Quick Takes : The movies I saw in January 2026.

Although I was off-line throughout January enjoying the heat of an Aussie summer, still working my day job and doing some much needed jobs around the house, this didn't stop me from enjoying my weekly trip to my local movie theatre to catch a film of choice. Below are my quick takes of the latest films seen over this past month.

I saw the M Rated 'ANACONDA' on Tuesday 6th January, and this American action adventure comedy horror film is Co-Written and Directed by Tom Gormican and serves as a meta-reboot of the 1997 film of the same name. Tom Gormican's previous feature film making efforts are 'That Awkward Moment' in 2014 and 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent' in 2022. Here, wedding videographer Doug McCallister (Jack Black) and background actor Ronald 'Griff' Griffin Jnr. (Paul Rudd) who are both life long friends and who made their first short film together as young teenagers called the 'The Quatch', are now both experiencing a mid-life crisis. And so Griff hatches a plan to travel to the Amazon to film an amateur remake of their favourite horror film, 1997's 'Anaconda' which starred Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz and Owen Wilson. Their project unravels when a real giant anaconda snake emerges, turning the light-hearted shoot into a perilous fight to stay alive. Also starring Steve Zahn as cameraman Kenny Trent, Thandiwe Newton as Claire Simons a friend of Doug and Griff and the lead actress in the their film, Daniela Melchior as Ana Almeida a woman who gets caught up in the film shoot and who has ulterior motives, with Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez making cameo appearances as themselves. 

The film was released Christmas week here in Australia and the US too, has so far grossed US$129M off the back of a US$45M production budget and has garnered mixed or average reviews . . . . . and I can see why. The film is full of plot holes, and despite their being some laugh out loud moments, and a couple of jump scares, this film is a mash-up of 'Tropic Thunder' and 'Jumanji', both of which were far superior. Sure Black and Rudd deliver on the humour and the emotion, the cast all look as through their having a good ol' time shooting this movie within a movie and there's plenty of nods to the Hollywood film making machine - both good, and not so. That said, I came away from the movie theatre with a sense that this film was a little better than I was expecting, and so 'The Anaconda', as it comes to be known in the final scene, merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

I saw the M Rated 'SENTIMENTAL VALUE' on Tuesday 13th January, and this Norwegian drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Joachim Trier whose previous feature film output takes in his debut with 'Reprise' in 2006, which he would follow up with 'Oslo, 31 August' in 2011, 'Louder Than Bombs' in 2015, 'Thelma' in 2017 and 'The Worst Person in the World' in 2021. Sisters Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes Borg Pettersen (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav Borg (Stellen Skarsgard), a once-renowned Director who made his last feature film fifteen years prior, but has since made a couple of documentaries. For what he hopes will be his comeback film, he offers his daughter and acclaimed stage actress Nora a role in his future film which is picked up by Netflix. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning). Suddenly, the two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their somewhat estranged father, and deal with an American star dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics. The film had its World Premiere showcasing at the main competition of this years Cannes Film Festival in late May where it received widespread critical acclaim, won the Grand Prix, and received a nineteen minute standing ovation. 

The film was released Christmas week here in Australia, and has so far grossed US$22M since its release, from a production budget of US$7.5M, has generated universal critical acclaim and has so far collected thirty-seven award wins and a further 235 nominations from around the awards and festival circuit, some of which are still pending a final outcome. Here Joachim Trier has delivered us a powerful story of family dynamics of an absent father, the fractured upbringing of his two daughters and the fallout thereof; of memories - both good, and not so; and of art (in this case film making) as a medium of healing, redemption and honesty. The performances of the four lead Actors are all on point, with each delivering grounded, believable and relatable turns at raw emotion, brutal honesty, cutting humour and an intensity that is all too lacking in many other mainstream movies today where car chases, explosions, gun play, and fist fights are de rigueur. I came away from this film feeling a little drained by the experience and the emotional heft that lingered after, but don't let that detract you from catching this masterful film that is worthy of all the accolades bestowed upon it. 'Sentimental Value' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

'28 YEARS LATER : THE BONE TEMPLE' - Rated MA15+ is a post-apocalyptic horror film which I saw on Tuesday 20th January. This time around this instalment is Directed by Nia DaCosta whose previous feature film output take in her 2018 debut with 'Little Woods' and which she would follow up with 'Candyman' in 2021, 'The Marvels' in 2023 and 'Hedda' in 2025. This instalment was filmed back-to-back with its predecessor '28 Years Later' which was released mid-year last year, and serves as the fourth offering overall in the '28 Days Later' film franchise. Danny Boyle served as Director on the original movie '28 Days Later' in 2003, gave way to Juan Carlos Fresnadillo for '28 Weeks Later' in 2007 and was back again for '28 Years Later' in 2025, and is slated to return to the Director's chair for the fifth instalment with a title and release date yet to be announced. Alex Garland wrote the script for the first, third, fourth and the upcoming fifth film in the series. This film was released in the UK, here in Australia and the USA on the 13th, 15th and 16th January respectively, has so far grossed US$47M from a production budget of US$63M and has garnered generally positive critical reviews. 

Continuing on from where '28 Years Later' left off, Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a discovery that could change the world as they know it, as he befriends and begins treating the Alpha leader of the infected Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). Meanwhile, young Spike's (Alfie Williams) encounter with Sir 'Lord' Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) becomes a living nightmare from which he can't escape, as Jimmy regularly speaks with 'Old Nick' (Satan) and claims to be his son. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the only threat to survival, the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying, as Jimmy's seven 'fingers' mete out their own particular bloody forms of violence all in the name of 'charity'. This film of course won't be for everyone, but for lovers of the genre and this franchise it is a real and rare standout at the midway point of a rebooted trilogy. Nia DaCosta has piled on the graphic violence and the blood letting right from the get go, and she doesn't let up until the end, adding in a few jump scares and a couple of genuinely frightening moments along the way. Cleverly though she has stayed away from endless scenes of marauding zombies, and has narrowed the story down to the relationships between Jimmy and Spike, and Kelson and Samson, with the four only coming together in the penultimate scene, from which only two survive. The final scene sets up the third offering in this franchise with a cameo appearance by Cillian Murphy. 'Howzat?' '28 Years Later : The Bone Temple' warrants four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

I saw the M Rated sports comedy drama film 'MARTY SUPREME' on Tuesday 27th January in a packed theatre at my local Multiplex, and this film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Josh Safdie and is his first solo Directing effort since 2008's 'The Pleasure of Being Robbed'. In the intervening years Josh, together with his younger brother Benny, under the banner of The Safdie Brothers have Co-Directed 'Daddy Longlegs' in 2009, 'Heaven Knows What' in 2014, 'Good Time' in 2017 and 'Uncut Gems' in 2019. This film is based loosely on Marty Reisman's 1974 memoir, 'The Money Player: The Confessions of America's Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler'. The film Premiered at the New York Film Festival on 6th October last year followed by a US release on Christmas Day where it received widespread critical acclaim, and has so far grossed US$113M from a production budget of US$65M.

Set in 1952 New York City, twenty-three year old Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet) bestows every ounce of his being into almost everything he does, unfortunately for everyone else he takes full advantage of them wherever and whenever he can. One of these is his married childhood friend Rachel Mizler (Odessa A'zion) with whom he has an on again off again affair, the ramifications of which barely registers with him. He may well be the best table tennis player in the world in his own mind, but so far has failed to make a single dollar from his beloved sport, due to the lack of support and the perception of table tennis as a mere game of ping pong. To demonstrate on the world stage that he is the best, he has to attend the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, which he can't afford, but also he must win it. Among those who help him along the way are 1930's retired movie star Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow) and her influential businessman husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O'Leary), a taxi driver and Marty's friend Wally (Tyler Okonma) and Dion Galanis (Luke Manley) another friend of Marty's. However, for every step forward that Marty's takes in getting closer to his dream, he seems to take two steps backwards as we explore various hardships, incidents, accidents, and near misses along the way. Also starring Fran Drescher, Sandra Bernhard and Abel Ferrara. I have to say that Marty Mauser is a real dick, someone who will lie, cheat, cajole and do whatever is necessary to get ahead, but he is played with such conviction, authenticity and believability that Chalamet's portrayal of him is worthy of the award nods bestowed upon him. Josh Safdie has delivered us a film of high production values, and a gripping story told with such frenetic energy that it will maintain your interest for the full 150 minute runtime. Having said that I'm not really sure what the point of this movie is, other than to demonstrate mans flaws and the lengths some people will go to in the pursuit of fame and fortune, only to have their dream wither and die on the vine. 'Marty Supreme' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE HOUSEMAID : Tuesday 30th December 2025

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'THE HOUSEMAID' this week, and this American psychological thriller film is Co-Produced and Directed by Paul Feig, and is based on the 2022 novel of the same name penned by Freida McFadden. Paul Feig's filmography take in his debut with 'I Am David' in 2003, and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Bridesmaids' in 2011, 'The Heat' in 2013, 'Spy' in 2015, 'Ghostbusters' in 2016, 'A Simple Favor' in 2018, and 'Another Simple Favor' released earlier last year. The film was released in the US last week, has generated largely positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$70M off the back of a US$35M production budget.

The film opens with Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) driving through the streets of Long Island to locate the lavish home of the wealthy Winchester family, at which she is attending an interview with Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) for a live-in housemaid. Nina explains the details of the role, gives Millie a brief tour, and says thanks for her interest and she'll be in touch in a couple of days. Millie drives away feeling fairly downbeat about her chances of success. We then see Millie sleeping rough in her car on the rooftop of a car park. Early one morning she is woken by two Police Officers who tell her she can't sleep here and who tell her to move on. Millie makes up some story on the spot just as her phone rings. As the Police leave telling her not to drive and text, Millie answers the phone to Nina who asks when can she start. Millie says 'how about this afternoon', to which Nina replies with 'perfect', and hangs up. 

Upon arrival at the Winchester house, Nina is very enthusiastic to welcome Millie to the family. She takes Millie up to the attic room which will be her bedroom. It has one triangular window above the single bed which does not open, and the door is locked from the outside with a key and a dead bolt. Millie quickly learns first hand that Nina shows signs of severe mental illness, and repeatedly puts her in double bind situations. 

The first instance is when Nina has to make a speech at her daughter's Cecelia 'Cece' (Indiana Elle) school the next day, and needs some time by herself to write the speech. The next morning Millie wakes up late, and comes downstairs to see an irate Nina turning the kitchen upside down, throwing breakfast items on the floor and frantically rummaging through kitchen cupboards and drawers in search of her written speech, which she accuses Millie of hiding. Her husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar) comforts her and calms her down, and reassures Millie that everything is fine and that she's not to blame. Millie is left to clean up Nina's mess.

We learn that Andrew grew up in a privileged home and worked in a law firm owned by his father which he inherited upon his death. And now whilst he is the owner of the law firm he really wants nothing more than to be good husband and father. He's also handsome, charming, well toned, has a million dollar smile, and all the ladies swoon after him. He also designed and built the house the Winchester family now live in. 

One day, while Millie is serving afternoon tea to Nina and three of her best friends, Nina excuses herself for a few moments and the three start to tittle tattle to themselves about their disdain for Nina and saying how they don't understand how Andrew puts up with her. They further talk amongst themselves that years prior, Nina attempted to end young daughter Cece's life by drowning her in the bathtub, and her own by overdosing, which resulted in her being admitted to a psychiatric hospital for nine months to recover. 

Some time later, Nina asks Millie to arrange a weekend in the city for Nina and Andrew to see a Broadway musical that he wants to see, and stay in a hotel. Millie makes the necessary arrangements as instructed, only for Nina to deny having asked her to do that, stating the cost will be deducted from her paycheck. Millie says she can't afford for that to happen, but Nina stands firm. Andrew intervenes and says that no monies will be refunded from her paycheck. Nina is occupied that weekend, so Millie and Andrew secretly agree to attend the show together after Andrew is unable to get the tickets refunded. After enjoying the show, eating out, dancing and drinking too much the pair decide to check into the hotel but take separate rooms. Millie dozes off and comes round realising that she has missed multiple angry texts from Nina, including one firing her. She goes into Andrew's room to show him the texts, and they end up having sex. 

After they return home, Nina finds an advertising booklet from the show, which leads to a fight where Andrew demands Nina leave. She does, and Andrew and Millie begin living together as a couple. One morning, Millie is preparing breakfast when she is freaked out by the gardener Enzo Accardi (Michele Morrone) staring at her through the back door, In her fright she accidentally drops a tray and breaks a prized crockery set handed down from Andrew's grandmother and recently given to him by his mother Evelyn Winchester (Elizabeth Perkins). Andrew reassures her that it's OK and can be fixed, and she cleans up the mess and puts all the broken china in a plastic zip lock bag, only for him to later lock Millie inside her room. 

Nina is shown happy to be leaving, and sets about recording her past in a letter to Cece. Early in their relationship, after a minor dispute about her dark hair roots showing through her dyed blonde hair style, Andrew tricked her into entering the attic storage room (later Millie's room) before locking her inside. Andrew demanded that, before he free her, Nina pull one hundred strands of hair out of her scalp, follicles still attached. He then leaves her with only three small bottles of water. Eventually, she does as instructed, only for Andrew to demand she do it again, claiming one lacked the follicle. When he finally let her go, he brought her a small, drugged bottle of water which she downed straight away before running to see Cece. Nina then passed out on the floor of Cece's bedroom, after which Andrew staged events to appear as if Nina attempted to kill Cece by drowning her in a running bath, and then herself. Nina was subsequently sent to a psychiatric hospital and was kept there until she falsely confessed. 

Nina intentionally hired Millie having thoroughly investigated her background, knowing that Andrew would romantically pursue her and leave Nina for her, believing Millie to be more than capable of potentially protecting herself against him. As we learn, Millie is out on parole having served ten years of a thirteen year sentence for the murder (dropped to a manslaughter charge) of a fellow male student whilst at college, who was witnessed to be raping a female student.

Back to the present day and Andrew tells Millie through the securely locked attic door that she is being punished for breaking and not washing the bone china items she dropped. He slides a piece of broken china under the door and instructs her that she deeply cuts twenty-one long lines into her stomach (matching the number of shards of broken china) before he will free her. After sometime, she does, and Andrew enters the room to let her out. After comforting her and explaining that there are consequences for actions, Millie stabs him in the neck with a cheese knife which Nina had previously stashed there for her. After a struggle, she gains the upper hand and locks him in the room. 

She then heads downstairs, makes herself a sandwich and recovers from her ordeal. She then goes through the kitchen drawers and finds a pair of pliers. She takes the pliers and the full set of remaining bone china crockery up to the attic room door and begins systematically smashing the crockery set on the floor, as he hears what she is doing and sees broken shards coming in through underneath the door. She then passes the pliers through and tells him to pull out one of his front teeth with the pliers, putting an end to his million dollar smile which he is renowned for. She also pours petrol underneath the door and threatens to burn the house down with him inside unless he complies with her wishes. 

Meanwhile, while eating at a burger joint, Nina tells Cece that they are moving away, but Cece suggests that they should first rescue Millie. Nina returns to the house undercover of darkness and seeing the light on in the attic room assumes Millie is locked inside. She sneaks in and unlocks the door before Millie can stop her. Andrew attacks her and throws her down the stairs and then chases Millie seemingly out of the house, but she seems to have escaped. Andrew pleads with Nina to resume their life together saying that he can change and he wants to be a better man, but Nina refuses so he attempts to kill her again, before Millie reappears and pushes him over the edge of the spiral staircase, where he plummets to the hard floor below like a rag doll, killing him instantly. Nina unscrews a light bulb hanging directly over the spiral staircase and drops it on him to make it appear like an accidental death.

Investigating the incident, Policewoman Jessica Connors (Alexandra Seal) notices inconsistencies in Nina's story including the deep cut to Andrew's neck and how strange it is that he would be changing a light bulb in the middle of the night. However, knowing what happened to Andrew's first fiancee, her sister, she does not investigate further, saying that she'll just put it down to one of those obscure domestic accidents that happen from time to time. After Andrew's funeral, Millie is seen observing from a distance. Nina and Cece come over, the pair embrace and Nina slips a cheque into Millie's hand for US$100K with which to start a new life. Millie later attends another housemaid interview. The interviewer says she comes highly recommended by Nina, and indicates that her husband is abusing her. Millie replies by asking when she can start working.

'The Housemaid' is hardly going to win any major awards this season, but nonetheless it's a fun and entertaining watch, and a throwback to the late '80's and early '90's erotic film noir offerings that Michael Douglas seemed to churn out frequently enough back in the day. Paul Feig has crafted a campy, pulpy thriller that knows exactly what it is and doesn't pretend to be anything else, and for this he is to be congratulated for stepping outside his usual action comedy offerings for something a little different. Amanda Seyfried shines in her role as the seemingly unhinged wife who comes good in the end, and Sydney Sweeney is also well cast as the well intentioned woman who becomes a little unhinged in the end. There are a few plot holes in the script, but otherwise the film is well worth the price of your cinema ticket to maintain your interest for 130 minutes and to see where the twists and turns take you. 

'The Housemaid' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st January 2026.

As 2025 draws to a close, all that remains for me to say is to wish you the very best for a safe, healthy, prosperous and happy New Year. Wherever you are in the world, get out and watch a movie at your local multiplex or independent cinema and support all those working tirelessly in front and behind the camera. This past year I've Reviewed fifty new movies and have Previewed 253, and so many thanks for your continuing support and readership over the past twelve months. I look forward to bringing you more of the same content throughout 2026, kicking off at the end of January, as I'm taking the next month off as many Aussie's do during the summer holiday period. Until next time . . . at your local Odeon.

Looking ahead to the first new release movies of 2026, we kick off with a biographical musical drama film charting the highs and lows of a husband and wife Milwaukee Neil Diamond tribute band. This is followed up by a British historical drama offering in which a choral society's male members enlist in World War I, leaving the demanding choirmaster to recruit teenagers, and together, they experience the joy of singing. Next up we have a Chinese Sci-Fi drama film set in a society where people stop dreaming to extend their lifespan, yet some dangerous individuals still dream, warping the fabric of time. And closing out the week we have an animated fantasy adventure comedy film about an unlikely duo Mr. Fish, a pouty introvert and an energetic sea dragon, who embark on a daunting quest to find a legendary fish to grant their wish to save their homes.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'SONG SUNG BLUE' (Rated M) - this American biographical musical drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Craig Brewer and is based on the 2008 documentary film of the same name by Greg Kohs. Craig Brewer's prior feature film making efforts include 'Hustle & Flow' in 2005, 'Black Snake Moan' in 2006, 'Footloose' (the remake) in 2011, 'Dolemite Is My Name' in 2019, and 'Coming 2 America' in 2021. This film had its World Premiere screening at the AFI Film Festival in late October last year, has garnered generally favourable critical reviews and has so far grossed US$13M from its production budget of US$30M since its release Stateside on Christmas Day. 

Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians Mike and Claire Sardina (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band they call 'Lightning and Thunder'. Along their musical journey together they experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak, while still proving that it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams. Also starring Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi and King Princess.

'THE CHORAL' (Rated M) - is a British historical drama film that is Co-Produced and Directed by Nicholas Hytner and is Written by Alan Bennet. Hytner's previous film output takes in 'The Madness of King George' in 1994, 'The Crucible' in 1996, 'The Object of My Affection' in 1998, 'Centre Stage' in 2000, 'The History Boys' in 2006 and 'The Lady in the Van' in 2015. Here, set in 1916 as war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in the fictional town of Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral's ambitious committee, determined to press ahead, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks. They must also engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) - driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together. Also starring Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Simon Russell Beale and Robert Emms. The film saw its World Premiere screening at TIFF in early September last year, was released in the UK in early November, has so far grossed US$5M and has garnered mixed or average reviews. 

'RESURRECTION' (Rated MA15+) - this epic Chinese and French Co-Produced Sci-Fi drama film is Co-Written, Directed and Edited by Bi Gan who also helmed 'Long Day's Journey into Night' in 2018. This film follows Miss Shu (Shu Qi) in a future where most of humanity has lost the capacity to dream, who discovers that one inhuman creature (Jackson Yee) is still able to experience them. She enters the monster's dreams, using her ability to perceive illusions to determine the truth in its visions of Chinese history. The film is structured into six chapters, each corresponding to one of the six senses recognised in Buddhist thought - sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind. The film had its World Premiere showcasing in late May last year at the Cannes Film Festival in Official Competition, was released in China in late November, in France in mid-December, having so far grossed US$27M and generated universal critical acclaim. 

'THE POUT-POUT FISH' (Rated G) - is an Australian and US produced animated fantasy adventure comedy film Directed by Ricard Cusso and Rio Harrington, and is based on the collection of children's books published between 2008 and 2022 by Deborah Diesen. Living on a rundown shipwreck, Mr. Fish (voiced by Nick Offerman) one day discovers a hyperactive young leafy sea dragon Pip (Nina Oyama) who had mistaken his home for a junkyard - pilfering his belongings. The heated argument that ensues leaves both their houses in ruin. But there is hope. Embarking on a seemingly impossible quest in search of the mythical Siamese fighting fish 'Shimmer' (Jordin Sparks) to grant them a wish, there's only one problem - someone else is on the hunt. Also starring Miranda Otto, Remy Hii, Mark Coles Smith, Grant Denyer and Nazeem Hussain. The film will be released towards the end of March in the US.

With four new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

AVATAR : FIRE AND ASH : Tuesday 23rd December 2025

I saw the M Rated 'AVATAR : FIRE AND ASH' earlier this week, and this American epic Sci-Fi film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by James Cameron, and is the sequel to 2022's 'Avatar: The Way of Water'. This is the third instalment in the Avatar film series, which began with 'Avatar' in 2009, with those first two films grossing a total US$5.267B off the back of a combined production budget of US$587M. James Cameron made his feature film debut with 'Piranha II : The Spawning' in in 1982 which he would follow up with 'Terminator' in 1984, 'Aliens' in 1986, 'The Abyss' in 1989, 'Terminator 2 : Judgement Day' in 1992, 'True Lies' in 1994, and 'Titanic' 1997 before embarking on this monolithic film franchise. The film was released worldwide last week, with two additional sequels, 'Avatar 4' and 'Avatar 5', in various stages of production and scheduled to be released in 2029 and 2031, respectively. With a production budget of US$400M+ the film has so far recouped US$545M at the global Box Office, has garnered generally favourable critical reviews and has so far won thirteen awards and been nominated a further thirty-three times from around the awards and festival circuit.

A year after settling in with the Metkayina clan, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri's (Zoe Saldana) family grapples with grief after their first son and oldest child Neteyam's (Jamie Flatters) death in battle in the previous film. Neytiri has developed a strong disliking and a mistrust toward humans. When a fleet of flying merchant ships arrive, the Wind Traders led by Peylak (David Thewlis), Jake and Neytiri decide Spider (Jack Champion) the teenage human son of Colonel Miles Quaritch who was formerly rescued from Quaritch by Jake and Neytiri, and who have been raising him like one of their own, must leave the Metkayina, but that the family will accompany him on the trip to return him to the humans. 

After departing the Metkayina clan, the Wind Traders convoy is ambushed by the Mangkwan, an aggressive Na'vi tribe who reject Eywa (the divine, globally connected consciousness of Pandora, a vast biological network linking all life, worshipped by the Na'vi as the Great Mother). Led by their spiritual leader Varang (Oona Chaplin), the Mangkwan set fire to the ships, looting them and killing survivors. The family becomes separated and are chased down by the Mangkwan. 

Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and Corporal Lyle Wainfleet (Matt Gerald) find Jake, and they reluctantly work together to find the children. Spider's oxygen mask runs out of power, and he collapses from asphyxiation. Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) connects her queue to the ground and goes into a trance. After his body is infused with mycelia, Spider later wakens with the ability to breathe Pandora's atmosphere unaided.

Eventually, the children are trapped by the Mangkwan. Quaritch and Jake arrive, and Quaritch ventures to the Mangkwan encampment and teaches Varang how to use guns and flamethrowers. Kiri commands the flora to kill their guards, enabling her family's escape. Kiri learns that she was born of Eywa, but is blocked from connecting with her. Quaritch travels to the Mangkwan's village, bringing them plentiful supplies of firearms and flamethrowers. He convinces them to form an alliance, and begins a relationship with Varang.

Kiri helps Spider bond with the wildlife, but the two are ambushed and Spider is taken by Quaritch. Quaritch invades the Metkayina village with the Mangkwan, demanding Jake. Jake surrenders himself to avoid war, and he and Spider are taken to the RDA (Resources Development Administration) base, Bridgehead City, where the Mangkwan now reside. In captivity, Spider is subjected to many tests, and after examining Spider, Dr. Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) and Dr. Max Patel (Dileep Rao) discover the mycelia organism inside his body, which they realise could be reverse engineered to allow every human to breathe on Pandora. Spider is also growing a neural queue on his head, allowing him to connect to Pandoran fauna just like the Na'vi do. Meanwhile, Jake is chained, locked up and called out as a traitor by the people of Bridgehead City. 

Looking for Payakan (a young bull Tulkun [large highly intelligent marine whale-like species native to the oceans of Pandora] that has been labeled as an outcast by not only the Metkayina clan, but the larger Tulkun community also). Lo'ak (Britain Dalton) the second son of Jake and Neytiri, is attacked by a group of giant squid, but he is rescued by Tulkun whales. Hundreds of Tulkun begin to congregate for an annual mating event, which could bring substantial profit when hunted for their amrita (a naturally occurring substance in the creature's brains which has the medical power to stop human ageing). RDA biologist Dr. Ian Garvin (Jemaine Clement) opposes the plans, but his advice is ignored.

With Jake scheduled to be executed at 6:00am the next morning by firing squad, Neytiri infiltrates the base, and Ian steals a giant bulldozer to free Jake. Spider escapes the RDA laboratories, and knowing they cannot afford to kill him, acts as a human shield to protect the pair as they make their escape. After fleeing to safety, Jake and Neytiri argue over Spider's liability to the potential human conquest of Pandora. Jake takes Spider into the forest and readies to kill Spider by slitting his throat, but stops at the last second. Neytiri who initially wanted to abandon Spider is now remorseful, and she finally accepts Spider into her family.

Back at the Metkayina village, the Tulkun council hear Jake's warning of an incoming massacre, but decide not to change their pacifist ways. Lo'ak brings Payakan and Tan'ok, the disfigured sole survivor of a human attack on Payakan's pod, and the Tulkun elders reconsider their stance. Jake re-bonds with the apex aerial predator Toruk and rallies the Na'vi clans to battle. 

The next day, as the RDA fleet arrives for the hunt, the Tulkun and Na'vi ambush them. The Mangkwan and Quaritch suddenly attack, inflicting heavy casualties, including Rotxo (Duane Evans Jnr.). Metkayina spiritual leader Ronal (Kate Winslet) is mortally wounded and dies in childbirth, with Neytiri taking her baby, Pril and vowing to take care of the newborn infant, but she is captured and taken to the RDA flagship. 

Kiri unlocks her ability to communicate with Eywa and asks for help. The Pandoran wildlife attacks the rest of the RDA forces. Varang tries to kill Neytiri, but she is rescued by Kiri, leading her to flee. Jake's Toruk destroys the RDA flagship as it is sucked up into a magnetic flux. Jake and Quaritch are thrown into the flux and fight each other, with Spider following. Spider shoots Quaritch with an arrow into his arm, but he falls off a floating rock, only for Quaritch to catch him. Jake reluctantly pulls them both up, and Neytiri and her children arrive. Outnumbered, clearly at a disadvantage and knackered from his intense fight with Jake, Quaritch leaps off the rock, presumably to his death.

After the battle, Spider and the Metkayina clan members connect to the underwater spirit trees, where he meets all the deceased Na'vi. Kiri introduces Spider to her mother, Grace (Sigourney Weaver), and they initiate him into the Na'vi people. 

James Cameron with 'Avatar : Fire and Ash' has once again solidified his place as a master storyteller with his Pandoran world building, the character arcs, and the sheer spectacle of Pandora's flora and fauna. This is a film that has to be seen on the biggest screen possible, and in glorious 3D to really appreciate the quality of the technical workmanship that went into rendering the amazing imagery presented on screen, and for that Cameron can't be faulted. That said, the plot is really more of the same as seen in the first two instalments, and the dialogue is at times clunky and repetitive (I lost count of the number of times 'you got this' and 'we can do this' popped out of a characters mouth!). As for the performances, Oona Chaplin's Varang adds a new dimension to Pandora's darker side, ably aided and abetted by Stephen Lang's Quaritch, with many of the returning Actor's anchored more convincingly by the advances in motion capture technology in the sixteen years since the first film hit our movie theatres. At the longest runtime of the series so far at three hours and seventeen minutes, the immersion in the films spectacle did not leave me wanting, and the battle sequences and fight scenes are expertly staged and rendered to maintain interest and propel the story along. Also starring Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Edie Falco and Brendan Cowell. As an extra bonus see if you can spot the nods to Brian De Palma's 1987 film 'The Untouchables' and Mel Gibson's 1995 film 'Braveheart'. 

'Avatar : Fire and Ash' warrants four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-