'Avatar: Fire and Ash' review: Visuals triumph story again in James Cameron's Pandora return

December 18, 2025 | 9:56am

MANILA, Philippines — Decorated filmmaker James Cameron once more takes the blockbuster reins in his return to the "Avatar" franchise with third entry "Avatar: Fire and Ash".

A year after the events of 2022's "Avatar: The Way of Water", Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) are still mourning the death of their eldest son, each dealing with their emotions according to their beliefs.

Also experiencing grief is remaining son Lo'ak (Britain Dalton), who continues to feel like an outcast within his family and to an extent the Metkayina clan, which embraced his family.

But with the threat of the Resources Development Administration, which is still intent on colonizing Pandora, plus Miles Quaritch's (Stephen Lang) hunger for revenge against the Sully family even in his new body, time is not on the side of the Na'vi.

Questions continue to hound Jake and Neytiri's adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) about her connection to the deity Eywa, and the role Miles' son Spider (Jack Champion) has to play in everything poses a both an opportunity and a threat.

Apart from blockbusters, Cameron's name has been synonymous with very successful sequels: "Aliens", "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and even "The Way of Water", given the box office hit it was like its predecessor.

Not only is "Fire and Ash" the director's first venture into a trilogy, it is also a test of how much he's envisioned the "Avatar" world to be on the script, not just within his brilliant mind.

It should come as no surprise that this new film is another stunning visual spectacle that demands to be seen on the biggest and best screens available. No movie has ever been better fit for 3D and IMAX viewing, enhancing the theatrical immersion Pandora still gives.

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But visuals only make up part of what makes film a cinematic success, and it's the job of Cameron and his team of writers—Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno—to expand the world.

Interesting steps are taken in regards to Kiri's characterization, but as a whole, there seems to be cautious treading about where the story can and should go.

Spider's role needed more depth while new character Varang (Oona Chaplin) of the volcano-dwelling Mangkwan clan deserves the additional intrigue her menacing presence gives.

Returning players Cliff Curtis, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Brendan Cowell and Edie Falco continue to battle for ample screentime worthy of their talent, some of them to varying results.

Kate Winslet is naturally the most well-rounded of the ensemble cast alongside newly minted Oscar winner Saldaña. However, Jemaine Clement remains underutilized and in fact, his character wss used as mere means to drive the story to its over three-hour runtime.

It is a constant battle then of visuals and content, as fierce as the fight between nature and machine, aliens and natives, and finding once's place in the world.

Cameron has mentioned he won't carry on with a fourth "Avatar" film if "Fire and Ash" doesn't do well, but this new entry appears to have legs to just maybe get over the billion-dollar mark.

But should Cameron and company keep this franchise going to its planned five-movie arc, perhaps they'd do well to divide the focus on all aspects of cinematic grandiosity, and then the director can rest on his laurels with shared satisfaction.

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