Jake grapples with close death in Avatar: Fire & Ash               IMDB

Avatar: Fire & Ash

BY JIYA DOSS

JANUARY 31, 2025, 9:16 AM

Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third edition to the blockbuster movie Avatar that stunned viewers in 2009, came out in movie theaters December 2025 after years of excitement. Students at East Brunswick High School have been talking about this movie from the day it was announced. Just like the first film, Avatar, and the second, Avatar: The Way of Water, the new movie has been praised for its visual appeal and spectacular cinematography.

The story follows Jake Sully, a human turned ‘Avatar’ who desires to be one with the foreign, otherworldly ‘Na’vi’ people. Sully’s family members are put in the spotlight, allowing Jake and Neytiri's kids (Neteyam, Lo'ak, Tuk, and Kiri) to each get their own moments while facing impossible choices. The main conflict encountered by Sully and his family is the Ash people, who having felt betrayed by the firm belief system of Na’vi people, turned against it. The film spans topics such as grief after loss, colonialism, and war, themes seen in daily life. 

At EBHS, the movie reactions are sharply divided. Junior Sahana Ramkumar offers harsh criticism, calling the film "pure slop" and criticizing the focus on Spider, a human character introduced in the second film, at the expense of more compelling, native figures, such as Lo’ak, Jake Sully’s son. "Lo'ak was an actually interesting character that I wanted to see more of. Instead, his screen time was stolen by Spider," Ramkumar writes, arguing that the Na'vi should have prioritized survival over protecting him.

Conversely, fellow EBHS Junior Gabrielle Supan acknowledges the film's strengths despite its length, claiming she "found the movie pretty long but also very action-packed with intense battles." Supan's review highlights the spectacular action sequences between the Na’vi people and their many enemies throughout the movie. The film's technical achievements remain undisputed, with the Na’vi land, Pandora, containing bioluminescent ecosystems and stunning 3D visuals.

For EBHS students, Avatar: Fire and Ash reflects the passions and debates that define teenage life. The film has sparked real conversations about representation and diversity, family loyalty, and cultural clashes that hit close to home. EBHS students prove the movie's power to bridge Pandora's foreign world with their own, turning a 3-hour motion picture into a catalyst for critical thinking and the kind of heated discussions that make high school unforgettable. As the franchise continues, it reminds students that the media can both challenge them to question their opinions and allow them to feel seen and find their voice.