The Great James Cameron Pivot: From ‘Wee Skirmish’ to Huge Climax | Avatar: The Way of Water
393James Cameron warned us. Critics and naysayers said the 13-year span between 2009’s Avatar and 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water would result in audience disinterest in all things Pandora. But Cameron doubled down and essentially promised, “If I build it, you will come”... and then showed us all the receipts. At this point, Avatar 2 has earned almost $2.3 billion dollars in worldwide box office, critical praise and four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won Oscars for Best Achievement in Visual Effects.
The Way of Water has wowed audiences with its impressive set pieces and creature designs, using state of the art VFX and 3D to immerse audiences into the oceans of Pandora and the tech of the RDA. In particular, the final battle sequence on the massive SeaDragon vessel has had audiences clinging to their chairs and curling in tension.
Ironically, the team that had to design that sequence had no idea that it was going to be the film’s big finale… until suddenly, that’s what it was. But when you work with Jim Cameron, you gotta be ready to pivot…
This is how Avatar: The Way of Water's climactic battle scene got made!
(Thumbnail credit: Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
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