Avatar: The Way of Water VS. Avatar – Spectacle and Structure

Avatar: The Way of Water VS. Avatar - Spectacle and Structure

This episode, we're going to be looking at Avatar: The Way of Water as well as the first Avatar, the 2009 film. We’re going to be breaking down both movies structurally, analyzing their strengths and weakness, and understanding the role of spectacle in both Avatar films, and how to apply those lessons to your own writing.

There's an interesting thing that happens with sequels. When we're building sequels, our movies actually become more like TV shows than like traditional feature films. 

Traditionally, when we think of a feature film, we think of a contained unit. But when we think of a TV series, we actually want to create a replicable element, where every installment of the series feels like every other installment of the series, even as the plot and certain elements change. 

In other words, we're trying to create the same feeling in a different way. And this is true whether you're making Avatar, the Avengers, or even The Godfather Part 1 and 2, (we'll leave The Godfather, Part 3 for another conversation).

By looking at the engine of Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water we can better understand how sequels work and how to write a successful sequel. 

When we create sequels, we're not just continuing the story, we're building an engine. We're asking, What are the replicable elements of the first movie? And how do I replicate them in a way that feels the same, but also feels different?

We want movie goers to feel like they got what they came for, while also feeling like they got something a little unexpected. 

James Cameron has been very clear on this. He developed the scripts to ensure that if you liked the first Avatar movie, you’re going to like Avatar: The Way of Water.

In fact, Cameron  had trouble with the writing of Avatar: The Way of Water because he was frustrated with the writers trying to come up with new stories rather than first looking at what made the first one so successful, and trying to replicate those elements. 

We're also going to be talking about the role of spectacle in both Avatar films, the importance of spectacle, and how to find spectacle in your own writing.

Whether you're writing a huge feature film like Avatar: The Way of Water that's going to cost $400 million to make, or a $20,000 feature, we're going to talk about the value of spectacle, and the importance of spectacle and how to build spectacle in your screenwriting, your TV writing, even your playwriting.

We’re going to explore how the use of spectacle in Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water allows both films to transcend some of the problems in the screenplays.

Both screenplays have their weaknesses, and they have their strengths. But structurally, the script for the first Avatar, despite its unabashedly cheesy dialogue and all that kind of stuff that everyone complains about, is actually a much stronger film than Avatar: The Way of Water.

So we're going to be talking about some of the structural differences. so you can understand how to apply those lessons to your own screenwriting. 

We talked about the idea that a sequel is supposed to create the same feeling as the original. So, what's the feeling that Avatar is supposed to give you?

There are a couple of different elements to that feeling. 

On the simplest level, both installments of the Avatar series are supposed to give you a feeling of wonder. 

Sure, there’s going to be lots of action and excitement, like in all James Cameron movies, but the Avatar series is supposed to do more than that. It’s supposed to transport you. 

It's not just a movie about a bunch of action sequences. Even though it is built like a video game, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water are both intended to t...