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Avatar: Fire and Ash has finally arrived, and it feels really good to revisit Pandora’s breathtaking world after three years. The first two films left an everlasting impact on the fandom, and the third one has taken it to a new level. With its visually arresting settings, amazing action sequences, and intense emotional landscape, the franchise has once again proven why people still see it as a cinematic spectacle. Well, I recently watched the film, and here’s my review of Avatar Fire and Ash, which I will help you decide if you are still wondering whether you should watch it in theatres.
Pandora Seems like a Place That Burns and Breathes at the Same Time
There are rare movies that explore a place where beauty and destruction can coexist, and Pandora is one such place. It knows how to tackle destruction, making us wonder how such a gorgeous world can exist. James Cameron has been amazing since Avatar 1, and it seems that, over time, his talent for making even the deadliest world look alive has grown. Each frame is so layered that it eventually reflects the characters’ mood. For instance, if the Na’vi people look angry, the world appears harsh, and if they are enjoying and satisfied, Pandora shines.
The film is packed with visuals that are easy to admire, thanks to Pandora’s glowing landscapes and wide shots that pull you in instantly. Even if the place is on fire or the sky is filled with ash, it still looks mesmerizing.
Strong Performances Hold the Film Together
Like previous Avatar movies, Avatar 3 features performances that never look dull; it feels as reliable and natural as ever. A film that is filled with CGI looks way more real than some of the real ones actually do. Whether it’s emotional shifts like anger or grief, nothing feels forced at all. There are scenes in the films that can be easily overshadowed by the visuals or the soundtracks, but the actors bring the emotional weight to those scenes, making them much more believable. For instance, the Sully family lost one of their sons in the fight against the humans in the previous film. They aren’t over the tragedy, and Neyitri never fails to show that hatred by treating Spider rudely.
In addition, Jake Sully is also grieving, but he never lets that feeling take over and make him weak. He never says anything, but his expressions do all the talking. So, basically, Neytiri and Jake are the stars, but we shouldn’t forget to give credit to the young actors and the villains, including Colonel Quaritch and Varang.
A Visually Strong Story That Struggles to Match Its Scale
The movie would have been a 10 on 10 if it had brought something new to the table. Despite featuring all the goodness in its appeal, the story is where it falls short. Fire and Ash sees Jake Sully and his family encounter a new, aggressive Na’vi clan that not only wants to coexist but also seeks control over other areas. So, Sully must do whatever it takes to protect Pandora from these exploiters.
The story starts strong, but as it reaches the end, it somehow starts losing momentum. The events become repetitive and predictable. As the first film showed Eywa guiding the beings of Pandora to victory over their enemies, Fire and Ash also see the great mother helping her children. The only good part was that this time Eywa appeared for real. However, her first appearance still couldn’t help the narrative from losing its ambition. There were times when it felt like I was watching the first Avatar film.
Moreover, the film is further hindered by the fact that, despite introducing a powerful and compelling clan opposing Jake Sully, Avatar: Fire and Ash doesn’t really delve deeper to help us connect with these characters. It also gave us an anticlimactic ending by failing to kill Varang or Quaritch. So, basically, it avoided taking risks and played it safe by giving us what we have witnessed before.
Should You Watch Avatar: Fire and Ash?
Despite its shortcomings, I would still recommend watching Avatar: Fire and Ash, as few films deliver such a cinematic experience. So, if you are someone who values spectacle, you shouldn’t sleep on this one. If you expect too much from the story, you may find yourself disappointed. However, even if it fails to redefine the franchise, it will give you several moments that will make you see the beauty of the Avatar films.
Aryan Singh
