OK for kids 9+
Boring -- but age-appropriate for young fans of the TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that even though this live-action fantasybased on Nickelodeon's popular Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon TV series was directed by The Sixth Sense's M. Night Shyamalan, it doesn't have much content that's inappropriate for the show's elementary-school-aged fans. There's some fighting and violence, but it's not bloody or even particularly scary. And one character gives up her life in order to save her people, but otherwise there's nothing too dark. Language and substance use aren't issues, and there's only very mild flirting between two characters, who kiss once. It's worth noting that there has been some controversy around the movie's casting, with fans objecting to Caucasian actors playing characters who are Asian in the TV series.
- Families can talk abouthow The Last Airbender movie compares to The Last Airbender cartoon. How are the characters different?
- How does the violence in this movie compare to others you've seen? Does this kind of media violence have more or less impact than what's in other fantasy/action movies? Why?
- Aang, like most great heroes, is on a journey. Who are his helpers? Whoare his nemeses? What does he need to do overcome his obstacles?
The good stuff
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Messages: The movie promotes collaboration, teamwork, and non-violence (Aang shows the power of elements without killing anyone).
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Role models: Kitara and Sokka selflessly agree to help Aang on his journey. Aang finally decides to accept his role as Avatar.
What to watch for
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Violence: Most of the fight scenes aren't very graphic because the benders don't need to get very close to each other, since they can manipulate elements, particularly fire and water. But there are some martial-arts-style fight scenes, with water and fire and earth (rocks!) thrown into the mix. There's one memorable death, but it's self-sacrificialand gently handled.
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Sex: One sweet kiss and some mild flirting. In one scene, an uncle tries to convince his single-minded nephew to look for a pretty girl instead of worrying so much.
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Language: Mild insults about the disgraced heir of the Fire Nation and about the water and earth people.
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Consumerism: Nothing in the film, but the movie is based on the popular animated Nickelodeon series and does have merchandising tie-ins.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: In one scene, the Fire Nation's commander makes a toast at a luncheon with his soldiers, but it's not clear that they're actually drinking.
Fan Reviews provided by
1
Disappointed. by ValRod123
M. Night Shyamalan disappointed the real fans of the original anime series. He added unnecessary changes to the movie and left out many important key aspects that made us fall in love with the original anime series in the first place. This movie discourages us to watch the next movie that will follow this series (Book: Earth). We are hoping that a more compassionate director will take over and replace some of the cast members. If you haven't seen this movie yet, we are suggesting that you wait until it comes out to rent from the $1 Redbox at any local Safeway Select.
Concerned Fans,
G&T
1
Peter Jackson WHERE ARE YOU?!? by BrasDwell
I am a loyal fan to the Avatar: The Last Airbender series... what the F*ck did I just spend 14 dollars on? Maybe It might have been worth that much money if the 3D lasted outside of the begining credits?? Thats even too much to say considering the Poor acting, Poor directing, Poor M. Night F**king Shamalya, Poor character description. When I see a freaking movie based off of previous instruction I like to see consistency at least in some aspects. How about you sit the hel* down and just take some pointers from some other actors like Peter Jackson who actually indulge in what is important when making a movie you *****. I take personal offense to such things when it comes to me spending my money and wasted anticipation. I hope there is no Book:Earth unless there is a new director or shamalay gets his act together and makes some sense in what hes doing... Learn how to please the real fans. I advise everyone to sit down and watch the original series of Avatar and leave well enough alone.
1
Butchery of a Beautiful Series, Mr. "What a Twist" strikes again. by DahBigFish
Anyone who has ever watched the original animated series will be horribly disappointed by this film. If the casting controversy and lack of East Asian actors in the film weren't bad enough M. Night's complete disregard for everything this series was supposed to stand for is painful. By throwing everything the creators had painstaking researched to the wind and giving it a cheap "M.Nightifcation" the deep Buddhist and Taoist symbolism that made the cartoon's mythology so powerful is lost in the muddled two hours of vapid, lackluster blah. The characters are completely flat and one dimensional and we find ourselves unimpressed and apathetic to them. Plus the dialogue is horrible and despite lead Ringer's martial art skills he delivers his lines like a child reading a book report to his class. Ultimately M. Night's ego and inability to honor anyone's creative skills but his own leave the viewer feeling as though they've been forced to watch a toddler finger paint over the Mona Lisa
2
Poor Attempt by slmuha
The anime series is great because it blends humor with dark themes and a decent story line. This movie had no personality development and no humor at all....horrible attempt at adaptation of only serious themes.........total failure.
2
Very disappointing. by tmw1990
My kids and I watch the cartoon series and have for a long time..
This movie doesn't even pronounce the names of the characters right.
Way to much dancing around before finally executing a bend of the elements.
Not enough action eiiher We were looking forward to seeing this movie for a long time... how very disappointing.
1
Sadly, Let Down by Way2Emilicious
I have been waiting for this movie for a year+ since I first saw a preview. We went to a midnight showing tonight and almost walked out. The theatre goers were infuriated when they left and as one gentleman put it, "I feel like I want to punch M. Night Shamylan in the face for that." I really wanted to give M. Night the benefit of the doubt, hoping that he had turned his ify-flop movie phase around 180, but I was poorly mistaken.
If you do still want to go see this movie, please wait until it's a matinee or at the dollar theatre...it won't take it long to get there!!
1
I got Shyamalaned!!! by Rebelgrad07
Can we as nation stand up and say no more movies by M. Night Shyamalan. He has brought me nothing but severe pain and to see him ruin Airbender was the last straw. I cant fathom how he pulled it off, but he did, he ruined a perfectly great story with terrible dialogue, after the fact 3d and weird camera angles. I purpose a new saying "I got Shymalaned" - Meaning - When you had high expectations for something and the experienced sucked.
1
Thank you M. Night Shymalan for ruining my childhood. by randolphrankin
When I was younger, I was obsessed with the series. To this day, I still believe it is absolutely excellent and can tell you anything you want to know about it. This movie killed that. A big group of friends and I went to the midnight release, and we were all enraged. After the movie, hundreds of angry moviegoers congregated in the courtyard outside of the theater and we all expressed our anger for the movie. For those who did follow the series, it will be very apparent that Shyamalan did not. It is a complete bastardization of the series. For those who are new to the Avatar world, you will not understand the movie. It is rushed, and vague, and overall impossible to follow. Paired with acting so bad it's comical and terrible writing, I can guarantee you that you will not enjoy this movie. I could go on and on, but my characters are limited. If anything: DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE. SAVE YOURSELF. PLEASE.
1
Syamalan ruins another movie. by Transprecious
So not only do I not normally care to write reviews, but it is currently 3 am so I should be sleeping rather than doing something like this. However, after seeing this movie I am so shocked as to how terrible it was I just have to voice my opinion. Seriously, it is one thing when Syamalan messes up his own works, but this, this his a disgrace. Unlike other animated series, I have always found this one to be pretty simple and straight forward. Creating a movie from a series like this is a peice of cake even for a rookie director. Take a part of the series, cut it to fit, make live-action. A simple process, yet somehow Syamalan manages to butcher it regardless. For one, the movie was terribly rushed; they rushed and gave very little insight into anything. The spirit world stuff was hardly factored in, and Prince Zuko, the firey always angry rebel, hardly seemed angry at all (Note the poster of him being so passionate and angry! The dude hardly firebends at all...what a joke.
1
Warning!! by alorahw
Do not go and see this movie! Horrible horrible horrible! The acting was awful, the names were pronounced wrong, none of the characters stayed true to the cartoon versions, and the story was completely different . Unless you go in there thinking that it is a completely different story about some other airbender named aung ( and not aang) then go, but if you expecting it to be like the cartoons don't waste your money or time. The only thing I was happy about the movie was getting a chance to boo with everyone at the end.