Movie Thoughts: Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

• Released: December 1st, 2025
• Directed by: James Cameron
• Running time: 3h 17min
• Rating 3.5/5

Synopsis

Jake and his family are threatened once again by Quaritch, who partnered with a tribe of dangerous Na'vi known as the Ash People.

My Thoughts

I do like the Avatar movies. I know that they're a bit divisive and all and not all people like them, and others are very lukewarm on them, but I always connected with these films. I do still think that the first film is the best and like it the most, but I also appreciate this one and The Way of Water. They're not my favorite movies, but I enjoy them.

I am still a bit peeved by this movie once again bringing back Quaritch as a villain. I was already over this character by movie one, I don't need him to keep popping up in the sequels (albeit in a different form). I was way more entertained by Varang as a villain. She's more unique, she has a cool presence, she rocks and steals the show here. Quaritch meanwhile has never been my favorite villain and always one of my least-favorite aspects of these movies. The only thing about him I kinda enjoyed in this film is his relationship with Spider, but that's it.

I do think that this movie looks phenomenal, though. And I like the main characters a lot. Except for Tuk. Not that I really hate the character or anything, but Tuk just literally feels like a "little girl" stereotype. Unlike characters like Kiri and Lo'ak who each have their own developed personalities and quirks, Tuk feels very much like an afterthought. I wish they did more with this character.

I also really don't think it makes much sense that pretty much everyone among the Na'vi are speaking English now. It does make sense for Jake's family, of course, as it's his native language and go-to way for communicating. But the Metkayina? And the Mangkwan? Especially the latter doesn't add up for me. Varang appears to have very little knowledge about humans (because she doesn't know how fire-weapons work, and most RDA forces going into the field have those with them), yet she and her clan speak English almost constantly. Either this doesn't make much sense at all, or this means that part of the Na'vi dialogue was translated into English for the audience's comprehension. The latter would mean that this movie doesn't respect its audience. We're not stupid, we can listen to other (fictional) languages, you know?

But despite my gripes I did enjoy this movie. I do think it might be paced a bit slow and I don't like how it recycles part of its anti-whaling subplot for the climax of this movie (feels redundant) but overall I enjoyed it quite a bit.