Movie Review: The Last Airbender

"For a film that featured a boy bending Earth, Air, Water and Fire, “The Last Airbender” ends up bending movie elements - the WRONG way.”

“I slept while watching the movie” a colleague of mine remarked.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because of too much dance routines!”

Oh yes - the “dance routines”. My colleague was referring to the lengthy head, body and torso movements a gifted person makes just to be able to control the elements of Earth, Air, Water and Fire in the movie.

Too bad that’s not the only reason to fall asleep.

Plot Mess

Adapted from the American animated tv series, “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, the movie had the makings of a good-to-watch summer hit based on its anticipation from its trailers and initial feedback.

But scenes usually begin with a subtitle explaining where it takes place, and after awhile would shift to another place, then zipping back to another, then crossing over back to an earlier scene for some moments and then…

Well, you get the idea. Director M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) tries to make the film look epic in scope by introducing so many locations yet as the pace moves so does confusion on the storylines.

Another “Slumdog” performance from Dev Patel this ain’t.

Dev Patel is the likely familiar actor here best known for his role in “Slumdog Millionaire”, but a bad script limited his abilities this time around. Noah Ringer, who plays child protagonist Aang, will be best remembered for his moves on controlling the elements and little else. And let’s not even go to the romantic angle between the other two major characters. The dialogue is laughable in some parts, which wasn’t even intended as a sense of humor attempt in the first place.

Special effects saved the film

Credit Industrial Light and Magic for saving this film from being a complete letdown, as the special effects were the most exciting parts amidst the camera work of M. Night which gives you the visual interface impression of watching an interactive website where a certain area being focused on gives a particular action or event centered on Aang showcasing his powers against their foes.

In summary, this is a failed fantasy adventure with a danger of being made into a trilogy.

“Dance routines” for two more movies like this?

Think I’ll fall asleep as well.


FILM RATING: 2 stars (out of 5)