Avatar Fire and Ash first reviews: Critics call James Cameron film ‘hunk of nonsense,’ lowest RT score yet

James Cameron's highly anticipated *Avatar: Fire and Ash* has arrived in theaters, and initial critical reactions are more mixed than for its predecessors, *Avatar* (2009) and *Avatar: The Way of Water* (2022). The film currently holds a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, marking the lowest score in the *Avatar* franchise to date. By comparison, the first *Avatar* film earned an 81% rating, while *Avatar 2* garnered a 76% score.

**Critical Reception**

*The Guardian* gave the film a 2/5 rating, dismissing it as a 'three-hour hunk of nonsense.' The review criticized Cameron's continued use of 3D technology, noting that the rest of the film industry has largely moved away from it. The review also humorously pointed out the elemental theme of the sequels, stating that after water in the second film, this third installment tackles fire, with earth and wind presumably to follow in the fourth and fifth films.

The BBC delivered an even harsher verdict, branding *Avatar 3* as 'the longest and the worst yet' in the series. The review, which gave the film a 1/5 rating, lamented the '197 minutes of screensaver graphics, clunky dialogue, baggy plotting and hippy-dippy new-age spirituality,' and stated that *Avatar: Fire and Ash* feels as unconvincing as an old arcade game.

IndieWire's review expressed disappointment, noting the film's lack of originality. The review reads, "...how bizarre it is to watch a James Cameron new movie that feels like something you’ve already seen before," adding that the third installment lacks both the spectacle and the novelty of the previous films.

Similarly, *The Telegraph* rated *Avatar 3* a 1/5, comparing the experience to 'watching £300m of glitter tipped into a fish tank'. The review questioned how much more audiences are willing to invest in the franchise, given the diminishing returns of this latest installment, despite the franchise's massive $5 billion global box office earnings.

**Praise for Cameron's Spectacle**

Despite the negative reviews, some critics praised the film's visual spectacle and world-building. IGN acknowledged a sense of déjà vu but conceded that 'Cameron does plenty of his trademark super-sizing of existing ideas'.

Deadline lauded the film as a 'war epic for the ages,' emphasizing Cameron's mastery of spectacle. The review stated that the film builds out its worlds to such a high degree that the first two films combined still wouldn’t add up to the fierce levels and magnitude of the fight in this one.

Den of Geek acknowledged the film's narrative shortcomings but ultimately concluded that the 'shallow spectacle still earns your money,' calling it an aesthetic triumph.

Empire seemed to be impressed, giving *Avatar: Fire and Ash* a 4/5 rating and writing, “In a bigger, busier and burlier Avatar, James Cameron once again displays his blockbuster mastery. Despite some repetitive moments, this is truly epic cinema, more than worth plugging into for three hours.”