AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
(director/writer: James Cameron; screenwriters: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, story by Cameron, Jaffa, Silver, Josh Friedman, Shane Salerno; cinematographer: Russell Carpenter; editors: Stephen Rivkin, Nicolas de Toth, Jason Gaudio, John Refoua, James Cameron; music: Simon Franglen; cast: Sam Worthington (Jake Sully), Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri), Sigourney Weaver (Kiri), Stephen Lang (Colonel Quantich), Oona Chaplin (Queen Varang), Jack Champion (Spider), Kate Winslet (Ronai), Cliff Curtis (Tonowari), Joel David Moore (Dr. Norm Spellman), CCH Pounder (Mo’at), Edie Falco (General Ardmore), David Thewlis (Peylak), Jemaine Clement (Dr. Ian Garvin), Giovanni Ribisi (Selfridge), Britain Dalton (Lo’ak), Jamie Flatters (Neteyam, Sully’s oldest son), Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (Tuk), Brendan Cowell (Captain Scoresby), Bailey Bass (Tsireya), Filip Geljo (Aonung), Duane Evans Jr. (Rotxo), Dileep Rao (Max Patel), Max Gerald (Recom Wainfleet); Runtime: 192; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producers: Jon Landau; Disney, 20th Century Studios, Lightstorm Entertainment; 2026)
“The visuals and technical accomplishments are stunning.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
The visuals and technical accomplishments are stunning in this 3D film; but the sequel, the third leg in an expected five-part series, that began in 2009, is overlong at over 3 hours and its dialogue and script are not so hot. But the mix of live action with animation is nevertheless impressively filmed, as its most watchable during its many fighting scenes.
The visionary sci-fi film, calling for co-existence in the divided world and for a clean environment, is set in 2022, weeks after “Avatar: The Way of Water” was released. The 71-year-old James Cameron (“Avatar”/”Avatar: The Way of Water”) again directs this popular eco-thriller franchise film based on the story he wrote with Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman, and Shane Salerno, and adds new characters, new landscapes and more melodramatic moments. But the entertaining blockbuster movie does not break new ground or add heft to its story.
In the fictional lush moon planet of Pandora, in the Alpha Centauri system, home to the blue-skinned with tails Na’vi tribe, who are small in numbers and are forest people now forced to dwell by the sea. They are led by the disabled wheelchair-bound hero American ex-marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a human who came here with the Resources Development Administration to provide the resources found on this mystical planet to the depleted earth for its survival and remained in Pandora as an avatar (that allows humans to appear in the form of something else). After his heroic mission he marries the native Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).
The couple now mourn the death of their eldest child Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) killed by predatory attackers and live with their oldest surviving son Lo’ak (Britain Dalton). They are also raising Spider (Jack Champion), the human son of Jake’s power-hungry nemesis and former boss from Earth, Col. Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who as a human must wear an air mask to breathe. The couple adopted Spider to protect him from his cruel father. They also have other adoptions at home including an adopted teenage daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) who makes a spiritual connection to Ewya, the Great Mother, the guiding force for the natives on Pandora.
A new threat emerges from the volcano dwelling warrior Ash People, as their evil native commander Queen Varang (Oona Chaplin) partners with the evil Quaritch, now an avatar who returned to Pandora. The war ally uses his military might to attack the sea-dwelling Na’vi natives and its leader who the Colonel calls a traitor to the people of the earth for marrying the native.
Jake rallies his native followers to be united to battle their more numerous and powerful attackers.
The Na’vi are trying to live peacefully in a free society. But when under attack it leads to a final showdown between Jake and the Colonel, slugging it out in a life and death fight in the elements.
Though saddled with an incoherent plot, it’s visually dazzling and an easy film to like but less so at 192 minutes. Though a must-see film, it nevertheless becomes too repetitive, drawn out, and forgettable for not having a strong enough myth to fall back on.
REVIEWED ON 1/3/2026 GRADE: B-
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