Director M. Night Shyamalan Too Talky, Murky in ‘The Last Airbender’

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CHICAGO – The choices that M. Night Shyamalan makes in the progress of his filmography have become as perplexing as his early mysteries. “The Last Airbender,” featuring Dev Patel from “Slumdog Millionaire,” is an adaptation of a previous animated series, and although aimed at kids in the end seems tentative and…aimless.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

In a fantasy world, where the lands are divided into nations based on the elements – air, water, earth and fire – a girl named Katara (Nicola Peltz) is practicing her magical control of water with her brother, Sokka (Jackson Rathbone). They come upon a strange orb, and in cracking it open discover a boy name Aang (Noah Ringer). He has been in a deep sleep, and it turns out he’s been in that state for over a century.

It is a time of war, perpetuated by the fire nation. They have developed war machines, ships and land vehicles that run on the nation’s ability to control fire. They can easily overtake the other parts of the world, the more placid earth and water nations. Aang is of great interest to the fire royalty including Prince Zuko (Dev Patel), Lord Ozai (Cliff Curtis), Uncle Iroh (Shaun Toub) and Commander Zhao (Aasif Mandvi). He is believed to be the Avatar, a reincarnated “airbender” that can control all four elements and bring peace to the warring nations. The Fire Nation want him stopped.

Aang is reluctant to take on his Avatar role, but as the nations confront each other, he finds that his destiny can do more good for the both his new reincarnated life and the lives of his fellow travelers.

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Last Airbender”

Run Away!: Noah Ringer as Aang Makes His Escape in ‘The Last Airbender’ Photo credit: Industrial Light & Magic for © 2010 Paramount Pictures Corporation

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Last Airbender”