Avatar: Fire and Ash

Avatar: Fire and Ash (or AFA for short) takes place immediately after the events that transpired during Avatar: Way of Water (or AWW for short). After successfully driving back the Sky People (the military that threatens the Na'vi people and the planet of Pandora), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), Jake and his three children now have the opportunity to do what they’ve wanted to do and this is to mourn the death of their son, Suli, who was killed by the sky people in an attempt to rescue his brothers and sisters. “I want to kill all the sky people, ” cries Neytiri. Jake feels the same, though he can’t show it. After all he vowed to protect his family and protect them he will.

The Sullivan family has integrated fairly well into the Metkayina clan. They finally have become part of the clan, now and forever. For a time, there is peace. BUT, lurking in the shadows is Captain Quaritch, who survived and was saved by his son Spider after nearly drowning inside the wrecked aircraft carrier. Quaritch decides to ally with an even more powerful and fearful group of Na'vi known simply as the Ash People.

Back to Jake and his family though. Jake comes to realize, as does Neytiri, that while they accept Spider as an unofficial member of the family he is still a threat to the rest of the Na'vi, as Captain Quaritch and the sky people have painted a target not just on the Sullys but on capturing Spider as well.

It really doesn’t help either that, as Spider begins to run out of air, Jakes oldest daughter, Kiri, calls on the Great Mother Ewa to save Spider, giving Spider the ability to breathe the air of Pandora without the need of a mask. This makes Spider an even bigger target as it’s only a matter of time before Quaritch and the militia find Spider and discover the ability to breathe Pandora’s air as well.

One family….many challenges ahead. But like Jake always says, “Sullys never quit, ” and they sure wont, not until the Ash People and the Sky People are silenced once and for all.

When the initial Avatar came out in 2009 I really wasn’t impressed with the film. While I do enjoy a good sci-fi flick, Avatar tried, in my opinion, to create an entire world full of alien-like characters and creatures in a sort of “Star Wars” like manner all in one movie. In addition the first Avatar introduced all the different customs, rituals and belief systems the Na'vi held. There was a LOT to take in in one film. I thought “how far is Cameron going to draw out the narrative for Avatar? I mean, a sequel will likely be in order, but what will he be able to do differently with future sequels? What else is there to tell?”I did not realize how much of a cultural impact Avatar would have until one particular moment…when Disney bought the rights to Avatar and created an entire land devoted to the Avatar Films (this was well before Disney was changing up the different lands in Animal Kingdom all the time). I said to myself, “Cameron has hit a gold mine.”

Sure enough, I was right. Avatar has amassed a very large following over the years. AWW, the sequel drew upon the issues, the conflicts, the challenges of the first film, expanded upon them and introduced not just one or two new characters, but over 10 new characters. AWW was different from the original Avatar in a sense that now we had become very familiar with the characters (there was a 13 year gap between the first and second film, allowing for the hype for the series to continue to grow), we felt more comfortable going on the ride through Pandora. We understood, on a deeper level, the struggles of the Na'vi people, with many comparing the plight of the Na'vi people to the plights humans struggle with on a daily basis on Earth (hunger, war, fear, neglect, etc.)

AFA, the third installments, raises the stakes; it creates this feeling of “things are about to come to a head in a very massive way.” After all, it’s taken three 3 hour films to get to where we are in the series: a war from all fronts between the Na'vi, the Sky People, and the Ash People. It raises the tension, so much, that once we reached the final hour of AFA my friend and I whispered to each other, “things are about to get real.”

AFA’s story is far darker than even the first Avatars, but not to the point where you question what direction the Avatar series is headed. There is definitely more violence in AFA than there was in AWW or even the original avatar. Characters are threatened, even Na'vi children at times. Main characters are even killed, and with a 3 hour and 15 minute run time, Cameron allows for proper character development that was slightly missing in parts of AWW. In AFA, the danger is more present and you begin to feel, and even worry, for many of the characters. After all, since the first film, the Sullys have had to suffer loss after loss, had to leave the only community they’ve ever known, assimilate into a brand new culture and community, and still carry their head up high.

The CGI (Computer Graphics Imaging) for AWW is some of the best CGI I’ve seen in the film industry. You can see every wave in the water, every stripe on the Na'vi people’s skin, every detail on the militia’s uniform. The frame rate for Avatar (how smooth the movement is on screen) is nothing short of jaw-dropping (fair warning, I recommended walking out of the theater every once in awhile to let your eyes rest because if you’re not used to this high a frame rate (24 frames per second in quieter scenes and 48 frames per second in more action-heavy sequences), your eyes are going to be wicked tired at the conclusion of the movie and you may even walk out with a headache like I did. I felt at times I was watching a really impressive video game being played out on screen.

There is also this really broad and lush use of color in certain sequences (scenes that take place in the Metkiyana clan’s island are bright, vibrant with different hues of blue and green and scenes on the militia ship or in the air tend to use a darker hue of reds, black, white and green.

Lastly, the overall pacing of the film and the complexity of the plot is nothing short of brilliant. In terms of the pacing, you don’t even notice 3 hours go by as the story rarely takes a moment to breathe, which some, like myself will appreciate whereas others will wish there were some quieter moments (I mean, you’re going to a James Cameron film. Quiet doesn’t really exist). The plot, also, is easy to follow with only a few moments where it becomes difficult to keep track of the three different scenarios occurring (Jake worrying about Quaritch, Quaritch’s relationship with the Ash People, and one of the Sully children, Lo’ak trying to fix the relationship between the Tulkun and the rest of the Na'vi people.

Content to be aware of

VIOLENCE: Very Heavy **NOTE I did not list every violent moment in the film. There was just too much to try and catch***.

A character begins gathering guns to kill the Sky People. Characters talk about the death of a Sully in the last film. In an attempt to return Spider back to the human colony, the Sullys fly him back in a hot-air balloon-like form of transportation. This balloon is navigated by a group of Na'vi’s called the Wind People. There is a large and extended fight sequence that occurs in the air between the Wind People, the Sullys and the Ash People. Characters are shot with explosive and fire arrows. Guns are also used by the Na'vi to kill each other. A main character is killed. One character purposely catches on fire and collides his plane into one of the balloons. Main characters fall from the sky and land on the ground hard (one sustains an injury). Na'vi children are threatened by the Ash People multiple times in the film. Another character is shot and killed. The Ash People cut off the pony tails of a Na'vi essentially killing them (the tail is there only connection to Pandora and if you cut it off that connection dies as does the Na'vi).

A character is knocked out. The leader of the Ash People connects her pony tail to other Na'vi’s and electrocutes and tortures them. Kiti is able to control the plants and has the plants shoot spikes at enemy Na'vi. Tulkun (large humpback whale like creatures) are seen being killed with large spears by poachers in a few different scenes. A character puts a gun to his chin but can’t pull the trigger. Soldiers are seen burning the homes of Na'vi clans to find Spider. One character is killed by a sniper in a tree. Quaritch cuts himself on his arm with a knife. Two children are chased by the Ash People. More characters are threatened.

Sea creatures attack a Na'vi. A strange fish-like creature is cut open. There are a few massive explosions. There is a huge fight between the soldiers, the Sullys, the Metkiyana clan and the Ash People. A main character dies as a result. Telkun are seen fighting and destroying ships in the process. A character nearly kills Spider. During the final hour of the film, there is an intense and prolonged fight sequence, with tons of gun fire, explosions and a large body count. A child is kidnapped. Poachers are seen being eaten by fish-like creatures, one is even dragged underwater.

VULGARITY: An obscene gesture is used (1), F*ckers (2), Fr*ckin (1), BS (3), Sh*t (10), Sh*t-heads (1), B*stards (1), Pr*cks (1), co*ch (1), S*cks (1), A*ses (1) Smart a** (1), Kiss my a** (1), A**hole (1), J*ck A** (2), B*tches (1), B*tch (1), Take a p*ss, P*ss in a stream

PROFANITY: God’s name is taken in vain a few times. D*mn (1), D*mn Right (1), D*mn it (2), H*ll (1)

SEXUAL CONTENT: Someone mentions they need to “suckle on the bre*sts of weakness.” A character is threatened to be turned into a slave for the leader of the Ash People for her sex*al pleasure. Soldiers are seen cat-calling female Na'vi with one soldier stating, “She wants me.” Two couples share a kiss.

NUDITY: The Na'vi wear very, very little clothing, just enough to cover their private parts, barely. This includes both the men and the female Na'vi (breasts are hardly covered as are genitals). Spider only wears a loincloth, nothing else. Quaritch and the leader of the Ash People are seen naked in bed together (no genitals though

DRUGS: Captain Quaritch is hit with a hallucinogenic drug.

OCCULT/CONTENT THAT MOCKS CHRISTIANITY: Na'vi characters are seen praying to Ewa (their god) and use various chants and rituals to do so. One character mentions the reef washes away sins (a jab at scripture regarding baptism into Christ). Through a very deep ritual, Kitty makes it so that “Ewa” connects with spider through tree veins and allows Spider to breathe without a mask. Characters connect their cooty (the pony tail that sprouts hair like fibers) with underwater items to connect with Ewa.

It is said the Telkun and their calf come to the reef for their first communion with Ewa (another jab at Christianity). The mantra “Water has no beginning, no end, before birth and after death (yet again another blasphemous reference about our Lord God, who truly does not have a beginning or end and will be with us in our life and in our death).

OTHER: Kitty has a seizure under water a few times. A Na'vi finds out that is a direct child of Ewah and does not have a Na'vi mother like others did. Spider is taken by the human soldiers, poked, prodded and has a scope put down his throat while he’s awake. Skeletons of creatures are seen in a cave. A female Na'vi goes into labor and gives birth (only slightly graphic)

Lessons

The Na'vi people believe that Ewah is their god. Though they’ve never seen her or been able to touch her, they believe she is as real as the air they breathe.

However, unlike this “Great Mother Ewa, ” our God is real and is NOT to be mocked. Our God does not permit idols or worship of any other gods. It is the first commandment given by God to Moses. God is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega; omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent and cares for and loves those who love and serve him faithfully.

“And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me…You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me —Exodus 20:1-3, 5

“And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” —Matthew 4:10

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” —John 4:23

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” —John 14: 6

Closing Thoughts

As I sit and finish writing this very lengthy review, I ask myself, “how dangerous is Avatar?” You could say “well it’s just fantasy. It’s a bunch of baloney.” You could even argue that those who have their faith grounded in the Lord won’t be swayed by the theological nuances found in AFA.

The real worry though is that the messaging, the subtle, not very nice nods to Christianity, is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, disguised to sound biblical but not. If anything AFA makes it clear that God Almighty is nowhere to be found and that Christianity is just another religion, not the Truth, The Way or the Life. Those who are young in the faith may take this Universalist/New Age theology and try to connect it with the principles and the truth found in Jesus alone and THAT is INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

Fans of the Avatar series will not have to wait much longer for the next installment, as Avatar 4 is projected to hit theaters in 2029. Does this mean you should see AFA or even Avatar 4 down the road? Not really. Apart from the religious undertones, the serious increase in violence and occultic content should be enough to deter any wise Christian from seeing this film. Skip “Avatar: Fire and Ash” entirely. Your spirit will thank you for it.

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.