When I was a teen and the original Playstation finally provided super-realistic (for the time) video game cut scenes, I was so impressed that I’d show anyone that was unfortunate to come over. My poor cousins had to sit there as I showed them just how far video games had come. I’d happily show these clips to people as they graciously smiled for all three minutes of the clips. I equate my glee of showing how far technology has come to that of James Cameron making multiiple 3+ hour movies that are essentially one long video game cut scene.
We can all admit that James Cameron is a master of his craft. He doesn’t do anything half-baked. He’s dedicated the past nearly 30 years to creating the world of Pandora and expanding the civilization known as the Na’vi. The Avatar movies are second to none when it comes to realistic looking visuals that are completely CG. Not only that, but it revolutionized 3D, to the point where it still embraces a long-since-retired format.
In this third movie, not much time has passed since the Sully family, along with the water Na’vi, have managed to stave off the military and the slaughter of the whales. While on an expedition to help out the lone human, Spider, they are attacked by the Ash Na’vi and are set on an adventure that may lead to the human colonization of Pandora.
There are some absolutes when it comes to this franchise, especially three movies in – The visuals will be astounding, the plot will be uninspired, and it will make an insane amount of money.
Fire and Ash does not break this mold. And I’ve got some good news about this sequel.
It’s insane to me that Cameron is able to craft a fully-realized world and characters that never look like they belong in the uncanny valley. For the duration of the movie, it sweeps you up and almost spoils you with how much beauty is on the screen. There are times when I actually had to pay attention to just how real it all looked. We live in a time when visual artists are not given the proper time or budget to make CG seem believable. Yet, Cameron has somehow delivered another spectacle in just three years.
Add to this, the action within the last hour of Fire and Ash is the best of the series. It’s explosive, surprising, and fun to watch. Once the climactic battle begins, it doesn’t really let up.
And now for the bad news…
Fire and Ash is mostly unnecessary as a sequel. There’s a formula to these movies now. The evil human corporation/military want something from Pandora (Unobtanium, Whale brain juice, land) and they unleash Quaritch to wipe out Jake Sully and his family in order to achieve their desires. Not only does this movie take from the same formula, but it also replicates the whale pursuit plot from Way of Water. Yet, somehow they remove all of the stakes that the second movie delivered on.
There is a theme of recovering from grief that the movie begins on, but the plot line is somehow rushed in a very long movie. There are enough members of the Sully family that all have their own journeys to go on, but for some reason this movie focuses on the singular worst addition to the series – Spider. If you’ve seen the second movie, you’ll remember the kid George of the Jungle to Jungle that lived among the Sullys. Now, this wise-cracking Tarzan is the main emphasis of the story. Most of the most revolves around his purpose. This element might have worked out if the script served he and the dialogue better. Most of his lines bring out eye-wincing cringe moments, instead of him being the anchor point to a interesting world around them.
Based on the script, this actually feels like the closest thing the series has had to being a kids movie. The action is bombastic, the dialogue is simple, and the stakes are low. However, there’s some tonal inconsistency, as there’s more than its fair share of violence and a lot of implied Na’vi “dread-locking” (If you know what I mean).
This series knows exactly what it is and knows what it is to the public. For those who see them for spectacle, the 3D visuals, the soundtrack and world-building – it will deliver and be nothing more or less than what can be expected. For those who have avoided these movie because of their length, or reliance on style over substance, Fire and Ash will not win them over.
I appreciate that James Cameron has managed to make another gorgeous entry into a world he’s so passionate about. It’s so visually striking and engrossing. If this took risks and closed out a trilogy, I’d appreciate it much more. However, it plays it too safe and just stretches out the story to the point where we’ll get two more gorgeous and gluttonous movies. C+
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