Writer/Director: James Cameron
Starring: Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver
‘A Superb Sequel’
Few science-fiction films have raised the bar for visual effects as high as Avatar. As iconic as the Titanic, it became a sci-fi classic through stunning visual effects that captivated the public. On a personal level, I find the film about planets relatable. At an early age, I formed a bond with a mother that admired a franchise about climate damage. Drawn towards the way of water, she appreciated a sci-fi blockbuster about planets facing disaster. My lifelong bond with my mother began when my family survived disaster. In 2003, my family experienced frightening bomb blast catastrophe. Like Pandora, my home in Saudi Arabia was attacked by bombs causing trauma. Arrival of terrifying terrorists caused my family’s dreams to crumble. As my house faced fire and ash, dreams began to crash. In a terrifying scenario where the chances of survival were low, my mother emerged a hero. Her heroism allowed family to survive terrorism. Seeking a quiet place, my mother relocated my family to countries where bombings were rare to face. I felt gratitude towards a mother whose heroism I valued. However, my mother’s compassion didn’t last forever. Following the bombing incident, the sad fact is our relationship became emotionally distant. An impossible parent to please, she no longer had time nor patience for movies about guardians defending galaxies. Faced with a busy routine, she lost her interest in watching alien movies on the big-screen. Desperate for me to find employment, she lost love for entertainment. It took many years for me to reconcile with a mother that had become hostile. Even when she wasn’t the world’s best parent, I appreciate a mother inspiring my love for entertainment. Although we still argue, I value a mother that motivated me to make dreams come true. Years later, I treasure a science-fiction blockbuster that’s become a heartfelt reminder of my mother.
Now, the science-fiction franchise making cash returns in the latest film “Avatar: Fire and Ash”. Released in 2025, James Cameron’s blockbuster honours Avatars. Boasting breathtaking visuals, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a spectacular sequel. At the centre of it all is Zoe Saldana, who embodies a mother facing trauma. Although “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is entertaining, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s overlong, building towards an ambiguous conclusion. Nevertheless, it offers spellbinding entertainment for sci-fi fans.
Following the events of “The Way of Water”, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” captures doomed planets that are destined to crash. Zoe Saldana portrays Neytiri, a female warrior seeking to protect family from catastrophe. Assisted by her husband Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri has always protected family from mass destruction. However, Neytiri’s determination is tested when her planet is invaded by villainous tribes that are unexpected. Experiencing a dilemma, Neytiri questions whether she can survive on the planet of Pandora.
James Cameron is fascinated with science-fiction. His iconic film “Avatar” introduced the iconic science-fiction franchise setting a high bar. With “Avatar: Fire and Ash”, however, Cameron created his first sci-fi sequel. It’s the filmmaker’s first attempt creating a sci-fi blockbuster bringing a franchise to a closure, but he succeeded tremendously. Evoking “Titanic”, Cameron uses POV shots capturing families seeking surviving catastrophe. For instance, POV shots elevate the survival scene. During this unforgettable scene, Neytiri rescues children from catastrophe. It brought back heartwarming memories of a courageous mother that saved my family from bombing catastrophe. POV shots are complicated techniques. As James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” suggested, POV shots elevate commemorated comic-book movies. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Using stunning visuals, Cameron captures families faciing obstacles.
Another admirable aspect of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, it’s the most impressive film in the franchise. Cameron has always had talent for making visually stunning entertainment, and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is no different. Evoking Matt Reeves’ “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, Cameron uses motion-capture technology to capture avatars facing adversity. For instance, motion-capture technology elevates the family argument scene. During this intense scene, Neytiri has an intense argument with Jake concerning the safety of their children on a doomed planet. It reminded me of my arguments with my mother that left me devastated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Simon Franglen’s music contributes to the movie’s success. It gives the movie atmosphere capturing burden avatars bear. Through stunning production, Cameron captures avatars.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is a science-fiction blockbuster that’s engaging. Throughout the Avatar franchise, most movies depicted women as helpless damsels in distress that rarely achieve success. For instance, “The Way of Water” depicted Neytiri as a conflicted mother facing disaster. Thankfully, however, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” avoids these issues. Evoking John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place”, Cameron uses silence to capture hardships mothers face. For instance, silence elevates the family reunion scene. During this emotional scene, Neytiri faces reunions with children following her planet’s destruction. It reminded me about my reconciliation with a mother I appreciated. Through silence, Cameron turns fantastical avatars into humane people audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique. As J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” suggested, silence elevates sci-fi movies about galaxies. Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” proved that silence elevates commemorated alien invasion blockbusters Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through an extraordinary screenplay, Cameron honours a sci-fi franchise today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Zoe Saldana delivers one of her best career performances as Neytiri. Saldana achieved praise for playing alien women in the Star Trek movies. With “Avatar: Fire and Ash”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy portraying the personality of an avatar through motion-capture technology but Saldana succeeds. Evoking Sigourney Weaver in Ridley Scott’s “Alien”, Saldana embodies an alien woman seeking to protect doomed planets facing destruction. With riveting expressions, she conveys the angst, desperation and grief of a mother facing tensions. It’s a terrific motion-capture role from one of the best actresses working today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Saldana, the supporting cast is also excellent. Sam Worthington is wonderful, capturing compassion of a father protecting his family from destruction. Sigourney Weaver is spectacular, embodying a teenager on a spiritual adventure. Lastly, Stephen Lang merits appreciation. As the villainous Quaritch, he is unforgettable.
Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” can’t honour a franchise about fire and ash. One of Cameron’s weaknesses as a filmmaker is his tendency to make movies excessively long. At nearly three hours, the film suffers from extended running-time. Like a never-ending rollercoaster ride, it leaves audiences entertained but at the same time exhausted. Cameron’s decisions to integrate subplots about spiritual forces into the movie is commendable but hinders pacing. Due to this faulty technique, scenes capturing Kiri’s spiritual conversations with the Eywa aren’t as always engaging as her interactions with family on Pandora. Moreover, the film lacks compelling conclusions. It’s a cliffhanger conclusion without resolution. Whereas this conclusion elevated the Russo Brothers’ “Avengers: Infinity War”, it clashes with this movie. At worst, it seems to be a marketing strategy intended to generate future sequels. Therefore, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” can’t quite honour a science-fiction franchise audiences adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Zoe Saldana will definitely enjoy “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and so would movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A spectacular science-fiction sequel, it honours a franchise about planets that are powerful.
Nearly 20 years after the release of a sci-fi movie about planets facing catastrophe, it’s a bold reminder of a franchise making memorable movies advancing motion-capture technology which audiences love dearly.
As strong as Jake’s desire to save his planet, it has motivated me to let go of my past relationships with a conflicted mother that left me upset by cherishing positive memories of a commemorated caregiver whose lifelong love for the science-fiction genre inspired my passion for writing movie reviews on the internet.
3.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 