The conflict on Pandora escalates as Jake and Neytiri’s family encounter a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe.
(C) 20th Century Studios
The thing with Avatar is that it’s a three-hour spectacle showcasing the 3D format with a heartfelt, crowd-pleasing story. Fortunately, the same can be said for Fire and Ash. Director James Cameron has crafted sequences that will put you on the edge of your seat while leaving you in awe at the same time. It remains the crown jewel saga of 3D.
However, the law of diminishing returns has started to creep in here as well. There are a lot of familiar beats that even general moviegoers will likely recognize from its predecessors. Perhaps an unfair standard, but Fire and Ash also lacks the novelty of taking us to a completely new world, like seeing the water tribe for the first time in The Way of Water. Instead, it’s more interested in exploring the characters further and closing loose threads this time around.
Nothing wrong with that, but Avatar isn’t exactly known for its strong writing, and it shows once again here. When the film leans too heavily into that aspect, it loses some of its momentum. It makes up for this with its villains. Oona Chaplin makes a strong impression as the aggressive antagonist Varang from the Ash People, and Stephen Lang is also given more to do this time.
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| (C) 20th Century Studios |
Nonetheless, Avatar: Fire and Ash remains a blast in 3D, delivering what we’ve come to expect from the franchise (where we’re not meant to root for humans, yes). No generative AI needed. There are fewer “wows” and “woahs,” though. 3/5 ⭐️
