Given the nearly unlimited resources that would include, presumably, access to all manner of talented writers, Avatar 2's underdeveloped story and script is inexplicable unless it were the product of a high school assignment, in which case it would deserve a solid B; or if it were created by an AI script-writing program not able to appreciate human relationships, emotions or thoughts beyond broad strokes. That it's a movie with its political and moral values clearly and passionately expressed is, of course, not the problem. Whereas most CGI productions might offer an occasional ineffectual and disingenuous whisper of a moral view in between this or that deafening bombast, who would argue against Mr. Cameron's messages espousing family loyalty and regard for others who are different (species, tribes, perspectives) as opportunities to embrace and learn, vs otherness to destroy? Thus, Avatar 2's problem is not an absence of morality or interest regarding big and important problems of human nature but the simplistic story development and, at its core, implausible and one-dimensional characters. Portrayals of supposed character growth ring not just false but nearly random, and silly. In my audience, there were a few scenes that, unintentionally, elicited blurts of laughter--along with an audible "really?" once or twice. In the end, Avatar 2 was beautiful to behold but felt manipulative, patronizing and boring. And too painful.