The first reactions for Avatar: Fire and Ash have landed ahead of its cinema release this month, with critics calling it a “phenomenal” film that is “blockbuster filmmaking at its finest”. Directed by James Cameron, Fire and Ash picks up after the events of 2022’s The Way of Water, following Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) on the planet Pandora.
As the title suggests, the third instalment in the sci-fi epic will introduce us to the volcano-dwelling Mangkwan Clan, also known as the Ash People, as well as the The Wind Traders, or Tlalim Clan.
Ahead of its release in cinemas on 19 December, the threequel has proved popular among critics, with Josh Tyler calling the film “the best of the trilogy so far”.
Tyler wrote: “AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH is a visual feast that somehow outdoes everything that came before it. The story takes bold swings, lands surprises you’d never expect, and proves James Cameron is still operating on a different level. Hard to believe, but it’s the best of the trilogy so far.”
Erik Davis said: “James Cameron’s AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH is a phenomenal moviegoing experience. It’s the biggest of the three – action-packed, visually jaw-dropping and rich with themes of family, legacy and survival. The way it weaves fire, water, air and land into every nook and cranny of the film is kind of remarkable. This is pure blockbuster filmmaking at its finest.”
20th Century Studios
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“3 films in, James Cameron still has the sauce, making the epic spectacular feel emotionally impactful. A glorious saga. Bold, brilliant & awesome in every way, this is what movie theaters were built for. Payakan is still my fave, but Varang is the MVP,” penned Courtney Howard.
Sean Tajipour said of the film: “I may not be the biggest Avatar superfan, but #AvatarFireAndAsh proves once again that James Cameron can and will always deliver the ultimate cinematic spectacle, pushing visuals and emotion to new heights and redefining what a true blockbuster feels like. It’s bold, immersive, unforgettable, and driven by sheer ambition.”
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Collider’s Perri Nemiroff said: “Three films in and I still can’t get over how magical the #Avatar movies are. Wish I had more original phrasing, but this applies too well — #AvatarFireAndAsh truly feels like a ride. I couldn’t believe how quickly I was pulled back into the world of Pandora and swept up in the situation. And once that happens, there’s a noticeable increase in complexity in quite a few aspects of the production.”
Finally, critic Michael Lee wrote that Avatar: Fire and Ash “is huge on visual spectacle, especially in 3D”.
He added: “Deeper exploration of Pandora & new tribes allow for immense world-building. Story may be lacking, but this pushes technical boundaries in unimaginable ways”.
Avatar: Fire and Ash will be released in cinemas on December 19. Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water are available to watch on Disney+.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.Â
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.Â
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.