(this is a review of the 2D release of the film)Can some one please explain to me the vitriol and downright hatred critics and film geeks have towards writer and director M. Night Shyamalan? After just getting back from seeing The Last Airbender, Shyamalan's take on the wonderful and much-loved animated series Avatar, I am more convinced than ever that people have some personal vendetta against the man and are no longer reviewing his films on their own merit.
Most of you who know me, probably know I consider myself something of a film buff, or nerd if you prefer - one who obsessivley watches and re-watches films. I like to think I have a good eye for what is good and what is truly terrible. Since I first saw Sixth Sense, I've loved Shyamalan's films, even the much maligned Lady in the Water and The Happening (although, I admit, The Happening was pretty terrible, still I thought it was fun). I loved Signs and The Village, and Unbreakable has remains in my top 3 superhero movies of all time. And I know I am not alone, I know plenty of people who love Shyamalan's films - in fact, I can't think of a person I know who hasn't loved his movies (with the exception of The Happening). So, why all this critical venom?
Last I checked, The Last Airbender was ranking at 6% on Rotten Tomatoes. Really? Six percent? I've read multiple critics calling the film the worst of the year and contender for worst of the decade? Apparently none of them saw Paul Blart, Mall Cop. Critics are saying Airbender is the nail in the coffin of Shyamalan's career and he will never make a film in Hollywood again. Well, while I respect many film critics and think many are worth reading, allow me to go against consensus and register my disagreement.
The critics are just dead wrong on this one. I very much enjoyed Airbender, and, judging from the reactions of adults and kids alike coming out fo the theater, so did just about every one else. I'm a huge fan of the Nickelodeon animated series Avatar, and I thought the film, while not perfect, kept much of the spirit of the original alive. If you haven't seen the original series all the way through, I recommend you get to Netflix and check it out. It is an ongoing story with characters that grow and evolve, more so than many live action shows.
I will not waste time rehashing the story, plot or the characters as I assume if you are reading this you are already familiar with those elements. Considering he was condensing 10 hours of story in to about an hour and a half, Shyamalan does a great job of following of Book One of the original series. The film definitely focuses more on the characters' jounrey to reach the Northern Water Kingdom and the conflict that ensues there. The story moves at a fast clip (almost too fast at times) but does not skimp on the details of creating a rich and textured fantasy world. I thought the CGI was top notch and there is no shortage of well-choreographed, though not over-the-top, martial arts sequences.
Where the film really shines is in the actual look of the world. Having just rewatched all of Book One of the animated series, I thought everything in the film just looked pretty damn perfect. From the characters to locations to the CGI of bending the elements, to me, just felt very true to the animated world. I was afraid the film would fail in this regard, as the recent Narnia movies did - a clean and whitewashed fantasy world that doesn't feel tangible. Shyamalan, however, gets it right. And, I have to say, the real make or break part for me was, of course, how Appa and Momo were rendered in CGI. I am pleased to say, Appa could look any more perfect. Appa even sounds just right. Momo, looks great, too, but I didn't think we saw enough of him.
As I said, however, the film is not perfect. People have compared the acting of Noah Ringer, who plays Aang, to Jake Lloyd from Phantom Menace. Ouch. Well, the acting here is not going to win any awards, but it is not THAT bad. And, the actors here are not dealing with a script that even approaches a George Lucas level of bad. I found most of the performances, to be fairly strong - particularly those actors who are playing the Fire Nation baddies, including Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel, who plays Prince Zuko.
If I have two beefs with the movie it is really that I thought it was a bit too short, and it was missing a lot of the humor that made the animated series so very endearing. I think Shyamalan often sacrificed the character development we got in the animated series for big action and effects. Though the film keeps the mysticism and history surrounding the Avatar intact, it is missing some of the more indepth folklore I enjoyed in the series - the Panda forest spirit, Aang getting help from the ocean spirit, etc. In the film, we only really see one inhabitant from the spirit world, and that is the dragon spirit guide. We also don't see a whole lot of Earth Benders, either.
Overall, though, I recommend you ignore the critics and decide for yourself. The Last Airbender probably isn't going to be the best film you ever see, but it is entertaining, exciting and wholly enjoyable. Purists might balk at missing plot elements or the like, but not me. (I wasn't one of those that threw a fit that Peter Jackson axed Tom Bombadil from the Rings trilogy.) But, the spirit of the cartoon is largely there, and that is the most important thing.
I sincerely hope this does well (even though it is up against Eclipse) and that we get two more Avatar movies out of Shyamalan.
