Eywa may have no dominion over the Ash People of Pandora, but she certainly had control over audiences, myself included, throughout the course of the third film in James Cameron’s “Avatar” series, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
Set in the lush world of Pandora, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” picks up mere weeks after the events of 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the Oscar-winning sequel to director James Cameron’s massively popular 2009 science fiction epic, “Avatar.”
To make a long story short, the “Avatar” series begins with Pandora, a beautiful planet where the Na’vi, who are ten-foot-tall and varying shades of blue, inhabit the land. The Na’vi lived spiritually in tune with the nature around them, out of reach from humas, until the Resources Development Administration (RDA) made contact and began to colonize the area.
In order to get closer to the Na’vi, scientists bioengineered what they called Avatars. These Avatars allow research scientists to assume the role of a Na’vi. Due to an accident that kills his twin brother, former U.S. Marine Jake Sully assumes his brother’s Avatar.
In the first film, after assuming control over the Avatar, Sully falls in love with Neytiri, an indigenous Na’vi from the Omatikaya Clan. They work together, along with various other Na’vi clans and former members of the RDA, and drive the RDA out of Pandora.
In the second film, however, after nearly 15 years, the RDA returns with a vengeance. Sully, Neytiri and their four kids are now forced to flee, leading them into hiding with the ocean-dwelling Metkayina Clan.
In the most recent addition, Jake Sully and his family must contend with loss, uncertainty and a ruthless group of Na’vi who have abandoned the planet’s goddess, Eywa, all while being hunted by longstanding villain of the franchise, Colonel Quaritch.
Though I cannot pinpoint the exact moment that the film blew me away, I can confirm that by the time the Tlalim Clan, a nomadic group of Na’vi known as the Wind Traders, were introduced, I was completely and utterly hooked, both in plot and visuals.
As with all of Cameron’s additions to the “Avatar” franchise, the scenery was stunning. Breathtaking shots of cool, sparkling seawater combined with scenes locked onto vibrant foliage make the film impressive just to see on the big screen, as always.
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” particularly stands out in its portrayal of Jake Sully and his son, Lo’ak. After the death of Sully and Neytiri’s firstborn son, Neteyam, the existing rift between Lo’ak and his father becomes much harder to ignore. Jake Sully throws himself into defending the Na’vi, completely abandoning his guilt-ridden son.
This struck me as an incredibly interesting direction to take thematically, as audiences get to see something many television and film creators never do. Show the golden-boy antagonist… indefensibly failing.
Jake Sully is seen, time and time again, directing his anger and sadness over the death of his son towards other forces, including Lo’ak. He fails to reckon with his anger regarding Neteyam’s death so much so that in one particularly emotional scene, he ends up blaming it on Lo’ak, who has already internally assumed the blame and nearly ends his own life over his father’s words.
Grief is a driving force behind the actions of the film’s diverse cast of characters. While Lo’ak continues to feel misunderstood and is burdened by his guilt, Jake Sully begins to shut down entirely, severing connections with his son that, by the end of the film, he has just begun to get back.
That being said, possibly one of the most compelling aspects of the film, and in turn the entirety of the franchise, continues to be Neytiri. Neytiri is so beautifully complex, which is what ultimately makes her a big draw for investing time into a film franchise that spans over nine hours of content.
Neytiri’s journey throughout “Avatar: Fire and Ash” takes big leaps and bounds, especially compared to the prior two films. We see Neytiri as she struggles with the aftermath of the traumatic death of her son. Neteyam was killed by humans and, as a result, Neytiri’s previously established disdain for humans has turned to full blown disgust—honestly, for good reason.
They killed her father, destroyed her home and have now taken the life of her son.
Still, when Jake Sully attempts to kill Spider to stop the RDA from experimenting on him and learning the secret of breathing Pandoran air, Neytiri ultimately cannot allow him to go through with it. This is in direct contrast to her actions in the previous film, where she held a knife to Spider’s throat, using him as a bargaining chip, and was only subdued by the pleas of Sully.
Seeing Neytiri battle her grief, while simultaneously separated from her home and trying to keep her family together, is a heartbreaking watch in of itself. Tears were definitely shed during the scene where she ends her inner struggle regarding what Spider represents to her and rushes to save him. Though, in the end, Sully ultimately cannot go through with it and stops before Neytiri arrives, the weight of her actions are not lost.
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” certainly held up to the legacy of the first two films, and I personally cannot wait to see what is in store for the next installment.
