Beautifully satisfying, fun, exciting, realistic thrilling in-your face realism and a fantasy journey that you can only enjoy for a movie like this in a theater and in 3D. When I recently went with my family to see James Cameron’s newest entry into his successful blockbuster hit movie series, Avatar, with, Avatar: Fire and Ash. I honestly went in excited and also not knowing what to expect, as well as if Cameron could match or exceed the first two movies from the series so far, but what I learned after the nearly three and a half hours runtime is that it was not only just as great, if not better than the first two. But it was easily my favorite of the three Avatar films so far. As the end credits rolled I had a big smile on my face and as I scanned the packed theater most of the rest of the crowd did as well and some even clapping as they started to remove their 3D glasses that were provided to give you that thrilling realistic like experience as you watched the movie in Dolby 3D.
Avatar: Fire and Ash picks up immediately a few weeks after the events of, Avatar: The Way of Water. As we see are transported to the absolutely beautiful stunning world of Pandora yet again where in a dreamlike sequence Lo’ak is with his older brother, Neteyam, who was tragically killed in a brutal skirmish with the Sky People from the RDA in the last film. Talking to him like he is still there and going on an adventure flying with him is how he is dealing with the loss of his brother, who he feels responsible for being killed. The immediate action to open of them together that you immediately feel is almost right next to you, is sure to awaken and get your immediate attention. Besides Lo’ak, the rest of the Sully family of Jake, Neytiri, Kiri, Spider and Tuk is all trying to weigh the emotional, complex and somber at times reality of that loss in their own way too. That many of us as an audience can relate to as well when you lose someone so close to you and how you deal with it afterwards. They are not only all dealing with the loss, but also with still being finally accepted into the reefs of the Metkayina Clan. Who didn’t accept them and their ways at first in the last film as well. We actually still get some of that still here in Avatar: Fire and Ash too. As Jake, who is once again so brilliantly played by Sam Worthington reverts back to his more human essence of being a grunt ex-Marine, soldier and warrior, who uses weapons for war to protect his family at any cost. Cause that is what he thinks will take away the pain for him by being prepared to fight the humans aka Sky People, who are sure to want retribution from last time. Which the Metkayina Clan, don’t accept. While his partner and wife, Neytiri, who is also once again so brilliantly played by Oscar winning actress, Zoe Saldaña, is trying to conjure up what she has left of the spirit realm to stay connected and get through things.
The two characters mostly at the center of the story for the Sully family throughout much of the movie though is their adopted son, Spider, who is so brilliantly and mischievously well played by Jack Champion and the now defacto oldest child, Kiri, who is also just as brilliantly and mischievously well played by legendary and iconic actress, Sigourney Weaver. Who are virtually inseparable from one another and so closely tight knit. Spider has almost reluctantly been accepted into their family by nearly everyone accept for Neytiri. It is when Spider, who is actually human and needs a rebreather to survive in Pandora’s atmosphere that they only have one backup battery of that almost goes out. That Jake later on makes the unpopular decision that Spider will have to go back to live with the other humans. But he also proposes that the whole family take Spideron a journey with them to the nomadic airborne Tlalim Clan aka The Wind Traders. Who travel through the air of Pandora in very visually stunning spectacular airships with the help of large airborne enormous flying jellyfish-like creatures who are known as, Medusoids. The way that the winds are able to literally and figuratively blow these images right out of the water, is a true sight to especially see in 3D on a huge screen in a theater. Which is the many visual great experiences you are always sure to get, if nothing else in all these Avatar movies.
One of the true highlights of the film though is the newly introduced character of Varang. The fearlessly ruthless leader of the quite literally godless group of the Mangkwan Clan known as the Ash People. Who is so terrifyingly and perfectly well played by Oona Chaplin, who is a granddaughter of the legendary and iconic late great Charlie Chaplin. Varang and the Ash Clan used to have much of the same values of the the Omatikaya Clan that Neytiri used to be part of. Before a natural disaster struck their desolate homeland and changed their way of life forever. Which is why they have also forsaken the spirit mother of all Pandora, Eywa, as a result. Varang as a result also has gone down the dark path of the arts and trained herself to go down the power of this dark force that devastated her and her people’s, Ash Village. Taken on the force of fire, Varang and her crew are extremely eager to break Ewya’s laws anyway they can and why she embraces even more also wanting human weapons after seeing what they can do. After they are used on them by Lo’ak. While him, Tuk, Spider and Kiri try to go back to the ship to recover Spider’s backup rebreather mask after them, Neytiri and Jake, are shot down by the Ash People when they tried to take Spider with The Wind Traders back to live with the other humans that are the Na’vi allies. It is during this time when Kiri is also able to use the power of Ewya that she didn’t know its full capabilities yet of to help her buddy, Spider.
Colonel Miles Quaritch who is once again brilliantly played by the great Stephen Lang, as the main antagonist throughout the Avatar films. Died in conflict with Na’vi in the original film, but was returned and resurrected as a Recombinant in the last film. Is still out by orders of the RDA to seek out revenge against Jake and his family. Quaritch in this newest entry into Avatar really elevates his performance too by hitting it off like fire poured into gasoline to bring open flame with Varang. As both Chaplin and Lang’s performance alongside each other really help elevate each other too. Especially when they are in scenes together. Is like a flame lit.
Like many great epic action sci-fi films. There is many great action sequences throughout the film too. That includes a very bad ass explosive sequence with Neytiri trying to save Jake. That is right up there with some of the best Cameron has ever captured on film and once again shows why Zoe Saldaña has been such a highlight in each of these Avatar films. Which is even better seeing almost up close in 3D too. While his storytelling isn’t always the greatest. That is one thing you can always get from any James Cameron film, is beautiful scenery, realism and action that leads to one epic immensely gratifyingaction packed finale which is well worth the wait by the time you reach it.
Just as its predecessors I would be surprised if Avatar: Fire and Ash didn’t at least get nominated, if at least win award for such categories as Best Visual Effects, Best Sound and Production Design. I doubt she will get nominated cause of the many other exceptional performances throughout the year, but feel Chaplin’s performance as Varang might have a chance be nominated for Best Supporting Actress in possibly most other years.
As much as it has been said before and is always repeated. James Cameron’s Avatar films do really need to be seen in theaters and especially even more so in 3D. To really get the full motion capture experience of seeing it with an audience and others. That you can’t get just watching it from home. Which is once again the case here with, Avatar: Fire and Ash. If you are a fan of either of the first two films you should definitely leave the theater smiling and satisfied at the experience with what you just saw.
