jonbower

The Way of the Water succeeds where it's predecessor succeeded: in creating a world of wonder populated by people and animals that fit its logic. In fact, it raises the bar for all other films to follow in terms of its world creation. It is truly stunning, and well worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find.

Sadly, it fails to upgrade its predecessor's war story, and the loss is even greater this time. The Na'vi deserve better than spending their story defending themselves from violence and irrationality. Yes, those things are real on earth, and this movie could be a parable of the expansion of European culture across the globe at the tip of a spear, but why does spiritual advancement and love have to constantly respond to evil?

I, for one, am tired of it.

In spite of the lifeless title and the stiff start, I enjoyed Finding You. The beautiful scenery and the predictable plot twists kept a smile on my face, and its an easy movie to share with a wife or a date. The fact that the female lead has a normal body and the most sympathetic character in the movie is well over 80 add some positive, and unusual, normalcy to the young beauty on the screen.

This is a film about a lie. As such, it's very had to feel good about the characters and the decisions they make. On the other hand, it's a wonderful depiction of those characters and the lives that led them to the events in the film. So, do I love the film? No, there is too much lying. Did I enjoy the film? Yes, it's real, heartfelt and illuminating. Sometimes, life just isn't all positive, and this film goes where the story takes it. I respect this film, I just don't love it.