I’ve never been the biggest fan of the Avatar films. The franchise is impressive, but once the spectacle fades, you’d soon realize that they’re just very expensive, very average movies. Fire & Ash, however, did something none of the previous films managed: it stayed with me long after I left the theater.
One of the biggest reasons is its antagonists. Colonel Quaritch and Varang completely dominate the film whenever they’re on screen. In this installment, James Cameron finally gives Quaritch the space he’s always needed, with an enormous payoff. Here, he feels like a fully realized character rather than a mere instrument of conflict. His growing exposure to Pandora’s way of life, his bond with Spider and his vendetta against Jake, gives his character real internal tension. His changing (?) nature and his compatibility with Varang’s violent nature makes him the most compelling character in the whole franchise, which was a bit surprisingly, because I thought his character was just flat in the first film.
Varang herself is a total standout! Loved her design, her chaotic and unpredictable character! I thought she’s the most interesting character Na’vi that has been introduced in the series. Her people add so much more layer in the ideological and “religious” conflict to Pandora.
That being said, for a film titled Fire & Ash, it’s hard not to feel that her people, her tribe deserved deeper exploration. It was such a shame that they never fully commit here, instead, majority of the scenes are in the water.
Another good thing, and I thought a very much-needed improvement in the series is how it handled its younger characters. The Way of Water devoted tremendous amount of time to juvenile drama, and Fire & Ash reins that in considerably.
Jake and Neytiri may not be the best protagonist, but we as an audience are already emotionally invested in their journey. I thought Neytiri’s solo rescue of Jakes was one fo the film’s best sequences.
Visually, the final act is pure Cameron magic (excess) in the best possible way. The action is massive, relentless and engaging! Whatever issues the movie has, James Cameron’s command of grandeur and spatial display remains unmatched.
That said, I thought the film’s length works against it, and structurally it feels repetitive. Characters are captured, they escape, and then recaptured again that it loses the tension. And as I’ve said ealier, it feels like we’re just watching an extended version of the Way of Water. For something that should’ve been a thematic shift for the franchise, the film struggles to find its distinct identity. Love the writing when it comes to Quaritch, Spider and even Neytiri, but most dialogues remains uninspired. T
But despite its flaws, Avatar: Fire & Ash left me buzzing in a way this franchise never has befor due to its ambitious, darker,and more character-driven story (minus the reptitivesness) , It may not fully escape the shadow of its predecessors, but I loved that it is evolving. For me, it is the most memorable Avatar installment so far, another great adventure delivered by the one and only James Cameron.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco
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