‘Fire And Ash’ finishes Avatar trilogy off right, yet more Sequels are coming anyhow

Review by Chris Davis, Library Specialist

Third time is the charm as they say, but it’s too bad that James Cameron is going to make another Avatar film.

Avatar: Fire and Ash finds itself in a weird place for me, especially after the monumental disappointment that was Avatar: The Way of Water. I came into this movie with the expectation that I was going to be let down again. That the time we’ve invested into Jake Sully and Neytiri’s family wasn’t worth it.

I will happily admit that I was wrong in this instance. Whether it was Jake, Neytiri, Quaritch, or any of the Sully’s kids, I enjoyed what they did with them all. Each character had a chance to shine and grow within the movie’s runtime of three hours and fifteen minutes. Giving them the depth that I felt was sorely lacking in Avatar: The Way of Water.

They also introduced a new villain this time around, Varang, who quite frankly hasn’t left my mind since I saw the film. I admit that I’m a sucker for a compelling villain, and Varang meets that expectation and runs with it. She leads the newly introduced Mangkwan clan more commonly referred to over the course of the movie as the Ash people. These Na’vi lost their home after a volcanic eruption destroyed the forest and everything around them.

In desperation, they cried out to Eywa (the spiritual “mother” of Pandora) for help, but she never came. And thus, Varang and her motivations were forged. She took control of the clan and led them down a new path, one that, in their eyes, doesn’t need Eywa. This abandonment of tradition eventually leads her to Quaritch, and without spoiling anything else, you can imagine how that goes.

On another topic, this film finally circles back to much more of the ingrained human element than I expected. A lot of weight is placed on Spider, a human character from the previous film (and Quaritch’s son) that felt forced into place, and while we did better with him this time around. I still can’t help but feel that he just doesn’t fit into the narrative as well as he should.

Jake’s humanity is brought into question again as well. During one of the heavier narrative moments that I don’t want to spoil, James Cameron acknowledges once again that, in all reality, despite Jake’s best efforts to move forward and be a part of a community that has accepted him he really doesn’t belong with the Na’vi, at least not on the inside, and he knows that.

Speaking of important character growth, I’m so grateful that Neytiri really had the chance to spread her own metaphorical wings this time. From being a grieving mother, to her convictions, and even her dedication to go as far as possible for Jake and her kids. She had so much happening that I really, truly wanted this to just be her story for once. Especially since Varang is her twisted parallel. A mirror reflection of who she could have become at one point in time.

Most importantly I think that this film finally has a better grasp on the story that James Cameron wishes to convey with Avatar as a whole. As if we are nearing the end point of a puzzle that has taken far longer than it should have.

The movie ultimately culminates in a final climactic battle, one that evokes a similar tone to the battle that occurred at the end of the first movie. Every moment that passed before my eyes in this final fight was truly a spectacle to behold, both in visual quality and letting the action carry the story forward.

Unfortunately, this all cycles into an ending that really left me wondering. Why is there going to be another movie? That question hung in the back of my mind on the way home and as I typed this review. I don’t understand why James Cameron needs to make more of these films. Other than to tell an epic saga that may wear out its welcome long before it is done.

All in all, Avatar: Fire and Ash is the sequel that The Way of Water should have been. It should be the end of the story though. I can’t think of any real reason why it has to continue on from here.

NOTE: Avatar: Fire and Ash came out in theaters only on Dec. 19, 2025. We will notify readers on this review once it is available on DVD at the Library!

For the past year, the GFPL has published long-form film reviews written by GFPL staffers. Most of the films are available to check out at the Library, or from one of our Partner Libraries. Others can be put on order when they are available. We post a new review each month!