the Avatar sequels have most of the same problems as the Star Wars prequels. they’re terribly written - with bad plotting and pacing, weak dialogue and characters I couldn’t possibly care about. at the same time, they’re visually stunning spectacles that push the boundaries of what can be achieved with computer graphics - tech demos for the future of digital cinema. which I’m all for, but unless the movie is good we’re just watching grown men play with their toys
both series of films are centered around antifascist / anti-imperialist themes which makes their utter mediocrity all the more disappointing. Avatars 2-3 are especially disappointing given Cameron’s track record with sequels. it does seem that once your net worth surpasses a certain point you become incapable of making good art
If I had the talent, I would 100% go the Cameron route. Make slop with good craftmanship and just mid-brow enough that people argue whether it’s slop or not while I blow the millions of dollars on projects I actually care about.