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Which format is the best way to watch Avatar: The Way of Water?

3D? HFR? 4DX? Plain? There are plenty of choices on how to return to Pandora

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After 13 years of waiting, Avatar: The Way of Water is finally here, and it seems like half the world is getting ready to see it. But before you head to the theater for the blockbuster spectacle of the year, it’s important to make sure you’re seeing the movie in the format that’s best for you.

Avatar 2 is being displayed in dozens of different formats for different theaters and screen sizes around the world, but for most people’s purposes, there are only a few decisions you need to make: Do you want to see the movie in 3D or not? Do you want to see it in high frame rate (HFR) format, which doubles the frames in some sequences to 48 frames per second, to make some of the CGI action smoother?

To help make this easier, we broke down the most common versions of Avatar: The Way of Water to let you know the differences and how effective each format is.

Should I see Avatar: The Way of Water in IMAX?

The massive format is a great way to see Avatar: The Way of Water . The scale of the screen absolutely enhances the experience of being transported to the beautiful waters of Pandora. But it’s not strictly necessary, and holding out for IMAX won’t affect your experience as much as anything else on this list.

Should I see Avatar 2 in 3D?

You absolutely should. Just as with the first Avatar , The Way of Water ’s 3D is so good, it will trick you into thinking the technology is viable and should be used by people not named James Cameron. (In reality, it is not viable, and its use outside of Cameron movies should be illegal.) Regardless of whether you want to see the movie in HFR, you should do your best to see it in 3D if that’s at all possible for you.

Should I see Way of Water in 3D with HFR?

This one’s tough. When The Way of Water ’s HFR sequences work, they really work. Most notably, everything in the water (a lot of the movie) and everything involving flying (slightly less of the movie) looks outstanding, and for some people, the rest of the scenes will work just as well. Others, however, will feel that HFR makes them feel like they’re watching a TV with motion smoothing enabled , or that it looks too much like a video game cutscene. If motion smoothing bothers you, you might want to opt out of HFR screenings. If you don’t notice it at all when other people complain about it, you’ll be fine.

Problem is, the movie’s frame rate is dynamic — it switches between standard and high frame rate using a visual trick. When it goes back to the standard 24 frames per second, which it does when only humans are on screen, it’s actually just doubling each frame you see. In other words, it’s still playing at the higher 48 fps rate, but mimicking 24 fps in a way that some people perceive as feeling off or sluggish.

The HFR version of the movie makes a lot of the beautiful action shots of Pandora and of Na’vi kids running around and exploring way better for people who don’t find the format distracting. But it’s got some drawbacks that might make it significantly more annoying for certain people.

Should I see Avatar 2 in 2D?

This is an option reserved mostly for people who can’t or won’t watch a 3D movie for one reason or another. And if that’s the case, don’t worry! Pandora’s still going to look great, and you’re still going to have a good time diving back into the world of Avatar.

Should I see it in 2D with HFR?

I’m not sure this exists. I can’t find any local theaters playing the movie this way, but if someone encounters it, probably just don’t go. Either see it fully standard, or in a 3D version.

Should I see Avatar: The Way of Water in 4DX?

Avatar: The Way of Water is probably the most 4DX movie ever made. The immersive format is not the optimal way to see this sequel, but having experienced the physical effects of the medium, we can say it is incredibly fun. As with the other versions of the movie, the underwater and flying sequences are particularly thrilling, taking full advantage of 4DX’s shifting chairs, which often rattle you around hard enough to make you fear being thrown from your seat in a delightful way.

But the real highlight of this movie’s 4DX screenings is the water effects. Avatar: The Way of Wate r is a tremendously wet movie , so it only makes sense that it would take full advantage of 4DX’s capability of splashing audiences in the face, simulating rain, or often both at the same time. Watching characters dive underwater just as a burst of mist hits you and the theater’s wind fans kick into high gear is exciting every time it happens — and it happens a lot.

That being said, 4DX works best as a second-time viewing experience, should you decide to return to Pandora. If you opt for the immersive format the first time out, you may lose a plot detail or two to the water drops accumulating on your 3D glasses. But by the second viewing, it all just adds to the movie’s overall sense of massive theme-park excitement.

How do I make sure I’m seeing the right version of Avatar 2?

This is maybe the most and least complicated question on the list. The answer is that some theaters list whether they’re showing the movie in HFR, while others do not. Regal Cinemas, for instance, lists every detail on its showings online, including HFR. So if you don’t see that listed in the extra features of the screening you’re buying tickets to, assume that it’s in standard frame rate. AMC Theatres, on the other hand, does not list whether a screening is in HFR. So if AMC is your only option, I guess... try calling the theater to ask?

This sounds like a miserable experience at a national chain like AMC — you’re likely to get shunted through an exhaustive phone tree in a quest to find a human worker, who may or may not have the answers. At least if AMC gets enough calls with this question, it might make more of an effort to list the details of its screenings. If you want that information from a local, non-chain theater, you’re at least more likely to get someone on the other end of the line quickly, and hopefully, they know which version they’re showing. The good news is that 3D should be listed for every showing at just about every theater, and that’s the most important feature to make sure you get.

Avatar: The Way of Water is in theaters now.

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Avatar: Way of Water Gets Immersive ScreenX Experience

Posted by Jessica Lancaster | Dec 6, 2022 | Movie News , Sci-Fi | 0 |

Fans of James Cameron’s Avatar have waited more than a decade for the film’s sequel. But the return to Pandora now approaches – and fans can experience the planet like never before, thanks to ScreenX and 4DX technology.

Jongryul Kim, CEO of CJ 4DPLEX, said, “We’re thrilled to immerse Avatar: The Way of Water audiences into James Cameron’s stunning sci-fi adventure with ScreenX and 4DX. Our premium formats can’t be replicated at home and deliver one-of-a-kind viewing experiences that will take audiences to new heights.”

Experience The Way of Water with ScreenX and 4DX

Both ScreenX and 4DX are premium film formats/cinema technologies designed to give fans a more immersive theater viewing experience. Here’s what that will look like for Avatar: The Way of Water .

ScreenX – ScreenX projects films on three sides of a theater, creating a 270-degree viewing experience. Essentially, you’ll still see the main action of the film on the screen in front of you, but you’ll also be able to turn left and right to see more of the environment everything’s taking place in.

(For the record, I got the chance to see Top Gun: Maverick on ScreenX earlier this year. I think the format will be an incredible setup for Avatar .)

Avatar: The Way of Water will play on over 349 ScreenX screens worldwide.

4DX – 4DX immerses audiences by using unique motion and environmental effects during a screening. Seats may move or vibrate, and you will experience effects like wind and water.

Avatar: The Way of Water will play on over 783 4DX screens worldwide.

Both ScreenX and 4DX will let fans feel like they’re stepping onto Pandora alongside the Avatar sequel’s main characters.

About Avatar: The Way of Water

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive and the tragedies they endure.

Avatar: The Way of Water premieres in theaters December 16.

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Move Over, 3D: ScreenX Is The Future Of Immersive Cinema

About The Author

Jessica Lancaster

They say write what you know, and I definitely know how to be a nerd.

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What Is the Best Format in Which to See Avatar: The Way of Water ?

By Jordan Hoffman

“Mabel, let’s you and I go to the pictures, whaddya say?” 

This is how your grandparents decided on seeing a movie back in the day. (Yes, your grandmother was named Mabel.) For wise consumers looking to see  Avatar: The Way of Water (and, by all accounts, it looks as if there will be  many doing so on opening weekend), it’s not quite that simple. Yes, by all means, get thee to the cinema and return to the gorgeous fantasy realm of Pandora, where cerulean bipeds save on gas by riding winged beasts for transport, but the question remains: Just  how  should you see this film? As it turns out, there are many options when it comes to format for this movie, some complicated, but here are the ways of water.

Thus far, members of the press who have seen the movie in major markets, with most (but  not all ) having  liked it , did so in Dolby 3D HFR. One would surmise that director James Cameron  himself signed off on allowing the press to view it this way, so a case can be made that this is his preferred experience. (Though putting words in the King of the World’s mouth is a fool’s errand.)

But wait, what’s 3D HFR? Surely you know what 3D is (the grubby glasses are back, folks!), but the “HFR” part may have you scratching your head. It stands for “high frame rate,” a technique you may recall from  Peter Jackson ’s  Hobbit  trilogy or  Ang Lee ’s  Gemini Man  and  Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.  The literal use of extra frames in the capture and projection of the image makes for an immediately noticeable change in how you perceive the film. A good way to describe it is seeing state-of-the-art televisions at Best Buy with the “motion smoothing” function turned on, but at an absolutely enormous scale and with blue aliens. 

But Cameron—being Cameron—took it one step further. Some scenes in  Avatar: The Way of Water plunge into this new technology. All those otherworldly creatures floating around the azure seas of Pandora (and, let there be no doubt, there is a surfeit of those in this 192-minute movie) practically drip off the screen. In contrast, shots of those nefarious sky people (also known as humans) are rendered in the traditional 24 frames-per-second format we’re used to. (Technically, the film’s still running at 48fps, but the images are doubled at times to recreate the look of 24. This “ simple hack ,” as Cameron calls it, actually makes sense, even if it sounds like I’m babbling right now.)

As such, some sequences toggle back and forth from shot to shot (even in speedy action scenes), and  some critics —myself included—found this too much for their minds to process, just too jarring. There’s a ramping-up effect during the switch-over that makes it look like a video game catching itself mid-render, and sometimes it looks like the gag from  The Benny Hill Show.

My personal suggestion is to  not  see it this way. But the truth is that if someone else described the situation to me, I would likely say, “Oh, sounds weird, I’ve gotta check that out!” I guess I’m the guy who eagerly says “okay” when asked to sniff a carton of milk to determine if it is rotten.

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But there are other options for seeing The Way of Water, and one’s a literal biggie: IMAX.

Not just IMAX, but IMAX 3D. You’ll get all the size and all the depth, and if the theater near you shows true IMAX (not  LieMAX ), you are bound for glory. Regarding the 3D, my personal experience was so overwhelmed by the newness of variable HFR that the 3D was something of an afterthought. I recall one particularly exhilarating shot of a Na’vi hair braid whipping across the screen before tangling with a sea monster.

A Disney rep confirmed to  VF  that there are 400 IMAX 3D auditoriums in the US and Canada ready to take you to Pandora on opening weekend. 

The next level down in grandeur would be 3D on a Dolby or RPX screen. This option offers the more pristine picture and sound, often in a comfy auditorium with reclining seats, but with a wee upcharge. This option is known as PLF (premium large format) in the biz, and Disney has confirmed there are 950 such screens domestically, 75% of them 3D. It is a little unclear how many offer the HFR (more on that at the end—I know this is complicated; blame Cameron).

Then there’s also 3D in a regular old theater (thousands of screens), and for the folks who just don’t like 3D (or those who can’t see the difference, so why pay extra?), there is the good old-fashioned 2D option.

But wait, there’s more. There is the “rattle-and-shake” play, known as 4DX or D-BOX, depending on the theater chain. This is where the seats actually move, and there is the occasional use of wind effects and other theme-park-like shenanigans. Will there be mists of water in the auditorium as a space whale the size of an aircraft carrier splashes down during moments of action-adventure triumph? This is currently unknown. It is also unclear if some or all of these screens will make use of the HFR technology. (The 4DX at the Regal E-Walk, near Times Square in New York City, will.) Disney has confirmed that 280 of these screens will be wired up for  Avatar.  

Another newfangled screening option is something called ScreenX. This experience includes side screens that expand the image to 270 degrees. I can’t for the life of me understand how this could work for the entire film, but a press release says, “ScreenX’s peripheral three-screen design allows audiences to take in majestic views and puts them right in the middle of the unique and beautiful world of Pandora.” 

There are 85 ScreenX locations showing  Avatar: The Way of Water  domestically. These screenings are in 2D and not in HFR. (At least that’s the case for the ones at Regal’s Union Square cinema.) 

Lastly, let’s circle back to that question about which auditoriums are equipped with HFR. Praise is due to the Regal chain, as its website is  extremely  clear in breaking this all down, letting you know if the 3:45 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. showing has this technology. AMC currently does not detail which screens are equipped with HFR. 

What to do about that? Well, let’s think about your grandparents again. “Mabel, pick up the phone and dial the movie house? I have a question for the projectionist.”

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Avatar: The Way of Water: What's the best way to see it, and what does 'high frame rate' mean?

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It's finally time to return to Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water . But what's the best way to see James Cameron's sci-fi epic?

First things first, yes, it's an absolute must to watch the movie in 3D. Cameron's series is practically what modern 3D was made for, and The Way of Water looks stunning in that format. From there, the question becomes which premium format is best.

You generally can't go wrong with IMAX 3D, especially if you're looking for the biggest screen possible. By watching  The Way of Water this way, you should get a tall, expanded image. Dolby Cinema, meanwhile, shows movies with pristine image and sound, but typically on smaller screens than IMAX. On the other hand, the Dolby picture and particularly sound quality are arguably better. RPX is essentially Regal's Dolby Cinema equivalent.

There's another important decision to make, though: Whether to see The Way of Water in high frame rate. This involves showing the film with more frames per second than the typical 24 to create a smoother image, at least in select scenes. You may remember this technology being utilized in Peter Jackson's  Hobbit trilogy.

Some critics disliked the use of HFR for The Way of Water , arguing Cameron switching back and forth between high frame rate and a more traditional theatrical look is distracting. It did impress others , though.  This YouTube clip should give you an idea of what high frame rate looks like and whether you want to avoid it. On Fandango, look for "high frame rate" listed under a showtime.

Some theaters are also showing The Way of Water in 4DX , which essentially turns a movie into an amusement park attraction with moving chairs, spraying water, and more, while ScreenX provides a panoramic view by continuing the image onto the walls.

For what it's worth,  The Way of Water was screened for press in Dolby 3D HFR. But if you decide to see it that way, try to make sure your theater is projecting the film in  a 1.85:1 aspect ratio ,  rather than 2.39:1 , so that the taller image is properly presented and not  cropped . You can find a user-generated breakdown of individual Dolby locations'  aspect ratios here .

If that's too much of a headache, the easiest option for most people would probably be IMAX 3D for the larger screen and assurance you'll be getting an expanded image. But if you're interested in high frame rate and it's not available in IMAX, feel free to go for Dolby so long as it's 3D, especially if you can find a 1.85:1 screen. It would also be worth going to a theater with laser projection, which is specified on Fandango.

The only truly bad option would be to see The Way of Water in standard 2D. If you try, don't be surprised if Cameron himself shows up to stop you.

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Avatar: The Way of Water

Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the arm... Read all Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their home. Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their home.

• James Cameron
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• Sam Worthington
• Zoe Saldana
• Sigourney Weaver
• 3.3K User reviews
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• 75 wins & 150 nominations total

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• Trivia According to James Cameron , Kate Winslet performed all of her underwater stunts herself.
• Goofs During the fight when Jack and Neytiri rescued their children, they kill 4 soldiers from a party of 6. Yet at the extraction scene, all 6 soldiers are present.

Tsireya : [to Lo'ak] The way of water has no beginning and no end. Our hearts beat in the womb of the world. The sea is your home, before your birth and after your death. The sea gives and the sea takes. Water connects all things: life to death, darkness to light.

• Crazy credits The first half of the end credits highlight Pandoran sea creatures.
• Alternate versions Like its predecessor, which is present 1.78 : 1 aspect ratio, this film presents 1.85:1 aspect ratio for home video releases, although there can be no widescreen versions of this film as James Cameron intended to watch the full format.
• Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: Watching the Weird Way of Water (2022)
• Soundtracks Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength) Performed by The Weeknd Lyrics and Melody by The Weeknd (as Abel "The Weekend" Tesfaye) Music by Simon Franglen and Swedish House Mafia Produced by Simon Franglen and Swedish House Mafia The Weeknd Performs Courtesy of XO/Republic Records

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• December 16, 2022 (United States)
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• $350,000,000 (estimated)
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• Dec 18, 2022
• $2,320,250,281

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• Runtime 3 hours 12 minutes
• Dolby Atmos
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'Avatar: The Way of Water' Gets New Contemplative 4DX Poster

The art underscores the title of the movie.

As Disney and 20th Century Studios decided to start a 10-day countdown for the release of Avatar: The Way of Water , we can look forward to seeing some new content from the James Cameron movie from today through next Friday. This Tuesday, the companies unveiled new posters for the epic adventure, and the one they selected for 4DX theaters encapsulates one of the trailer’s most beautiful and majestic moments.

As you might know, Avatar: The Way of Water will take audiences to the underwater worlds of Pandora, and that means we’re about to meet some fierce and incredible new creatures that Cameron and his screenwriting team created to inhabit the oceans of the fictional planet. One of those creatures is this massive, blue-whale-like beast that, during one of the contemplative moments of the first trailer , touches its huge fin against one of Jake Sully’s ( Sam Worthington ) sons. The scene’s perspective is shot from the bottom of the ocean to the surface, so we get to take in the size of the animal with the tiny Na’vi beside it – and that’s saying something, considering that Na’vi are much bigger than humans.

The scene that the poster freeze-frames is also one that the audience at CCXP got to see this past weekend with star Zoe Saldana and producer Jon Landau . In its bigger cut, it gets revealed that the whale-like creature has been attacked with harpoons and one of them got stuck to its fin. Considering this fact and the themes that resonated throughout 2009’s Avatar , it’s pretty safe to assume that Avatar: The Way of Water will comment on how humans treat sea life. In 4DX theaters, the ride will be even more intense as the screenings feature over 21 unique motion and environmental effects that transform the movie-going experience.

RELATED: New 'Avatar: The Way of Water' Footage Revealed 18 Minutes of Different Storylines at CCXP

Avatar: The Way of Water follows up the story of the Na’vi 13 years after the first movie premiered. The movie will see the reunion of Cameron with Titanic star Kate Winslet , and feature new music by global superstar The Weeknd . The sequel will also see the return of Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang , two key characters that died at the end of the first movie. The entry is the first of four planned sequels, and Cameron teased that he can keep going till Avatar 6 and 7 .

The cast of Avatar: The Way of Water also features Giovanni Ribisi , Edie Falco , Jemaine Clement , CCH Pounder , Bailey Bass , Cliff Curtis , and many others.

Avatar: The Way of Water premieres in cinemas on December 16. You can check out the new 4DX poster below:

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Avatar: The Way of Water

December 16, 2022

Action-Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction

"Avatar: The Way of Water" reaches new heights and explores undiscovered depths as James Cameron returns to the world of Pandora in this emotionally packed action adventure. Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, "Avatar: The Way of Water" launches the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. All of this against the breathtaking backdrop of Pandora, where audiences are introduced to new Na’vi cultures and a range of exotic sea creatures that populate the majestic oceans. Nominated for numerous Academy Awards® including Best Picture, the James Cameron-directed film became the third highest-grossing box office film of all-time and set a new benchmark for visual effects. Produced by Cameron and his longtime partner Jon Landau, the Lightstorm Entertainment production stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis and Kate Winslet. Joining the illustrious adult cast are talented newcomers Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass and Jack Champion.

Rated: PG-13 Runtime: 3h 12min Release Date: December 16, 2022

Directed By

Produced by.

• Nominee - 2023 Academy Award® for Best Picture
• Nominee - 2023 Academy Award® for Production Design
• Nominee - 2023 Academy Award® for Sound
• Winner - 2023 Academy Award® for Visual Effects

• motionpictures.org
• filmratings.com

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(L-R): Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Ronal (Kate Winslet), and Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. 

(L-R): Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Jack Champion as Spider and Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Ronal (Kate Winslet) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR 2. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and a Tulkun in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Ronal (Kate Winslet), Tonowari (Cliff Curtis), and the Metkayina clan in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. ©2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

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Avatar: The Way of Water 4DX Vs IMAX?

Avatar: The Way of Water 4DX Vs IMAX, which platform is best to watch this James Cameron epic?

After our previous discussion about Avatar potentially reviving the 3D movies format to our recent Avatar: The Way of Water IMAX review it’s time for 4DX to have some input in this debate as we decide which format is best to watch the movie in.

4DX combines seat movements with scents, wind and atmospheric effects to immerse views into the cinema whilst IMAX provide a giant screen with immersive audio and beautifully vibrant imagery that in 3D can be rather special indeed if the film is shot specifically for that format.

For some movies,  4DX is better than IMAX and by quite some distance but this is due to many films nowadays not being shot specifically for IMAX and IMAX 3D and as a result don’t have the same impact as a tailored 4DX experience.

Disney movies + 4DX are a match made in heaven for the most part but Avatar: The Way of Water poses an issue and that issue is a direct result of the 3D glasses.

The IMAX glasses drag viewers into the story and fully immerse you into the experience as the movie feels like you’re watching a fish tank rather than a flat screen with depth and beautifully layered imagery. 

This is where the 4DX experience poses a problem as a movie about water, full of fight sequences and more have those 4DX water effects on high alert and the film takes a back seat to you becoming a human window wiper getting rid of the water of your glasses is now a full time 3 hour job and it’s distracting from the experience.

IMAX 3D is the only way to see Avatar: The Way of Water and if you’re going for the first time then you should absolutely dedicate your time to seeing it in this format and this format only.

Once you’ve seen it in IMAX 3D then feel free to go and watch the more novelty experience in 4DX as you know the story and can embrace all of the effects without you missing anything or it becoming too much of a distraction.

Avatar 3, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 are all in the pipeline and I’m absolutely ready for them although I have a feeling if it goes the same way as this particular instalment then we may become used to the beauty and as a result not appreciate the artistry that has been created.

James Cameron is just showing off in The Way of Water, it’s a film that should have been half as long but it dives into its own arrogance at times (I applaud that, it’s not a negative comment) and showcases some of the most spectacular on-screen work you’ll ever witness in the cinema right now in this very moment.

Three hours flew by and whilst some parts felt unnecessarily padded out the 3D grabs a hold of you, forms a bond and never lets you go.

The 4DX throws you even deeper into the experience and it’s an incredibly fun novelty experience but you absolutely need to see this in IMAX 3D first before you dive into the water effects and atmospherics that the 4DX experience provides.

I usually choose one format or the other but for this movie and this movie over. Go and see it in both!

One format I would avoid seeing it in is Screen-X (the walls are screens). Other than for movies that feature the inside of a car or similar for large durations then it’s a pointless viewing format that just isn’t worth your time.

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Owner of Back to the Movies and Born in Stoke on Trent Sean Evans set up this website to talk about films the way you'd talk to your friends about them. No critics, just fans.

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Avatar: The Way of Water

Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the planet of Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their planet.

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