“Turns my stomach”

Avatar 2: The Way of Water has been in German cinemas since mid-December. The science fiction blockbuster continues the story of Avatar – Pandora. There, humans are invading a largely untouched planet, oppressing its inhabitants and exploiting nature. A war develops and Part 2 continues the spiral of escalation.

As in almost all of James Cameron’s films (Terminator 2, Aliens), the level of violence high – and that bothers the director now.

James Cameron had moral concerns about Avatar 2

In an interview, the filmmaker spoke about American society’s obsession with guns and how he sees the depiction of gun violence in his older films today:

I look back on some films I’ve done and I don’t know if I would do the film now. I don’t know if in today’s world I want to fetishize the gun like I do in some Terminator movies over 30 years ago have made. What happens to guns in our society turns my stomach.

This critical review of one’s own work had a direct impact on Display of weapons in Avatar 2.

James Cameron cut ‘ugly’ action from Avatar 2

There are scenes in which innocent Na’vi are brutally threatened with weapons and animals are struck down in cold blood. Cameron doesn’t stage weapons (only) as a solution to a conflict, but as elementary parts of a spiral of violence. He therefore had no intention of glorifying weapons:

I cut about 10 minutes out of the film that shows gunplay action. I wanted to get rid of some of the uglinessto find a balance between light and dark.

James Cameron’s newfound pacifism is also clearly reflected in Avatar 2’s moral themes. Here, a family man (Jake Sully) transfers his rivalry with an old foe (Quaritch) to his people and family – and in doing so, puts them in danger.

Of course you need a conflict. Violence and action are the same, depending on your perspective. This is the Dilemma of all action filmmakers and I’m known as an action filmmaker. Avatar 2: Is this the best blockbuster of the last 13 years?!

In the current issue of the FILMSTARTS podcast on the screen, moderator Sebastian, editor Pascal and our guest David Hain talk about “Avatar 2: The Way Of Water”. All important questions are clarified: Was it worth the wait? Is the mega blockbuster just technically convincing or are the emotions there too? And what do Nazi zombies on the dark side of Pandora have to do with it?

The screen love is the weekly cinema and film podcast of our colleagues from FILMSTARTS.

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