"The Last Airbender" (released on July 1) is the first movie in a three-part trilogy. To be considered as one of the worst movies of 2010, a racial controversy on its plate, and a direct rivalry with "Eclipse" for the top spot, M. Night Shyamalan has a lot going against him. Although, it seems that the attention gained by those three elements (no pun intended) paved the way for "The Last Airbender" to garner a spot in the top five. Despite the critics, it managed to grab a solid hold as #2 over the holiday weekend, only to be bested by "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." Following in the Airbender's wake, are "Toy Story 3," "Grown Ups," and "Knight and Day," earning #'s 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
A little background history behind the whole movie (SPOILER): It's based on the first season of the Nickelodeon anime series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender". The Avatar is essentially the Peacemaker of the universe, a person who makes sure that everything is in order, and that everyone is acting humane. All Avatars are told at the age of sixteen, an age when most people feel they can handle the responsibilities. He or she can go into the Avatar State, a trance in which the current Avatar gains advice from past Avatars or possess extraordinary physical powers. When an Avatar dies, a new one is born in the nation/element next in the cycle (Water, Earth, Fire, Air). Each nation is named after the element its people practice (i.e.: a earthbender was born in the Earth Kingdom). If the Avatar dies while in the Avatar State, the cycle is broken, and the line discontinues.
Now here's a little character bio (SPOILER):
- Aang (Noah Ringer) - At the age of twelve, he's the current Avatar. The Air Nomad monks told him at an early age, due to a war on the horizon. Understanding that he could never have a normal life, and his longing for one, he ran away only to get caught in a heavy storm. Trapped, he went into the Avatar State and froze himself with his sky-bison, Appa, into an iceberg. He was found by Katara and Sokka 100 years later, his body well preserved and barely aged.
- Katara (Nicola Peltz) - This fourteen year old is the only remaining waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe. When her mother died during a firenation raid, she assumed the responsibilities of her village. Even though she's younger than her brother Sokka, Katara shows more maturity and often thinks things through before diving into any situation. In the anime she is described as the spitting image of her grandmother.
- Sokka (Jackson Rathbone) - A warrior from the Southern Water Tribe, he's also the oldest (fifteen) among the males in his village. Despite the fact that he can't bend any element, Sokka's skills in strategy and leadership often prevail in battles. He greatly misses his father, who left for war two years ago. He retains some humor in the movie, but he shows more comic relief in the anime.
- Prince Zuko (Dev Patel) ♥ - At the age of thirteen he denounced a general's plan to use new soldiers as bait in an Earth Kingdom invasion. He didn't realize that he humiliated his father (Fire Lord Ozai), but was ordered to an Agni Kai (a duel) nevertheless. Zuko refused to fight him, and the Fire Lord banished and burned him, resulting in a scar that stretches from his left eye to his left ear. The trauma caused his personality to change significantly, and three years later, at sixteen, Zuko is still searching for the Avatar... his one way ticket to home. FYI, Prince Zuko is my fave character in both the series and the movie.
- Iroh (Shaun Toub) - He's Prince Zuko's uncle, and often acts as a father-figure for him (considering how Zuko's real father attempted to burn him to a crisp). Sometimes he seems rather lazy, but on the battlefield he's a deadly force. In Iroh's younger years, he was the top general in the Fire Nation's militia. One of his more famous missions, the Siege of Ba Sing Se, failed. He withdrew all his soldiers after hearing that his son died in battle, and retired. Even though he is the older than his sibling, the crown went to his younger brother Ozai, because his failure was considered a great shame. He shows an amazing amount of tolerance to Prince Zuko's temper tantrums, due to the fact that he views Zuko as his own.
Personal thoughts on casting: I got disappointed when I heard Jesse McCartney would play Prince Zuko, who is my fave. Then I got all happy when it was announced that Dev Patel replaced him. Seriously. He's a good actor, has an accent (me likes guys with accents)... *drools* and looks kinda cute... Anyway, my initial thoughts when I saw the trailer were "OHMIGOD THIS IS GONNA BE SO FREAKIN' COOL!" I didn't care about what race the actors were. I didn't pay attention enough to make an analogy. I'm pretty sure M. Night cast them because they were good, or they could impersonate the characters right. Not because he wanted to be racist.
Personal thoughts on the possibility of a trilogy: For the most part I'm satisfied with how M. Night directed this. But the movie should've been two hours, not an hour 'n thirty. I'm ok with him doing the whole story line, unless someone manages to do it better.
Personal thoughts on 3D experience: Wasn't that good. The only super cool part was in the beginning when the ice turns into daggers and comes out of the screen.
Personal thoughts on Box Office results: I'm hoping. Very soon. That "The Last Airbender." Will beat "Eclipse." Seriously. I don't want some prissy twinkle-toed vampire to dominate for long. Or at least have "The Last Airbender" stay in the top 5 for at least three weeks. That's not bad either.
Positive thoughts on the movie experience:
- I love how M. Night Shyamalan added a couple of stuff, like Gran Gran explaining the Avatar world to Katara and Sokka, Prince Zuko quizzing a little boy on his downfall, and Commander Zhao humiliating him during a lunch meeting.
- I was most impressed by the acting of Dev Patel, it was FABULOUS! He captured Prince Zuko's feelings and internal conflict perfectly. It's like his emotions were speaking to me. O_O
- The bending effects were amazing. Not James Cameron's "Avatar" amazing, but enough to make me go "WHOA! He just kicked that dude's keister!" Not to mention the animation of Momo and Appa, although Momo does remind me of Zoboomafoo.
Negative thoughts on the movie experience:
- Damn. These. 3D. Glasses. Are. Squishing. My. Nose.
- I'm waiting for some awesome 3D effects...
- Whoa. We're at the North Pole already?
In short I enjoyed the movie despite the fast paced plot, less than acceptable 3D effects, and the negative reviews from older critics. Putting aside the fact that I was an intense "Avatar: The Last Airbender" fan during Season 1 and 3 (I kinda lost interest in Season 2), and a mega Prince Zuko lover... What kept me interested in the movie was probably the cool bending effects. Or it could be the classic "chosen-boy-destined-to-save-the-world" storyline that seems to attract me in both movies and books. Or it could be the tears pouring out of me eyes during a particular scene (Yes, I did cry).
I hope you guys enjoyed reading this review, and watching the movie! Before I close the article, here's the theatrical and teaser trailer for "The Last Airbender" along with my fave TV spots. :)
Hugs,
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