Film critics have delivered a scathing assessment of the latest cinematic behemoth from director James Cameron, Avatar: Fire and Ash, branding it a bloated and tedious spectacle that prioritises the filmmaker's ego over audience enjoyment.
A Colossal Runtime and Diminishing Returns
The third instalment in the multi-billion dollar franchise, which follows 2009's Avatar and 2022's The Way of Water, clocks in at a staggering three hours and 17 minutes. Critics argue that the epic runtime is not justified by the narrative, with the film feeling artificially inflated. Daily Mail critic Brian Viner noted that at a certain point in revered directors' careers, no one is brave enough to tell them 'less is more', a trap he believes Cameron has fallen into spectacularly.
While the film, reportedly costing over $400 million to produce, delivers the expected breathtaking visual moments and amazing chase sequences, reviewers found it insufficient to stave off boredom. Viner described a progression from weariness to despair, and ultimately a 'disbelieving exultation' when the final credits finally appear.
Repetitive Storylines and Wooden Characters
The plot continues the saga of human-Na'vi hybrid Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) as they attempt to return their adopted human son, Spider (Jack Champion), to his own kind. Their journey takes a turn when they are attacked by a new hostile tribe, the volcano-dwelling Mangkwan, led by Varang (Oona Chaplin).
Despite the introduction of fresh antagonists, critics from both the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday found the story turgid and repetitive. Matthew Bond lamented that the film most resembles its two predecessors, stating 'we have seen it all before'. He also singled out Sam Worthington's Sully as potentially 'one of the dullest lead characters in the history of film'.
The return of the villainous Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and General Ardmore (Edie Falco) does little to inject vitality, with the narrative criticised for becoming bogged down. The dialogue also came under fire, with one of Varang's lines—'We do not suck on the breast of weakness'—eliciting unintended laughter from Viner.
Technical Spectacle Versus Emotional Engagement
Seen in 3D as Cameron intended, the film's much-vaunted visuals received a mixed response. While some sequences are undeniably stunning, others were compared to old studio-bound episodes of Doctor Who, particularly due to the use of high frame rate video. Bond suggested the film might look more convincing in 2D, but doubted it would feel any more involving.
The film's overarching anti-whaling message, a passion of the ocean-loving Cameron, was noted but did little to salvage the core experience. Furthermore, the performances of stars like Sigourney Weaver and Kate Winslet are rendered so anonymous by motion capture technology that, critics argue, they might as well have been played by anyone.
With the stage now set for the promised fourth and fifth Avatar films, the critical reception to Fire and Ash suggests Cameron has serious thinking to do. As Viner concluded, the prospect of more may render some audiences 'a little green, around the gills'. Both major reviews converged on a final rating of just two stars.
