Why Avatar: Fire and Ash outshines The Way of Water

The Avatar franchise is still worth being invested in

Summary created by Smart Answers AI

In summary:

• Tech Advisor reviews Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron’s third installment that introduces striking red and orange visual tones with graphics more elevated than The Way of Water.
• The film explores family dynamics as Jake and Neytiri cope with grief while facing new villain Varang, played by Oona Chaplin, who leads the ruthless Mangkwan clan.
• Fire and Ash delivers a mesmerizing cinematic experience in IMAX 3D, showcasing unrivaled visuals and seamlessly executed action sequences that expand Pandora’s rich world.

In an age where CGI action-sequences looked better on the big screen a decade ago, and most directors have ditched 3D or cinema releases entirely, James Cameron is operating on a different level with the Avatar franchise. Avatar: Fire and Ash is a spectacular example of that.

With every instalment, Cameron expands on the cultures, conflicts and communities within the wondrous visual feast that is Pandora, all of which feel intimately relevant to our own existence – even if they look infinitely more beautiful. The Way of Water proved that audiences didn’t mind a 13-year-wait for well-crafted cinema as it went onto become the third highest grossing film of all time, despite criticism that said it fell short of the first film, released in 2009.

Fire and Ash follows similar beats to the second film, feeling repetitive in parts. This is perhaps as it was shot simultaneously with The Way of Water, with both stories originally intended to be just one film (thankfully, they were separated). Even with Fire and Ash’s familiarity, it doesn’t dampen its profound impact as it raises the stakes and expands the horizons of Pandora to offer a mesmerising cinematic experience – one that actually does look sensational in IMAX 3D.

Part of the reason this threequel lands better than the second film is that the more expansive the universe gets, the more grounded it becomes in familiar human (well, in this case, Na’vi) emotions and turmoil. 

Major spoilers for Avatar: The Way of Water and minor spoilers for Avatar: Fire and Ash below

Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) are processing the profound loss of their son, Neteyam, who died at the end of the second film. Grief has festered into a blind rage for Neytiri towards all humankind, which extends even towards her almost adopted-like son, Spider (Jack Champion). Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) has internalised his brother’s death as his own fault for disobeying his father’s orders, which continues to fracture their fragile relationship. And Jake ignores his grief, focusing instead on the imminent war ahead. 

Spider is in a predicament: he’s ingrained within the Na’vi, but he isn’t one of them. His mask is temperamental and the air remains lethal, so Jake is determined to travel with the Wind Traders in billowing-bubble-like-sky-boat vessels to deliver Spider to their human allies. The whole family tags along for the adventure, but they are swiftly attacked from all angles, by sky and sea, from the ferocious fire-fanatics, the Mangkwan clan.

Found family 

Spider’s place in this conflict begins to evolve as through mystical, unknown forces he becomes something that the sky people could weaponise for their own gain to colonise the planet. Neytiri, in her grief, struggles to accept this ‘pink-skinned’ person as her son, and wants to solve this future problem for their family swiftly, but Jake isn’t so sure. She cannot believe that this outsider could ever be one of them and her hate fuels frightening suggestions of violence. 

Ultimately, the Sullys come to rely on the special bond forged in found family, not one crafted through blood or likeness, but one built on dedication, love and unwavering loyalty, even through immeasurable challenges. Kiri also starts to dip her toe into the mystic powers she’s able to wield from her connection to the great mother. Instead of fearing her capabilities, with the support of her family, she begins to imagine how she could wield more of her abilities not only for her family, but their entire people as a whole.

Throughout Fire and Ash, the younger generation of Na’vi all begin to step into their own power, away from their parent’s orders and warnings, which brings not only a fresh new perspective, but also adds energy to this ever-changing dynamic from each film. 

Respecting others, even with our differences

Science-fiction epics often reflect the political state of our world, reaffirming messages of community (and that goodness will prevail) above all else. Strength is found in working together, trusting each other and leaning on one and another, as opposed to letting our differences divide us. 

Even Neytiri and fellow matriarch, Ronal (Kate Winslet) of the Metkayina clan, find a way to understand each other’s ferocious desire to protect their family, whatever the cost. They may not have much common ground and frequently disapprove of the others medicines, methods and beliefs, but Neytiri comes to respect and honour Ronal’s power, as it reflects her own, both as a mother and a Na’vi.

Breathtaking sequences

Everyone has their own take on the plot within Avatar films, but it’s undeniably an unparalleled experience to watch. The scope of these breathtaking visuals remain unrivalled with rich depth, colour and textures that make it almost impossible to fathom that most of what you see on-screen isn’t real.

Aerial battles that descend into the sea, which blur the Na’vi (actors in motion capture suits) with the ‘sky people’ (human soldiers), are seamlessly executed with rare imagination, a feat of which Cameron is a true master. Even if you don’t resonate with the story, or find yourself drifting through the hefty three-hour-plus-run-time, it’s hard to not still sit in wonder at the spectacle that’s been crafted.

In a time when cinema is starved of colour, Pandora is a rich feast of hues – from the aquas and luminous reefs seen in The Way of Water (that return in Fire and Ash), as well as the expansive, bright natural light in the lush earthiness of the forest. This new instalment presents a contrast to the natural beauty, with glowing tones of reds and oranges, and the dusty ash-choked air surrounding the new clan that feels visceral and raw. It’s striking and dramatic, making the graphics even more elevated than that seen in The Way of Water a few years ago.

Varang as the villain 

Oona Chaplin is a welcomed new addition to this universe as the ruthless, brutal Na’vi leader, Varang, of the volcano-dwelling Mangkwan clan. She’s a formidable villain willing to go to disturbingly violent lengths to remain her own master, denying Eywa (“Your goddess has no dominion here”) and mutilating her own kind.

Even though she almost disappears during the final battle and her absence is sorely missed, her sultry, severe demeanour and curiosity about the sky people’s methods of creating their own fire sees a charismatic power play between Varang and Quaritch, which we haven’t really seen before.

Fire and Ash is a mesmerising epic that thrives on its strong familiar themes of family, community and connection, and how they help unite us in them face of all challenges.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is out now in cinemas. In the UK, you can book tickets via Vue, Showcase, Odeon or Cineworld. In the US, tickets are available on AMC Theatres, Fandango or Atom Tickets.