Avatar: The Way of the Water, james cameronyears of preparation Avatar sequel, only hit theaters about two weeks ago, but it’s already become the second highest-grossing film of the yearwith a worldwide box office of around $1.2 billion (less than $300 million less than Top Gun: Maverickis nearly $1.5 billion). While reviews for the film were mixed, audiences easily re-immersed themselves in the plight of the Na’vi, aka these Blue People. But there’s one plot point in particular that has caused discord and anger among fans: Spider’s (Jack Champion) decision to save his father, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

While fans of the original 2009 film will no doubt remember Quaritch as the evil head of security for the Earth’s Resources Development Administration (RDA), Spider – Quaritch’s human son, who was abandoned on Pandora and taken in by Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) — is a new character in the movie.

Although he has spent his life among the Na’vi, Spider is forced to work against them when he is kidnapped by his father’s unit to serve as a guide and translator. Ultimately, this complicated family dynamic causes trouble for both men, leading to a life-and-death moment where Quaritch drowns and his son is forced to choose whether to save his tormenting pops or let him die. After some deliberation, he opts for the former – a decision that angered many viewers. In one interview with The varietyRick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, The water pathThe husband and wife writing team explained why they love that the moment had such an emotional impact on viewers – even though they disagreed with their decision.

“The film allows Spider to explore these ambivalent feelings he experiences”, Money says The variety when he has to decide to let his father live. “I mean, I think it’s good that the public is like, ‘Don’t save it! “”

Still, both writers stand by their decision from a storytelling perspective. “[T]The idea of ​​Spider having to save Quaritch is interesting from a character perspective,” Silver said.

“It’s this father-son theme that we delve into so deeply,” added Jaffa“no pun intended.”

(Via The variety)