Avatar: Fire and Ash had a grand celebration in Wellington on Saturday as legendary filmmaker James Cameron joined cast and guests for the Australasian premiere at the Embassy Theatre. Reported by James Fleury from 1News
More than 700 attendees packed the venue, eagerly awaiting the latest chapter in the globally successful Avatar franchise.
The film continues the story of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and their family as they battle to protect Pandora. While the first two Avatar films were massive box-office successes, Cameron struck a cautious note when asked if the third instalment would repeat that feat.
“You can never count a chicken before they’re hatched, and the market has been changing very rapidly over the last few years. The theatrical cinema marketplace is down, and it hasn’t rebounded,” he told 1News.
Running at 197 minutes, the film’s length initially raised concerns for some viewers. However, the immersive experience quickly eased those doubts, with the spectacle serving as a reminder of what big-screen cinema is meant to deliver.
Viewers were advised to arrive prepared, as the near three-hour journey to Pandora makes it difficult to leave one’s seat.
Wellingtonian Charlotte Perkins described the film as “another astonishing technical feat” but felt it was less compelling as a standalone story. “But it was hard not to be overwhelmed by the immersive 3D experience.”
Premiere guest Sam Anderson believed fans of the franchise would enjoy the film, though he felt the pacing could have been better balanced. “After an action-packed three hours, the film wrapped up too quickly, and I felt the creators could have pumped the brakes throughout the movie to give viewers more breathing room.”
Despite the Avatar franchise contributing $1.1 billion to the New Zealand economy over eight years, Cameron noted that the local film sector is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’ve tried to invite as many of the movers and shakers as possible to the premiere. Maybe they’ll think creatively about how we can support the screen sector. From a government standpoint, I think we could do better on rebates, and we can do better on training programmes.”
Finance Minister Nicola Willis praised the film, calling it “definitely the best yet”. “It has incredible visual effects which really showcase the skill and ingenuity of our Kiwi filmmakers. Five out of five stars.”
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter also applauded the visuals but offered a more measured take on the narrative. “I love the rich visuals, the beauty and diversity of the nature imagined by the film’s creators, and the humour woven in with the drama for characters like the rebel marine biologist played by Jemaine Clement,” she said.
“I’d give it five stars for visual effects, and maybe 3.5 for story. I’m hoping for a redemption arc or more character complexity for some of the ‘villains’ in the next film, which I hope will be made in Wellington as well.”
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little rated the film 4.5 out of five stars, saying, “I thought it was great, and it held my attention throughout the whole movie. Really amazing visuals, and a testament to the talented folk making movies here in Wellington.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash is now screening in cinemas across the country.