Latest news with #Avatar
The Guardian
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Fire cults and burning banshees: has Avatar: Fire and Ash sent Pandora all the way to hell?
Say what you like about James Cameron, but the man has somehow made three films, umpteen extraterrestrial biomes, and one endlessly grieving smurf wolf pack out of the phrase 'don't touch that tree'. Now, the veteran sci-fi film-maker returns with Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third instalment in cinema's shiniest blue 3D eco fable. And from a preview of the trailer (to be released before showings of The Fantastic Four: First Steps this weekend) this is going to be yet another jaw-dropping, box-office smashing triumph of elemental, stereoscopic worldbuilding – or possibly a very long and very heavy bioluminescent deforestation story, depending on your point of view. Where The Way of Water took us out to sea to commune with whales who cry in subtitles, Fire and Ash drags us into the scorched heart of Pandora's volcanic badlands. Here we meet the Ash People – an angry, soot-streaked Na'vi clan who appear to have spent the last two films building up a healthy mistrust of outsiders. Imagine running into the scariest-looking Great Plains warriors Hollywood ever dreamed up, then dipping them in tar and relocating them to Mordor. They ride screaming banshees through smoke clouds, and if the trailer is anything to go by, they've had just about enough of Sam Worthington's Jake Sully, his adoptive family and the entire colonial project of humanity in general. Which is why it's a little strange to see Stephen Lang's Colonel Miles Quaritch, or at least the reborn recombinant that carries the returning villain's memories, apparently sporting the same scarlet war paint as these newcomers to the franchise. Have the Ash People been conned by humanity into fighting their Na'vi brethren, or are they just the latest poor fools to fall victim to humankind's time-honoured tradition of co-opting Indigenous resistance to fight its proxy wars? Either way, this is a first glimpse of Fire and Ash that in terms of sheer scale, spectacle and blue-on-blue action looks likely to match anything the series has so far delivered. Oona Chaplin's Varang, leader of the new clan, tells a terrified Kiri (the Na'vi born from the dormant Avatar left behind by Sigourney Weaver's late Grace Augustine) that her goddess 'has no dominion here', which must be a pretty scary thing to hear when you've spent your entire life communing with Eywa-infused floating jellyfish. The Sullys appear to be caught up in their own family conflict, and at one point Sully basically tells Zoe Saldaña's Neytiri to stop trying to solve all their life problems with arrows and screaming. It is all incredibly intense and unapologetically Cameron. Yet there's a nagging feeling that if everyone on Pandora would just put aside their problems and try to get along, the extrasolar moon is such a gorgeous vision of eco-spiritual luxury real estate (if you'll forgive the Trumpian gaze) that they could probably all do quite well financially from low-impact glow-in-the-dark wellness tourism. Surely this is the sort of place that Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are really trying to get to with all those expensive, celebrity-strewn missions to the 'edge of space'. Or perhaps that's just where Cameron is planning to take us with the next episode – a scorching allegory for climate guilt, where hordes of spiritually curious billionaires arrive at Eywa's doorstep in 3D-printed linen and wide-brimmed hats, demanding personalised banshee rides and artisan root-based cleansing rituals. It will be the final defeat of the Na'vi – not by war, but by a full season of White Lotus: Pandora, starring Amy Adams as a well-meaning but culturally disastrous grief yogi who accidentally destroys the Tree of Souls with her Tesla-branded personal eco-hoverpod. In the meantime, Avatar: Fire and Ash. If you liked the last two movies, this one will most likely boil your eyeballs and your conscience in roughly equal measure. If you thought the whole thing was a load of weepy, whale-whispering space guff, you'll probably spend three hours wondering why the trees are crying again.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash' Trailer to Screen Exclusively in Theaters Before ‘Fantastic Four'
This weekend, theater audiences will get their first look at 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' but only if they're seeing 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' In a post on the official 'Avatar' X account, it was revealed that the first trailer for James Cameron's 'Avatar' threequel will screen exclusively in theaters before showings of Marvel's 'Fantastic Four.' More from Variety 'Fantastic Four' First Reactions Say Film Is One of the 'Best Things Marvel Has Ever Made' With 'Stunning Visuals' and 'Excellent' Performances From Leading Cast John Malkovich's Red Ghost Cut From 'Fantastic Four'; Director Says 'It Was Heartbreaking Not to Include Him' (EXCLUSIVE) 'Fantastic Four,' Assemble: Director Matt Shakman on Casting Marvel's First Family Without Auditions and 'Corporate Pressures' Not Being 'My Burden to Shoulder' 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' is set to hit theaters on Dec. 19. Meanwhile, the fourth and fifth 'Avatar' films are set for Dec. 21, 2029, and Dec. 19, 2031, respectively. The trailer was first revealed exclusively to CinemaCon attendees back in April. The footage returns to the lush world of Pandora and introduces two new Na'vi tribes: The soaring Wind Traders, who traverse the skies on contraptions resembling hot air balloons, and their sworn rivals, the Fire People, who ride on flying beasts. The two clans clash, and one Na'vi is taken out with a flaming arrow. 'We can not live like this, baby,' Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) tells his wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) in the trailer. 'We can not live with this hate.' 'Fire and Ash' picks up directly after 'The Way of Water,' which followed Jake and his family as they team with Pandora's water tribe, known as the Metkayina, to fight against the tyrannical Resources Development Administration. The new films see them pinned against the Ash People, who have defected from Jake's Na'vi clan and their nature-worshipping religion. 'Avatar' and 'The Way of Water' both grossed over $2 billion at the worldwide box office, making them the No. 1 and No. 3 most commercially successful films of all time worldwide. If 'Fire and Ash' follows suit, 'Avatar' will be the only franchise to have three films cross the $2 billion threshold. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Woman 'dead' for 2 minutes reveals she saw "Avatar" like beings on the other side
Image credits: Getty Images The idea of 'other' is an enigma so intriguing that the human mind can't help but be curious. The other world, the other beings, the other planet, the other life, something that is unknown to humans, has all their attention. While the task of exploring other planets and beings is being eagerly carried out by astronomical authorities like NASA and other companies, it seems the other life part has been taken into account by the rest of the humans. For the ever-wondering mind questioning what happens after death, a woman who was pronounced dead for two minutes seems to have the answer. Nicole Meeuws was lifeless on a hospital bed, pronounced dead when she felt "pulled" from her body and entered a tunnel of light where she met "blue-skinned" beings, as cited in a NY Post report quoting NeedToKnow. The 49-year-old was in the hospital after losing her baby and was rushed into emergency surgery, where she began to go in and out of consciousness due to some complications. 'I found myself passing through a tunnel of blue and white light, not a beam, but a corridor that felt alive,' she said. The artist who is from Greece said that the light even had a temperature and tone, "almost like music made of water", and she entered a glowing space with colours such as silver, soft violets and deep radiant blues.'It didn't feel frightening; it felt like I was being called home,' she said. 'The chamber was vast, larger than any earthly structure, and everything pulsed gently like a heartbeat,' she added. 'And then I saw them.' What lies on the other side? Image credits: Instagram/bohodogon Well, according to Meeuws, it's "blue-skinned" beings with human faces, akin to the characters in the popular sci-fi movie "Avatar." 'Two towering beings seated on marble-like thrones, shimmering with energy. Their eyes were large and indigo, filled with kindness and recognition,' she said. Not only did they look like Avatar, but these beings also had fish-like tails rather than legs, had gills and were covered in scales. Additionally, they were both male and female intertwined and didn't speak in words, which did not cause any problems for the woman, as she understood everything. She said that she didn't understand their language, but they made her feel at home and telepathically communicated with her that life is an illusion, and we start to live when we die. They also told her that she wasn't meant to have children and was given the gift to teach people about the "other side." 'I felt more known than I had ever felt in my life; I didn't want to leave,' she noted. 'I understood this place, this feeling, and I truly believe it was the original home from which we all come from.' 'I learned that death is not an end, it's a return to our actual lives,' Meeuws added. The journey back to life Image credits: Instagram/bohodogon After being "zapped" back into her body, the woman communicated with her husband in a high-pitched tone and an "unfamiliar" language. 'It sounded like dolphin clicks. It continued for minutes, which left everyone around us stunned. But I couldn't stop it – it was coming through me, not from me,' Meeuws said. 'My senses were heightened, and I could hear emotion in people's voices as colour. I returned completely different; almost reborn,' she added. While Meeuws has not had a similar experience ever since, she has had visions of the blue-skinned beings often. According to her, they are non-alien creatures from the Apkallu interdimensional tribe, also referred to as Demigods, that allegedly have given civilisation to mankind. She also shared that the mission she was given by the beings is to spread the message that "love is stronger than death." 'To create heaven on Earth, we must spend each day spreading love. I'm no longer afraid of death because I know what's waiting for me on the other side,' she noted. 'It was a beginning, not an end.' Do you believe in the afterlife or other beings? Share with us below!
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who Is Varang on Avatar 3 Poster? Fire and Ash Villain Explained
The Avatar: Fire and Ash teaser poster introduces Varang, an intriguing new character fans are about to meet soon. Oona Chaplin, who is best known for playing Talisa Maegyr in Game of Thrones, makes her debut in Pandora as the new villain. Needless to say, fans are eager to get a closer look into the character before Avatar 3's premiere this year. So, here's everything we know about Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash. Oona Chaplin's Avatar 3 villain Varang on Fire and Ash Poster explained Avatar: Fire and Ash will introduce Varang as a new villain in the franchise. Played by Oona Chaplin, Varang is the leader of the Ash Clan, one of the many new tribes in Pandora that fans will meet in the upcoming installments (via ScreenRant). Varang will break the streak of only humans being portrayed as the villains in previous Avatar movies. RDA leaders were hell bent on colonizing Pandora and forcefully claiming its land and resources. This led to the Na'vi people emerging as heroes against the human colonizers. However, in Fire and Ash, the narrative will not be that straightforward. This time, fans will likely get to see a darker side of the Na'vi with the introduction of the Ash Clan and Varang. In a recent interview with Empire, director James Cameron shared a glimpse of the Ash Clan's background. He explained that the tribe's villainy is a result of enduring years of mistreatment and hardship. 'Varang is the leader of a people who have gone through an incredible hardship. She's hardened by that,' he stated. 'She will do anything for them, even things that we would consider to be evil,' explained Cameron. Speaking of the shift in the franchise's usual narrative, Cameron said, 'One thing we wanted to do in this film is not be black-and-white simplistic. We're trying to evolve beyond the 'all humans are bad, all Na'vi are good' paradigm.' The director also gushed about Chaplin's spectacular performance as the Ash villain. 'She's an enemy, an adversarial character but [Chaplin] makes her feel so real and alive,' he stated. Avatar: Fire & Ash is all set to make its theatrical debut on December 19, 2025. Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Fire cults and burning banshees: has Avatar: Fire and Ash sent Pandora all the way to hell?
Say what you like about James Cameron, but the man has somehow made three films, umpteen extraterrestrial biomes, and one endlessly grieving smurf wolf pack out of the phrase 'don't touch that tree'. Now, the veteran sci-fi film-maker returns with Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third instalment in cinema's shiniest blue 3D eco fable. And from a preview of the trailer (to be released before showings of The Fantastic Four: First Steps this weekend) this is going to be yet another jaw-dropping, box-office smashing triumph of elemental, stereoscopic worldbuilding – or possibly a very long and very heavy bioluminescent deforestation story, depending on your point of view. Where The Way of Water took us out to sea to commune with whales who cry in subtitles, Fire and Ash drags us into the scorched heart of Pandora's volcanic badlands. Here we meet the Ash People – an angry, soot-streaked Na'vi clan who appear to have spent the last two films building up a healthy mistrust of outsiders. Imagine running into the scariest-looking Great Plains warriors Hollywood ever dreamed up, then dipping them in tar and relocating them to Mordor. They ride screaming banshees through smoke clouds, and if the trailer is anything to go by, they've had just about enough of Sam Worthington's Jake Sully, his adoptive family and the entire colonial project of humanity in general. Which is why it's a little strange to see Stephen Lang's Colonel Miles Quaritch, or at least the reborn recombinant that carries the returning villain's memories, apparently sporting the same scarlet war paint as these newcomers to the franchise. Have the Ash People been conned by humanity into fighting their Na'vi brethren, or are they just the latest poor fools to fall victim to humankind's time-honoured tradition of co-opting Indigenous resistance to fight its proxy wars? Either way, this is a first glimpse of Fire and Ash that in terms of sheer scale, spectacle and blue-on-blue action looks likely to match anything the series has so far delivered. Oona Chaplin's Varang, leader of the new clan, tells a terrified Kiri (the Na'vi born from the dormant Avatar left behind by Sigourney Weaver's late Grace Augustine) that her goddess 'has no dominion here', which must be a pretty scary thing to hear when you've spent your entire life communing with Eywa-infused floating jellyfish. The Sullys appear to be caught up in their own family conflict, and at one point Sully basically tells Zoe Saldaña's Neytiri to stop trying to solve all their life problems with arrows and screaming. It is all incredibly intense and unapologetically Cameron. Yet there's a nagging feeling that if everyone on Pandora would just put aside their problems and try to get along, the extrasolar moon is such a gorgeous vision of eco-spiritual luxury real estate (if you'll forgive the Trumpian gaze) that they could probably all do quite well financially from low-impact glow-in-the-dark wellness tourism. Surely this is the sort of place that Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are really trying to get to with all those expensive, celebrity-strewn missions to the 'edge of space'. Or perhaps that's just where Cameron is planning to take us with the next episode – a scorching allegory for climate guilt, where hordes of spiritually curious billionaires arrive at Eywa's doorstep in 3D-printed linen and wide-brimmed hats, demanding personalised banshee rides and artisan root-based cleansing rituals. It will be the final defeat of the Na'vi – not by war, but by a full season of White Lotus: Pandora, starring Amy Adams as a well-meaning but culturally disastrous grief yogi who accidentally destroys the Tree of Souls with her Tesla-branded personal eco-hoverpod. In the meantime, Avatar: Fire and Ash. If you liked the last two movies, this one will most likely boil your eyeballs and your conscience in roughly equal measure. If you thought the whole thing was a load of weepy, whale-whispering space guff, you'll probably spend three hours wondering why the trees are crying again.
