AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH -- Another Visually Jaw-Dropping and Gripping Cinematic Spectacle

Review by Camden Ferrell

Legendary filmmaker James Cameron has decided to graciously not make audiences wait another 13 years before returning back to Pandora for another installment in his wildly successful and ambitious Avatar franchise. Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third film in the series, and it’s one that is attempting to follow two of the most successful movies of all time at the box office. However, it seems Cameron is not concerned with those high expectations, opting instead to explore this world and its characters with the same blend of spectacle and personal stakes that made the first two such big hits. This installment is yet another awe-inducing blockbuster that will blow you away with its visuals and insane action set pieces even if it is a little lighter on the world building when compared to its predecessors. 

In the wake of the last film, Jake and Neytiri’s tight-knit family must pave a way forward in spite of their grief all while dealing with a new threat. They encounter the Ash People, an aggressive tribe of Na’vi led by the powerful and incendiary Varang. This conflict blooms among the Na’vi’s ongoing conflict with the RDA, a human-led megacorporation. While The Way of Water leveraged a new tribe as an opportunity to world build and revel in its new environments, it seems this newest movie has little interest in using the Ash People to do the same. Instead, the movie mostly concerns itself with the turmoil and aggression between tribes, which highlights some of the movie’s core themes. It’s an unexpected change of pace considering how adept the previous films were at world-building and exploring the unique cultures of Pandora, but it’s a decision that I grew to understand and accept as the film progressed.

Like the previous films, the writing tends to be one of the weaker aspects and this is no exception. What the franchise does really well is develop compelling stories with clear cut and resonant themes around family, perseverance, and preservation. The problem is when those ideas are put into practice. It’s a noble and heartfelt story that feels occasionally let down by subpar dialogue and odd narrative choices that either rehash overdone ideas or slow the pace down. The writing is still far from inadequate but when a movie excels on so many levels, it makes the weak links stick out more than usual.

The movie continues to utilize its revolutionary motion capture technology that really gives the actors freedom and the ability to convey such subtle emotions in alien bodies. I found myself particularly compelled by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña as their characters tread new emotional ground amidst a deadly threat. I also think their kids and acquaintances are given more substance, and it was fun to see the actors lean more into these characters (even if Sigourney Weaver still feels like an odd choice to play a teenager).

Obviously, when a viewer buys a ticket to this movie, they’re doing it for the hope of seeing a true cinematic spectacle. I believe viewers are going to be more than pleased with the return on their premium format ticket price. This newest entry absolutely rules with its gargantuan set pieces and battles. It truly transports you to another world, and you genuinely forget that you’re in a theater once this movie kicks into high gear. There might be a little fluff in the middle section of the movie, but it’s a small price to pay for the immense payoff that gets delivered throughout. I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say that I got literal chills and goosebumps from some of the insane visuals Cameron and his team created. It all comes together in such a chaotic yet controlled symphony, and I found myself wondering how anyone could possibly edit all this footage together so well.

Avatar: Fire and Ash delivers exactly what an Avatar movie needs to. It may not be a deep and nuanced analysis of morality, but it’s an emotional story of a tribe of people in the face of imminent threat and danger. Pair this with noble and resonant themes about family and some of the most insane action you might see this century, and you have a certified crowd-pleaser that’s going to keep viewers on the edge of their seats for over three hours. It’s not perfect, but it’s an absolute thrill ride of a film. James Cameron is 71, but I hope he keeps making these movies forever.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is in theaters December 19.

Rating: 4/5