Grief Dominates in a Beautiful but Familiar ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’

James Cameron is always going to give you spectacle when it comes to his “Avatar” franchise, but in his third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” there’s a sense of grief that overlays all of the beauty. It was almost overwhelming at times, while also feeling a bit familiar to what the audience has seen before. 

Sullys stick together

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his entire family is grieving hard over the loss of the eldest son, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) and his death reverberates throughout the story. Seeing the family grapple with the impact of his absence was heart-wrenching, especially Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña).

The family dynamic is tested a lot over the course of the three-plus hour film. Neytiri’s growing disdain for Spider (Jack Champion) since her son’s death is almost a wedge between her and Jake. Tension between Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and his father reach a devastating fever pitch, with Jake blaming his younger son for his eldest’s death. Kiri’s (Sigourney Weaver) continued exploration of her powers, while growing closer to Spider, sets off a chain of events that will likely change the course of Pandora’s future permanently. All of their struggles give this film a darker, sadder air than the previous installments.

Sidenote: It’s still very weird that Weaver, 76 years old, is playing a 14-year-old teenager. On the one hand, it works for showcasing Kiri’s wisdom and soulful spirit beyond her years but on the other hand, it’s odd to see her kissing a boy and knowing it’s Sigourney fucking Weaver. 

An expansion of Pandora and her people

Seeing “Fire and Ash,” and any “Avatar” film, in 3D is a must, although the beauty and splendor of Pandora can be enjoyed on regular TVs too. The bright forests, the thriving oceans, the volcanic wasteland, and the airy journey we see throughout are incredibly detailed and define the different tribes of the Na’vi. With each film comes a more visually complex and astounding planet that the audience gets to explore.

In particular, the addition of a certain clan of local natives, the volcano-dwelling Mangkwan clan (the Ash People), is the greatest thing about the film. They’re a people unlike Neytiri’s clan or the reef-dwelling Metkayina tribe. Shaped by volcanic ash and fiery destruction, they’re crueler, more savage, but eerily smart and able to pick up on human-branded barbarity with chilling quickness. Varang (Oona Chaplin) is a sight to behold and captivating to watch. She is very easily the best new character in the franchise and, by far, the best villain.

One downside of the film is that it has some of the same story beats and plot points as “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Colonel Miles Quaritch’s (Stephen Lang) obsession with and constant chasing of Jake Sully really starts to get old. On the plus side, we do get more evolution and growth from Quaritch getting friendly with the Mangkwan clan.

Loss in water and fire

The film explores the water-connected Metkayina clan and, in particular, their tsahìk Ronal (Kate Winslet) a little more. Winslet is a force as pregnant Ronal, a fierce spiritual leader with an almost all-consuming passion for her tribe. She’s abrasive at times but as her sacrifices pile up, she becomes more relatable and her growing bond with Neytiri feels earned.

Much of the water Na’vi and the Tulkun, a sentient and deeply intelligent whale species, have to shed and sacrifice their former ideals in order to save Pandora from the annoyingly persistent Sky People. The Tulkun are given an expanded role in this chapter of the story and their (unfortunately necessary) change from non-violence to violent defense is poignant; a lesson that passively staying above violence can ultimately lead to your own end.

Kiri and her connection to Eywa

Kiri’s intense link to Eywa makes her one of the most fascinating characters. She’s able to connect with the “Great Mother” giving her abilities that allow her to manipulate and shape the natural world. This leads to one of the biggest, planet-changing moments with Kiri, desperate to save Spider’s life, using spores to infect and change his physiology so he can breathe the same air she can. It cannot be overstated how massive this is and how potentially devastating it can be to the future of the Na’vi. The humans know this and seek to experiment on and examine Spider to gain the ability to breathe Pandora’s air.

What will this mean for the next potential chapter in the Na’vi’s story? It’s a seismic shift that honestly left behind a feeling of dread. Reminiscent of Pilgrims bringing disease and death to the native people of what is now the United States of America, this has the potential to be cataclysmic for Pandora.

Final thoughts

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” is a delicious feast for the eyes like its predecessors, with new clans to be astounded by and different stories being shown. The problem is that it, at times, is too similar to “The Way of Water,” with the endless battle between Quaritch and Jake feeling like rehashes of the same thing. Continuing to center Jake is beginning to hold the story back just a little bit. With each Sully family member (even little baby Tuk) getting more fleshed out, the story is starting to move beyond its original Jake Sully anchor and that’s a good thing.