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AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH

Welcome back to Pandora! Avatar: Fire and Ash is the perfect return to Pandora and the Avatar universe. This film is expertly crafted and does what the Avatar franchise does best; tell a beautiful story with an awesome message. This is sure to be one of my favorites for a long time.

The story takes us back to Pandora, where the Sully family is mourning the death of their son Neteyam (Jamie Flatters). This sparks a chain of events leading them to a new tribe, a betrayal, and intergalactic warfare. Their adopted son, Spider (Jack Champion), comes to grips with the harsh reality that without being able to breathe in the Pandoran atmosphere, he'll be unable to live there. Jake (Sam Worthington) decides to send him away and the family begs him not to - or to at least let them go as a group on one final trip, as a family, to drop him off. Begrudgingly, Jake accepts.

One of the best things about the Avatar saga is how much it addresses real world themes. The humans have destroyed earth and are senselessly colonizing Pandora. The Banshees experience deep polarization; cut off from the Na'vi and left without a connection to the land, they act blindly in hatred of something different. All of these story elements connect to things we're experiencing today but when woven in with the fantastical world of Pandora, it feels exciting and fun, even as thought provoking, deep topics are explored. The visuals and character animation in Avatar: Fire and Ash are epic and it's worth seeing in the theatre for the 3D experience. The first person flying scenes feel like you are actually flying in the world of Pandora. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced! The actors perfectly depict their characters' emotions, and that is particularly challenging when most characters are made with advanced CGI using performance capture. And, the movie begins with a message from Avatar director and creator, James Cameron that the film was made without the use of any of the new AI tools. The fact that they can painstakingly make more than three hours of rich and engaging content that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire movie will never cease to amaze me. If you are looking for a film to watch over winter break, look no further.

The main message of Avatar: Fire and Ash is that every day we have a choice, to do the right thing, or do the easy thing. This film includes themes of family connection, parental love, and the power of working together to fight for what's right. As Jake Sully says, "Many arrows together cannot be broken." Parents should be aware, there is a lot of violence, but none of the shots highlight the gore.

I give Avatar: Fire and Ash 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theatres on December 19, 2025.

By Jackson N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I really enjoyed the movie Avatar: Fire and Ash because of its ruthless villains, shockingly realistic portrayal of Pandora, and how the characters' reactions perfectly line up with what one might expect, considering their personalities.

The story takes place on the planet Pandora and follows Jake (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and their children, Spider (Jack Champion), Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), and Lo'ak (Britain Dalton) as they work to stop the humans, Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang), Varang (Oona Chapi), and the Ash tribe from covering Pandora with fire. They decide to send Spider away and go with him to see him off, but their ship is attacked by the ruthless Ash tribe. In the end, Jake and Spider get captured, but are freed by Neytiri. Colonel Quaritch and the Ash tribe form an alliance, and a huge battle takes place, which the Na'vi luckily wins.

This is an amazing sequel to the first two movies, directed by James Cameron, and really adds to the story line in a way that isn't overwhelming, and also is necessary. The story really demonstrates the importance of family love, and how we should not take what we have for granted - especially not in nature. My favorite character is Varang, because of her commanding presence, and her clear protective instincts for her tribe. All of the actors' portrayals of their roles are impeccable, and line up with their characters perfectly. My favorite duo is Varang and Colonel Quaritch, because they suit each other so well, and really have a clear impact. My least favorite part is when we find out that Kiri can't connect with Eywa, because her mother is human...sort of. The film's sets are wonderfully made, and really embrace the natural beauty of Pandora, using the forest, the ocean, the fire, and more. This film is somewhat darker than the previous films, introducing the stark, Ash-covered lands and fiery culture of the Ash Clam with their red and black body paint and volcanic homes - which contrast with the lush landscape of Pandora.

The film's message is about learning to let go of what you believed to be the truth, and learn to accept new cultures, and traditions. Be forewarned that there are some extremely violent scenes, partial nudity, and adult references.

I give Avatar: Fire and Ash 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 14 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on December 19, 2025.

By Elsy S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

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A year after settling in with the Metkayina clan, Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death. They encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Mangkwan clan, also called the Ash People, led by the fiery tribe leader, Varang, who has allied with Jake's enemy, Quaritch, as the conflict on Pandora escalates to devastating consequences.