Don Shanahan
While James Cameron has been consumed by his development of the Avatar franchise for the better part of this quarter-century, his attached name constantly carries feelings of promise and prowess. Even if the Avatar films are not your cup of tea, the three-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker is, inarguably, one of the top artists in cinema history who have pushed the medium of film to new heights and places. The man is a technical dynamo. People might bemoan the hubris, but his track record of success cannot be questioned. He’s back this year to dazzle us again with the lofty goals of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest subject of our “Trailer of the Week” series.
Now in its third epic chapter, Avatar: Fire and Ash combines its previous settings of forest and ocean with rugged mountains. The trailer reveals new indigenous flora and fauna on the far off planet of Pandora, still the object of Earth’s industrial greed. The introduction of ash and cinder textures bring infusions of reds, yellows, and oranges next to bugs and droplets of sweat and condensation into the settings that have been dominated by blues and greens in Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water before. All of this created ambiance percolates off of the high frame rate 3D filmmaking.
Not much can be made out from a plot standpoint from the new Avatar: Fire and Ash trailer. The growing hatred between the invasive military battalions and local Na’vi is hinted with weapons and battlefield clashes. Sam Worthington’s Jake Sully and Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri still lead the native forces while keeping a watchful eye on their increasingly involved teen children. Their offspring remain the characters of consequence, teased with differing character alignments within the different tribes of the Na’vi. Only human seen is Jack Champion’s converted Spider.
Nobody does 3D better than James Cameron. The high frame rate in Avatar: Fire and Ash will, as usual, take some getting used to for a full movie, but it can be used to add extra detail and pop other blockbusters blur. No cast is advertised, just Cameron’s name, which is typical of the former “king of the world.” Admittedly, his presence and talent is probably all you need to buy a ticket this December.
The industry confidence that Disney has in Avatar: Fire and Ash has to be sky high. Their employed PR firms held press screenings solely just for the trailer, set before the press screenings of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. That confidence likely comes with profit expectations that foresee another $2 billion land in the Mouse House bank for Scrooge McDuck investors to swim in. Based on that eye-opening first trailer, Cameron and company are ready to widen our eyes and drop our jaws for the third time.
Avatar: Fire and Ash swoops into North American theaters on December 19, 2025
