By Jack Davis · Contributing Writer
Watching James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is about as exciting as watching 400-million-dollar paint dry.
The newest installment in the Avatar franchise leaves much to be desired. Despite its stunning visual effects, a weak and unfocused story causes “Fire and Ash” to burn out before it ever finds its spark.
The movie follows the Sully family as they defend their home from the human colonists who have allied with the bloodthirsty Mangkwan forces. However, the plot of “Fire and Ash” is a half-baked rehash of the cliché story from the first two movies. The movie is a tangled mess of plot points and dull stakes.
Storylines are never given a chance to develop, disappearing the minute that they are introduced. Rarely throughout the film does any conflict feel meaningful, as problems are either resolved within minutes or forgotten completely.
The characters’ motivations change to whatever is convenient to the script. “Fire and Ash” also tries to tell far too many stories at once. The central conflict rarely anchors the film, which instead follows convoluted family drama and political intrigue. While both elements could be compelling on their own, cramming seven or eight separate plotlines into such a short stretch of the film makes the story feel scattered and unfocused.
Worse still, the plotlines are not just excessive but also boring. Each feels more melodramatic than the last, dragging out every minute of an already-padded three-hour runtime.
There are a few redeeming qualities in this slog. As with the rest of the “Avatar” films, the visual effects are the movie’s most impressive feature. There isn’t a single bad-looking shot in the film. Additionally, the performances are solid across the board, with Jack Champion as Spider and Oona Chaplin as Varang standing out in their roles.
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” may deliver breathtaking visuals, but it is ultimately dragged down by a story that is both half-baked and bloated, leaving the film visually stunning yet narratively hollow.
