Review: Avatar: Fire and Ash 7/10

Avatar: Fire and Ash is another visually stunning entry in the franchise, and while it does not fully break new ground, it kept me entertained from start to finish.

The visuals are, once again, the standout. Pandora looks incredible and honestly unreal. A large part of my 7 out of 10 rating comes from the world building alone. Every new environment feels carefully designed and immersive, and the scale of the film never stops being impressive. The attention to detail in the landscapes, creatures, and environments continues to be unmatched. From a technical and visual standpoint, this franchise still operates on a level few others can touch.

Story wise, Lo’ak remains the strongest character in the series for me. Across the last two films, he has clearly received the most consistent and thoughtful writing. His arc feels intentional, emotionally grounded, and allowed to evolve naturally on screen. Compared to many other characters in the franchise, his growth feels earned rather than rushed or symbolic, which makes him the emotional anchor of the film.

Kiri’s storyline, however, continues to be shrouded in mystery. While that is interesting, it is also frustrating. She is clearly being positioned as extremely important to the larger mythology of Avatar, yet we do not spend nearly as much meaningful time with her as we do with Lo’ak and other characters. Her arc feels underdeveloped in comparison, especially considering how significant she seems to be to the future of the franchise. The intrigue is there, but the emotional payoff has not fully arrived yet.

One issue I could not ignore is that Fire and Ash often feels like a slightly improved version of The Way of Water. The franchise appears to be following a familiar formula, with similar story beats, conflicts, and emotional arcs repeating across films. It works, but it also makes the movie feel predictable at times, as if the series is hesitant to truly disrupt its own structure.

A highlight for me was Oona, who I loved conceptually but felt was underutilized. Her conflict with Neytiri is compelling, and their tension feels strong, but the buildup is thin. It feels like the film decided they would be major adversaries without fully developing the lead up to that conflict. The reasons are there, but they needed more narrative groundwork to truly land.

Overall, I was entertained. The pacing kept me engaged, the spectacle delivers, and the world building remains the franchise’s greatest strength. While Avatar: Fire and Ash does not reinvent the series, it is a solid entry that reminds you why Pandora is still worth revisiting.