So I just got in bed after seeing a showing that started at midnight. I have made it no secret over the years that I love these movies. With that said, yes this movie hits on many of the same beats as the prior films (with a few scenes that felt a little too rinse-repeat), but with a franchise that centers around native culture, family, and environmentalism, things are going to circle back to similar themes.
I feel like front to back this wasn’t only the most entertaining Avatar film, but just the best in terms of transforming Quaritch from a “GI Joe villain” to an actual morally grey villain who has lots of potential to be redeemed by the end of the saga should the franchise get approved for 4 & 5.
Cameron may have found a formula that makes over $2B per movie and sticks close to it, but I’ll be damned if it’s not a damn great formula and I don’t think he’s wrong for sticking close and giving audiences another top tier action romp across Pandora.
imo, with this film, he perfected the formula and made the best Avatar film yet. TWOW & F&A are essentially a Part 1 and Part 2 imo, there was just 6 hours of story which would’ve been far too much for one film.