The Last Airbender (2010)

[Jeff Scott]

My son and I have been looking forward to M. Knight Shamalan's The Last Airbender since we found out it was being made into a film several months ago. Fans of the Nickelodeon cartoon will recognize that it should have rightly been entitled Avatar: The Last Airbender, the title of the cartoon, but couldn't for obvious reasons. (You can find a plot synopsis here if you're unfamiliar with the story. This movie is based on the 1st book.) The movie has received some of the worst reviews I've ever read. Mine will not be so harsh. I enjoyed it.

I'm guessing that most of the movie critics are forgetting 1 important thing- the movie was made for 6-12 year old boys not movie critics. If you are going to the movie to judge the quality of the acting you'll be disappointed. Mark Hamill would have fit in well in this film. BUT, if you were simply a fan of the cartoon, I don't think you left too disappointed- particularly if you are 8.

The cartoon series is comprised of several "books" which each have several chapters. Going in, I was concerned that the producers were going to try to cram all 3 books into 1 movie. I didn't see any way this could be possible and stay true to the story line. Fortunately, they did not, and the movie was simply based on the first book and it followed the plot well. It is clear that the plan is to make 2 sequels based on the second and third book. I hope they do, because I think it's a cute story, and my son LOVES it. It's a little thing we did together that I think he'll always remember.

So, if you are unfamiliar with the cartoon (available for online viewing on netflix) don't waste your money. Not only will you not like the acting or production value, you'll likely think the plot is dumb too. However, if you are a fan of the cartoon, it is likely that you'll leave satisfied, but not blown away. I'd give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

(Disclaimer: I only saw the 2D version. Critics were particularly harsh about the quality of the 3D version, so I wouldn't bother with it. Save a buck.)

[Hank Crofford]

one of my freshmen told me there was a flying air cow or some such thing in the movie. is that true?

[Jeff Scott]

It's called a Bison. It's a fictional six-legged beast that doesn't look anything like a cow. But I can see how the word "bison" might conjure up those images. It's kind of like the "dragon" that looked like a golden retriever in The Never Ending Story.

A picture:



OK, so I guess I can see where it might resemble a cow.

[Hank Crofford]

Thanks. I couldn't tell if I was being put on or not by that student and none of my younger cousins watched the show so they couldn't tell me. That is a funny looking creature, i might see the movie just to see how the digital cinematography job is. thanks for the review!

[Jeff Scott]

It came in 2nd at the box office in the opening weekend.

Here's one fan of the show hoping they make enough $ to feel ok to make the sequels. Also, my son might cry if they don't!

[Scott Moseley]

My kids have been watching the cartoon series Avatar. Its on cable now and they are showing it in marathon format. Four shows in a row on thursday.(in Asia) My kids 11 and 13, are glued to the tube and lil homework gets done on Thursday pm. Is the movie done by the same people as the cartoon? ie.same characters etc?

[Jeremy D. Scott]

I've really enjoyed the flavor that Shyamalan has brought to the screen in the past. Can you tell that this was "his" movie, or is he just a name?

[Jeff Scott]

Pretty much his name only. I don't know how he could put his mark on it and stay true to the story.

[Ryan Scott]

I saw an interview with him about it. I know he's not the best source since he's generally full of himself, but he talked about how this was the "right" superhero movie for him, implying he'd been approached about some of the other ones that had been out (I think he even name dropped Iron Man). He did talk about how it was big budget with lots of actors and CGI, which was new, but a challenge. Then they asked him the inevitable question about how it was so different from his other films and he replied something along the lines of "I don't know why people keep asking that, all my films are different."

So there you go.

[Scott Hilton]

My daughter and I went to see the movie a couple of weeks ago. We had heard the bad reviews and I wasn't sure about going.....because movies just aren't cheap. I enjoyed the movie and I have average knowledge of the cartoon from my daughters interest in it. I'm not sure what people were expecting, I'm ok with the characters not looking exactly the same and also knowing some things are going to be interpreted differently, that is just life.

In the end, I wanted to see the next movie and story about the avatar. I think that is what the movie producers are hoping for. =)

[John Brickley]

I just ran across a very insightful review of the Last Airbender. I think you will find it very enlightening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llqK1...eature=related