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Say a prayer to Eywa, listeners. The Cinematic Schematic returns to Pandora once again to review James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash.
It’s been three years since the beloved director of Terminator 2, Aliens, Titanic, and The Abyss defied all odds when he released Avatar: The Way of Water. Not only was the film received well critically, but it was also a raging box office success, grossing $2.3 billion and becoming the third-highest-grossing movie of all time. The only two films to top it? Cameron’s own Avatar (2009) and Avengers: Endgame.
https://youtu.be/0Wp2_R6WnwE
This third entry once again follows the Sully family protecting Pandora, led by Jake Sully(Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), in their battle against the human colonizers, including Colonel Miles Quaritch(Stephen Lang), General Frances Ardmore(Edie Falco), and Parker Selfridge(Giovanni Ribisi). The humans are joined by a scorned Na’vi tribe, the Mangkwan clan, led by Varang (Oona Chaplin).
Despite being a raging success, the interest in more adventures with the Na’vi from audiences seems lukewarm at best. With Cameron himself acknowledging his willingness to move on to something different, the writing is on the wall.
After the overwhelming success of Avatar: The Way of Water, are any of us bold enough to bet on Cameron one more time?
Meet the Crew
Hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman are rejoined by LUXIERE writer Alexandra Bohannon and podcaster Chad Parizman on their flight with the Na’vi.
Special Guests
Chad Parizman
Podcast host/producer, principal, and founder at Ader Communications
Alexandra Bohannon
Film and Arts writer for LUXIERE
Follow Alexandra on Instagram @byalexbohannon
Time Stamps
0:00 – Welcome and Introductions
4:51 – Remembering the works and impact of Rob Reiner
17:30 – Spoiler-Free review of Avatar: Fire and Ash begins
24:24 – What did we think of the first two films?
36:46 – IMAX, 3D, HFR–which format is the way to see the movie?
40:15 – Does Fire and Ash deliver?
1:15:10 – Letter grade verdicts
1:21:38 – Alternate media recommendations
1:33:43 – SPOILERS discussion begins
1:35:21 – What is going on with the Mangkwan clan?
1:57:31 – Does Fire and Ash justify another Avatar movie from James Cameron?
2:08:53 – Wrap-up and tease for the next episode
Remember Rob Reiner
On Sunday, December 13th, writer/director/talent Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Brentwood home. Their son Nick was promptly arrested and charged with murder.
The filmmaker has made many beloved classics that have shaped our culture –This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, The Bucket List, and A Few Good Men, just to name a few.
Additionally, he’s appeared in several on-screen roles, including All in the Family, Sleepless in Seattle, The Wolf of Wall Street, New Girl, The Bear, and This is Spinal Tap, most recently.
The filmmaker has made an impact on our culture–not just through storytelling, but also through political activism. He was the co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which initiated the court challenge for Proposition 8 that banned Same Sex marriage in the State of California. When asked in 2006 if he would run against Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor, he said, “I don’t want to be an elected official. I want to get things done.”
In this icebreaker discussion, each host reflects on the works of Reiner and the impact he’s had on our culture.
About Avatar: Fire and Ash
According to IMDB, Avatar: Fire and Ash is described as:
Jake and Neytiri’s family grapples with grief after Neteyam’s death, encountering a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.
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