r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/Movies contributor • 1d ago

Media New Image from 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'

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1.2k Upvotes

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658

u/peter095837 1d ago

I know Avatar gets a lot of hate on reddit but I personally enjoy them for the designs and colors. It's one of those dumb fun movies to watch with pals.

604

u/GamingTatertot Steven Spielberg Enthusiast 1d ago

I don’t even think it’s dumb fun - I just think it’s simple. The stories aren’t trying to be too clever for their own good, they’re pretty straightforward, but they’re an insanely good time on the big screen.

Also the action is great IMO.

51

u/andykekomi 1d ago

Yeah it gets a lot of crap for being a simple unoriginal story at its core but there are plenty of great movies that don't do anything revolutionary story-wise. I watch these movies for the spectacle, and it absolutely delivers on that front.

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u/EvolvedApe693 1d ago

I feel movies can get away with a simple plot by compensating with spectacle. The Avatar movies definitely do that.

22

u/Dottsterisk 1d ago

John Wick, as well.

It’s a simple, well-worn plot that serves as a vehicle for the action choreography. And it’s a helluva ride.

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u/SEND-MARS-ROVER-PICS 1d ago

Avatar gets shit on for being the same as Pocohontas, Dances With Wolves, and Ferngully, but those movies don't get shit on for being each other.

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u/KingMario05 1d ago

Yet the audience shows up every time. Why? Because James Cameron brings the spectacle none of the others do.

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u/DisneyPandora 1d ago

Same with Tron

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u/Techromancy 13h ago

I don't even necessarily think it's compensating with the spectacle. There's nothing wrong with a simple, archetypical story done well, and I actually think the character development and most of the emotional beats in the second movie work really well.

Not to mention that spectacle doesn't have to just be spectacle, the sequence of Lo'ak bonding with Payakan is really sweet and does a lot to make Lo'ak not just a hot headed idiot, and then you get that beautiful shot of them swimming in tandem. It looks great obviously, but the payoff is Lo'ak finding a little sanctuary away from the new tribe with somebody who can understand how he's feeling.

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u/dragonmp93 9h ago

Eh, what character development ?

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u/Techromancy 8h ago

Jake grappling with trying to protect his family while honoring his wife's need to avenge her people, Jake trying to be a good dad even though his instincts as a soldier causes him to treat his sons like subordinates, Neytiri trying to assimilate to a new tribe while wanting to protect her planet and confront Quaritch, Lo'ak learning to be responsible and less impulsive while finding somebody like him who wants to fight back against the people hurting his family, Kiri's whole shit being a weird conduit of Eywa and feeling alien, Quaritch having to come to terms with his death and fear of dying again and his wanting to be a father to a child who's basically a stranger, and Miles being torn between his adopted family that doesn't fully accept him and a biological dad who's an evil goon, etc.

There's plenty of character development, even if it's not a complete arc yet.