The long-awaited sequel to James Cameron’s Avatar is widely celebrated as just as gorgeous and impacting as the first, but the film isn’t immune to criticism.
And we do have some criticism. There’s plenty the fantasy film did right, but just as much that it did wrong, and considering its sky-high budget, we just can’t manage to ignore these glaring shortcomings. The Way of Water’s arrival on streaming is only reminding us of the film’s overarching issues, even as it continues to pull in heaps of cash.
Hopes are high that Honor Among Thieves will perform similarly well, now that it’s officially landed in theaters. As audiences flood to lay witness to what may be the very first good Dungeons & Dragons adaptation, some are coming away confused, as they try to make sense of the various characters and classes. Never fear, newcomers to the table-top favorite, we’ve got a quick refresher to help clear up any confusion.
Once you’ve polished off Honor Among Thieves and, if you’ve got a full three hours to spare, The Way of Water, fantasy fanatics may be looking for a new option to fulfill their fantastical desires. A range of shows similar to Netflix’s Shadow and Bone are ripe for the viewing, and most are easily available through your favorite streaming giant.
The Honor Among Thieves gang includes a range of classes
The cast of characters debuting in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves come from a range of classes taken from the tabletop favorite. Quite a few are human, but their specific classes come with various perks, and a Tiefling is even thrown into the mix to keep things interesting. The absolutely stacked cast is bringing barbarians, sorcerers, Druids, and paladins to the big screen, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.
Alternate shows to scratch that Shadow and Bone itch
Season two of Shadow and Bone may be overstuffed and a bit nonsensical, at times, but its fanbase is still determined to see the show return for a third season. The jury’s still out on Shadow and Bone’s future on Netflix, but the streaming world offers up plenty of alternatives while fans bite their nails awaiting news of season three — and, more importantly, the Six of Crows spin-off. These should help tide us over as we stew on season two.
The Way of Water is held back by a few overarching flaws
Avatar: The Way of Water is one of the most popular fantasy films of the last several years, there’s no denying that. Despite this fact, a few major shortcomings weigh the film down, and some viewers find them impossible to ignore. From confusing decisions — like making Sigourney Weaver a teenager — to the exhaustive length and overused plot, it’s hard to ignore issues that The Way of Water’s massive budget should have helped it avoid.
