“Avatar: Fire and Ash” takes place on Pandora, as Jake and Neytiri’s family encounters a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe. It’s the third film in a trilogy, following 2009’s “Avatar” and 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

The film roars back to the screen as thunderously as ever, with the classic sounds of Pandora immediately playing.

New Conflict, Familiar Patterns

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” benefits from introducing an interspecies conflict between the Na’vi. This is the most fascinating development of the franchise, but it just can’t forget about the “sky people” – no matter what color they may now be.

It’s also able to effectively shine the spotlight on Lo’ak and Kiri. Lo’ak carries the burden of guilt and the weight of grief on his shoulders, while Kiri struggles with belonging. Their journeys sometimes become too contrived, however. Despite getting lost in the middle of the battles and action, these arcs remain resonant.

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” takes moments to pause on the Na’vi’s faith. Whether it’s real or not doesn’t matter; it’s their persistent belief that does. Even in dire moments, some of the central characters continue to pray to Eywa. Doubt casts a shadow over many of these sequences, making them feel inherently real. The Na’vi are much like humans in this way.

While these scenes don’t last long, they do add emotional depth to a film that is far more focused on visuals than plot.

Characters Caught in a Cycle

While the movie attempts to move in a new direction, it never fully gets past the repetitive Sully-versus-Colonel Quaritch conflict.

Despite the cyclical nature of the story, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” does showcase the duality of Sully and Quaritch. The characters may fight for different causes, but throughout this trilogy, they ultimately go down similar paths – just for different reasons.

There are lessons within this polarity.

The dialogue in “Avatar: The Way of Water” was uninspired. It may sink to even deeper levels in “Fire and Ash.” If I have to hear “bro” one more time…

Still, most of the actors deliver. Sam Worthington (Jake Sully) and Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri) are once again the standouts, while Stephen Lang (Miles Quaritch) maintains his endearing yet menacing persona. Sigourney Weaver (Kiri) and Britain Dalton (Lo’ak) are also able to show off more of their talents in “Fire and Ash.” Jack Champion (Spider) is given the weakest dialogue of the group, but he still brings a fun, carefree charm to the character.

Epic Weighed Down By Excess

Judging by the 195-minute runtime, you guessed right – “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is too long. Very few films can truly justify a three-hour runtime, and this does not fit within that category.

With stunning visuals and a variety of plot points, “Fire and Ash” is never dull. But that’s not to say it isn’t boring. Rather than focusing on its most interesting elements, the movie constantly shifts focus. This causes many of the less thought-provoking ideas to take up too much screen time.

A tighter, more compact story could have led to this installment feeling fresh and original. Instead, it sometimes comes across as more of the same.

Even with its bloated runtime and obvious script shortcomings, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is a true epic. It ups the ante in nearly every aspect, delivering a trilogy conclusion that fans of the first two films will undoubtedly enjoy.

Myself included.

A Crowd-Pleasing Trilogy Conclusion

James Cameron may be self-indulgent, but he still knows how to immerse viewers in the world of Pandora. That’s no different in “Fire and Ash.”

The cinematography and visual effects are better than ever, capturing virtually every environment imaginable. There’s battle on land, through the air and in the sea, taking place both at night and during the daytime.

“Fire and Ash” makes full use of its title, with a plethora of visceral explosions and fire-driven sequences. Each flame that erupts feels real, a feat many films struggle to accomplish.

The conclusion contains all of the firepower and family dynamics that fans of the series love. It delivers spectacle while still embracing its characters.

This is a bookend finish to the trilogy that ties everything together rather than leaning into sequel bait.

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” provides a captivating conclusion to the trilogy that fans will adore. For others, it will likely feel like much of the same. It’s a visual feast with just a little bit of heart – the pure Pandora experience.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5