Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third movie in James Cameron’s Avatar series, does criticize both sides in the ongoing conflict on Pandora. It shows humans as invaders destroying the planet for resources, but it also portrays some Na’vi as brutal and violent, challenging the idea that one side is purely good.
The story picks up after the events of Avatar: The Way of Water. Jake Sully and Neytiri deal with the grief of losing their son Neteyam. Neytiri grows to hate all humans even more. Their family, including the human-raised Spider, faces new dangers when they run into the Mangkwan clan, also called the Ash People. This aggressive Na’vi tribe, led by the fierce Varang, does not believe in Eywa, the spiritual force that guides most Na’vi. They worship fire and war after a volcano destroyed their home. When merchant ships with humans arrive, the Ash People attack, burn the ships, loot everything, and kill survivors. This shows Na’vi can be just as ruthless as the humans.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash[2]
The humans, led by Colonel Quaritch, keep pushing to colonize Pandora. They build bases and use weapons to take land. But the film blurs the lines. Quaritch, stuck in a Na’vi body, starts to connect with Varang. They share ideas about no-mercy fighting and even genocide. Quaritch teaches her how to use guns, making the Na’vi more deadly. At one point, Jake considers killing Spider to protect his family, showing how far the hate goes on the Na’vi side too. Neytiri struggles with accepting Spider as family because he is human. These moments highlight flaws on both sides: humans as greedy destroyers and some Na’vi as hateful killers.https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron-shallow/[4]
Kiri, Jake’s daughter, uses her link to Eywa to fight back, killing Ash fighters with plants. This power saves the family but shows the Na’vi relying on nature’s violence. Jake rallies clans, including re-bonding with the predator Toruk, for a big battle. Reviews note the film shifts focus to family bonds and moral gray areas, not just good versus evil. One viewer called it a story that pushes into interesting places with character conflicts, while another said it dallies with depth amid the action.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1757678/[3]
The Ash People’s attack on everyone, including other humans and Na’vi, proves the criticism is balanced. Humans want control, but these Na’vi bring fire and ash without mercy. James Cameron raises the stakes with emotions and intensity, making viewers question both sides’ actions.https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/avatar-fire-and-ash-everything-to-know/story?id=128488209[1]
Sources
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/avatar-fire-and-ash-everything-to-know/story?id=128488209
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1757678/
https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/avatar-fire-and-ash-review-james-cameron-shallow/
https://www.avatar.com/movies/avatar-fire-and-ash
