Like the Na’vi, Critics Are Split on Avatar: Fire and Ash

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In Avatar: The Way of Water, Jake Sully, his family, and the Metkayina clan (the reef-dwelling Na’vi, including Kate Winslet’s character) clash with the Ash People, also known as the Mangkwan clan. Critics are split on whether James Cameron’s newest film is a fresh take or a repetitive retread of the original. Although it currently has a respectable 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many reviewers have noted the film’s striking similarities to the first Avatar. As our own critic Bilge Ebiri put it, “Cameron is at least consistently borrowing from the best source: himself.”

Following a long wait after the first Avatar and The Way of Water, Fire and Ash continues the story immediately after the 2022 film. Jake Sully and Neytiri are seeking refuge with the water Na’vi when a new danger arises: a powerful clan of Na’vi warriors led by the formidable Varang (Oona Chaplin). She’s allied with the human army on Pandora, giving them the weapons they need. Fire and Ash plunges into all-out war, and everyone—even reviewers—is caught in the conflict.

James Cameron seems genuinely passionate and uninhibited in Fire and Ash, and that enthusiasm stems from how fully he’s embraced this visually stunning world. While the Avatar films borrow from other stories and rely on familiar plotlines and simple dialogue, Cameron’s dedication—and that of his actors—makes it all work. Fire and Ash revisits many of Cameron’s signature themes and ideas, echoing elements from films like Aliens, Terminator: Judgment Day, The Abyss, and, notably, Titanic and The Way of Water. Some might see this as the franchise repeating itself, but Cameron is at least borrowing from his own best work. Importantly, the film is beautifully made, visually impressive, and builds suspense effectively, feeling authentic rather than artificial. The moment Kiri delivers a line reminiscent of Sigourney Weaver’s iconic line from Aliens is a highlight, eliciting excitement from the audience.

The new Avatar film is technically impressive, which could easily make it feel like more of the same. However, the filmmakers seem focused on a strong story this time. A major conflict revolves around Neytiri and Jake arguing over whether to harm Spider to protect their family and the Na’vi people, with Zoe Saldaña delivering an emotionally powerful performance and Sam Worthington giving an Oscar-caliber performance (though overshadowed by Leonardo DiCaprio’s similar role). The film features trippy sequences involving Kiri and a complex subplot with the tulkun, culminating in a surprising courtroom scene where Payakan is put on trial. The movie clearly had a human touch – some of Jack Champion’s lines as Spider are so awkwardly delivered, they feel like outtakes from Tommy Wiseau’s The Room – you can’t fake that kind of unintentional brilliance.

The new film is a stunning visual spectacle – a true epic unfolding across land, sea, and sky, rarely seen at this scale today. But what truly makes it work is the emotional core of the Sully family. Director James Cameron and the writers (Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman, and Shane Salerno) understand that a strong family story is essential to balance all the action. The actors, who largely used performance capture, deliver compelling performances that draw you in, especially Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Jack Champion, and Sigourney Weaver (who convincingly plays a much younger character). Stephen Lang also stands out as the villain, Colonel Quaritch, bringing depth and a surprisingly real relationship with Spider. Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, and Giovanni Ribisi also contribute strong performances on the human side of the story, as reviewed by Pete Hammond of Deadline.

Max Scoville, in a review for IGN, noted a strong sense of familiarity while watching ‘Fire and Ash.’ He felt some of the visuals and plot points were very similar to previous films, almost as if they were repurposed scenes. However, he believes this is intentional, pointing to director James Cameron’s tendency to revisit and expand upon established ideas. He compares it to how George Lucas described the Star Wars prequels – they ‘rhyme’ with the originals. Scoville argues that Cameron’s sequels don’t offer contrasting reflections of previous work, but rather larger, more dramatic versions of what audiences already know – essentially, a more intense re-imagining. As this is Cameron’s first third installment in a series, Scoville wondered if ‘Fire and Ash’ would simply be louder and more bombastic, or if it would try something entirely new.

The latest ‘Avatar’ film doesn’t live up to the visual grandeur of the first two movies – especially the second, which was remarkably impressive. It also feels less fresh in its storytelling. The original ‘Avatar’ cleverly masked familiar tropes with its stunning new world, and the sequel expanded on that world with a powerfully emotional story about humanity’s destructive tendencies. But ‘Fire and Ash’ mostly focuses on the aftermath of past conflicts and a world James Cameron seems hesitant to continue with. This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem, except the characters aren’t complex enough to support a sprawling, character-driven story focused on their personal struggles. Even Spider, a key character, feels underdeveloped – he barely has any defining traits beyond his family issues.

The new film feels very distant from the energy of the original Avatar. The first movie presented a future where humanity, having damaged Earth, turned to mining resources on the beautiful, untouched moon of Pandora. This didn’t sit well with the Na’vi, Pandora’s native blue-skinned people. To bridge the gap, a Marine named Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) transferred his consciousness into a Na’vi-human hybrid body, allowing him to connect with the locals. He eventually fell in love with Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), a Na’vi princess, and joined her people in fighting against the human invaders. Essentially, Avatar combined the story of Pocahontas with the visual style of the Smurfs, set in space, creating a story full of conflict and environmental themes.

This film is a truly breathtaking spectacle – completely immersive and technically brilliant. It’s astonishing how little of what you see is actually real; the visuals are so realistic you don’t even question it. Beyond the stunning effects, the movie excels at ambitious storytelling, with James Cameron and his team crafting imaginative new worlds. Where else will you find stories about space whales, mystical underground networks, and children on a quest for something divine? Despite any imperfections, it’s a remarkable experience. We’re eager to see Avatar 4 and 5, now that Cameron’s sequel plan is underway, as he consistently delivers exceptional follow-up films. —Ben Travis, Empire

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter notes that while the first two Avatar films captivated audiences with their genuine portrayal of a wondrous world and hopeful message about respecting nature and Indigenous cultures, this new installment feels repetitive and lacks substance. He argues that the story doesn’t justify its lengthy runtime, and the dialogue feels hollow compared to the original films, despite one new character standing out.

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2025-12-17 19:55