Has the recent addition in the Avatar franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash, rekindled the warmth for the series? Or did this third instalment fall flat in comparison to the behemoth that was the original?
The Avatar franchise has been a lifelong passion project for James Cameron; a staple in modern day cinema and filmmaking. Cameron previously cautioned fans that if its newest instalment financially underperformed, the remainder of the franchise’s stories would be confined to novels. Fortunately, the latest three-hour long chapter reached an astonishing $1.4 billion dollars at the box office, showing promise for the return of the Sully family to the big screen. It ended with unanswered questions that has left fans positively blue with excitement for the future.
Here are a few of my reasons why you should embrace the Na’vi way, and stick around for the future of the Avatar franchise!
Fans have fallen in love with the Sully family over the last seventeen years. Considering that Fire and Ash, its predecessor The Way of Water, and the upcoming sequels, were filmed simultaneously. It is a safe guess to make that the future film will continue the focus on the family along with hopefully giving them the ‘happy’ ending they deserve. Furthermore, the fate of Colonel Quaritch, Kiri’s connection to Eywa, and Eywa’s humanlike appearance are also narrative-related questions left hanging. These are all in the forefront of our minds as we sit in anticipation for the next instalment.
The introduction to the haunting character Varang, played by Oona Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter!) has also brought questions towards the sci-fi saga. From her Buugeng sticks to mysterious palm tattoos, Varang spooked us to our core. Fire and Ash’s uncertain ending has our hopes high for her return in the next chapter, despite how frightening she may be.
The franchise has also been an avenue for Cameron’s ambitious and risk-taking venture in advancing the technological capabilities of modern filmmaking. Very much the main reason why these films took several years to make. Motion capture was popularised by Cameron and crucial to the success of filming the first instalment. Cameron pushed the boundaries of such technology by using it to film scenes underwater. Key cast members such as Zoe Saldaña, Sam Worthington, and Oona Chaplin were involved in this intricate process of 3D visuals. What appeared to be impossible ended up becoming possible. The testament to this innovation can make fans only dream of the next steps that Cameron will take in future films.
Us fans are continuously being spoiled with incredibly scenic scenes and cinematography in these films. The iconic bioluminescent moon of Pandora offers audiences an escape from the dull views of real-life. This escapist experience offered to fans by watching these films further encourages Cameron’s passionate use of 3D. Visuals of vast mountains, deep oceans, and fiery dunes are all enhanced by this technology. While the impact of 3D has lessened during this decade compared to its past popularity during the release of the first Avatar, Cameron still believes it to be a crucial component to enhancing the experience of the franchise. There is clearly a passion for the visual language of cinema here; a beauty that will very much be found again in future instalments.
To quote the auteur himself, “we want to take you to Pandora, live and breathe it”.
