Movie Review

Avatar: Fire and Ash returns to Pandora with big action and bold visuals

Oona Chaplin in Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

For a series whose first two films made over $5 billion combined worldwide, Avatar has a curious lack of widespread cultural impact. The films seem to exist in a sort of vacuum, popping up for their run in theaters and then almost as quickly disappearing from the larger movie landscape. The third of five planned movies, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is finally being released three years after its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water.

The new film finds the main duo, human-turned-Na’vi Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his native Na’vi wife, Neytiri (Zoë Saldaña), still living with the water-loving Metkayina clan led by Ronal (Kate Winslet) and Tonowari (Cliff Curtis). While Jake and Neytiri still play a big part, the focus shifts significantly to their two surviving children, Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), as well as two they’ve essentially adopted, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) and Spider (Jack Champion).

Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who lives on in a fabricated Na’vi body, is still looking for revenge on Jake, and he finds help in the form of the Mangkwan Clan (aka the Ash People), led by Varang (Oona Chaplin). Quaritch’s access to human weapons and the Mangkwan’s desire for more power on the moon known as Pandora make them a nice match, and they team up to try to dominate the other tribes.

Aside from the story, the main point of making the films for writer/director James Cameron is showing off his considerable technical filmmaking prowess, and that is on full display right from the start. The characters zoom around both the air and sea on various creatures with which they’ve bonded, providing Cameron and his team with plenty of opportunities to put the audience right there with them. Cameron’s preferred viewing method of 3D makes the experience even more immersive, even if the high frame rate he uses makes some scenes look too realistic for their own good.

The story, as it has been in the first two films, is a mixed bag. Cameron and co-writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver start off well, having Jake, Neytiri, and their kids continue mourning the death of Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) in the previous film. The struggle for power provides an interesting setup, but Cameron and his team seem to drag out the conflict for much too long. This is the longest Avatar film yet, and you really start to feel it in the back half as the filmmakers add on a bunch of unnecessary elements.

Worse than the elongated story, though, is the hackneyed dialogue that Cameron, Jaffa, and Silver have come up with. Almost every main character is forced to spout lines that diminish the importance of the events around them. The writers seemingly couldn’t resist trying to throw in jokes despite them clashing with the tone of the scenes in which they’re said. Combined with the somewhat goofy nature of the Na’vi themselves (not to mention talking whales), the eye-rolling words detract from any excitement or emotion the story builds up.

A pre-movie behind-the-scenes short film shows how the actors act out every scene in performance capture suits, lending an authenticity to their performances. Still, some performers are better than others, with Saldaña, Worthington, and Lang standing out. It’s more than a little weird having Weaver play a 14-year-old girl, but it works relatively well. Those who actually get to show their real faces are collectively fine, but none of them elevate the film overall.

There are undoubtedly some Avatar superfans for which Fire and Ash will move the larger story forward in significant ways. For anyone else, though, the film is a demonstration of both the good and bad sides of Cameron. As he’s proven for 40 years, his visuals are (almost) beyond reproach, but the lack of a story that sticks with you long after you’ve left the theater keeps the film from being truly memorable.

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Avatar: Fire and Ash opens in theaters on December 19.

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Weekend Event Planner

Here are the top 14 things to do in Houston this weekend

Chevron Houston Marathon/Facebook

Show your support for the Chevron Houston Marathon on Sunday.

Houstonians have anime, cheering for the marathon, and some grand openings to enjoy this weekend. But we shouldn’t forget what’s most important: celebrating David Bowie’s birthday.

Dan Electro’s will have its annual BowiElivis Fest on Friday night, which celebrates the b-days of Bowie and Elvis Presley. DJ Hallospace Boy and DJ Scary Monster will play Bowie tunes at Platypus Brewing on Friday night and Cactus Music on Saturday afternoon. Numbers will have its #bowieallnight dance party later that evening,with DJ Wes Wallace spinning. And Alamo Drafthouse Cinema LaCenterra will screen both Labyrinth and the Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream on Sunday.

So, no matter where you go or what you do this weekend, jamming to Bowie will always be the right thing to do.

Thursday, January 8

Asia Society Texas presents "The House of Ikebana: Anime Edition"
Asia Society Texas will present a special pop-up exhibition of anime-inspired ikebana, created by members of Ikebana International Houston Chapter #12. Presented within "The House of Pikachu: Art, Anime, and Pop Culture," local practitioners will debut new floral arrangements thoughtfully crafted in response to the exhibition's themes. Thursday admission will be free. Noon (10 am Friday-Sunday).

Houston Tri Delta Philanthropies, Inc. presents The Sale Houston
At The Sale, shoppers will see discounted merchandise from 50+ premier retailers like Christy Lynn, Hunter Bell, Bering's, and more. The event kicks off with a preview night on Thursday giving shoppers exclusive access to the best deals of the season. Proceeds benefit Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. Since 2015, the event has raised $2.5 million for pediatric cancer research. 5 pm (9 am Friday and Saturday).

Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Disney’s 30th anniversary production of Beauty and the Beast is a breathtaking musical filled with romance and grandeur. The enchanting and timeless tale has been brought to life like never before, with spectacular new sets and dazzling costumes. The show boasts the Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated score from Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, including the classic songs “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Through Sunday, January 18. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 1 and 6:30 pm Sunday).

Friday, January 9

Chevron Marathon Houston Weekend
There is literally going to be a lot of running around this weekend. It starts on Friday with the two-day Houston Marathon Health & Fitness EXPO, over at George R. Brown Convention Center. The next day, you can wake up early and take part in either the We Are Houston 5K over on McKinney and Crawford, or the RunFest at Discovery Green. All this leads up to the Chevron Marathon Houston and Aramco Houston Half Marathon, which starts at Congress and Fannin. 10 am (6:30 am Saturday; 6:35 am Sunday).

Lin’s Grand Buffet Grand Opening Celebration
Lin’s Grand Buffet will open its second Houston location this weekend. Located on Highway 6 between Clay Rd. and West Little York Rd., the dining destination, which originated in Texas, will serve a variety of Chinese, Japanese and seafood selections. The new restaurant will seat 274 guests within the 9,000-square-foot space. Enjoy a vibrant sushi bar, Mongolian grill, and freshly prepared steak crafted at live cooking stations. As a part of the celebration, guests will experience a lion dance performance at 7 pm. 11:00 am.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Golden Eighties
The 1986 musical Golden Eighties, from feminist filmmaker Chantal Akerman, is a unique portrait of love and survival. In a shopping mall, store employees cycle through breakups, makeups, and misunderstandings, punctuated by imaginative production numbers. Akerman deftly balances the shiny pop pleasures of the genre with variations on her signature themes. DACAMERA artistic director Sarah Rothenberg will introduce the film and talk about the upcoming performances of D’Est en musique, inspired by Akerman. 7 pm.

Houston Symphony presents Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert
The battle between good and evil rages on in the final 1983 chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy. Luke, Leia, Han, and the whole Rebel Alliance seek to destroy the Death Star and face a final showdown with Darth Vader and the Emperor. Audiences will feel the full splendor and “force” of John Williams’s incredible score - from the fanfare to closing credits - as the Houston Symphony accompanies the movie live. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday).

Saturday, January 10

Honest Mary’s Grand Opening Celebration
Austin-based healthy bowls brand Honest Mary’s will host a grand opening celebration at its first Houston location at River Oaks Shopping Center. The community is invited to stop by the restaurant for the midday event to experience the stylish new space, enjoy live music and sample the brand’s thoughtfully crafted grain bowls, sipping broths, aguas frescas and more. The debut marks the brand’s fifth location overall and a meaningful hometown moment for founder Nelson Monteith, who was born and raised in Houston. 11:30 am.

Cactus Music presents Rich Hopkins & The Luminarios In-Store Performance
Rich Hopkins & The Luminarios will take the Cactus stage this weekend. A prolific writer, singer, guitarist, producer and humanitarian, Hopkins is concerned for the well-being of his fellow man and wonders about the events that have shaped us as a nation and a race. For years, Rich Hopkins has said after each new album that it will be his last. And yet, he continues to surprise us with new songs, recorded with his band The Luminarios, based in both Tucson and Austin, where Rich and his wife commute. 4 pm.

Sicardi Ayers Bacino presents Gabriel de la Mora: "Subject/Object" opening reception
Gabriel de la Mora uses unorthodox materials such as acrylic-painted turkey feathers to create colorful geometric compositions that are often schematic or child-like. In one characteristic work, 127, 687 minute shards of egg shells are sorted by hue and then meticulously fitted together. The result - a monochrome that de la Mora describes as a combination of painting, sculpture and drawing - reflects on the loss of function of organic life forms, the passage of time, and its transmutation onto an aesthetic object. Through February 21. 6 pm.

Shaun Cassidy: The Road To Us
Shaun Cassidy comes to Houston as part of his live music and storytelling tour, The Road to Us. After originally making his name as a ‘70s pop heartthrob, Cassidy went on to create, write, and produce a number of television series, including American Gothic, Roar, Cold Case, Cover Me, The Agency, Invasion, and Emerald City. Cassidy recently spent five years as executive producer and writer for the hit NBC/Netflix series New Amsterdam. 7 pm.

Sunday, January 11

The Italian Cultural & Community Center of Houston presents Festa della Befana
The Italian Cultural & Community Center (ICCC) of Houston invites children and families to its annual Festa della Befana. According to legend, the three wise men asked la Befana to come with them to bring gifts to baby Jesus. To this day, she is still searching for the baby Jesus, and for this reason she brings sweets and candies by broomstick for children who have been good—or a lump of coal for those who have been bad. Enjoy an afternoon of tombola and meet la Befana, who will bring sweets for the children in attendance. 3 pm.

DACAMERA at the Eldorado: Rising Jazz Stars - Brandon Woody's Upendo
Rooted in Baltimore, trumpeter Brandon Woody has built his career from his hometown, drawing on its vibrant creative culture and community spirit. A rising force in contemporary jazz, Woody released For The Love Of It All, his Blue Note Records debut album, last year. Featuring his longtime band Upendo, the album showcases Woody’s ability to craft music that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. 5 and 7 pm.

River Oaks Theatre presents Live Q&A: The Wasps with directors Jake Binstock and Parker Rouse
In an adaptation of one of the oldest comedies known to man (made in a literal backyard set in Austin), populist demagogue Cleon rules over Athens, contracting the bored and elderly to serve on the courts and do his bidding. Anticleon attempts to teach his juryman father, Procleon, how to be a respectable, modern man instead of wielding his misplaced rage on Cleon's political enemies. made in a literal backyard set in Austin, directors Jake Binstock and Parker Rouse will be around for a post-screening Q&A. 7 pm.

Chevron Houston Marathon/Facebook

Show your support for the Chevron Houston Marathon on Sunday.

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