IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR

A little goes a very long way in the third chapter of director James Cameron's blockbusting franchise. Avatar: Fire And Ash is a masterclass in candyfloss storytelling, expertly fluffing around an hour of linear plot and character development into more than three hours of jaw-dropping visual spectacle that continues to push the envelope for performance capture technology.

- With DAMON SMITH

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH

CERT 12A, IN CINEMAS NOW

Following the death of eldest son Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) at the hands of Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and the Resources Development Administration (RDA), Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is mired in grief with his wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and children.

Surviving son Loak (Britain Dalton) blames himself for Neteyam's demise, and his sister Tuktirey (Trinity Bliss), adopted sister Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) and surrogate brother Spider (Jack Champion) buoy spirits in the face of sustained attacks by the RDA on pods of sentient, whale-like Tulkun.

Quaritch plots to tear his son Spider away from Jake and forges a dangerous pact with ferocious warrior queen Varang (Oona Chaplin) and the Mangkwan clan, who harness the power of fire from a kingdom steeped in volcanic dust. As rivalries intensify, Kiri leverages her strong connection to Eywa, the maternal consciousness that sustains life in myriad forms on Pandora.