The cartoon epic Avatar: The Last Airbender comes to the big screen as live-action special effects spectacular, with the title simplified to The Last Airbender. The movie is crammed with as much of the show's anime-influenced mythology as can fit: In a fantasy world, different tribes have influence over the elements of air, earth, fire, and water. Only one person can manipulate all four--the Avatar, who is also a bridge between the terrestrial and spirit worlds, and who reincarnates throughout the centuries. But for a hundred years, the Avatar has disappeared--until Katara, a young waterbender, and her brother Sokka discover a young airbender, Aang, frozen under the southern ice. Aang sets off to master the other elements so that he can counter the marauding Fire Nation, who have slain all other airbenders in their campaign to rule the world. Aang's journey and the titanic battles owe a significant debt to the Lord of the Rings trilogy--it's surprising that director M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) hasn't made more of an effort to craft something more distinctive. The only character who stands out is Prince Zuko (Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire), an exiled firebender who can only regain his place by his father's side if he can capture the Avatar. Everyone else is fairly bland--but this movie isn't about characters, it's about special effects, and lots of money and labor has been lavished on blasts of fire and water flying through the air.
Actors: Dev Patel, Noah Ringer
Directors: M. Night Shyamalan
