Avatar’s third instalment is visually spectacular, but as hype for the franchise wanes, Richard Tobin reviews the latest return to Pandora.
Avatar: Fire and Ash brings the third instalment of one of cinema’s biggest franchises. This new addition to the world of Avatar couldn’t come sooner for film fans and theatres alike. Cinephiles flock to the multiplex for these groundbreaking movies but as we wind up for the third one, I can’t help but feel that some of the wider population hype for these films has been somewhat diminished in recent years.
After thirteen years away from Pandora, 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water was a triumphant return both narratively and commercially, but the film still experienced decreasing returns at the box office, in comparison to the 2009 original. As director James Cameron hints that he’s more than happy to step away from the series, despite the promised fourth and fifth films, there’s a lot riding on the shoulders of Fire and Ash. Picking up after the events of The Way of Water, this film continues the journey of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), trying to protect their family in Pandora while Colonel Quaritch (Steven Lang) and his goons are hot in pursuit.
Avatar: Fire and Ash expands Pandora and the surrounding world in a fresh and contemporary way. This is no easy feat after releasing two films that are already predominantly built around showing off this spectacular world. The big addition to the universe in this film is the Mangkwan, a savage Na’vi tribe obsessed with fire and destruction. Introducing a new Na’vi tribe, led by the villainous Varang (Oona Chaplin), who teamed up with Colonel Quaritch, develops the world in a bold, threatening way. Before this, the Avatar franchise has largely been Na’vi good guys versus human bad guys, but these new antagonists muddy the water. Things are no longer as black and white as they used to be on Pandora, and seeing the Sully family adapt to their new enemies is a really great aspect of the film. In similar fashion to its predecessor, this film also explores ocean creatures and the aquatic world in a fun, exhilarating way.
Things are no longer as black and white as they used to be on Pandora, and seeing the
Sully family adapt to their new enemies is a really great aspect of the film.
Following on from the bittersweet ending of The Way of the Water, a lot of the first hour of this film shows our characters just trying to get by. Sadness, frustration and grief clouds their worldview, and this is the best bit of the movie. The Sully family have become jaded and cynical. I loved seeing the characters grapple with their emotions while opposing forces lurk and attack in the background. I found it particularly interesting seeing the differences in how Jake and Neytiri dealt with their negative emotions and how it drove them apart as a couple.
After a strong first act, much of the carefully constructed empathy gives way to a more macho, action driven story. More akin to the first Avatar movie rather than its more intimate sequel, Fire and Ash pivots to a sprawling, action epic with some highs and lows. Cameron really knows how to make a blockbuster and there are some epic moments as the Sully family battle against human and Na’vi forces. From the wide shot of Colonel Quaritch scaling the mountain to meet with the Mangkwan, to his subsequent hallucinatory experience as Varang seduces him, and the Sully family’s heroic slow-motion preparation for battle, every moment is visually incredible.
From the wide shot of Colonel Quaritch scaling the mountain to meet with the Mangkwan, to
his subsequent hallucinatory experience as Varang seduces him, and the Sully family’s
heroic slow-motion preparation for battle, every moment is visually incredible.
However, I can’t help but feel that the film loses its way at times in the second and third act. While still entertaining, the second act takes lots of twists and turns, only to end up in pretty much the exact same spot as the Sully’s were at the beginning of the act. The third act descends into the final battle we’ve come to expect from an Avatar film but without the weight and gravity of The Way of Water. There are fewer meaningful confrontations or payoffs, replaced by action for the sake of a large-scale battle finale. At 197 mins, this feels the most bloated of the Avatar films.
While not as strong a story as The Way of Water, Fire and Ash is still well worth the price of admission. Seeing Pandora come to life on the biggest screen possible really is a mesmerising experience. The level of craft behind the visual effects is staggering, making it almost inconceivable how far technology has come in creating the world of Pandora in such a seamless and realistic way.
Overall, while not as well-rounded as the first sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash is still a solid film that will especially please fans of the franchise. Neutral viewers who are less invested in the Avatar universe might find it a bit daunting or boring, but this third entry is largely a success. That being said, I question if there’s enough substance left for a possible fourth or fifth entry besides the awe-inducing visuals. If Fire and Ash does end up being the last entry in the series, it's definitely entertaining enough to make the long journey worthwhile.