The Reel Rejects - AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER REACTION – THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST-LOOKING MOVIE EVER

Episode Date: March 24, 2026

CATCHING UP BEFORE FIRE & ASH!! Avatar: The Way of Water Full Movie Reaction Watch Along:   / thereelrejects   Visit https://huel.com/rejects to get 15% off your order Gift Someone (Or... Yourself) An RR Tee! https://shorturl.at/hekk2 With James Cameron's AVATAR: Fire and Ash winning a Best Visual FX Oscar at this year's Academy Awards + AVATAR: Fire and Ash grossing OVER A BILLION DOLLARS, TAaron returns to give their AVATAR: The Way of Water reaction, recap, analysis, breakdown, & spoiler review! Aaron Alexander & Tara Erickson react to and review Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), the visually groundbreaking sci-fi epic directed by James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Avatar). Set over a decade after the original film, this sequel expands the world of Pandora with a focus on family, survival, and the deep connection between the Na’vi and their environment. Follow Aaron On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealaaronalexander/?hl=en Follow Tara Erickson: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaraErickson Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/taraerickson/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/thetaraerickson Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:01:49 Thank you to Hewell for sponsoring this video. More on them in just a bit. Transparency, I've seen this once before, but this is Karras first time watching this. So that's very exciting. and yeah, let's go. Without further ado, let's head back to Pandora. Let's do it. All right, you guys, we have just finished Avatar, the way of water. We've learned the ways.
Starting point is 00:02:24 If you listen to this on Apple or Spotify, make sure you go and give us five stars. Also, you can go like, comment, subscribe, and what else, Tara? Ring the bell. Ring the bell. And another thing, we got merch, we got the reject stuff, we got the she jack stuff. She's wearing a, like your horror picture show.
Starting point is 00:02:47 Oh, it is. Oh, she ain't about that one. Hell yeah, new. She jacks, jerk. Horror stuff coming at you. You can get that over on regionation shop.com. Also, if you are cool and super sexy, you can become a patron where we do full-length watchalongs and Greg and John do exclusives that you can't get over. here on YouTube.
Starting point is 00:03:09 And if you're a patron and you buy stuff off the shop, you can get 15% off of merchandise, all of it, anything you want, 15% off. In addition to that, you can also join our conversation post-reaction in our review portion by setting in questions. We will shout you out. We will answer your questions. And yeah, have a good old time doing so. So without further ado, we're to give our quick thoughts and then jump straight into the
Starting point is 00:03:36 questions. Tara, this was your first time watching this film. How do you feel coming out of it? I liked it. It definitely was an experience. I understand why people would probably be like, you've got to see it in the theater. I think it was a little too long,
Starting point is 00:03:51 but I still liked it. Okay, the reason I say a little too long, there's some stuff when like, when they're going in the fight and the subs are dropping down, I'm like, oh, I felt like I've already seen this. I did, though, however, understand them taking their time and showing us like the way of water and then living in it in day
Starting point is 00:04:14 and night. All those shots were absolutely breathtaking. I totally understand that. Finally when we got to like the end of it, the meat of it, I, because I needed that to like speed up and I needed vengeance. It was like taking too long and it was like too hurtful for me to see the animals being hurt and we had to see it multiple times, which I didn't like. But you have to set us up that way, take us to like the dark night of the soul so that when we get our payback and feels really good. And it did. And I was glad that that happened. I do like that we got to dive in deeper into like the kernel and then the sun part and obviously we're seeing the way that solely lives and now that they are see people. But them growing a family was really nice to see.
Starting point is 00:05:01 but it's like sad for Niteya, right, to be taken away. I still thought that this movie was very entertaining, had heart could be about an hour shorter, and we would still, I feel like, get the experience and the full story, right? I'm not saying cut out the good stuff. I'm just saying, it's a long one, and I don't think it needed me.
Starting point is 00:05:31 that long. That's all I got to say. Yeah, okay. I feel you. I feel you. You know, this was not my first time watching, but my first time watching it in some time. And I kind of come out feeling a similar way that I did to the first time I saw it. But I have greater appreciation for the film. One, just kind of watching in the reaction format we've done, but also coming fresh off of the first one. I also liked it. There are things that I really enjoyed about it, like the visuals look incredible, the way that James Cameron is able to really establish a detailed world.
Starting point is 00:06:15 And you can tell this is something that's lived in his head for years because of the amount of details. And from big to small, from world building to the mythology of how this place works, it's all very um very very thought out and very um methodical and that said um i feel as though what detracts the movie for me is because there is so much love for the the world he's created i feel like the in-depth character stuff kind of takes a back seat though there is character that there is heart we don't really get to know our family unit as deeply as we could have.
Starting point is 00:06:59 And I feel like because of the amount of time spent on the world and the vibes, I feel like it undercut some of the drama of what's being presented. Like the oldest son, we didn't really get to know him at all. We didn't spend any time with him. And that moment could have been crushing for us. Had we? It could have destroyed us. Yeah, totally.
Starting point is 00:07:21 But yeah, he was just sort of there to play off of the younger son's arc and kind of build him up and then sort of use him. as the I don't think it's the divider point but he was the good son and
Starting point is 00:07:33 uh loak was the you know the outcast son or the the rebellious son right so I felt like
Starting point is 00:07:41 if we would have given equal care to all of our our kids and our adults because Jake and Tiri sort of felt like side characters
Starting point is 00:07:50 in this movie the kids kind of took center stage and I feel like if they were to really invest in all of our kids and
Starting point is 00:07:58 our family unit, all the stuff would have hit harder. Not to mention the stuff with the kernel and Spider. I felt like the stuff they did in the beginning was really interesting because it was this sort of I don't think game's not the right word, but he starts to go and it's like, okay, if we're going to do this, we're going to do it Jake Sully's way because if we think like them, then we can better track them.
Starting point is 00:08:24 And then he goes and does his whole ritual of getting the dragon or the bird. I thought that was cool. And I think it would have been a cooler arc to have it be more emotionally divisive because he's one caught on his mission and what he was sent here to do
Starting point is 00:08:41 while simultaneously falling in love with the world himself and him being caught between those two desires. I feel like that's where they felt like they were starting to go. But they kind of dropped that because we spent a lot of time focusing on the stuff with the whales. And then he was just full till bad guy by the end.
Starting point is 00:08:57 So I feel like I would have liked a little bit more emotional complexity, which is what they seem like they were leaning towards at the beginning. Yeah, we just didn't get it. And you see some of that at the end because he finally is endeared to Spider. But I feel like if the plot spent more time building up that bond through the middle of the movie, it would have been more emotionally conflicting by the time we get to the end. Yeah. But yeah, but I still think that obviously he intended this to be a long series. And, you know, we still have another movie to watch after this. but some of those things that I was missing from a character and heart perspective were what held it back for me from being fully enveloped into our core cast here.
Starting point is 00:09:39 But that's my quick thoughts. Hopefully the next one kind of brings me in a little bit more emotionally and we get more stuff given the fallout of what we just witnessed. But yeah, without further ado, let's jump into our questions. Pre-deject nation, do you ever feel like life is just constantly moving? Like, you're always on the go, always in a rush. And eating healthy is the thing that keeps getting pushed aside. That's for me for a few years now. And it could be a real struggle to maintain eating healthy.
Starting point is 00:10:10 And that's honestly why we've become so dependent on what's this stuff at Huell. What a natural segue that is. But also, we've got three fridges around here, and we have these fridges stocked with the ready to drink. A lot of times going to events from here, I bring. them with me. You'll often see Koi and I are drinking them on camera for a reason because it is a complete meal and a bottle. 35 grams of protein, 27 essential vitamins and minerals, slow release carbs, no artificial sweeteners, gluten-free, and it actually helps keep us full. I would drink Huell while on my cut where I lost a crap ton of weight last year. Koi currently on a cut for the
Starting point is 00:10:43 past few months and he's drinking these a few times a week. Plus it's under five bucks, which makes it way easier to stay consistent. And then when I want something a little bit more built, I'll use the black edition powder we got so much in that other room right over there you can light it with frozen fruit ice sometimes i mix it with my hydration drinks same complete nutrition just more customizable and now even though i'm no longer under cut i'm been working on maintenance it helps so much more to have something like this to maintain so if you're like me where the days feel nonstop this makes staying on track simple and delicious so for limited time offer you can get huell today with my exclusive offer of 15% off
Starting point is 00:11:18 online with my code rejects at huell.com slash rejects new customers only. Once again, that's huel.com slash rejects. Code rejects. Thank you to huel once again for partnering and supporting real rejects. Sydney. Thanks, Sydney. I'm sending out a question.
Starting point is 00:11:36 One of the most beautiful parts, one of the most beautiful small details I really loved was that Natam looked a lot like his mother and Lelok looked a lot like his father. I understand that it can be frustrating when a child doesn't listen often, if at all. But I always feel like Tohawk feel for
Starting point is 00:11:53 talk throughout the movie due to his how harsh Jake comes off as to him. It's not that he isn't harsh to him, but it isn't as intense. Was there something that you notice throughout the movie? Yes, no matter how many times I rewatch it, the
Starting point is 00:12:09 Tolkien mother and the calf being hunted hurt so deeply and I cry consistently. And was over the moon at Pai Khan getting his revenge. Yeah. Yeah. I'm with you. And yeah, I mean, you had already called it out.
Starting point is 00:12:24 You were like, oh, he's like, he's not being nice to, you were like, he's been harsh to, uh, Natayayam the whole time. Or I say his name. Uh, that's why I yelled. Loak. He's been harsh. I'm sorry. I met Loak. Uh, the younger son, because he's been nice.
Starting point is 00:12:42 The older one. That's why I yelled out when he. he finally is on Payacon and he says I see you to Loak. I was like finally because I felt for him in that moment and yes
Starting point is 00:12:57 that was super hard for me to watch. It's a token mother in the cat. Like that they let it go on a little too long for me like if that was rough for me to like watch and I hated it and so the payback was very sweet.
Starting point is 00:13:14 Yeah yeah It was pretty intense. We didn't see that guy die, but so I imagine he'll be in the next movie. But yeah, I didn't really notice the fact that Natam looks like Natiri, but it makes sense. I didn't either, really.
Starting point is 00:13:28 But I saw that Loak looked like Jake. Yeah. Yeah, that wasn't something I particularly picked up on, but the thing that's an interesting observation, and I think part of it is because we spent so much time with, without Loak, and he does have elements and shades of his father in him And maybe that's why he's more harsh to him.
Starting point is 00:13:48 And, you know, he wants better for him because he sees potentially his greatness. And this is my own head canon kind of rationalizing what the story didn't necessarily flesh out. But I feel like hopefully in the next movie they have a closer relationship because he finally says, I see you. And hopefully that means like, I see you for who you are and how you are and how you operate. But, yeah, I didn't notice the visual computer. parisans but i think that's cool and you know if i ever decide to watch away water again or yeah i'll keep out i'll look out for that thanks sidney appreciate the question all right the next one jane roads i know these movies have a fan base but i'm a small minority of people who just don't like these
Starting point is 00:14:30 movies i think they are three-hour bore fest they do nothing for me don't get me wrong they're very beautiful movies to look at but when that's all you have to show me for three hours i could have spent my time doing something else i'm curious if you all agree or disagree and what's y'all's favorite James Cameron movie. Mine is Terminator 2 by a landslide. That's from Jaden Rhodes. I think it's a little, can be a little slow at times. I feel like James Cameron spends a lot of time and again, like I said, in the pre-review portion, enveloped in his world and his creation. I feel like because of that, it can be a little lacking in character and heart. Even though that, you know, it's, all of the heart is in the visual presentation, not necessarily
Starting point is 00:15:12 in the dialogue or how the characters connect to one another, but how he, how the characters interact with the world in and of itself. And that's where a lot of people probably feel connected to it, but I feel like for myself, I'm someone who likes character journeys and who likes character relationships because if we invest in those character relationships, that makes the stakes that much higher. Because we didn't spend a ton of time on that or the ratio from world-building and the character's relationship to the world rather than the relationship to each other was in balance.
Starting point is 00:15:48 It sort of, I wouldn't say it left me feeling hollow, but it definitely left me feeling a sense of emotional nourishment. For sure, I was emotionally nourished, undernourished by this movie. But still entertained, nonetheless.
Starting point is 00:16:06 Yeah, I get that. I feel like once PyCon came through and we had, you know, that relationship with him and Leoke Leop was the younger son. Yeah, Loak. Lowok. I'm trying to like remember names.
Starting point is 00:16:22 That's when it sort of picked up for me. But anyway, I understand, Jaden, that you were bored. There were sometimes when I was like, this is really beautiful. I get it. But I was wondering when it was going to pick up because I felt like the pacing in the beginning of the movie,
Starting point is 00:16:38 I called it out, we're really moving, we're grooving here. And then it really slowed down. I get it to show us the beauty of the way of water, from the darkness to the light that you breathe in, you breathe out. The sea is everything. I understand that. I feel like, yeah, maybe there was a little too much time spent on that and not the character building so that when we obviously lost Natam, when we have that beginning moment where he's held up, and then he dies. Like, I don't. definitely was not, you know, brought to tears by that moment. And I think I should have for this type of a film and what they're trying to, I would assume, pull out of us. So I kind of agree
Starting point is 00:17:23 and also disagree. I mean, there's really good parts of this movie, but there's also parts that I'm like, you could have made us, I think, feel a lot more. And I think the pacing could have picked up and you could have lost some shots that I understand James Cameron is probably thinking I'm absolutely not going to show the audience this bioluminescence shot where it looks like they're glowing underwater. I get it. Some of these shots were probably very precious and fought for but I feel like people could have come out of this movie if it was like two hours and been like wow, that was a ride versus it taking longer than I feel like it should have. Yeah, look at my favorite James Cameron movie.
Starting point is 00:18:13 I was just going to say probably the Titanic, but I'm with you on Terminator 2. I didn't want to say the same thing. Terminator 2 is great. Aliens was a lot of fun though too. So I'm choosing between those. Yeah, he's doing a lot of stuff, obviously, in the last number of years. Here's, Titanic is great. True Lides is a lot of fun.
Starting point is 00:18:37 True Lides is a great one. That's a good pick. Yeah. Do you prefer Way of Water or the original Avatar? The original. Yeah, I'd probably agree with you that. I feel like the original Avatar had a good balance understanding
Starting point is 00:18:51 Jake's arc as a character, but also involved in showing us this new world we had not to experience. For sure. And their love story, I think, was also really sweet. Yeah. But, yeah. Thanks, Jaden Road. Appreciate your question.
Starting point is 00:19:07 Jay Russian, what up, Jay? A question, who is your favorite character? I really like Tuk-Took. So cute. Tuck. Yeah, but I kept calling her Tuk-tuk. Tuk's cute. But Pai-Con is my favorite. I love Pai-Con so freaking much.
Starting point is 00:19:31 And the fact that he gets so pissed, underwater. Like he starts just messing up the coral and I'm like dang he's so mad and I thought he was going to call in all of the other uh, Toulux or whatever they're called but he just took care of it
Starting point is 00:19:49 and he took he he got his vengeance paid out and I enjoy him so so much. Yeah. Oh man it it sucks. I have a couple people in mind but I feel like and as much as the stuff with a pie con was great. I feel like if we spent more time
Starting point is 00:20:05 with the tribe themselves rather than the stuff with them training. It would be a much tougher decision. But because we only really spent time in depth with a couple of characters, it's really between for me Lowoc
Starting point is 00:20:21 and Keri. And I feel like Keri was largely a set-up character for three because we see her connect and then have a vision with her mom and like who's my dad and has a seizure. So I feel like that's something that's going to be paid off later. But that's the most really in-depth stuff we get.
Starting point is 00:20:38 But I feel like I was attracted to the idea of someone who is so in tune with their feelings in the earth that the rest of the world doesn't understand it. I really like that. But also I like the outcast aspect of Luwok. Mowoc. So, yeah, I think both of them are kind of tied for me as for my favorite character. Those are good because, like, Tuk-Took didn't really. She didn't do much. She was just, like, adorable and cute.
Starting point is 00:21:04 So I loved her. I think that, yeah, for the character choices, I agree with you. There's not much to choose from if we're really choosing a character was, like, written really well that we got to know. It would be probably those two. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you guys, that is our reaction review for The Way of Water. Let us know your favorite character, your favorite part, and which one of these movies is your favorite.
Starting point is 00:21:27 So, until next time and our next trip to Pandora, be well. Have a good one. Mwa. Duceus.

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