REVIEW: AVATAR - FIRE AND ASH

3.5/5

Ashes To Ashes

197 Mins. Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Jack Champion, Britain Dalton, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Giovanni Ribisi, Jemaine Clement, David Thewlis, Cliff Curtis & Kate Winslet. Screenplay: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Director: James Cameron. In: Theatres.

Endurance comes in many forms. Acting underwater. Fighting for your fortress of a family. Sitting in the middle of the back row of a packed theatre, watching an 'Avatar' movie, and needing to go to the bathroom after the first act. Perfect preparation for the window seat of my 12-hour flight tonight. These water logged sequels, a decade later, make the original 'Avatar's' three-hour runtime a thing of the past. And you can never really get that time back. A whopping 197 minutes of crossed legs and finished popcorn greets us with the great James Cameron's ('Titanic', 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day', 'The Abyss') 'Avatar: Fire And Ash'. The follow-up to 2022's wonderful 'The Way Of Water'. World building towards two more movies, released in the December's of 2029 and 2031 respectively. And you just know these movies will be just as massive and monumental. No romcom runtimes for something that should have been a series if it wasn't for that IMAX inspired big-screen dream. All this time, and it's still papyrus, Ryan Gosling.

Sure, the 'Avatar' franchise is not as iconic as say, 'Star Wars', epic as 'The Lord Of The Rings', or as classic as the 'Planet Of The Apes', but it's still a great of our generation. Even if most moviegoers will be more highly anticipating the new 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer rumour that broke Threads. And yes, it's no A.I. He's back! Back to the titanic franchise assembling that was out grossed by 'Endgame', Cameron, with screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, has given us another hair-twisting tail, that might just be the best braid yet. And that's all thanks to the live wire talent of 'Game Of Thrones' and 'Taboo' star Oona Chaplin, as a delicious new villain who snarls menace as she says "your Goddess has no dominion here" in the terrifically teasing trailer. The daughter of Geraldine Chaplin and granddaughter of Charlie, looking iconic in blue and red. Making naughty and nice with merc turned smurf Stephen Lang, who is always game. Wanting those weapons that sound like thunder.

Top of the call sheet, Sam Worthington is still the man, like he was in those early 2000s, as Jake Sully, the Avatar with human blood...and those pink palms. But it's 'Emilia Perez' Oscar winner and 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'/'Star Trek' star Zoe Saldaña whose star really shines the most. Expressively acting out of her motion capture as a mother in mourning, trying to work her bow and arrow again, all to find the heart. That's in a movie that sees Cameron reunite with both Kate Winslet and 'Aliens' star Sigourney Weaver, who's about to add even more to her sci-fi cannon with 'The Mandalorian & Grogu'. Along with the great Cliff Curtis and CCH Pounder, the behind the console scenes likes of Joel David Moore, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement and Giovanni Ribisi all return. Whilst the legendary David Thewlis make a new mark, promising more. Yet it's the coming of age 'Boyhood' development of Jack Champion and Britain Dalton that really makes this fire of a franchise find new fans. In the ashes of brimstone battles and the vivid visuals, 'Avatar' has its humanity and heart. Cinematic art for the digital age we crave. A beautiful blue. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Avatar', 'Avatar: The Way Of Water', 'Titanic'.