This past December was quite the month for cinema, with two films being released into theaters which received huge praise. The two films in mind are Avatar: The Way of Water and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Both have received massive applause for a multitude of things from characters to environment and visuals to vocal performances and much more.

In this article, I’ll explore why these films have been getting such positive reception without going too much into spoiler territory.

Avatar: The Way of Water

First up, we have the highly anticipated sequel to Avatar (2009), directed once again by James Cameron. Returning to the world of Pandora after 13 years is an odd decision, but seeing how ambitious James was with this sequel and eventual future films in this series, some of which have already wrapped filming, it is clear that he has a plan going forward for this franchise and will accomplish it no matter what.

James Cameron wanted the 3D version of the film to be more engaging and thrilling than most other films, so the filming process was done with 3D being kept in mind, without being added on afterwards. Having seen it in IMAX 3D myself, I can definitely say it does not disappoint, even if you’re not normally a fan of 3D.

The story picks up a couple of years after the events of the first film, after the Na’vi inhabiting Pandora claimed victory against the humans invading, with rebel Jake Sully having settled with Neytiri and started raising a family. This includes two sons, Neteyam and Lo’ak, a daughter named Tuk and an adopted daughter named Kiri. Their peaceful lifestyle suddenly changes when the humans realize Earth is dying and running out of resources, which prompts a second invasion.

Due to his family, Jake is more cautious of war, and they decide to seek out a new clan that lives by the reef in order to seek refuge from the incoming danger, and potentially find a way to stop the invasion once again. The story told is one that, while long (3 hours), is very enjoyable throughout. I enjoyed discovering new areas of the world we thought we knew all about, but turns out we haven’t even scratched the surface.

When you compare the first movie’s visuals to this one, you can definitely see a clear improvement. The visuals in the first film weren’t at all bad, but this movie feels just as, if not more, colorful than ever before, especially the underwater world below which is absolutely breathtaking.

The acting itself is also very well done, as each character clearly has their own behavior that makes them stick out from the others. No character feels identical to the other.

Overall, this movie was a joy to watch, and definitely a proper return to the franchise. If what lies ahead for this franchise is anything like this, then I’ll be eagerly waiting.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a sequel to the Shrek spinoff film Puss in Boots (2011) from DreamWorks Animation, and is honestly a film I never expected to exist. It was directed by Joel Crawford, who has worked movies for the company, including the Kung Fu Panda franchise, Trolls, and also directing The Croods: A New Age.

Going into this film, I honestly didn’t know what to expect, as the first film, in my opinion, was okay at best.

However, what I got in the end was one of the best animated films I have seen in a long time.

Despite the film’s charming appeal on the outside, it has a surprisingly mature story behind it. After the events of the last Shrek film Shrek Forever After (2010), Puss has decided to return to his life of an outlaw hero, making quite the name for himself. However, during this time he has been living recklessly and has caught himself in the middle of some life-ending situations.

Every time he laughs it off because he is a cat and therefore has nine lives, but that changes when he comes to the realization that he is down to his last life. As such, he decides to retire and live the rest of his days at a safe refuge.

However, when word gets around of a map that leads to a powerful artifact known as The Wishing Star, which will grant the user any wish they desire, Puss decides to embark on a journey to get his lives back so he can be a hero again.

Along this journey of his are some friends, old and new, who he must learn to run with despite the circumstances. Of course, Puss isn’t the only one looking for the wish, amongst other fairytale and nursery rhyme characters. You can bet they’ll be trying to stop him at every turn.

The story in this film, while having a simple premise, utilizes it effectively with a running theme of mortality, as death is practically knocking on Puss’ door.

The characters in the films are amazing in multiple ways. Everyone in this story has a purpose, their own motives that they intend to accomplish, and certain traits that complement their character.

And we can’t forget the animation. The animation is smooth in most scenes, but when the action starts to pick up, you’ll notice that the characters start to drop frames, which keeps the scene engaging and thrilling. This description may seem strange while being described, but is astonishing to see in real time.

The team behind the film have already stated before that a big inspiration for the film’s animation was Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), which is fairly obvious, but they also created a different style of art for the characters and the world itself to fit the story.

The Shrek franchise has always been centered around all of these fairytale creatures and environments. But The Last Wish takes that to the next level with the background and environments all having a sort of Paintbrush style to it, to make it seem like an actual fairytale. This is the most vibrant the Shrek Universe has ever looked, with the colors all popping out and meshing so well together.

Also, the acting in this film is phenomenal. You can tell from the dialogue that everyone involved in making this film had a lot of fun, with characters ranging from funny to serious.

I would say more about this film, but just like The Way of Water, this movie is something you have to see for yourself. So if haven’t already, check this film out; it definitely deserves the praise.