If this truly marks James Cameron’s farewell to the franchise, then Avatar: Fire and Ash does deliver a gripping finale that caps the saga’s first arc.

Moviegoers are assured of a visual masterpiece that is even better in 3D, to say the least. Story wise, the film ties up loose ends from Way of Water and culminates in a ginormous battle Pandora’s fate. That’s all while leaving the door open for future chapters.

Execution could have been more polished, but the box office blockbuster franchise’s third entry still remains worth the trip.

As a standalone movie, viewers will find it enjoyable without much knowledge of the first two installments.

Decisions, consequences

Avatar: Fire and Ash is set just weeks after the events of Way of Water. And just like the second installment, the conflict begins with a seemingly harmless decision.

Amid their grief, Jake, Neytiri, and the Sullys decide Miles “Spider” Socorro — son of Col. Miles Quaritch — can no longer stay with them.

This leads to them accompanying him aboard a passing flying merchant ship. Along their trip supposedly back to the human scientist camp, the film introduces the Mangkwan.

This isolated Na’vi tribe who reject Eywa is spearheaded by their tsahik, Varang. From the initial look, they seek domination over Pandora. They also happen to reject Eywa, as bared later on, with Varang showcasing control of fire.

Chaos erupts as the Mangkwan attacks the flying merchants, leaving almost everyone dead. The encounter also causes the Sullys to be separated.

While the tribe ravages the hapless merchants, Col. Quaritch and his team remain hellbent on exacting revenge on Jake, as was his central goal from the past film.

In his pursuit of Jake, a three-way conflict pushes the movie to be tense from the get-go. All parties have their goals they need to accomplish. And a radical new threat stands in the way too.

Enemy of the enemy

Quaritch and his right-hand, Cpl. Lyle Wainfleet, only find Jake tied up in the aftermath of the Mangkwan’s attack.

Persuaded by Jake who knows where to find Jake, Quaritch decides to spare his nemesis temporarily.

They set out on a search for the Mangkwan, while the film highlights the tribe’s radical, if not extremist nature. There’s unsettling rituals and Varang’s thirst for power.

This starts to deepen the narrative as now, it’s a matter of ironically joining forces with your foe. And in spite of the vengefulness inside Quaritch, his side as a father to Spider lets him postpone his payback plans.

Jake and Quaritch team up momentarily to save the former’s children. But Quaritch also realizes the potential in forming an unlikely alliance with Varang, which he does.

A incomprehensible power within

After the first hour or so, Avatar: Fire and Ash gradually builds up on Kiri’s mysterious abilities. She was key to the children escaping from the Mangkwan when she commanded the fauna to kill some fighters.

This was also highlighted more when she bonded with the ground to help Spider survive and turn him sort of into half-Na’vi, being able to breath without an oxygen mask.

But her powers are incomprehensible even to herself. She even tries to commune with Eywa, but to no avail. It was clear at this point that the movie intended to set her up as an integral warrior to what was brewing.

Expanding conflict

Back in the RDA lab, corporate greed takes over anew as scientists find out hundreds of Tulkun whales will be gathering for their mating season.

This would bring them billions in profit if they could harvest large volumes of the amrita substance, threatening Pandora’s ecosystem in the process.

The subplot adds to an already complex web of conflicts. Although, Quaritch’s vendetta against Jake still remains the enduring, central thread, sustaining tension throughout the runtime.

Each chapter just provided constant cliffhangers, somehow keeping viewers glued in spite being three hours long. About two hours in, Quaritch and Varang’s alliance (and relationship) and Jake’s surrender evoked trouble across Pandora.

Humanity amidst the struggle

Adding to that long runtime was exploring the Sullys’ human side. Standing out was Neytiri’s extended grief over the loss of Neteyam.

Her anger toward Spider and general hatred for humans from the first film created an ethical dilemma when she wanted Quaritch’s son dead. Ultimately, the couple decided not to kill Spider, showing how humanity prevailed amidst the struggle.

Neytiri’s sorrow was an aspect the filmmakers arguably could have utilized better. Early on, her grieving lingered over and over. It didn’t help that she was injured from the initial Mangkwan attack too.

While it was already heartbreaking to see Neytiri in such a state, it could have been shown better how she channels this into anger and showing the sky people what they’ve done.

Make no mistake, her clever disguise as a Mangkwan member that helped free Jake and Spider was a great touch.

Yes, the was emotional balance from Zoe Saldana’s character to complement action sequences, but a different direction could have pushed it further.

Climactic finish

Eventually and expectedly, Avatar: Fire and Ash finale sprawls into a dramatic battle that involves all parties. Jake assumes the mantle of Toruk Makto once more, and rallies all known Na’vi tribes, knowing what’s at stake.

This was setup aptly given all conflicts were unveiled at different parts of the movie. I’ll give them the cohesion. But still, it should have been presented with more chaos.

For a film that was titled “Fire and Ash”, you would have expected ruins and lots and lots of burning. Perhaps even some volcanic explosions to set up the end of Pandora.

Anyway, the Tulkuns and Na’vi take care of business initially against the profit-blinded RDA ambush. But combined forces of the now heavily-armed Mangkwan and Quaritch turn the odds to the antagonists’ favor.

Casualties were aplenty; the sudden deaths of key allies felt apt with how straightforward they cut through viewers’ chests. Instantly dead if that’s how their fates should be sealed.

By now, most loose ends have been addressed. Kiri has likewise finally connected with Eywa, whom she asks for help.

Similar to Way of Water, family members were once again held hostage inside an RDA ship. Thankfully, Neytiri overpowers Varang, who decides to flee.

Everything boiled down to Quaritch and Jake confronting each other amid the chaos. Spider aids Jake, but his conflicting loyalty culminates in him saving his biological father.

Repetitive?

Visually, the entire final sequence dazzles, with the sheer volume of moving parts making up for an epic scene at part with those in other trilogies. But the length might have caused fatigue too.

At the same time, if you are going with such an exhaustive screen time, might as well incorporate newer elements related to the Mangkwan.

Or Neytiri and Varang could have had their own distinct one-on-one combat to add to what’s going on.

Even better, Neytiri should have led from the get-go for a refreshed take while the Jake-Quaritch conflict remained a lasting subplot.

There were missed opportunities especially in a final battle that once again took place ocean-bound.

Room for more?

In what was the film’s final cliffhanger for more potential installments, Quaritch decides to jump off the floating rock shortly after getting cornered by the Sullys.

It appeared Jake still wanted to say something, or perhaps convince him to redeem himself before it’s too late.

Instead, we can only assume Quaritch has fallen to his death… not unless the suddenly disappeared Varang saved him on a Banshee. Such ambiguity leaves space for possibly more.

The epilogue was poignant; the underwater spirit trees were a nice touch with cameos from past characters welcoming Spider for his full transition to a Na’vi. The same could be said for Neytiri and Ronal warming up to each other after being reluctant towards each other.

Overall, Avatar: Fire and Ash is a visual spectacle that weaves several dilemmas throughout. It’s not that it wasn’t coherent nor cohesive, but missed opportunities held it back.

Though it’s a worthy, if imperfect, finale to Cameron’s first saga.

The overall state of entertainment and streaming (see: Netflix bids to acquire Warner Bros.) isn’t exactly looking peachy. That said, there’s still no shortage of shows and movies to keep us hooked to all of our screens. Here’s what the GadgetMatch Team watched in 2025!

Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc

Rodneil: This is the most I’ve enjoyed Chainsaw Man yet.

If I had to sum it up in two words, I’d return to my first thought when I stepped out of the cinema. It’s beautifully cruel.

This is for fans who crave good animation, appreciate when a story shows instead of tells, and really, for anyone who’s ever had a young crush only for it to ultimately fall by the wayside.

Plus, of course, there’s some bombastic action in there too. 

KPOP Demon Hunters 

Rodneil: What hasn’t already been said about KPOP Demon Hunters? No one – not even Netflix or Sony Animation – expected it to blow up the way it did. 

I, too, thought it was going to be a cringefest. But two things had me looking forward to it – I like animated features and members of my ult girl group TWICE were tapped to sing one of the tracks. 

In a nutshell, it has the magic of 2000s-2010s Pixar with a decidedly K-Culture coating. Animation & Art Style feels fresh, the songs are absolute bangers, and the run time doesn’t wear out its welcome. 

KPOP Demon Hunters is the undisputed cultural phenomenon breakout of 2025. Bar none.

Sinners

Rodneil: Sinners is a movie that’s hard to make sense of in the immediate minutes after seeing the whole thing. It’s tagged as a horror flick but it’s so much more than that. 

The film is incredibly layered, tackling racism and supernatural vampire lore among other things. I also had the privilege of seeing this on an IMAX screen and saw how director Ryan Coogler played with the aspect ratio to deliver certain scenes in a more poignant manner. 

Sinners is an extremely measured story. Everything from the setting, the music, and the supernatural elements involved feel intentional. They all serve to force us to confront the cultural appropriation still going on today. 

All of these deeply layered themes and invitations for deep self-inquisition are served on a film that’s beautifully scored and shot. 

It’s treat to the ears, eyes, and a challenge to the mind.

Plus, there’s Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld. I’d watch anything with those two in it. 

My Hero Academia: The Final Season

Rodneil: As of writing, it’s been a little over a week since the last episode of the final season aired. I’ve been busy and on the move since and thus have yet to fully process everything. What I’ll admit is that the last episode, like many of its episodes this season and its entire run  as a whole made me tear up.

My Hero Academia is one of the few anime that felt like mine. I watched it not because of anyone else’s influence but because it was something that genuinely caught my eye. And while there are many heroes and heroes-in-training to root for and be a fan of, I naturally gravitated to the protagonist- Izuku “Deku” Midoriya. He perfectly embodies the theme of the show in that being a hero is not because of ranking or powers — its your actions and how your are of service to and inspire others to take action in times of crisis or when someone is in need that defines heroism.

I feel bittersweet that this anime has ended. While everyone gravitated to the likes of Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen, I stuck with the series because out of everything that released past 2010 — it spoke to me the most. I don’t have enough words to fully express what the show meant to me but it’s something that I’ll revisit every now and again, that’s for sure.

When Life Gives You Tangerines

Vincenz: One of IU’s biggest hits in the K-Drama industry was Hotel Del Luna back in 2019. After six years, she went all out again. This time, with Park Bo-gum and Kim Seon-ho as his two male leads. But it’s not just about them, really.

Slice-of-Life dramas are usually slow-paced and emotional. But an hour’s worth of episode barely felt like it. The longer I watch, the more I crave for it.

I didn’t expect that I will cry buckets in every episode. That’s not to say it’s limited to just that. It’s a full rollercoaster ride of emotions – I cried A LOT, but also, laughed, sulked, and even got mad in every scene possible. Life lessons not forgotten.

Much like how the title got translated to the Chinese proverb “苦盡柑來遇見你” / “After the bitterness comes sweetness”, the drama purely embraces that.

It may be a bold claim but, WLGYT isn’t just one of the best K-Dramas of 2025. It is honestly one of the BEST in the entirety of K-Drama history.

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

Vincenz: Much like stanning IU since 2009, I grew up watching and loving SNSD / Girls’ Generation a lot. This is far from YoonA’s first acting stint, but it still felt refreshing to see her not as an idol member, but a full-fledged actress.

Her chemistry with the super rookie actor Lee Chae-min is just one (and finally, he got that break he deserved since his debut). However, those that stood out are undoubtedly the hilarious scenes. More so, how it leaves viewers not just drooling, but the utmost curiosity in how the fusion of traditional and modern Korean, Western, and even Chinese cuisine were all possible.

And it’s not just her versatility in acting, the way she actually learned how to cook in a chef’s way speaks volumes for the drama itself.—

Weak Hero: Class 02

Vincenz: I waited exactly two years and sevent months for the sequel of Weak Hero: Class 01 – only to devour it in less than 24 hours.

After that almost three-year drought, it fired up the questions that remained unanswered since the first season. Weak Hero: Class 02 gets bolder with more action-packed scenes not limited to just Si-eun, but a whole gang of protagonists, antagonists, and even the involvement of several institutions in one.

Much like watching the drama since S01, watching S02 is as unstoppable as ever. Once you go in, there’s no way out. And the spoiler? There are still mysteries unsolved. Class 03, how long will I wait for you?

Predator: Killer of Killers

Levi: The sixth installment of the Predator franchise was one of the first movies I watched after having re-subscribed to Disney+.

It’s a gripping anthology film that is packed with lots of action while taking viewers to different eras throughout time. I understand why it’s an animated take instead of live action, given how gruesome and intense the fight scenes were.

The three protagonist warriors were all given the chance to shine, and the need to team up towards the end added to the thrill. All the while, it highlighted the strengths and vulnerabilities of different Predator warriors too and plugged rightfully into the grander scheme of things.

Weapons

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

Levi: I had no expectations whatsoever when I watched the premiere for this movie. It turned out to be one of this year’s horror/mystery/thriller masterpieces.

It’s well-woven, with the sudden and perplexing central conflict setting viewers up and getting them hooked from start to finish.

The movie was presented in a non-linear approach through different perspectives from several characters all linked together. Each part’s end had a cliffhanger or loose ends that all the more set up the climactic finale.

From a technical standpoint, the camera work gets you tense, from simple panning, framing, and blurring too. You’re just glued, waiting for the puzzle to be solved.

Caramello

Levi: When I was hospitalized, I tried to squeeze the most out of an eventually expensive bill. That included binge-watching everything possible on Netflix on the room’s TV.

Caramello was one of the trending movies at the time and boy did it get me in tears throughout.

The story is very realistic and relatable, and the movie draws appeal from this, along with twists and turns along the way.

You will just be left worried and continuously thinking about the fate of the protagonist chef, Pedro, as he tries to carve out a name for himself while dealing with something unexpected.

There was nothing fairytale-y nor idealistic about everything that transpired, and that’s what really got viewers captivated and moved.

Superman

Luigi: This year, James Gunn took the dying Snyderverse, reshaped everything, and strapped a jetpack onto what’s left. If Superman is any indication of what Gunn is doing, we can safely say that the DC Universe is in good hands.

Not an origin story, Superman hearkens back to a simpler time when superhero adventures were just fun. Though the film still has a handful of topical messages, it just wants to give audiences a roaring good time. There’s just so much to love: a light-hearted Superman, a head-strong Lois Lane, the quippy Mister Terrific, and the hard-to-love Guy Gardner.

It’s so endlessly fun that I’ve already watched it thrice. And for the first time in a long while, I’m actually hyped to see what comes next in a superhero universe. 

Peacemaker (Season 2)

Luigi: Staying with DC, Peacemaker is an entirely different beast but echoes much of the same fun that Superman had. In this R-rated series, John Cena plays Peacemaker, a naive superhero who just wants to have fun with his friends.

The first season, which is a bit more toned down, had Peacemaker deal with his racist father. This time, there’s some multiverse madness where the superhero finds an alternate world where he’s much more popular and successful. Obviously, there’s a twist, but it would be a shame to spoil it here.

What also sets it apart is that it can stand alone without Superman. It’s an enthralling series that doesn’t need to tease the future or do needless callbacks to the past.

One Battle After Another

Luigi: I didn’t think much about One Battle After Another at first. Coming into the cinema, I just knew that it was a Paul Thomas Anderson film, so it’s bound to be good. Oh my goodness, it was more than good.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays a retired militant activist who just wants to live a quiet life with his daughter. However, when an old enemy goes back on the hunt for him and his daughter, things take a turn for the worst. His quiet life turns into a rescue mission to save his daughter from the harshness of his past.

As dramatic as the synopsis sounds, One Battle After Another is actually one of the funniest movies I’ve seen this year, filled with incredibly timed quips and antics. It’s both one of the most dramatic comedies and the funniest dramas you’ll ever see.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Luigi: I don’t think this series can do any wrong. For the third outing, Rian Johnson is back with a mystery that you will enjoy gnawing on for almost three hours.

When a priest in a small town is murdered and a fellow priest is the prime suspect, Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc becomes the only one who can solve the impossible murder. As always, Craig is supported by an impressive cast of big names including Josh Brolin, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, and Cailee Spaeny. 

Unlike the previous two, Wake Up Dead Man is a bit more sparse with the social commentary. In its stead, the third Knives Out movie has a straight-up murder mystery. Rian Johnson just knows how to write them to keep you on your toes.

Predator: Badlands

Luigi: Predator: Badlands is NOT what you’d expect from a Predator movie. Whereas most reboots today rehash the formulas that made their originals popular, the new movie dares to do something different by turning the creature feature into… a coming-of-age family adventure?

Dek, the least ferocious of his Yautje tribe, chooses to go to another planet to hunt an impossible beast and prove his strength to his tribe. However, his hunt becomes more than he can chew, especially when the Alien franchise’s Weyland-Yutani show up to also hunt for the same beast.

It’s not a horror or a thriller like the original series, but it surprisingly works. What it lacks in bloody violence is replaced with a hero’s journey that just makes sense. It’s a nice, refreshing take on the old monster.

Bring Her Back

JP: I’m drawn to films that work in layers. Where a compelling narrative carries an undercurrent of metaphors used to explore deeper themes. While Bring Her Back isn’t overly cerebral, it effectively uses horror mechanics as an emotional vehicle, carrying the audience forward with every visceral scene. It uses fear not for shock value but to build tension and unease, mirroring real-world discomfort and uncertainties. 

Rooted in themes of loss and desperation, it trusts emotion over explanation, allowing the audience to understand through feeling rather than being told. That kind of restraint is rarely executed well, which is why the film stood out to me among others I’ve watched in 2025.

Bring Her Back is one of those films that stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

Final Destination: Bloodlines

JP: There’s something refreshing about horror that doesn’t overthink itself. 

Final Destination: Bloodlines has been received far more warmly than its detractors might suggest, especially by audiences who understand what the franchise has always been about. Much of the criticism seems to hinge on believability, which feels like a misplaced expectation for the genre.

I know it doesn’t offer much depth, but that’s what the franchise has always been about. Campy thrills, wildly unbelievable accidents, and familiar character tropes that make you root for their survival. In that sense, Final Destination: Bloodlines understood the franchise’s appeal perfectly, and executed it well. It stuck to their formula rather than reinventing and botching it.

As a horror fan, I found it to be a genuinely fun ride and a long-overdue return for the franchise. I guess the wait was worth it.

Levi: Just to add, if you saw this as someone who’s well-versed with how things go in Final Destination films, you’d still appreciate it because the filmmakers were playful with the elements in Bloodlines.

The backyard barbeque scene stood out for me with its unpredictability as you didn’t know what would lead to the father’s demise. It turned out to be a lawn mower and not the glass shard and rake.

The overall chase with death trying to go after everyone saved from The Sky View led to an enjoyable experience without dull parts.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle

MJ: I didn’t expect Demon Slayer to become part of my life the way it did. At the time, I was dating a doctor who was also a die-hard anime fan, and loving him meant committing to a two-week marathon of all five seasons of Kimetsu no Yaiba right before the Infinity Castle movie premiered. What began as an act of devotion slowly turned into genuine obsession.

Infinity Castle marks the first chapter of a trilogy adapting the manga’s Sunrise Arc, where the Hashiras and the Demon Slayer Corps face their final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King. By the time I reached this film, I was already deeply invested and emotionally tethered to the characters.

Demon Slayer stayed with me long after the credits rolled. Its music became part of my training playlists, scoring my runs and workouts, while its animation raised my already high standards for visual storytelling. 

Wicked: For Good

MJ: I first watched Wicked because someone I loved wanted me to. Back then, we saw ourselves in Glinda and Elphaba, two people bound by affection, ambition, and a friendship that changed them forever. I only saw the first part during that chapter of my life, when everything still felt shared.

A year later, I watched Wicked: For Good alone, and the timing felt devastatingly poetic. Without him beside me, the story unfolded differently. Elphaba and Glinda’s journey became less about magic and spectacle and more about parting ways, choosing growth, and honoring love even when it no longer fits.

It was a reminder that some people shape who you become, even if they are not meant to stay. Watching it on my own made me appreciate how love leaves echoes, and how some relationships end not in bitterness, but in gratitude for having mattered at all.

Physical: Asia

MJ: Watching Physical: Asia felt less like entertainment and more like witnessing a multi-nation sporting event unfold in real time. As an athlete, I found myself cheering as if it were the Olympics, rooting not only for my own country but for competitors across the Asia-Pacific region whose stories slowly became just as compelling.

The show introduced me to athletes I deeply admired, including Mongolian Bokh wrestler Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan, judoka Adiyasuren Amarsaikhan, and volleyball player Khandsuren Gantogtokh. Their grit, pride, and emotional vulnerability reminded me why sports have always felt universal to me.

While I had reservations about how some challenges leaned in favor of Korean CrossFitters and former Physical: 100 participants, I still appreciated how athletes from other countries showed up and gave everything they had, even when the odds were clearly stacked against them. It reinforced something I already knew but needed to be reminded of. Pride and emotion are powerful fuels for athletes, and I saw myself in that fire.

Running Point

MJ: Basketball was never my sport. Growing up, I struggled with it, and the cultural obsession around it in the Philippines often felt overwhelming. While others lived and breathed basketball, I found my place in tennis, track and field, and volleyball, where my strengths actually showed.

Netflix’s Running Point entered my life at the exact moment I needed it. As someone who recently began co-running a sports agency, the show offered unexpected insight into team leadership and the politics that shape the sports industry. What surprised me most was how deeply I related to Isla Gordon, played by Kate Hudson.

Isla is a reformed party girl forced to prove herself as a capable businesswoman after unexpectedly taking over her family’s professional basketball team. Her journey mirrored my own more closely than I anticipated. I was once a party boy, and I was suddenly put in charge of a sports event team.

Running Point was light, funny, and deeply validating. It gave me perspective and lessons I didn’t know I needed, all while reminding me that growth often begins when life hands you responsibility before you feel ready.

Crunchyroll has added nine exclusive titles for its Winter 2025 anime season lineup for Philippine viewers.

Step into the worlds of these titles as part of the lineup:

• Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
• Trigun Stargaze
• Sentenced to be a Hero
• My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2
• Oshi no Ko Season

The streaming platform is also offering a limited-time year-end sale. Fans can avail of the annual Fan and Mega Fan Premium Memberships for PhP 560 and PhP 710, respectively until December 30.

For its winter calendar, Crunchyroll will simulcast several titles weekly throughout the season. Below is the official schedule.

31 December

• Tamon’s B-Side 
• Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None 

2 January

• The Outcast 6

3 January

• Sentenced to Be a Hero 
• Fate/strange Fake

4 January

• Hana-Kimi
• MF GHOST Season 3
• The Daily Life of a Part-time Torturer
• Journal with Witch
• Kunon the Sorcerer Can See

5 January

• My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2
• Wash It All Away

6 January

• Tune In to the Midnight Heart 
• The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!!
• There was a Cute Girl in the Hero’s Party, so I Tried Confessing to Her
• Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter

7 January

• SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table
• Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord
• An Adventurer’s Daily Grind at Age 29

8 January

• JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3
• The Holy Grail of Eris
• Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You Season 2
• The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife
• ROLL OVER AND DIE

9 January

• Fire Force Season 3 Part 2
• DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR

10 January

• TRIGUN STARGAZE
• Dead Account
• A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans

11 January

• You and I Are Polar Opposites
• Kaya-chan isn’t Scary
• The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom
• In the Clear Moonlit Dusk

12 January

• ‘Tis Time for “Torture,” Princess Season 2

14 January

• 【OSHI NO KO】Season 3

16 January

• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2