I’m shivering at the thought as I write this, but would you believe it’s been 16 years since James Cameron first brought Avatar to the big screen?
Initially lambasted upon release – and failing to take quite as much money as many expected during its opening weekend – the film went on to gross nearly $3 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.
Cameron always insisted Avatar was designed as a multi-film experience, unfolding over many years, though I don’t think any of us were prepared for just how literal he was being. The second film, The Way of Water, didn’t arrive until 2022 – a full 13 years later. Despite that, it now sits comfortably as the third highest-grossing film ever, beaten only by its predecessor and Avengers: Endgame.
Fast forward three more years and Cameron is back again. But has 16 years been kind to the series? Or is it finally running out of steam with Fire & Ash?
The conflict on Pandora escalates as Jake and Neytiri’s family encounter a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe, threatening to completely upend the planet’s delicate balance.
First things first, let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. This is not a film with a finessed script. In fact, for much of the 3-hour-17-minute runtime (we’ll come back to that), the dialogue can only be described as ChatGPT-level. It’s as if someone prompted an AI to write an alien sequel involving teenagers. There’s a lot of “no way, bro” and “how you doing, bro”. But that was also a flaw of the previous two films – and it’s never really why you go to watch an Avatar movie.
It’s always easy to hate on the Avatar films. Online, it’s practically an Olympic sport. But this is event cinema. You go to Pandora to be immersed in another world, and even 16 years on, Cameron still pulls it off.
Event cinema over writing elegance
Frankly, Pandora has never looked better – and it absolutely needs to be seen in 3D on the biggest screen possible. I was lucky enough to experience the film in IMAX 3D, and it genuinely gave me goosebumps. You don’t just watch this world; you feel like you’re part of it. The sheer scale of ambition here is astonishing.
Whether you’re soaring above the clouds on a banshee or swimming beneath the waves alongside a tulkun, the film often feels documentary-like in scope – as if Sir David Attenborough might appear at any moment to start narrating.
From a humanoid character perspective, things are less successful. Jake and Neytiri are noticeably less involved than in the previous films, which is a shame, as Zoe Saldaña’s Neytiri remains the glue holding the franchise together. She’s an exceptional actress and perhaps the only character who truly feels “alien”. She’s consistently captivating. Sam Worthington has never been the most charismatic presence, but he is better here than in previous instalments.
Varang, the film’s new villain, is a force to be reckoned with. Genuinely intimidating, she’s brought to life through impressive motion capture by Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones). She looms large throughout the runtime and absolutely commits to the role.
Bigger, longer, louder
And yes – the runtime. Wow. At 197 minutes, Fire & Ash is a full 30 minutes longer than Avatar and five minutes longer than The Way of Water. You feel it too. Not because the film drags – quite the opposite – but because you’re edging into intermission territory. My advice? Do not have any sort of drink beforehand. Your bladder will not thank you.
The plot, from writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Jurassic World), isn’t particularly original, sticking closely to the familiar “us vs them” framework of the previous films. But what it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in action. This is easily the most ambitious Avatar yet, packed with impeccably staged set pieces across land, sea and sky. It’s gripping stuff.
Overall, Avatar: Fire & Ash is another remarkable achievement from James Cameron. His bold vision has now delivered three technical marvels that continue to redefine what’s possible on screen. At a time when many franchises are slipping backwards in terms of visual effects, Avatar doesn’t just buck the trend – it obliterates it.
