The Filmscape Reverie

By: Maria Cieslarczyk

Warning: Spoilers ahead! Read at your own discretion.

Not that I regularly aspire to be a 9-foot tall blue alien residing on one of Jupiter’s moons, but the third installment of James Cameron’s global phenomenon sure did put the idea in my head.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) is the latest film of the Avatar franchise, and it exceeded every one of my expectations. My boyfriend and I excitedly watched the 3 hour and 15 minute long film in 3D and all I can say is…wow. The visuals were so stunning that I almost felt like I was exploring Pandora myself.

The third film follows Jake Sully, our paralyzed human turned blue Na’vi alien (in his avatar body); his fearless warrior wife Neytiri; their children Lo’ak, Kiri, Tuktirey; and their adopted human son Spider as they mourn the death of their eldest son Neteyam. The story takes place right after the events of the second movie, Way of Water, in which Neteyam is killed while rescuing Lo’ak and Spider.

In Fire and Ash, Jake and his family grieve while preparing for the upcoming war against the RDA (Resources Development Administration), the human mega-corporation that prioritizes profits and exploits Pandora in an effort to “save” Earth, devastated by its scarce resources and poor environment.

Suddenly, a new threat emerges: the fire-wielding Ash People (Mangkwan tribe) attack, which escalates the already-tense struggle for the fate of Pandora!

The introduction of the new antagonist, the Ash People’s leader, Varang, was legendary. The third movie represents a carnal desire to dominate society through power and evolution. She is such a prime example of that ferocity, even teaming up with notable villain Miles Quaritch (a cloned RDA officer now in his avatar form), to acquire weapons and support. Pretty much like your two worst nightmares suddenly merging into one…yikes!

Apart from the plot, I appreciated the cinematography and color palettes of the movie. The cinematic designs of the different locations – from the luscious jungle, to the water society, to the volcanic ashy ruins – was beautiful. All the colors were symbolic. For example, the white, black, and red colors representing the Ash People contrasted with the vibrant blues and greens of the other tribes thriving in their aquatic and jungle homelands.

The final battle sequence fully capitalized on the transitions of these different elements to create one outstanding masterpiece in which the characters’ strengths were reflected by their environments. The Water tribe’s aquatic abilities and knowledge of the reefs were visually explored as they bonded with the giant whale-like creatures called the Tulkan. Meanwhile, Jake and Neytiri’s forest-dwelling tribe was designed with many accessories like bows and arrows, as well as riding their flying banshees (called ikran) into war against the RDA and Ash tribe.

The use of motion and performance-capture technology also played a heavy role in making the Na’vi feel so alive. The actors’ careful movements were captured by four types of cameras. Two-time Oscar-winning VFX supervisor, Richard Baneham (also known for his work on The Lord of the Rings franchise), shared in an article from Motion Picture Association that: “It goes performance capture, editorial performance edit, back to stage for virtual cameras, then back to editorial, then onto our post process. It’s an unusual cycle that creates a paradigm shift in the filmmaking process” (Tham 7).

It is truly one of those detailed films that leaves you enticed and yearning for an otherworldly adventure. The world-building was done so delicately that the long length of these movies is necessary. I’ve heard a fair number of viewers criticize the Avatar franchise for producing over 3 hour long films (let’s face it, many of us have the attention spans of goldfish these days…I say as an avid doom-scroller and micro-content creator on TikTok). However, the length is needed as we dive deeper and deeper into the complex world of Pandora and get to know all of its inhabitants.

With the magical use of cinematography and a character-driven screenplay, the world of Pandora seems more real than ever.

I highly recommend checking out the latest film of the franchise. I know I was blown away by it…and still thinking about what it would be like to be a Na’vi and ride an ikran through the sky!