James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ashes has finally been released to the movie press ahead of its theatrical release later this month, with journalists calling the film’s third trip to Pandora the “ultimate cinematic spectacle” that pushes “visual and emotional new heights.”
Film critic Courtney Howard praised the “fire and ashes” of X, writing that it reminded us “of what movie theaters were made for.”
“Three films later, director James Cameron still has the source material to make the grand spectacle emotionally impactful,” Howard wrote. “A brilliant story. Bold, brilliant, wonderful in every way. This is what movie theaters were built for.”
Fellow critic Sean Tajpour echoed X’s praises, writing that Cameron “continues to push the envelope in every frame” of Fire and Ash.
“While I may not be the biggest Avatar fan,[Avatar: Fire and Ashes]proves once again that director James Cameron can and continues to deliver the ultimate cinematic spectacle, pushing visual and emotional heights to new heights and redefining what a true blockbuster can be,” he wrote. “It’s bold, immersive, unforgettable and driven by pure ambition.”
Collider correspondent Perry Nemiroff said of the film in X: “I’ve seen three movies and I still don’t understand the magic of the (‘Avatar’) movies. I wish there had been a more original presentation, but this one is too applicable. “[Avatar: Fire and Ash]really feels like a vehicle. You’re pulled back into the world of Pandora incredibly quickly and you’re sucked into the situation, and once you do that, the complexity of the movie increases noticeably.” A big part of the production. ”
Film writer Michael Leigh praised the film’s visuals and action as “out of this world”, although he was a little disappointed in the story.
He wrote, “[Avatar: Fire and Ash]is a huge visual spectacle, especially in 3D. The deeper exploration of Pandora and the new tribes allows for vast world-building. Story may be lacking, but this one pushes the technological envelope in unimaginable ways.”
“Avatar: Fire and Ashes” will be a continuation of the events of 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which gained attention due to the death of Jake Sully and Neytiri’s son Neteyam. The new film sees the Sully family grieve as a new threat emerges: the Fire Tribe, a hostile group of Navi volcano dwellers led by the vengeful Valan (Oona Chaplin in her series debut). Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet and others will also be joining the cast.
Cameron candidly said in a recent interview that the future of the Avatar series depends on the box office success of Fire and Ash this year. The director originally envisioned five Avatar movies, with much of the fourth already filmed. The original “Avatar” remains the highest-grossing film of all time (not adjusted for inflation) with $2.9 billion worldwide, and “The Way of Water” ranks third on the list with $2.3 billion. Cameron told Empire magazine earlier this year that he was open to directing the fourth film himself.
“So there’s no reason not to do it,” Cameron said of directing another Avatar sequel ahead of his 71st birthday in August. “I’m healthy. I’m fine. I’m not going to rule it out. So I have to work hard to be able to handle this amount of work and energy for another six or seven years. You know what I mean? I may not be able to do it… (but) if I can, I’ll do it.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash will be released in theaters on December 19th. See more first reactions below.
