20th Century Studios Archives

Avatar Fire and Ash. On Why My Journey With This Franchise Is Truly Over.

James Cameron can still build spectacle, but the latest return to Pandora in Avatar Fire and Ash expands outward through action rather than deeper into the metaphysical questions that once made Avatar resonate.

There was a time when James Cameron’s films mattered. He burst onto the scene with The Terminator, and from there his command of the blockbuster only grew through Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, and Titanic. Each project felt bigger, bolder, more assured. Ego may have inflated alongside his skill, but when he’s focused with one universe, Avatar Fire and Ash is falling flat. I’m not wowed by the digital graphics. I want deeper, spiritual, meaning.

I read the first film as Cameron’s take on environmentalism, filtered through soul transference and a very direct moral lens. It wasn’t subtle, but it had intent. The second film pushed into new territory, including a deeper engagement with spiritualism. That spark, however, was nowhere to be found on Cameron’s third return to Pandora. I found no meaning between the lines, no sense of discovery.

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When The First Omen is not the Last Omen for a Restart of an Old Franchise Favourite

The First Omen is very good at fitting into what’s already known. But sadly, it’s missing some of that spiritual gravitas that defined the trilogy.

The First Omen Movie Poster There’s more than one terror afoot in The First Omen and nobody should be surprised that something new is added to continue this franchise. Back when it all started, writer David Seltzer and director Richard Donner may have had only two ideas in mind: Satanism was on the rise and cults existed at places few communities least expected. This film arrived before the book Michelle Remembers was published. These days, new revelations debunk this publication, but in what this latest offers, what’s getting mapped into the canon gets sinister.

When I first saw the movie that started it all, that parting image of Damien delivering a fourth wall breaking smile was spine-tingling. Anyone who knows that film well understands the spirit locked within has a plan. And when he becomes an adult, that vessel can do nasty things. I was a fan of Patrick Troughton (Doctor Who) and the character he played knew a lot about what’s going on. Unfortunately, time on screen to prevent the unholy from gaining a foothold got cut short.

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From Frightful Predator to Prey, A Comic Book Reader’s Perspective on ther Prequel

In this movie, Naru must prove that in order to avoid becoming the prey, she better be able outsmart her predator!

Prey Movie Poster Spoiler Alert

Anyone who read Dark Horse Comics‘ Predator series (1989-2020) will be familiar with where Prey is headed. The thought of sending one of these hunters to Earth’s distant past is nothing new, and I’ve read enough of this run to know those times where they’ve intruded upon the past, ranging from 1718 to WW1, is often a bloodbath. No matter which civilization they meet, making peace with this alien species is nearly impossible.

In one corner of the confrontation is the said Predator and the other, a Comanche tribe. Caught in the crossfire are French fur traders, and I had to chuckle. The era this tale is set in is sometime during colonisation, and the land is more than a little wild. Its downright dangerous, as viewers will soon discover. Sometimes, these tales involve two differenct factions having to work together to succeed, but when we’re dealing with a franchise dealing with people dying, nobodhy is going to win! Fans must not forget the Predator usually makes situations worse for the heroes. They are often dealing with other threats and to save their own skin is the least of their worries!

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