Avatar: Fuoco e cenere

I am going to be honest. How can a franchise make 5 billion USD+ (more than the last 8 Marvel Movies combined) yet not making an impact in the film industry besides looking good? I doubt that Cameron has so many things to tell that he needs two more whole new movie for it, cause this movie is over 3 hours, yet it doesn't have any depth to it that would deserve this runtime. It's basically the same plot as Way of Water, no, scratch that, it's Avatar 2's plot that wasn't told in 2 but rather was told in 3 instead.

Avatar 1-3 is probably going to be an 8 billion franchise by the time it's theatrical run concludes, but a franchise that makes 8 billion does not offer more than a "Wow, this is beautiful". When you think of a strong male character, you think of T-800, Luke Skywalker, or even Mad Max, and not Jake Sully. When you think of a strong female character you think of Sarah Connor, Ahsoka, or Furiosa, and not Neytiri. That's what I mean that despite it's success, Avatar does not have the depth, the world, nor offer anything more than the first movie didn't. Sure, I would recommend you watch this in theathre in Imax and one of the few movies that deserve the 3D as well, but once you get out of the theatre... there's no reason to watch this again. When a movie is only good for theathres, and can't be rewatched on it's own, you know that you did something wrong. We are talking about Cameron, who is probably the 2nd best director after Nolan, who revolutionized movies, we can thank him probably all the known franchises, then why didn't he has any idea for a world as colorful as Avatar, I feel by the time Avatar 5 airs, people are going to have enough of this franchise, cause I can't physically imagine someone finishing this and go "Wow, I can't wait for Avatar 4".

Seriously, I liked Avatar The Way of the Water, but after Fire and Ash it's easy to think that the sequels shouldn't have been made. There's no history, it's literally empty, it's the same history over again but this time with PS6 graphics. The characters literally are making jokes about the script pretty Deadpool-like. Some situations are very much Scooby-Dooed and you will constantly fight your brain because some situations are just too much stupid to be exposed in a 3 hour movie. The real magic in this sequel is how James Cameron achieved to not develop a single character in 3 plus hours.

I've always had a soft spot for the first *Avatar*. When it came out, I was a kid, and it genuinely felt like something special. The world of Pandora was stunning, the creatures and environments felt alive, and the movie delivered a sense of scale and immersion that very few films had managed at the time. Even though many people criticized the story for borrowing familiar ideas, I never really minded. The execution was strong enough that it still felt fresh and memorable.

The problem started with the sequel. Waiting 11 years for *The Way of Water* set expectations extremely high, and while the visuals were undeniably impressive, the story felt far too familiar. It was essentially the same conflict, just relocated to a new environment and wrapped around a stronger family-focused narrative. The film looked incredible, but once the initial visual awe wore off, it became clear that the plot wasn't really going anywhere new.

That's why *Avatar 3* doesn't inspire much confidence for me. From what it seems, the franchise is stuck in a loop: new region of Pandora, new tribe, the same villains, the same themes, and the same structure playing out again. The action scenes are well made, and the CGI is still among the best in the industry, but visuals alone can only carry a movie so far. A great film needs a story that evolves, raises the stakes, and pushes the characters into new territory.

At this point, the *Avatar* series feels like it's relying too heavily on spectacle while neglecting meaningful narrative progression. If the third movie follows the same pattern as the second, it's hard not to expect the same repetition in the fourth and fifth films as well. The world of Pandora is rich and full of potential, but without a stronger, more daring storyline, the franchise risks becoming visually stunning but emotionally and narratively stagnant.

The movie dazzles with breathtaking action sequences and visuals that are truly a joy to watch - every battle and landscape feels alive on the big screen. Yet, the story leans too heavily into melodrama. Nyetri seems caught in tears almost every time, which makes the emotional beats feel repetitive rather than powerful. Sully, once decisive and commanding, now comes across softer and overly dramatic in his choices, which slows the momentum. Tashik of the Ash Clan, who looked so promising in the trailer, doesn't deliver the same impact in the actual film, leaving his presence underwhelming.

Compared to the earlier parts of the saga, this installment feels weaker and may earn lower ratings. Still, as a cinematic experience, it had its moments - the visuals and action carried the weight, and sharing the first movie date with my wife made it memorable. Overall, I enjoyed it, but my expectations were set much higher than what the film delivered.

The third chapter of Avatar is stunning, just like the previous ones. Visually it's on another level, with some of the best CGI and world-building you'll see in a cinema. The soundtrack does a lot of heavy lifting too, in my opinion. So the cast does.

But once again, the length hurts . It feels overstuffed and could easily lose 30-40 minutes without losing anything too important. The story itself is fine, familiar Avatar territory, but it drags in places and starts testing your attention.

Worth seeing on the biggest screen possible, and 3D, mainly for the spectacle. Just be prepared to sit there for a while.