderness. The nature-loving natives, the Na’vi, led by converted human avatar Jake Sully, are hostile and wage a guerrilla war against the invaders. In response, the human security forces send agents who have been transformed into Na’vi ‘recombinants’ (avatars implanted with the memories of dead soldiers).

Events unfold that lead to Jake, Neytiri and their family fleeing across the ocean to the Metkayina sea people, who seem to be modelled on South Pacific islanders 3 ( Moriori hunter gatherers ). Members of this blue-green, tattooed clan spend a lot of time in the water where individuals have ‘evolved’ three-fingered hands, which are inferred to be better adapted for swimming. This community also has a close (symbiotic) connection with various fantastic aquatic animals, much as the Na’vi were portrayed as having with pterosaur-like creatures in the first movie. One of the new animals is depicted in similar form to long-necked plesiosaurs, another is like giant flying fish with fierce-looking jaws and teeth.

Some of the leaders of the clan are also able to connect with whale-like creatures, the Tulkun. Unfortunately, certain ‘whales’ are hunted by the new arrivals because of a rare and valuable brain extract, called amrita (another Sanskrit word), that greatly prolongs human life—it is the elixir of youth. Yes, ‘save-the-whales’ is one of the main messages the film delivers (though creationists would not disagree with wise whale conservation).

Encouraging sentimental environmentalism

Like the first film Avatar: the Way of Water depicts a rather simplistic, and sentimental environmentalism. While the Na’vi have a close bond with some animals, they are still shown killing fish to eat. In terms of a moral message for viewers, we might ask; why are some vertebrates more valuable than others? The lesson seems ambiguous within the New Age worldview. The hunter-gatherer existence is romanticised in the film, while the human colonisers and developers are shown in a bad light. But in reality, even hunter-gatherers still need to eat by killing animals. Also, bugs, insects, and snakes bite or sting, sometimes with fatal consequences, but these things are overlooked as, presumably, they would interfere with the simplistic ‘live close to nature’ theme.

Such a pre-industrialised existence is hazardous, and can lead to a shortened life span. In the West, the development that occurred through the industrial revolution led to an increase in life expectancy through better sanitation, and control of diseases. That isn’t to say that there aren’t ongoing problems with industrialisation—such as the burning of fossil fuels that causes increased air pollution—but access to cheap carbon fuels has benefitted humanity by allowing people to rise out of poverty (see A biblical and scientific approach to climate change ). The Christian approach to the environment is one of careful stewardship, managing the land for the benefit of human communities. This applies to food production, housing, and industry. Land may also be set aside for conservation purposes (see The root of our ecological crisis ).

Colonisation

The film also offers a rather simplistic critique of colonisation. In his review of the first Avatar movie, Carl Wieland pointed out the similarities with the story of Pocahontas . Director James Cameron has also admitted that the earlier Avatar film was in effect “ Dances with Wolves in space.” 4 In that light, the metaphor of the second film may be considered to be a further comment on the arrival of Europeans to North America over the last few hundred years, driving out the native Americans. Some of the first settlers to America were religious Puritans and dissenters who wanted to start a new way of life, away from the fighting and persecution in Europe. However, they were joined by those who wished to make a profit. Many people followed in the wake of the initial colonisation of America, searching for a new life. As social and political events unfolded, this was often to the detriment of those indigenous peoples who already lived off the land.

European colonisation also affected many other parts of the world. Western powers conquered large parts of the planet in past centuries, with the justifying purpose being to spread civilisation, commerce, and Christianity. 5 Unfortunately, many of the actions of the colonisers were far from civilised or Christian, instead descending into selfish exploitation of indigenous people and their wealth of minerals and other raw materials. Sadly, Christianity was then seen in a bad light by indigenous populations, because religious authorities were perceived to be giving approval to exploitation and the abuse of power. In that sense colonisation actually undermined the Christian witness. In contrast, the twentieth century generally saw a planned decolonisation, and a growing understanding and concern for the needs of native people.

The pressure for European colonisation was also due to a growing population, the presence of poverty, and the fear of starvation. A crowded population in Europe required access to more resources in order to live, and the colonisation of new sparsely-populated lands was arguably inevitable (there is insufficient space to discuss the pros and cons of colonialism here, but we shouldn’t assume it was all bad). 6 In the Avatar film we are also told that the reason for the colonisation of Pandora was due to Earth becoming unhabitable—so should the Na’vi have been more welcoming? The film had little sympathy for the needs of human beings, not that the invaders acted with good conduct of course (perhaps the requirements of humanity will be addressed in future sequels). We should note, however, that simplistic and sentimental approaches to the environment and to colonisation can lead to the devaluing of other human beings.

Film quality and final comments

The quality of the computer graphics is excellent, and the scenery of Pandora is visually stunning. While portraying the simple hunter-gatherer lifestyle in a sympathetic light—a people living in peace and harmony with nature—the film glamorises power, violence, and guerrilla warfare. On the plus side, Jake and Neytiri present good family values to their children (apart from the violence), who were largely respectful, even when struggling with self-esteem, rebellion, and sibling rivalry.

Regrettably, one of the characters blasphemes at one point, which is, in any case, especially out of place on a fictional planet called Pandora. Along with the promotion of a neo-pagan, New Age view of reality, the film also shows some of the characters connecting with plants and entering altered states of consciousness. Unfortunately, this might encourage impressionable young people to consider the taking of psychedelic plant-based drugs to be a positive thing.

There is a fundamental difference between the pantheistic worldview portrayed in this film, and that of biblical Christianity. Christian believers come to know and worship God as Father, the one who is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Christians have been called to be good stewards of the earth; not to argue for unrestrained exploitation of the planet, but neither to argue that we should turn humanity back to a hunter-gatherer existence. Good stewardship implies having managerial responsibility of our natural environment, firstly for the benefit of human flourishing, but also seeking to provide protection for the ecosystem as far as possible.

References and notes

Box office comparison for all-time top-grossing films, the-numbers.com; accessed 31 January 2023. Return to text .
Introducing the Meta avatars store, about.fb.com/news/2022/06/introducing-the-meta-avatars-store, 20 June 2022; accessed 31 January 2023. Return to text .
Chery, S., Indigenous people slam Avatar (again) for tropes and inaccuracies, washingtonpost.com, 20 December 2022 Return to text .
Boucher, G., James Cameron: Yes, ‘Avatar’ is ‘Dances with Wolves’ in space… sorta, latimes.com, 14 August 2009. Return to text .
These three—civilisation, commerce and Christianity—have often been used to justify colonialism. The McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics and Public Life, Christianity, Commerce and Civilisation? Christianity and Empire revisited: historical and contemporary perspective, on-Line conference, Faculty Of Theology & Religion, University Of Oxford, 27–28 May 2021. Return to text .
Discussing the pros and cons of colonialism is controversial. Oxford Professor Nigel Biggar has recently been refused publication of a book by Bloomsbury ( Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning ) because it discusses positives as well as negatives; that for instance “…the British Empire learnt from its errors and was increasingly propelled by humanitarian and liberal ideals, most notably through the abolition and suppression of slavery.” Ellson, A., Nigel Biggar hits out at Bloomsbury over ‘cancelled’ book on Empire, thetimes.co.uk, 28 January 2023. Return to text .

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Apologetics
Spiritual Growth

The Wordview Behind Avatar and a Christian Perspective on Movies / Film

I n case you missed it, Avatar is breaking all sorts of records (worldwide) at the box office. As many have pointed out, very cool special effects, and 3-D. But what is the worldview embedded or displayed in this film. Worldviews are not expressed in pop-culture as propositions in a syllogistic argument; rather they are “incarnated” and show you a way to be human and think about your world. Every artistic from does this. We aren’t merely entertained at the movies, we are instructed–whether that is fireproof , invictus , or avatar . So it is always appropriate to ask what did I learn (consciously or subconsciously) by viewing this film?

For example, here is what Cameron said at the film’s London premiere: “We have this tendency to just take what we want. And that’s how we treat the natural world as well. There’s this sense of we’re here, we’re big, we’ve got the guns, we’ve got the technology, therefore we’re entitled to every damn thing on this planet. That’s not how it works, and we’re going to find out the hard way if we don’t wise up and start seeking a life that’s in balance with the natural life on Earth.” (for more click here)

Here is a review that my friend Sean McDowell (teacher, author, and apologist) wrote about the Worldview of Avatar and then below is a resource for watching film in a whole new way.

“The year is 2154, and humans are attempting to mine the valuable mineral unabtanium from the planet Pandora. Humans have virtually destroyed their own planet and desperately need extra-planetary resources to survive. Jake Sully, a wounded marine, is assigned to infiltrate the seemingly hostile indigenous aliens (the Na’vi) to win their trust and talk them into relocating their colony, which happens to be situated right atop a massive amount of unabtanium.

If he can successfully infiltrate the Na’vi people and negotiate their relocation, then the humans will not have to force them to move through military intervention (those of you who are observant already notice the political insinuations about the U.S. allegedly only going to war in Iraq for oil).

To infiltrate the Na’vi, Jake transposes his consciousness into an Avatar body under the supervision of Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver).

Once inside Pandora, Jake meets Neytiri, a female alien who saves his life and introduces him to the rest of the Na’vi, who eventually accept him as one of their own. Neytiri plays the role of the mentor (ala Obi-One Kanobi, Mr. Miyagi, and Gandolf) who shows him all the ways of the Na’vi.

Through his experience with the Na’vi, Jake’s loyalty begins to change. He becomes a true Na’vi, which raises the question: which side will Jake choose? Avatar really tells the same story as movies such as The Last Samurai, Brother Bear, and Dances with Wolves—where a foreigner has preconceptions about an “alien” culture, yet upon spending time with them and learning their ways, realizes that his new “home” is truly the more benevolent, and that his original ways were really inhumane.

From the perspective of a 3-D film experience, Avatar is truly remarkable. I completely forgot that I was wearing glasses for most of the film! This is a huge step beyond the 3-D glasses with red and blue lenses (anyone remember Jaws 3?). The scenery on Pandora is nothing short of breathtaking. There are floating mountains, beautiful water falls, fascinating creatures, and luminescent plants that react to touch (Heaven?). Even though I think the film has potential to cause considerable spiritual confusion, I can’t help but give Cameron credit for his storytelling and creativity. Now, on to the worldview analysis…

ANTI-CAPITALISM

Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) plays a slimy, sleazy, flippant corporate “pig” only interested in the monetary bottom-line. His character is reminiscent of Paul Reiser from Aliens. He has no concern for the life on Pandora and is gladly willing to destroy them to obtain unabtanium unless a diplomatic solution can be reached. At one point Parker says to Grace, “What do they want? We’ve tried money and education, but nothing works.” The inference is clear: these nature-loving creatures don’t want anything that Western corporate capitalist culture has to offer. In fact, it’s the capitalists who need to learn a lesson from the Na’vi.

It might be possible to chalk this character up as a criticism of corporate greed rather than a criticism of capitalism per se. However, I’m just not convinced because this portrayal seems to go along too consistently with the anti-capitalist fervor that has been resonating in our culture recently. It’s certainly ironic that Avatar has a central character negatively portraying (and stereotyping) capitalists when it’s already grossed over 1 billion dollars! But this is a minor theme in the movie.

PANTHEISTIC SPIRITUALITY

It would be virtually impossible to miss the not-so-subtle pantheism that pervades the entire film. The Na’vi are spiritually connected to their entire world, including the plants and animals. Their home is a humongous tree, which is clearly representative of the idea of Mother Earth. The Na’vi are so connected to nature that they say of prayer of gratitude, and sometimes even cry, when they kill an animal for food. The audience is given a virtual lesson in pantheism while Neytiri mentors Jake into their way of life. A pantheistic explanation is given for EVERY aspect of life including what they eat, how they pray, how they worship the planet, and how they relate to each other. Avatar is filled with rituals that are overseen by a Shaman (there is a scene of tree worship that is so realistic my wife almost walked out. In her words, it was demonic).

The pantheistic worldview doesn’t simply play a background role to make the film plausible, like the Force does in Star Wars. Rather, pantheistic spirituality is literally preached to the audience through the characters and their interactions.

But there is a subtle difference that sets it apart from other pantheistic movies (such as Lion King, Pocahontas, or Star Wars).

SCIENTIFIC NATURALISM

While Avatar clearly portrays pantheistic spirituality in a positive light, I think it may be subtly subverting it with a naturalistic worldview. The naturalist in the film is clearly Grace Augustine (whose name is taken from St. Augustine who wrote, “The City of God”). She is the scientist who is constantly looking for a natural explanation for their spiritual behavior. While the Na’vi talk in spiritual terms (they describe “seeing” as looking into a person’s depth), there does seem to be a physical explanation lurking beneath all their behavior. Below the ground are cords that connect all the trees on the planet, like a giant network of computers. To “connect” with the animals, the Na’vi have to physically connect their hair to the animals’ manes. And to hear from their ancestors, they have to physically connect to the trees, not unlike connecting to the Internet. This is significantly different from the Star Wars films, for example, in which Luke, Yoda, and Darth Vader are capable of manipulating reality from a distance.

So, what is the moral of the story? Here’s my take: People ought to forsake greedy Western capitalism and embrace pantheistic spirituality, even though such practices have a perfectly natural explanation.

There is much more that could be discussed about in this film (e.g., environmentalism, or the way it portrays the military). I had great discussions in my classes this past week and have had many discussions with other young people as well. Even though this movie will likely cause considerable spiritual confusion, it provides a great opportunity for parents and youth workers to engage young people in worldview conversations…..” ( Read the rest on his blog )

For an excellent training guide on how to watch films with discernment, see Hollywood Worldviews by film-maker Brian Godawa.

Product Description

“Do you watch movies with your eyes open?

You buy your tickets and concessions, and you walk into the theater. Celluloid images flash at twenty-four frames per second, and the hypnotic sequence of moving pictures coaxes you to suspend disbelief and be entertained by the implausible.

Unfortunately, many often suspend their beliefs as well, succumbing to subtle lessons in how to behave, think and even perceive reality. Do you find yourself hoping that a sister will succeed in seducing her sibling’s husband, that a thief will get away with his crime, that a serial killer will escape judgment? Do you, too, laugh at the bumbling priest and seethe at the intolerant and abusive evangelist? Do you embrace worldviews that infect your faith and then wonder, after your head is clear, whether your faith can survive the infection?

In this thoroughly revised and updated edition of his popular book, Brian Godawa guides you through the place of redemption in film, the tricks screenwriters use to communicate their messages, and the mental and spiritual discipline required for watching movies. Hollywood Worldviews helps you enter a dialogue with Hollywood that leads to a happier ending, one that keeps you aware of your culture and awake to your faith.”

James Cameron has a formula – Titanic meets Avatar

Water has no beginning and no end. The sea connects all things. This is the way of water. In this Avatar: The Way of Water Christian Movie Review, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

First, this is a long-awaited sequel. It is an intense movie and fully deserves a PG-13 rating. Since we have waited so long for this movie, we expect it to be a masterpiece. While the movie has some visually stunning visuals, scenery, and amazing underwater sequences, it also has extreme violence, fighting, and death. Can Avatar: The Way of Water live up to the hype of the last 16 years?

Finally, to know how I conduct reviews, you can read my movie review guidelines .

Some flashing light sequences or patterns may affect photosensitive viewers.

Christian Movie Review of Avatar: The Way of Water

Studio synopsis:.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” reaches new heights and explores undiscovered depths as James Cameron returns to the world of Pandora in this emotionally-packed action adventure. Set more than a decade after events of the first film, this breathtaking movie launches the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and the Sully kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.

My Synopsis:

The last time we saw the Na’vi was sixteen years ago, in the previous film Avatar 1. The Sky People have left Pandora. Now the Sky People are back. Because of this, the Sully family cannot continue to stay with the Omatikaya clan in the forest.

Sully, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and their family go to the Metkayina Clan, the Reef People, to seek asylum. However, Jake Sully soon learns that the only way to protect his family is to face their biggest threat head-on.

AVATAR: The Way of Water Christian Review – What Parents Want to Know

One use of the f-word, Additionally, B-tch, son of a b-tch, h-ll, a$s, a$shole, dumba$s, sh-t, d-mn, buttholes, “well I’ll be d-mned,” dipsh-t, g-dd-mn, batsh-t, holy sh-t, b-stards, and d-mnit are some of the language used in this movie. Obviously, the foul language in this film is extensive.

Additionally, there is some crude language. For example, one character calls another “penis face.”

When the “Sky People” return, there are flames from the ships which burn the vegetation. Animals run. Ominous music plays as the machinery destroys the land.

The Na’vi destroy a train; there is a crash with a fiery explosion.

Children are kidnapped. One of them bites a kidnapper.

Villages are burned down, and villagers are tased.

Additionally, there are multiple explosions, and a man has his arm ripped off.

Furthermore, there are intense scenes of hand-to-hand combat.

Spiritual Content:

For our sins in our past life, we have been brought back in the form of our enemy.

A person calls their enemy a demon. Another Na’vi claims the children have “demon blood,” and the term “demon ship” is used.

There is a discussion about Eywa’s heartbeat. Eywa is the deity.

Cove of the ancestors – the most sacred place. The spirit tree.

“What does the Great Mother want from me?” “Oh, Great mother, help us.”

Furthermore, a reference is made about an animal being more spiritual than us.

Someone says, “She was my spirit sister,” in regards to an animal that is killed.

Adult Content:

Among young Na’vi, there are discussions about who someone’s father is, “Who do you think knocked her up?”

A person flipped another person off.

A group of teens trick another teen into going to a dangerous area and leave him there.

Positive Content:

This is visually an amazing movie. The creatures that were designed make this film great. The majesty of the Tulkun (whale-like creature), the underwater scenes, and the Sully family make the 3 hours, 15 minutes worth watching.

Furthermore, with the addition of the Reef people, these new characters add more excitement to this latest film.

Christian Review of Avatar: Way of Water

My viewing recommendations:.

First, this is an intense movie with significant language, violence, and the death of a central character. It thoroughly deserves a PG-13 rating. At 3 hours 15 minutes, it is much too long for most children (and adults).

Next, this movie is similar to the first Avatar movie with the same type of fighting and good guys versus bad guys theme. In addition, because this movie features water, apparently, James Cameron’s Avatar threw in some Titanic elements for good measure.

Finally, because of the movie’s content, I recommend 14 and up. Be aware that more sensitive young adults may have a more challenging time with this movie’s overall violence and killing.

About the Movie AVATAR: The Way of Water

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: December 16, 2022

Running time: 3 hours, 15 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

Studio: 20th Century Studios

Director: James Cameron

Written by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Produced by: James Cameron, Jon Landau

Edited by: Stephen Rivkin, David Brunner, John Refoua, James Cameron

Music by: Simon Frangien

Produced by: TSG Entertainment II, Lightstorm Entertainment.

Distributed by: 20th Century Studios

The Cast of Avatar: The Way of Water

Sam Worthington is Corporal Jake Sully

Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri

Sigourney Weaver as Kiri

Sigourney Weaver as Dr Grace Augustine

Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch

Kate Winslet as Ronal

Michelle Yeoh as Dr. Karina Mogue

Cliff Curtis as Tonowari

Britain Dalton as Lo’ak

Oona Chaplin as Varangian

Jack Champion as Miles Spider Socorro

Bailey Bass as Tsireya

Jamie Flatters as Neteyam

Filip Geljo as Aonung

Jeremey Irwin as young Neteyam

Edie Falco as General Ardmore

Alicia Vela-Bailey as Zdinarsik

CCH Pounder as Mo’at

Duane Evans, Jr. As Rotxo

Joel David Moore as Norm Spellman

Matt Gerald as Recom Wainfleet

Jermaine Clement as Dr. Ian Gavin

Wes Studi as Eytukan

Brendan Cowell as Captain Mick Scoresby

Trinity Jo-Li Bliss as Tuk

Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge

Dileep Rao as Dr. Max Patel

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can i watch avatar: the way of water.

Avatar: The Way of Water is streaming on Disney+. Additionally, this movie can be rented or purchased on Amazon Prime and other pay for streaming platforms.

Is Avatar: Way of Water streaming on Disney+?

Yes, Avatar: Way of Water is streaming on Disney+.

Will AVATAR: The Way of Water stream on Peacock?

No. Avatar: The Way of Water will not stream on Peacock as it is a Disney movie.

How much did it cost to produce Avatar 2: The Way of Water?

The budget is listed as $350 million

Did Avatar: The Way of Water win any awards?

It won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Who is Spider’s father?

Spider’s father is Quaritch. Paz Socorro was Spider’s mother. He was born in 2154 in the first human colony in Pandora (Hell’s Gate). Spider was introduced in a comic book.

What is the highest-grossing film of all time?

The first Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time.

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Avatar: movie review

James Cameron’s long-awaited ‘Avatar’ uses the latest technology to transport viewers to the war-ridden world of Pandora and its indigenous Na’vi clan.

By Peter Rainer Film critic

Dec. 17, 2009, 11:00 a.m. ET

The writer-director James Cameron needed to top “ Titanic ” and, in terms of sheer bigness, he’s succeeded. But the immensity cuts both ways. “Avatar” magnifies equally what is phenomenal and hackneyed about his talents. He’s made the most expensive cowboys-and-Indians movie ever made.

Set in 2154 on Pandora, a distant moon in the Alpha Centauri-A star system, it’s about a clash between the moon’s indigenous Na’vi clan and the humans who have traveled light-years to mine the moon’s precious minerals in order to stave off an energy catastrophe back home. Since the earthlings are mostly soldiers, and since their mission reeks of imperialist exploitation, the Na’vi, who resemble 10-foot-tall, taffy-pulled, long-tailed, yellow-eyed versions of the Blue Man Group and speak what sounds like a cross between Maori and Yiddish, are understandably unfriendly. But one of the earthlings, an ex-Marine named Jake Sully ( Sam Worthington ), makes some headway.

Or, to be more precise, his Avatar does. The film’s central conceit is that, because the atmosphere on Pandora is poisonous for people, they devise a way to transform themselves into genetically engineered hybrids with human and Na’vi DNA. Because Jake shares the DNA of his late identical twin brother, who was trained for the Avatar mission, he becomes the chosen one. Mission commander Col. Miles Quaritch ( Stephen Lang ) utilizes him as his undercover spy with the Na’vi. The colonel’s pacifist adversary, scientist and fellow Avatar Grace ( Sigourney Weaver , for that “ Aliens ” vibe) wants to create a “bridge of trust” with them instead.

Jake is building his own bridge of trust with the comely Neytiri ( Zoe Saldana ), a lissome Na’vi warrior who caroms through the jungle battling all manner of intergalactic beast (including one that looks like a panther crossed with a brontosaurus). For all the megamacho hardware in Cameron’s movies, he often features take-charge women (Weaver in “Aliens,” Linda Hamilton in the “Terminator” movies). “Avatar” certainly needs Neytiri’s sex appeal. Without her it might have devolved into the greatest movie ever made for 9-year-old fanboys. Which it sort of is anyway.

Cameron began writing “Avatar” more than 10 years ago, but placed it on hold until the technology could catch up with his imagination. In purely technogeek terms, he’s succeeded magnificently. This 3-D epic, which is also being released in 2-D, is truly state-of-the-art. The computer-generated imagery is far in advance of anything ever seen before, and this alone gives the film’s futurism a special tingle. We feel as if we are seeing things we have never seen before.

We have, however, heard much of this movie before. We’ve been through this story line before. Whizbang popular entertainer that he is, Cameron loves reanimating old-movie clichés. There were enough of them in “Titanic” to sink that ocean liner without the services of an iceberg. In “Avatar,” he flagrantly hauls out even more golden oldies. Maybe Netflix should open a franchise on Alpha Centauri.

But Cameron – like Quentin Tarantino , only much grander – is a master of pastiche. He makes the old new by investing it with a fervor all his own. It’s always a surprise to rediscover just how much Cameron cares about all this pulp paraphernalia. He also cares about the people in his movies – or at least the ones he doesn’t blow to smithereens – and this, too, distinguishes him from the usual run of catastrophe movie honchos. As corny as it is, the snugglefest between Jake and Neytiri hits home.

What doesn’t altogether work is the overemphasis on the earthling’s Vietnam -style invasion of Pandora. Some of the aerial battle scenes, complete with choppers firebombing villages, could have been lifted straight from “Platoon.” (The Na’vi fight back with bow and arrow.) And Cameron’s ecoterrorist and colonialist tropes are equally jarring. His boy’s book fantasyland can’t comfortably accommodate all this real-world referencing.

If I never felt entirely transported by “Avatar,” it’s probably because the story thudded just as often as the imagery soared. But Pandora is still a good place to park yourself for three hours. And you get to keep the 3-D glasses. Grade: B+ (Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language, and some smoking.)

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John Wesley and Avatar: The Way of Water

Sarah Welch-Larson • December 20, 2022

Applying the Methodist minister’s understanding of grace to James Cameron’s Avatar sequel.

James Cameron’s Avatar movies are landmark events, showcases for eye-popping imagery and the latest in film technology. While they have also rightly been criticized for telling “white savior” stories, the films still allude to worthwhile ideas. Through the arc of their main character, for instance, we can see different expressions of the Christian understanding of grace.

The first Avatar introduced us to the world of Pandora, a distant moon inhabited by a tall blue alien species called the Na’vi. We discover Pandora through the eyes of a paraplegic former Marine named Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who can remotely pilot a Na’vi hybrid body, or “avatar,” through a mental link. His mission is to infiltrate the Na’vi and convince them to cooperate with humans, who have come to Pandora to exploit its natural resources. But when the humans attack the Na’vi, Jake joins the people he was ordered to betray. At the end of the first Avatar , Jake’s consciousness is transferred into his avatar body, making him a permanent member of the Na’vi.

Cameron treats Jake’s transfer of consciousness as a kind of rebirth, going so far as to show his human body and his Na’vi body lying on the ground next to each other in the fetal position, with vines forming an umbilical cord between the two. The 2009 movie ends with Jake opening his eyes in his new body as triumphant music swells, implying that Jake has been granted salvation in the form of a second body and a chance at a new life—a kind of grace.

This is close to, but not quite the same, as a Christian understanding of grace—justifying grace in particular. Jake seems to be given his new Na’vi body because he deserves it, but the point of justifying grace is that it can never be earned, only accepted through faith. In his sermon, “ The Scripture Way of Salvation ,” Methodist founder John Wesley refers to justifying grace as “pardon” and “the forgiveness of all our sins,” which occurs at the moment of putting faith in Christ. Once justified by faith, a person is saved. They then proceed to live out their lives under the influence of sanctifying grace, which is the ongoing process of God’s love at work in the believer’s life. (Wesley also outlines a third kind of grace in this sermon called preventing grace, which is the common desire of humankind to do good regardless of their salvation; Wesley refers to this kind of grace as “conscience.”)

Jake has been granted salvation in the form of a second body and a chance at a new life—a kind of grace.

Avatar: The Way of Water , Cameron’s long-awaited follow-up to the first film, illustrates the second kind of grace, that which sanctifies. The ongoing work of sanctification is the work of putting aside sin through God. Cameron shows that grace through Jake’s personal journey in the sequel. Jake might be a Na’vi physically, but he still holds on to pieces of his old life. He still wears a vest from his time in the human Marines. He treats his sons more like members of a military squad than like members of his own family, demanding they refer to him as “sir” instead of “dad.” Jake expects his children to behave with the discipline of soldiers as they carry out raids on the humans who still want to exploit Pandora’s resources. His oldest, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), is obedient and dutiful, but his younger son, Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), chafes at Jake’s rules and feels like an outsider in his own family. Jake, for his part, rarely demonstrates his love for his children, commanding their respect rather than expressing how he feels about them.

Jake moves from a position of authority back to being an outsider himself through the course of The Way of Water . Because they’re targeted by the human military, Jake and his family are forced to relocate to a new village in an island archipelago. They’re no longer in familiar territory; instead of the imposing trees that used to be their home, they must all grow accustomed to life among Pandora’s reefs and oceans. Jake and his family learn how to dive from their new hosts—a process that mirror’s Jake’s arrival on Pandora in the first film. They spend their days swimming in the clear waters of the reef, learning how to ride the seal-like creatures that inhabit the coastal waters. Jake’s adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) spends her days floating among the fish, her curiosity and delight about their new home lending the movie the tone of an enthusiastic nature documentary. Jake becomes a student alongside his own children, in some ways more peer than parent, learning just as much from his children about their new place on Pandora as he teaches them.

Throughout their new life on the edge of the ocean, Jake has a difficult time letting go of his identity as a disciplinarian and a former soldier. But his time on the water does soften his heart somewhat. As the movie progresses, Jake and Lo’ak begin to develop a healthier relationship with each other—a kind of sanctifying grace, grounded in love instead of fear. In exile, Jake comes to accept that he’s no longer a leader, but a guest. When their hosts accept Lo’ak as a member of their tribe, Jake finally comes to see his son as an expert in his own right, someone who can be trusted instead of being told what to do.

Jake doesn’t foster a fully restored relationship with Lo’ak by the end of the movie. He remains an imperfect parent, at times unable to see his children as anything but the soldiers he wants them to become. His demands for perfect obedience without grace or understanding had driven a wedge between him and his sons. But Jake recognizes his mistakes and repents of them, movements which speak of a sanctifying grace. He’s in the process of restoring a right relationship with Lo’ak, a process that isn’t yet complete, but that is ongoing.

Topics: Movies

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

"celebrating fathers, family and “the great mother”".

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Bad guys want to take over a large moon instead of share it with the native population, bad guy kidnaps children and holds them hostage to capture their father, and hero’s wife threatens a boy’s life when villain holds a knife at her daughter’s throat instead of wife finding a better solution to saving her daughter’s life.

More Detail:

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel to his blockbuster movie and tells how Jake tries to protect his new wife and family on Pandora, from a cloned avatar of his nemesis from the first movie, who’s been ordered to kill Jake and stop the native resistance to Earth’s takeover of Pandora. AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is filled with amazing action and settings and with strong pro-family elements that celebrate fathers, but it still contains false pantheistic theology, references and prayers to “The Great Mother” and some politically correct environmentalism.

The movie opens with Jake narrating how he and his wife, Neytiri, now have a family. Their children include two sons, Netayam and Lo’ak, their young daughter, Tuk, and an adopted teenage daughter, Kiri, whose mother was Jake’s friend, Grace (Grace died in the first movie). Often tagging along with Jake’s children is a boy named Spider, a human child who was left behind as a toddler on Pandora because he was too young to return to Earth.

Jake and his family live with their clan in the thick forest. They lead an idyllic life for more than 10 years. One day, however, the “Sky People” from Earth return. Immediately upon landing, the Earthlings burn down much of the forest. Jake’s family and the clan flee to a cave system in the Hallelujah Mountains.

However, the humans send a team of highly trained, nine-foot-tall Pandoran clones who’ve been given the memories of real humans whose DNA has been recombined with Pandoran DNA. Leading the team is Col. Miles Quaritch, a Pandoran avatar clone of the nemesis that Jake killed in the first movie. The team’s mission is to capture Jake alive or kill him, because of his leadership abilities and knowledge of Earth military tactics.

When Quaritch’s team threatens the lives of Jake’s children if he doesn’t surrender, Jake decides to move his family across the ocean to one of the water clans living in the distant ocean atolls. He seeks refuge for his family with the Metkayina clan.

However, Jake’s children have problems fitting in with the water clan. Even worse, Qauritch is still intent on tracking down Jake.

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER has lots of action and jeopardy. Also, the ocean and underwater scenes are absolutely incredible. Apparently, the actors and crew had to learn how to hold their breath under water for several minutes to shoot many of those scenes. Reportedly, Kate Winslet, who plays the water clan’s Queen, learned to hold her breath for more than seven minutes!

The main theme of THE WAY OF WATER is family. Also, Jake repeatedly says a father’s duty is to “protect his family.” This theme even becomes part of the human boy Spider’s story.

Despite this, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER also contains pantheistic theology, references and prayers to “The Great Mother” and some politically correct environmentalism. Many modern radical environmentalists lean toward the pantheistic “Gaia myth” of Earth and its ecosystem. The Bible tells us, however, that the God of the Universe has ordered his human creation to establish a dominion of stewardship over Earth, not to worship it but to cultivate and develop it and its resources.

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER has many cinematic wonders, but the movie’s false religion isn’t so wonderful. The movie also contains a sightly excessive amount of foul language, some partial nudity, and a lot of gun violence and combat. Also, for the record, the human bodies in the movie look realistic, but the blue and green bodies of the Pandoran natives still look like they’re animated, not real.

J.W. Wartick – Reconstructing Faith

Origins Debate

“Avatar”- A Christian reflection on the film

A Concern for Social Justice

First, it must be admitted that there is a strong concern for social justice throughout the film. This concern is borne out in three ways:

1) The disabled- Jake Sully is wheelchair-bound, and this leads to some overt thematic elements related to this. Other characters make offhand remarks over his state. “That’s just wrong”–presumably referring to sending someone with such a disability to Pandora; Jake refuses help from others and relies on his military background to keep himself motivated to do whatever anyone else can. In the extended edition of the film, Jake is also bodily thrown out of a bar early on, which highlights his feelings of injustice and helplessness, while also showing compassion demonstrated by his character. Jake’s veteran benefits can’t pay for a “new set” of legs, so he looks to Pandora for a fresh start.

From these portrayals, one may draw two primary areas of discussion. First, the ultimate solution to Jake’s status is transcendence into the Avatar body. His state is ultimately not one he can overcome himself but one which is ultimately reliant upon others–even deity (see next section). Second, there is some concern here for those with disabilities: we should neither treat them as deficient nor should we ignore the possibility of increasing the well-being of those in such situations.

2) The Environment- Some may not consider notions of concern for the environment a “social justice” issue. However, it should be clear that impact upon an environment definitely brings about societal change. If a group lives in a jungle, razing that jungle to the ground will have profound impact on that people group. Although the portrayal in the film is very straightforward (perhaps even simplistic), the concern for how destruction of an environment can lead to societal ills is certainly portrayed. In the Bible, we are given the command to care for creation. This should translate into a concern for societal well-being as well.

3) The “Other”- The Na’vi (interestingly similar to the Hebrew word for “prophet”) are the “other” in the film. From the human persepctive, they are a strange people. They have a seemingly paganistic nature worship along with inherent pantheism. They prefer to live in trees and tribal communities than building roads and buildings. The way in which the humans interact with the “Other” is ultimately a question of major concern and conflict. By downplaying the needs and disrespecting the culture of the “Other,” humans fail to learn from them and perhaps come to mutual understanding and a better relationship. Rather, the “Other” is seen as one to exploit for one’s own ends. For some discussion of how the “Other” is used in religious contexts, see my post on “The Myth of Religion.”

Deity- Or, Avatar is not Pantheistic

One aspect of the film I have heard other Christians complain about is that the religion of the Na’vi is pantheistic. However, it seems clear that Eywa is no friend to pantheism. Indeed, this “goddess” is far from the pantheistic all-in-all. Rather, it turns out in the climactic battle near the film’s end that Eywa “had heard” Jake’s prayer and in fact answers in rather extraordinary fashion. Eywa (again, interestingly similar to the name of the LORD in Hebrew) turns out to be not so much a pantheistic, monistic One as a theistic deity capable of activity within the natural realm.

Thus, the ultimate reality of the film is that there is such a thing as deity interfacing with the prayers of persons and with power to answer them. This is not to say the film is entirely friendly to Christian theism. For example, one line Jake Sully says to Eywa is that the inhabitants of Earth “killed their Earth-Mother.” Surely this is not an affirmation of theistic faith but rather hints at a kind of pantheon of deities for each planet! Well, not so fast: Jake says this before he even knows that Eywa is truly a deity capable of activity on the planet. He is trying to describe the situation in his doubt, and his prayer is that of a skeptic trying to make sure he’s covered all his bases. The answer of the extent of Eywa’s rule over Pandora (or beyond?) is left unanswered.

Again, I am not trying to suggest that Eywa should be identified with Christian theism. Rather, within the context of the film, it is clear that a deity exists and acts within the “real world.” I think it must be admitted that this is a far cry from the outlook of many films which are either anti-theistic or generally ignore the question of deity altogether.

“ Avatar ” is a film that’s worth talking about for more than its beauty. Although many mock it for its emulation of some story tropes (Pocahontas in space!), there are more thoughtful elements in the film worth discussing. In particular, the question of divine activity is poignantly brought to the forefront. Moreover, the themes of social justice brought forward call into question our own assumptions about what is the best way to address various needs and issues.

What I’ve written here is only the beginning of possible discussions. A whole slew of topics remained untouched (what of mind/body connections and the use of the Avatars themselves?; what of the use of mercenaries?; what kind of criminal justice system could one have in a corporate run entity like this?; etc.), so I’d love to read your own thoughts on the film.

Be sure to check out the page for this site on Facebook and Twitter for discussion of posts, links to other pages of interest, random talk about theology/philosophy/apologetics/movies and more!

Escaping to Pandora – J. Warner Wallace notes other issues of apologetic importance of the movie “Avatar.” He specifically focuses on the real hope in heaven and the transcendent.

Caring for Creation: A discussion among evangelicals – I write about creation care from a number of perspectives offered at a recent panel of prominent evangelical thinkers in this area.

Also see my other looks into movies (scroll down for more).

The preceding post is the property of J.W. Wartick (apart from quotations, which are the property of their respective owners, and works of art as credited; images are often freely available to the public and J.W. Wartick makes no claims of owning rights to the images unless he makes that explicit) and should not be reproduced in part or in whole without the expressed consent of the author. All content on this site is the property of J.W. Wartick and is made available for individual and personal usage. If you cite from these documents, whether for personal or professional purposes, please give appropriate citation with both the name of the author (J.W. Wartick) and a link to the original URL. If you’d like to repost a post, you may do so, provided you show less than half of the original post on your own site and link to the original post for the rest. You must also appropriately cite the post as noted above. This blog is protected by Creative Commons licensing. By viewing any part of this site, you are agreeing to this usage policy.

About J.W. Wartick

6 thoughts on “ “avatar”- a christian reflection on the film ”.

Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging .

Can’t wait for the sequel!

Neither can I. I hope it won’t be awful. I read somewhere it might feature a lot of activity around the oceans of Pandora, which should be interesting.

I read the same as well and I have the same hope.

Interesting take. On another note, since I haven’t watched the movie, are the villains Marines or mercenaries?

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DVD & Streaming

Avatar: The Way of Water

Action/Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi/Fantasy , War

Content Caution

In Theaters

December 16, 2022
Sam Worthington as Jake Sully; Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri; Sigourney Weaver as Kiri; Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch; Kate Winslet as Ronal; Cliff Curtis as Tonowari; Edie Falco as General Frances Ardmore; Brendan Cowell as Captain Mick Scoresby; Jemaine Clement as Dr. Ian Garvin; Jamie Flatters as Neteyam; Britain Dalton as Lo'ak; Trinity Jo-Li Bliss as Tuk; Bailey Bass as Reya; Filip Geljo as Aonung; Duane Evans Jr. as Rotxo; Jack Champion as Spider

Home Release Date

March 28, 2023
James Cameron

Distributor

20th Century Studios

Movie Review

Pandora’s a nice place to visit. But you wouldn’t want to plunder there.

Humankind should’ve learned that lesson back in the first Avatar movie. With our own planet nearly exhausted and humans greedy for the Pandora-based metal of unobtanium, we homo sapiens set up shop on Pandora and quickly discovered the planet didn’t want us there. Lots of people died. Most of the rest were expelled. A few scientists remained (as long as they promised to be very, very nice), and a couple of them actually kinda transferred souls —telling their human bodies goodbye and becoming one of the blue, 10-foot-tall Na’vi.

But humans are a stubborn lot. Like heroes in a moderately creepy 1980s romcom, they take Pandora’s firm “no” as the planet just playing hard to get. And if Pandora’s complex ecosystems get in the way? Well, just set ‘em on fire. Burn a nice large area for humanity to mine and pave and build parking garages on in their quest to bring the whole of this lush, green land to heel.

But before that work can truly begin, the invading humans need to take care of one big blue thorn: Jake Sully.

Sully was one of folks who decided being Na’vi was preferable to being human, and that a life in Pandora was just too good to pass up. He’s got a wife now—the fierce, loving Neytiri—and a minivan’s worth of kids (though the minivan would certainly need some extra headroom). He’s also been leading a guerilla war against humankind’s latest efforts at exploitation.

Who better to lead the charge against pesky Jake than his one-time boss, Colonel Miles Quartich?

OK, so technically, the colonel died in the last movie. But before Quartich was killed, he saved (essentially) his brain on (essentially) a thumb drive, allowing to plug in his own essence into a Na’vi avatar.

Yep, that’s right: Sully might’ve gotten the best of the colonel last time around. But now, Quartich is just as big as Jake. Just as blue. Just as able to plug his braided hair into Pandora’s planetary hard drive as Jake is.

And this time, it’s personal .

Positive Elements

Sullys stick together. Such is the mantra that Jake has passed on to his four kids, and we see it play out time after time.

Jake feels the weight of fatherhood particularly heavily. “A father protects,” he tells us. “It’s what gives him meaning.” So when Jake learns that Quartich and his squad of human-brained Na’vi are after him and his family, he makes the difficult decision to move—to escape to a more watery realm on Pandora. It’s a painful uprooting, but Jake insists, “Wherever we go, this family is our fortress.” And when the Sullys do settle into an unfamiliar village that operates in unfamiliar ways, The Sully kids have each other’s backs—sometimes at huge personal risk.

An example of the family’s cohesive camaraderie: When some local teens pick on Kiri—Jake and Neytiri’s dreamy, adopted daughter—brothers Neteyam and Lo’ak fly to her defense. And while neither Jake nor Plugged In condone the violent way that defense is made, we still applaud that sort of loyalty.

But eventually—and through a lot of hard work—Jake, Neytiri and their children become integral parts of their new community, too. The entire village shows a willingness to fight and sacrifice for each of its members (including its non-Na’vi members). And even neighboring villages do their best to protect Jake and his family at great personal and communal cost.

We should note that most of Jake’s kids—in the early stages of adolescence, it seems—are processing their own roles within the family and community. Lo’ak, Jake’s second-oldest son, often feels like a disappointment to his ever-demanding father. Kiri feels like an outcast. But in many ways, these two characters form the bedrock on which The Way of Water is built, with each bringing special skills and moxie to the narrative party. The message the movie seems to be sending: Not fitting the norm can be a pretty good thing. All of us are different, and those differences can make us stronger.

Spiritual Elements

Pandora’s culture is deeply spiritual—but it’s not at all Christian. Rather, the planet’s inhabitants worship and sometimes pray to Eywa, a sort of an environmentally based goddess (think of it almost like Mother Nature on spiritual steroids). Neytiri, for instance, thanks the “Great Mother” when her son avoids a fate that could’ve been a catastrophe. Others pray in life-threatening situations. Pandora’s whole religious system feels pantheistic: Everything on the planet is connected to Pandora’s central spiritual heart, simultaneously separate and part of a whole spiritual being. The Na’vi literally plug into Pandora’s environmental motherboard to connect more closely with its creatures and even experience memories and visions.

We also hear some vaguely spiritual talk predicated on water, repeated almost like a mantra. “The way of water has no beginning and has no end,” it begins. The planet’s water gives and receives, it is “before birth” and “after death.” A scientist tells us that some of Pandora’s biggest inhabitants—whale-like creatures called tulkun —are said to have huge spiritual centers in their brains (to go along with their superior intelligence).

The movie also hints at some sort of divine or immaculate conception. Kiri, Jake and Neytiri’s adopted daughter, was the birth daughter of (and I realize this sounds a bit confusing) the avatar of Dr. Grace Augustine, who kinda-sorta died in the last movie and whose Na’vi avatar still floats floating in a capsule of liquid. That avatar got pregnant—no one’s sure how. Now, Kiri seems to have an extra-special connection with Pandora, manipulating creatures in ways that no one else can do.

We hear references to Sully and his kin as having “demon blood.” The closing song makes reference to sin.

Sexual & Romantic Content

As mentioned, Grace’s avatar is floating in what looks like a capsule of water, and at one juncture we see her breasts (including a bit of nipple).

But let’s be honest: The Na’vi are not known for their modesty, and there’s a lot of blue skin on display. Critical bits are mostly covered by tiny bits of fabric or leather or hair (or strategic camera angles, since tiny kids sometimes wear nothing at all), but viewers will be exposed to an unrelenting stream of blue CGI buttocks throughout.

Also of note: One character, Spider, is a human teen boy living the Na’vi lifestyle. He wears, essentially, a loincloth throughout the entire movie.

When the Sullys move to their watery new home, Lo’ak develops a crush on Reya, the village chieftain’s daughter. When Reya’s trying to teach Lo’ak and his siblings how to slow their heartbeats (in order to breathe underwater longer), she places her hand on his stomach to help calm him. It has just the opposite effect: “Your heart is beating fast,” Reya says, as Lo’ak’s brother and sister look at each other knowingly.

When a bad guy captures, Kiri and tells her to “move along, buttercup,” Kiri responds by saying, “I’m not your buttercup, perv.”

Sully and Neytiri enjoy a brief moment of canoodling together sans kids on a “date night,” as they call it—until, that is, the arrival of human spacecraft interrupts them. Elsewhere, a grown female Na’vi is very pregnant, though that hardly slows her down or keeps her from fighting when the time comes.

Violent Content

The Way of Water , like the first Avatar movie, is essentially a war flick, and we see plenty of violence. Indeed, the last hour of the film is one constant battle.

Bullets rattle out of machine guns and sometimes find their mark, leading to bloody injuries and painful deaths. While the Na’vi use these more modern-day weapons, many use more indigenous tools: Neytiri’s favorite is her bow, from which she shoots arrows with distinctive, telltale fletching. Several find their mark—sometimes the heads of opponents, sometimes through vehicle windshields on the way to the chest. Knives and axe-like weapons are also favorite implements: One man suffers a spike-blow to the head. Several characters are impaled by spears.

Various machines and vehicles explode, sometimes killing or injuring others in the process. People might fly up and out of said vehicles, surely pulled by gravity to their dooms. (One man is thrown from a boat and has his arm severed for good measure: We see both fly.) A number of people drown or nearly drown, and at least one man is crushed by what appears to be a gigantic anemone. Someone has what appears to be an epileptic seizure underwater and nearly dies.

But perhaps the movie’s most jarring death isn’t that of a human or Na’vi at all, but rather a whale-like tulkun. Hunters pierce the animal’s hide with skewers carrying fast-inflating balloons, which bring the animal to the surface. Then it’s smacked in the chest with a massive explosive harpoon. The tulkun tries to flee, but eventually exhausts itself and dies. The hunters later go inside the beast’s cavernous maw and drill into its brain, draining a valuable liquid from the creature. (The rest of the carcass is apparently wasted.) Later, we discover that the tulkun’s calf also died.

The tulkun are assaulted with sonic cannons and depth charges. (We’re told that the creatures have never “even lifted a fin” against their attackers, but one tulkun decides to go against the species’ pacifistic ethos with devastating consequences.)

Sully’s kids fight with other teens. Fists are thrown and tails are pulled. The fight leaves Lo’ak and Neteyam bloodied, but the other teens (a Sully boy insists) suffered much worse. (When Sully later makes Lo’ak apologize to the other teen leader, he does, after a fashion: “I’m sorry I hit you—so many times,” he says.)

An animal is shot and killed; we see its carcass floating in the water. Countless more die on the humans’ return to Pandora, caught in an overwhelming inferno. Knives cut into the chests of a couple of people—ceremonial deaths, it would seem (even though the flesh wounds aren’t particularly serious).

Village buildings are set on fire. The lives of several people and Na’vi are threatened. Someone is strapped into a sort of torture device, leaving him with a bloody nose after the ordeal. A gigantic fish-like monster tries to gobble up a swimmer before it is killed itself. A tulkun sports a metallic hook of sorts in its fin, which a Na’vi friend kindly removes. A shark-like undersea creature relentlessly hunts one of the Na’vi.

Crude or Profane Language

One f-word and about 15 s-words. We also hear “a–,” “b–ch,” “b–tard,” “crap,” “g-dd–n,” “d–n,” “h—” and the British profanities “bloody” and “bugger.” Jesus’ name is abused once. We hear some name-calling, too, including one sibling calling another “penis face.”

Drug & Alcohol Content

A tulkun hunter tells a marine biologist on the team that his hunting pays for the scientist’s research. “That’s why I drink,” the scientist tells him. Someone makes a quip about someone else owing her a beer.

Other Noteworthy Elements

Colonel Quaritch, the movie’s most notable big bad, is a proud and fierce U.S. Marine, as is the rest of his team. They do some pretty despicable things during this movie and form the spear point of humankind’s desire to plunder and colonize Pandora. And while the colonel’s character takes on some subtler shades as the movie goes on, The Way of Water certainly casts the military in a poor light.

Whatever else you think of James Cameron, let’s acknowledge at least this: The guy knows how to make a buzz-worthy movie.

His greatest strength lies in world-building—bringing moviegoers into exotic realms and making them feel as though they’re there. Be it the long-lost elegance of the Titanic or the gritty confines of a blue-collar spaceship in Aliens , Cameron invites you in—making it all feel so real. (In the case of the Avatar movies, the 3D doesn’t hurt.)

But while Cameron is a first-class tour guide in his own made-up worlds, those worlds are not necessarily ones that should be visited.

Avatar: The Way of Water swims into its PG-13 rating by the skin of its oddly pronounced incisors. Language alone pushes the envelope. The occasional blood spatter or flying limb doesn’t do the film any favors, either. And then, of course, there’s all that CGI skin. Yes, it’s all fake, but I hesitate to think of all the Rule 34 Na’vi GIFs that might be floating out on the internet. Nor would I be that surprised if the impossibly lithe, impossibly thin Na’vi (who, after all, make their human counterparts look like clumsy Minecraft figures) might unintentionally inspire an eating disorder or two.

But even if all that’s navigable, I’d encourage you to consider two more points before toting the whole family to watch. One, the tulkun hunt—a jarring scene for any young animal lover (especially one with a love of whales). And two, Pandora’s spiritual system that pushes away Christianity and hugs a nature-based pantheism. Forget the biblical model of stewardship: It sidesteps the Creator and instead worships the creation. And that is pretty much the definition of idolatry.

Cameron has a way of upending Hollywood expectations. The original Avatar is still the highest-grossing movie worldwide of all time—and it is said that The Way of Water will have to exceed that to make a profit. It could do just that.

But while Pandora is as beautiful as ever, The Way of Water might not be the way that many families would care to go.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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Common Sense Says
Parents Say 258 Reviews
Kids Say 651 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Action-heavy epic has dazzling effects, familiar story.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Sigourney Weaver's character, Grace, smokes cigarettes and somewhat glamorizes t

The word "s--t" is used several times. Language also includes "bulls--t," "bitch

Characters (supporting and extras) die due to explosions, bullet wounds, arrows

No product placement in the movie, but dozens of tie-in merchandising deals tied

Many longing looks between Jake's avatar and Neytiri, which eventually leads to

Any Positive Content?

Several characters make difficult but moral choices. Jake chooses to support the

Although humans on the base are racially diverse, majority of main characters ar

Overall, movie's message is that we could all stand to learn something from a po

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Sigourney Weaver's character, Grace, smokes cigarettes and somewhat glamorizes the activity.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

The word "s--t" is used several times. Language also includes "bulls--t," "bitch," "goddamn," "piss," limp-d--ked," "hell," "oh my God," "ass," and insults like "stupid," "ignorant," etc. Degrading language is used to describe disabled people, such as "cripple." Slurs such as "savages," "roaches," and "blue monkeys" are used to describe the Na'vi.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Characters (supporting and extras) die due to explosions, bullet wounds, arrows (some treated with toxins), precipitous falls, asphyxiation. Several intense scenes involving frightening Pandoran animals and plants, as well as tension between Jake's rogue group of pro-Na'vi humans and the rest of the humans sent to Pandora.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

No product placement in the movie, but dozens of tie-in merchandising deals tied to the title -- including toys and books aimed at young kids.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Many longing looks between Jake's avatar and Neytiri, which eventually leads to kissing and a marital "mating" ritual (kissing and touching are seen on screen). Na'vi clothing makes parts of their humanoid bodies visible. Jake and Neytir's relationship is briefly referred to as "getting tail."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Role Models

Several characters make difficult but moral choices. Jake chooses to support the Na'vi even though it's against orders to do so and means he must fight (and kill) fellow human soldiers. Neytiri, Grace, and Trudy all make personal sacrifices to help the clan; they're strong, courageous, assertive characters. (In both human and Na'vi populations, female characters are brave and important -- even the Na'vi mating ritual requires that both partners equally accept/choose each other.) On the flip side, the Colonel and corporate boss Parker are portrayed as bloodthirsty and greedy.

Diverse Representations

Although humans on the base are racially diverse, majority of main characters are White. They use offensive terms and stereotypes when talking about the Indigenous population of Pandora, and the military engages in imperialist violence. These scenes, intended to encourage racial/ethnic equality and show value of treating other groups with respect, only partially succeed because, while the Na'vi ultimately triumph, they do so only by following the guidance of outsiders. Violent human colonizers are ultimately ejected from Pandora, but film glosses over how the Na'vi environment and population have been permanently damaged by even well-meaning human scientists and allies. Main character Jake has a visible disability: He uses a wheelchair and is initially teased and treated as an inconvenience. But he easily moves around the base in his wheelchair and asserts control over himself when others try to touch or move him without his consent. Women and female Na'vi characters are important in the story, hold prominent social roles such as scientists and spiritual leaders. No body size diversity. All romantic relationships are between male and female Na'vi.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Messages

Overall, movie's message is that we could all stand to learn something from a population that's different from our own. Strong environmental and pro-peace themes. Some viewers may see the message of occupying a foreign land to usurp their cultural riches as a commentary on Western imperialism or United States' involvement in global politics.

Parents need to know that James Cameron 's sci-fi epic Avatar is about humans colonizing the planet Pandora, home to the Na'vi. The movie is long (at 161 minutes) and intense, with several effects-heavy battle and hunting sequences that show the devastation of imperialist violence and the right that Indigenous groups have to protect themselves and their land. These scenes include missile-launching military aircraft, neurotoxin-laced arrows, scary Pandora-dwelling fauna and flora, and lots of explosions. Salty wartime language includes many uses of "s--t," "bitch," and more. As in his previous films, Cameron infuses the action-driven story with strong female characters who are important to the plot, and crafts a morality tale about treating others with respect centered in a romantic relationship. Main character Jake uses a wheelchair in his daily life and a Na'vi "avatar" body to interact with local populations, and the human-Na'vi relationship in question gets a bit complicated because the human is actually using his Na'vi avatar. Na'vi clothing makes parts of their bodies visible from time to time. The romantic leads have chemistry that's sometimes sensual. (Note: Fans of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender should know that this movie is in no way connected to that show or the movie based on it.) To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Kids say (651)

Based on 258 parent reviews

Very well done. Make sure you are not only an older teen, but a mature one too. Watch the family edition.

What's the story.

In the 22nd century, Marine Jake Scully ( Sam Worthington ), who uses a wheelchair, embarks on a corporate-run, military-backed experiment in which he and a select group of academics -- led by Dr. Grace Augustine ( Sigourney Weaver ) -- can fully control avatars that look exactly like the Na'vi: the lean, blue-skinned native population of a distant world called Pandora. On his first outing as his AVATAR, Jake is saved by Na'vi Neytiri ( Zoe Saldana ) and then captured by her clan. They decide to spare Jake's life as long as he agrees to learn the Na'vi ways from Neytiri. He does, but then he's told by villainous Colonel Quaritch ( Stephen Lang ) that he'll be spying on the Na'vi to make it easier to remove them from their home, an ancestral tree that's rooted above a deposit of an unbelievably valuable substance called "Unobtainium" (pun intended). As Jake becomes more and more involved with Neytiri and her people, he's forced to choose between following orders and respecting the Na'vi's wishes.

Is It Any Good?

James Cameron , director of the highest-grossing movie ever made ( Titanic ), risked a rumored $500 million on a spectacular futuristic sci-fi epic whose main characters are blue aliens and settings are mostly CGI. The good news for epic movie lovers everywhere is that Avatar was a massive success. It's more like the story of Dances with Wolves crossed with the breathtaking visual effects of Lord of the Rings and the love story of Titanic , with a splash of the assimilation to a native culture aspect of Apocalypse Now thrown in. Even though Cameron seems to have gone to the same hammy dialogue school of screenwriting as George Lucas , he can certainly immerse viewers in a thoroughly enjoyable spectacle. Every shot of Pandora is amazingly detailed, from floating mountains to flying beasts to the feline-featured Na'vi, who are inspired by several Indigenous cultures. The movie's scale is undeniably impressive.

Cameron owes a huge debt to his movie's female characters, all of whom are much more interesting than the stereotypical men -- especially the outlandishly evil Quaritch and Giovanni Ribisi 's greedy corporate overseer. Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez (as soldier Trudy Chacon), like Aliens ' Ripley or Terminator 's Sarah Connor, could take on anything or anyone, and Saldana follows up a memorable turn as Uhura in Star Trek with another strong performance as Neytiri. It's quite a feat to create romantic electricity between fictional alien creatures, but Saldana and Worthington manage it surprisingly well. If you allow yourself to get lost in Cameron's Pandora, it's impossible not to root for the Na'vi (or Neytiri and Jake). Part sci-fi, part romance, all James Cameron, this is the sci-fi epic that will suck everyone in.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Avatar 's revolutionary special effects. Do they overwhelm or support the movie's story? How does the portrayal of the Na'vi affect the movie's emotional impact?

What themes does Cameron consistently work into his films? Compare the strong female characters in Avatar , Terminator , and Titanic . Any similarities?

What political messages is Cameron exploring in the movie? How are its themes relevant to what's going on in today's world? Do you think these messages will stand the test of time?

Why is it important to respect different cultural groups and treat their traditions and practices as valid and important?

How do the Na'vi and human allies use teamwork to achieve their goals? Why is that an important character strength ?

Movie Details

In theaters : December 18, 2009
On DVD or streaming : April 22, 2010
Cast : Michelle Rodriguez , Sam Worthington , Sigourney Weaver , Zoe Saldana
Director : James Cameron
Inclusion Information : Female actors, Latino actors, Black actors
Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
Genre : Science Fiction
Topics : Activism , Magic and Fantasy , Science and Nature , Space and Aliens
Character Strengths : Teamwork
Run time : 161 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking
Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
Last updated : September 24, 2024

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About the Author

Passionate about all things cinema, Shivani enjoys calculating the metrics and understanding the intricacies behind the camera. More than an interview, it’s a good conversation for her, getting a headline is forever on her mind and she rules writing exhaustive explainers on trends that rule the Internet. With almost a decade-and-a-half decoding Bollywood, Shivani is now enjoying the realm of Korean dramas and K-pop, with her love for Indian cinema remaining intact. Read More

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Avatar: The Way of Water
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AVATAR Christian Movie Review 2009
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COMMENTS

Avatar: The Way of Water
Prequel: "Avatar" (2009) J ames Cameron proves once again he's the king of cinema with his sequel to "Avatar," a sumptuous visual masterpiece centered around the theme of fatherhood.. Set a dozen years after the original film, Jake (Sam Worthington) has become a father of four children—including his adopted daughter, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), born from his friend Grace's avatar ...
Avatar: The Way of Water (Christian Movie Review)
The movie is essentially a war film, and almost the entire final hour is non-stop action and battle scenes. At the same time, much of the 3+ hour runtime is allocated to purposeful exploration of both the world and its inhabitants. Avatar: The Way of Water is the type of movie that simply doesn't often get made. An original epic that captures ...
Avatar (2009)
Positive —This movie, "Avatar," was a disappointment to me for 4 reasons… 1. The Na'vi tribe wore little to no clothing. The woman wore tiny coverings to conceal their 'areas', and itty-bitty loincloths. 2. This film had some offensive language in it, and the Lord's name was used in vain quite a lot. 3.
"Avatar: The Way of Water"
Filed Under Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Christian movie review, Christianity, cultural apologetics, movies. ... "Avatar" - A Christian reflection on the film- 7 years ago I wrote about worldview level issues in the original movie. Note that some of my views may have changed.
Avatar: The Way of Water
Thirteen years after the blockbuster release of Avatar, James Cameron takes viewers back to the planet of Pandora and the Na'vi people in Avatar: The Way of Water.Since the events of the first film, Jake Sully is now living fully as his avatar, along with his companion Neytiri and Neteyam, Lo'ak, Tuk, and adopted teenage daughter Kiri, the biological child of Dr. Grace Augustine.
Movie Review: 'Avatar: The Way of Water'
The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 - parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. The "Way of the Water" script returns viewers to the fictional moon Pandora and continues the story of the kickoff's two principal characters, the avatar of Earth-born ex-Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington ...
Avatar: Christian Movie Review
Forget the headache-inducing paper glasses and gimmicky scenes of stuff popping out of the screen at you; this is a completely new kind of movie experience. There are rumors that Avatar took almost 15 years to make—this is only sort of true. In actuality, the technology necessary to make the film reality is what has been years in the making.
Review of Avatar The Way of Water, director James Cameron
Christians thinking of viewing Avatar: the Way of Water should be aware of the many ways in which it portrays things contrary to a biblical worldview. The film has a PG-13 rating in the US, 12 in the UK suggesting the film is unsuitable for younger children. Christian parents may also want to consider whether it is appropriate for mid-teens.
Avatar
Christianity Today December 17, 2009. Until I saw Avatar, I didn't realize how much the movies have missed James Cameron. But we know now his time away was not wasted since his last feature film ...
Avatar: The Way of Water
Read our written review here: https://thecollision.org/avatar-the-way-of-water-christian-movie-review/TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Intro2:07 About The Film6:52 Content to...
The Wordview Behind Avatar and a Christian Perspective on Movies / Film
Here is a review that my friend Sean McDowell (teacher, author, and apologist) wrote about the Worldview of Avatar and then below is a resource for watching film in a whole new way. "The year is 2154, and humans are attempting to mine the valuable mineral unabtanium from the planet Pandora. Humans have virtually destroyed their own planet and ...
Christian Movie Review of Avatar: The Way of Water
In this Avatar The Way of Water Christian Review, I give parents the info they need to make informed viewing decisions with their child.
Avatar: movie review
Dec. 17, 2009, 11:00 a.m. ET. The writer-director James Cameron needed to top " Titanic " and, in terms of sheer bigness, he's succeeded. But the immensity cuts both ways. "Avatar ...
Avatar: The Way of Water Movie Review
Our review: Parents say (40 ): Kids say (112 ): James Cameron 's crowd-pleasing sequel is a spectacular technical achievement that, while overlong, manages to dazzle the senses enough to prove that the director is still a visionary. Avatar: The Way of Water isn't a movie you see for its layered, complicated plot.
Avatar movie review from a Christian perspective
by Matt Slick | Jan 12, 2010 | Book and Movie Reviews. Avatar will undoubtedly be named one of the best Sci-Fi movies ever produced, if not the best. Nothing else comes close in its special effects. It is visually stunning and phenomenally well done. I saw it in 3D on a huge screen and was floored by the sheer excellence of its presentation.
John Wesley and Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water, Cameron's long-awaited follow-up to the first film, illustrates the second kind of grace, that which sanctifies. The ongoing work of sanctification is the work of putting aside sin through God. Cameron shows that grace through Jake's personal journey in the sequel. Jake might be a Na'vi physically, but he still ...
Movie Reviews for Families
AVATAR is a visually stunning, but shallow and abhorrent, adventure pitting evil human capitalists against heroic, spiritually in-tune alien creatures on the planet Pandora. Its story, dialogue, and characters are weak and shallow. Also, its New Age, pagan worldview contains extremely anti-capitalist content with a strong Marxist overtone.
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
Strong, frequent action violence includes many gunfights, natives kill soldiers with arrows and guns, soldiers kill natives with guns and explosions, a man gets his arm trapped underneath a taught rope on a boat and his arm goes flying when the boat goes flying (shot in long distance), hand-to-hand combat and wrestling, knife fights, people are in danger of drowning multiple times, humans ...
AVATAR: The Way Of Water
In less than 3 minutes, a Christian pastor reviews the new Avatar movie from a Postmillennial perspective. #avatar #avatar2 #moviereview
"Avatar"- A Christian reflection on the film
Deity- Or, Avatar is not Pantheistic. One aspect of the film I have heard other Christians complain about is that the religion of the Na'vi is pantheistic. However, it seems clear that Eywa is no friend to pantheism. Indeed, this "goddess" is far from the pantheistic all-in-all. Rather, it turns out in the climactic battle near the film ...
'Avatar' Franchise Expands Ideas About Spirituality Beyond A Western
(REVIEW) The "Avatar" franchise — created by blockbuster director James Cameron — contains two of the highest-grossing movies in history. "Avatar" was released in 2009, and after earning $3 billion in sales, it became the highest-grossing movie of all time. "Avatar: Way of the Water," which made its debut in December 2022, is ...
Avatar: The Way of Water
Movie Review. Pandora's a nice place to visit. But you wouldn't want to plunder there. Humankind should've learned that lesson back in the first Avatar movie. With our own planet nearly exhausted and humans greedy for the Pandora-based metal of unobtanium, we homo sapiens set up shop on Pandora and quickly discovered the planet didn't want us there.
Avatar Movie Review
Our review: Parents say (258 ): Kids say (651 ): James Cameron, director of the highest-grossing movie ever made (Titanic), risked a rumored $500 million on a spectacular futuristic sci-fi epic whose main characters are blue aliens and settings are mostly CGI. The good news for epic movie lovers everywhere is that Avatar was a massive success.
Officer Black Belt Review: Kim Woo Bin's action avatar and simplistic
Kim Woo Bin stars as Lee Jung-do in Officer Black Belt, where he excels in martial arts and becomes a Martial Arts Officer. The film features stylized action and humor but has a predictable storyline.
'Ordinary Angels' Starz Streaming Movie Review: Stream It ...
This BOATS (Based On A True Story) movie - about a dying girl who needs a liver transplant, her beleaguered father, and the stranger who helps them - differentiates itself from other Christian ...


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Featuring	… Jake Sully (Zoë Saldana) … Neytiri … Dr. Grace Augustine … Colonel Miles Quaritch … Trudy Chacón … Parker Selfridge … Norm Spellman (Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder) … Mo’at … Eytukan … Tsu’tey Matt Gerald … Corporal Lyle Wainfleet Sean Anthony Moran … Private Fike Jason Whyte … Cryo Vault Med Tech Scott Lawrence … Venture Star Crew Chief Kelly Kilgour … Lock Up Trooper James Patrick Pitt (James Pitt) … Shuttle Pilot Sean Patrick Murphy … Shuttle Co-Pilot Peter Dillon … Shuttle Crew Chief Kevin Dorman … Tractor Operator / Troupe Kelson Henderson … Dragon Gunship Pilot David Van Horn … Dragon Gunship Gunner Jacob Tomuri … Dragon Gunship Navigator Michael Blain-Rozgay … Suit #1 Jon Curry … Suit #2 Julene Renee (Julene Renée) … Ambient Room Tech / Troupe Luke Hawker … Ambient Room Tech Woody Schultz … Ambient Room Tech / Troupe Peter Mensah … Horse Clan Leader Sonia Yee … Link Room Tech Jahnel Curfman … Basketball Avatar / Troupe Ilram Choi … Basketball Avatar Kyla Warren … Na’vi Child Lisa Roumain … Troupe Debra Wilson (Debra Skelton) … Troupe Taylor Kibby … Troupe Jodie Landau … Troupe Chris Mala … Troupe Julie Lamm … Troupe Cullen B. Madden … Troupe Joseph Brady Madden … Troupe Frankie Torres … Troupe Austin Wilson … Troupe Sara Wilson … Troupe Tamica Washington-Miller … Troupe Lucy Briant … Op Center Staff Nathan Meister … Op Center Staff Gerry Blair … Op Center Staff Matthew Chamberlain (Matt Chamberlain) … Op Center Staff Paul Yates … Op Center Staff Wray Wilson … Op Center Duty Officer James Gaylyn … Op Center Staff Melvin Leno Clark III … Dancer Carvon Futrell … Dancer Brandon Jelkes … Dancer Micah Moch … Dancer Haniyyah Tahirah … Dancer Christopher Nolen … Dancer Christa Oliver … Dancer April Marie Thomas (April Thomas) … Dancer Bravita A. Threatt … Dancer
Director
Producer	, Jon Landau, Josh McLaglen, Janace Tashjian, Peter M. Tobyansen, Colin Wilson
Distributor	, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company

Avatar: The Way of Water (Christian Movie Review)

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