Avatar: Fire and Ash Review: Not Much More Than Beautiful

Avatar: Fire and Ash is an absolutely gorgeous piece of cinema; however, it is overly long, repetitive, and doesn’t say much of anything new.

There is no doubt that James Cameron’s Avatar films are a technical marvel, but they are not much more than that. Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in what is planned to be a five-film saga, is no exception. It is gorgeous to look at, featuring visuals that defy expectations and often leave the audience breathless. However, beneath the dazzling surface, the film unfortunately falls into the same trap of repetition that plagued its immediate predecessor, The Way of Water.

The biggest issue with Fire and Ash is a familiar one for this franchise: an overabundance of set-up for little narrative payoff. James Cameron once again crafts an epic runtime – which, clocking in at over three hours, feels far too long – devoted to establishing characters, showcasing new biomes, and maneuvering pieces for future sequels. While this commitment to world-building is admirable, it comes at the expense of a tightly paced and original story.

Varang Offers A Breath of Fresh, Fiery Air

The true spark (see what I did there) of originality in Fire and Ash comes with the introduction of the Ash People, or the tribe of fire Na’vi. Leading this new faction is Varang, played by Oona Chaplin, who is easily the best part of this movie. She is the jolt of energy the series desperately needed, bringing something genuinely fresh, new, and exciting to the world of Pandora. Varang embodies a more complex and most certainly villainous side of the Na’vi species. They are not merely the noble, nature-loving idealists we’ve spent two films with; they are fierce, selfish, and morally ambiguous.

Varang is interesting, exciting, and a whole lot of fun to watch. Her fiery aesthetic and survivalist philosophy instantly set her apart, creating a compelling counterpoint to Jake Sully’s forest and ocean tribes. Furthermore, her interactions with the resurrected human-Na’vi antagonist, Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), are surprisingly delightful. Their back-and-forth (and more) often provides much-needed comedy to break up the intense, high-stakes action and what are meant to be emotional moments, but just drag.

There Is A Good Avatar Movie In Here… If You Cut An Hour Or So Out

While the film certainly has its moments, particularly during the stunningly choreographed third-act confrontation, the journey to get there drags and is boring in parts. Much of this is due to scenes that could have been severely trimmed or cut out entirely. Sure, I love Payakan as much as the next person, but there is no need to almost retell the same story we got in the last film to ensure his inclusion. These sequences, while visually majestic and clearly intended to connect to the ecological themes of the previous film, halt the main narrative’s momentum and contribute heavily to the overly long runtime.

The technical artistry, however, is undeniable. Yet, even the most impressive visuals cannot mask the sense of repeated plot points. We are watching, fundamentally, the same conflict unfold, with not enough new material to set it apart from its predecessors.

A returning issue that continues is the performance capture of Sigourney Weaver. Her portrayal of a young Na’vi character, Kiri, is just not believable. She is playing a young teen, and while Kiri looks the part, Weaver has a hard time capturing the voice. Maybe this is because, as a fan of hers, I know her age and just simply cannot allow my brain to put that aside. While Weaver is a brilliant actress, the visual effect paired with the mature voice constantly pulled me out of the story, making it difficult to suspend disbelief regarding Kiri’s age.

Ultimately, the sense of repetition peaks during the finale. The climax is an undeniable spectacle, but it suffers from a powerful sense of déjà vu. The ending feels like the exact same ending we got in The Way of Water – a massive, visually chaotic battle sequence that resolves very little, primarily serving to establish the next inevitable confrontation. This lack of true narrative finality is what transforms a breathtaking cinema experience into a frustratingly elongated chapter.

Overall Thoughts On Avatar: Fire and Ash

In conclusion, Avatar: Fire and Ash is gorgeous to look at and certainly has its moments, delivering some fantastic and exciting action sequences. Varang is a marvelous and engaging new addition to the story. However, the film as a whole is structurally flawed, suffering from an excessive runtime, a repetitive plot, and too many scenes dedicated to world-building at the expense of coherent storytelling.

Avatar: Fire and Ash comes to theaters on December 19th.

About Avatar: Fire and Ash

With Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family.

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Avatar: Fire and Ash is an absolutely gorgeous piece of cinema; however, it is overly long, repetitive, and doesn't say much of anything new.

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