Key Takeaways
- The Avatar franchise has been trying to expand into a multimedia franchise since the first film’s release, but none of the spinoff projects have gained significant traction.
- Avatar: Fire and Ash is the latest installment in the franchise, and while it is a visual knockout, it feels like a formulaic sequel with a middling story.
- The film’s central family drama is one of its most compelling aspects, particularly the tension between Jake and Neytiri, which highlights the colonialist fantasy underlying the franchise.
- The film’s technical capabilities are impressive, but the story feels stale, and the franchise needs to come up with something new to keep it exciting.
Introduction to the Avatar Franchise
The Avatar franchise has been a lucrative venture for 20th Century Studios, with the films’ box office totals providing a significant incentive to continue the series. Despite the financial success, the franchise has struggled to make a lasting cultural impact, and the various spinoff projects have failed to gain significant traction. The latest installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has finally arrived after years of hype from James Cameron, and while it is a visual stunner, it feels like a formulaic sequel that lacks compelling characters and fresh storylines.
The Plot of Avatar: Fire and Ash
The film takes place shortly after the events of The Way of Water and follows Jake Sully and his wife Neytiri as they navigate an emotional crisis. The Sully family is still reeling from the aftermath of Colonel Miles Quaritch’s attack, which resulted in the loss of countless lives and left the community in a state of collective grief. Jake and Neytiri’s pain is compounded by the fact that their eldest child died to save their youngest son Lo’ak and Spider, a human adopted into the family. The film’s central family drama is one of its most compelling aspects, particularly the tension between Jake and Neytiri, which highlights the colonialist fantasy underlying the franchise.
The White Savior Archetype and Colonialist Fantasy
The Avatar franchise has always trafficked in tiresome tropes, including the white savior archetype, which is exemplified by Jake Sully’s character. Despite his blue skin, Jake remains a quintessential example of this trope, and his character’s development is limited by this narrative constraint. However, Neytiri’s anger towards humanity, including her husband, underlines the colonialist fantasy baked into the franchise, making for a more interesting and nuanced storyline. The film’s exploration of humanity’s capacity to harm the natural world is also a recurring theme, and while it is not a new idea, it is an important one that deserves consideration.
Technical Marvels and Visuals
James Cameron is one of the few filmmakers who truly understands how to craft films that benefit from being seen in 3D. Pandora has never looked more gorgeous, and the film’s technical capabilities are impressive. The advancements in motion capture technology have enabled Cameron to direct stronger performances, and the film’s visuals are stunning. However, the stories being told about the planet’s human and Na’Vi inhabitants are beginning to feel stale, and the franchise needs to come up with something new to keep it exciting.
The Franchise’s Future
Avatar: Fire and Ash might be a good place to stop the franchise, as it feels like Cameron is still recycling the same basics. The film’s technical marvels are not enough to overcome the lackluster story, and the franchise needs to come up with something beyond shiny MacGuffins and chosen ones communing with Eywa. The film’s cast, including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, and Cliff Curtis, deliver strong performances, but they are not enough to save the film from its narrative shortcomings. Ultimately, the franchise’s future depends on its ability to come up with something new and exciting, rather than relying on the same tired tropes and storylines.
Conclusion
Avatar: Fire and Ash is a visually stunning film that is technically impressive, but it feels like a formulaic sequel with a middling story. The film’s central family drama is one of its most compelling aspects, particularly the tension between Jake and Neytiri, which highlights the colonialist fantasy underlying the franchise. However, the franchise needs to come up with something new to keep it exciting, rather than relying on the same tired tropes and storylines. The film’s release on December 19th will likely be a commercial success, but the franchise’s long-term viability depends on its ability to innovate and come up with something fresh.