REVIEW: “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (2025)

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Everyone will be closely watching “Avatar: Fire and Ash” for different reasons. Fans are eager to return to the stunning world of Pandora, while tech enthusiasts are curious to see the latest innovations from James Cameron. Box office analysts will be tracking whether the film can surpass $2 billion in earnings, just like the previous Avatar movies. And the studio is hoping it will be profitable enough to allow them to make the last two films in this ambitious series.

Following the huge success of “Avatar” in 2009, creator James Cameron spent thirteen years developing and releasing its sequel, “The Way of Water.” Surprisingly – and I admit I was one of those surprised – the second film also performed exceptionally well at the box office, earning over $2.3 billion worldwide. Beyond its financial success, it was a stunning cinematic achievement that broadened the world of Avatar and even improved the original film’s somewhat uneven story.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” impressed audiences with its stunning visuals and immersive world. The story delved into the intricate dynamics of family, exploring themes of love, loyalty, sacrifice, and loss. Now, in “Fire and Ash,” director James Cameron continues the saga, following Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) as they cope with a heartbreaking loss and navigate the challenges of raising their family. Even after finding refuge with the Metkayina clan, the pain of their loss remains profound.

The screenplay, co-written by Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver, delves deeper into the Sully family’s dynamics, creating more complex relationships and conflicts than we saw in the first film. Returning characters include Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), the adopted daughter of Jake and Neytiri who shares a unique connection with Pandora; Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), their middle child who sometimes narrates the story; and Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), their youngest daughter.

The Sully family is each dealing with their sorrow in a different way. Jake is throwing himself into activity to avoid confronting his grief, while Neytiri has withdrawn and is increasingly filled with anger. Lo’ak feels responsible for the events of the last film and is burdened by guilt. Kiri is searching for meaning while questioning if she could have helped more, and young Tuk is confused and overwhelmed by the sadness around her.

The villain from the first film, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), is back. He’s now a Na’vi himself, but still relentlessly pursues the native tribes, driven by a desire for revenge. He’s joined by Varang (Oona Chaplin), the tough leader of the Mangkwan clan who lives near the volcanoes. Though her character could be more developed, Varang’s aim is simple: to set Pandora ablaze.

Spider, the human son of the villain Quaritch, is a key character in this story. After his father’s death, Jake and Neytiri took him in, but now he finds himself caught in a complicated situation, wanted by many different groups for conflicting reasons. While he was somewhat irritating in the first film, Spider is now a more relatable character, struggling with circumstances beyond his control and being pulled in multiple directions.

Okay, so “Fire and Ash” really feels like a continuation of “The Way of Water” – honestly, it’s less a standalone movie and more like the story just keeps going. They’re so tightly linked narratively that, yeah, some moments might feel familiar. But Cameron doesn’t waste any time; every scene feels deliberate, whether it’s developing the characters we already care about or really ratcheting up the tension as Pandora heads towards a full-blown war. It all feels very purposeful.

“Fire and Ash” delivers the amazing experience you’d anticipate. While it doesn’t push the boundaries quite as much as the second film did, it’s still visually stunning, beautifully blending digital effects, practical effects, and motion capture. It’s also still the one franchise where seeing it in 3D is truly worthwhile, and the smooth, high frame rate really enhances the experience – even though some people haven’t been fans.

While “Fire and Ash” shares similarities with “The Way of Water,” it also introduces exciting new elements. The villainous Varang, the Mangkwan clan, the Wind Traders with their unique ships, and fascinating new sea creatures all enrich Cameron’s already impressive world. However, the film isn’t perfect. Some established characters feel underutilized, the runtime feels a bit long, and certain action sequences echo the previous movie. Despite these flaws, “Fire & Ash” remains a spectacular science fiction adventure that once again immerses viewers in the breathtaking, imaginative world of James Cameron, and I thoroughly enjoyed returning to it.

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2025-12-19 18:58