Review of The Last Airbender (2010) by Christo A — 19 Jul 2014

This movie had so much to offer, but the negatives outweigh the positives. The positives are: I liked the actors they cast in their respective roles, specifically Noah Ringer and Nicola Pentz. The special effects were more than satisfying and the kung-fu was well choreographed. The negatives: Although I liked the actors, I felt that the actors needed more time in acting lessons (especially in pronouncing the original character's names from the TV series, correctly). I felt that Dev Patel was the strongest actor, but even he lacked in his performance of Prince Zuko (whom I strongly identify with). The directing was remedial and most of the most important scenes were cut from the final film and some extremely important scenes from the TV series didn't even make it into the film. Here's my analogy of Avatar's original TV characters: AVATAR: LEGEND OF AANG TV SERIES.

Avatar: The Legend of Aang is a crucially important series. The 4 elements referenced play a vital role in the plotline and their symbolism can be applied liberally to the real world. The series has a very adult-orientated theme (though there's no inappropriate scene) and has some interesting characters with tragic backstories and good humor. The animation is done with depth and precision.

The plotline goes as is: The Avatar is a spiritual being (based on a Hindu/Buddha religious figure) that has reincarnated itself as a human being, to enforce peace and balance in a world torn with wars. The latest reincarnation is a 12 yr old Tibetan Monk named Aang. Before the main time-line of the series begins, Aang is told of his Avatar status and flees from it only to get caught in a thunderstorm and get frozen in an iceberg in suspended animation for 100yrs. He is eventually found by a Water Tribe Brother-Sister team (Katara and Sokka) and they start an around-the-world- journey to help Aang become the Avatar he was meant to be while being hunted by the exiled Fire Nation prince Zuko. In order to do so he must learn the 4 elemental bending techniques (air, water, earth, fire) in order of the 4 seasons (Autumn; Winter; Spring; Summer) starting with his native element (which is air). The order then goes: Air; Water; Earth; Fire. Avatar Korra's (from the spin-off series) order of sequence was: Water; Earth; Fire; Air (she started with water because she's a Water Tribe girl).

The series prominently focusses on the symbolism of yin and yang, 2 opposites that continuously encircle one another; one cannot exist without the other. The classic ''Good vs Evil'' is an example, without good, there's no evil and vice versa. Opposites attract, ....literary.

The series has a wide array of interesting characters with complexity. For starters: Aang is a spirited and happy-go-lucky vegetarian with a great sense of humor, though he has suffered the most tragic of losses (a genocide of his entire cultural people = Air Nomads); Katara is protective and caring, sometimes stiff and humorless, but she and Sokka lost their mother while young and their father is away fighting the 100yr war. Sokka is a witty, sarcastic meat-lover who is slightly jealous of his sister's ability to water-bend (which he can't do) and has insecurities relating to his contribution to the team; Toph is a blind earth-bender girl, who uses her earth bending to ''see'' by understanding the complex vibrations in the earth and painting a 3D image of her surroundings in her head. Toph is essentially a tomboy as she is continuously trying to be as independent as possible because her parents are overprotective because of her disability and have no trust in her independence; Prince Zuko is the one I most identify with. He is ambitious, kind-hearted and a skilled firebender and swordsman. He's got acceptance issues (involving that scar); He doesn't socialize cuz he thinks no-one likes him (again associated with the scar); He's super critical about himself, cuz of mistakes he has made in his life, resulting in a low self-esteem; He's easily frustrated when making mistakes and can have a temper-tantrum (though he regrets it); He is naive in thinking his way of life is the right way, and as a result, He became confused between the differences of right and wrong (because he was wrongly influenced) (that happens to me sometimes) and He's always trying to impress those he love because he wants to feel loved (not for superficial reasons). His father gave him a scar over the majority of the left-side of his face, his mother was banished while young and he has a sister who is as cold-blooded as a shark and torments him with sadistic comments; Mai dresses like a Goth suggesting that she has no beliefs; she is Zuko's on/off girlfriend and companion of Azula. Her aura has been described as dingy and grey, she is a skilled martial artist; Ty Lee is Mai's childhood friend and Azula's companion. She is always cheerful and highly skilled in acrobatics and close combat kung-Fu using a technique called 'chi-blocking' by executing multiple quick jabs at pressure points on the human body, temporarily paralyzing her opponents. She has attention issues, because she has six identical sisters and she felt like no-one was paying attention to her as her own individual; Princess Azula is Zuko's sister. She is an incredibly intelligent young girl with prodigal skills in firebending and close-combat kung-Fu. She is highly sadistic and a dedicated perfectionist. She is borderline psychopathic and she is a strategist. She had one moment of vulnerability when she complained about her mother loving Zuko more than her, but she was unphased by this until she suffered from a psychological breakdown; Uncle Iroh is Zuko and Azula's uncle. He is a deeply caring wise old man, who continuously advises Zuko on his life choices. He is a Fire Nation general and is born of royalty. He lost his only son in battle and had to give the throne to his younger brother Ozai, due to the inability to provide a living heir to the throne. He has also been exiled by his brother.

The series, as proven by the characters, depicts the many ups and downs of life. To be able to like the story, you have to understand it and its complexities. Here's Zuko's backstory: He is born of royalty, being 1st in line to the throne of the Fire Nation. He is always trying to impress his father who does not love him. He is severely jealous of his overachieving sister Azula (who seems to be getting all of his father's attention and she keeps taunting him because of it). He has a close bond with his mother (who was banished by his father). His father banished him for interfering with business (resulting in the scar). He ''hunts'' the Avatar, because he believes his father will love him for it. He shares a special bond with his Uncle Iroh, who wants only the best for him. He has an on/off girlfriend in the Fire Nation. He has a misconceived concept about honor and love, thus frustrating him and giving him an inferiority complex. He is ambitious and as a result, can also be a bit stubborn. His continuous failed attempts at capturing the Avatar have intensified his rage towards himself. His sister is cold-blooded and makes it perfectly clear that she does not love him or like him, for that matter, she enjoys taunting him with sadistic comments. His mother was banished while he was still young, so he had to put up with his sister and unloving father, for which he does not understand why they do not love him. He has strayed from his path to enlightenment, and gone through phases of deep depression and bad moods. His quest for the Avatar, resulted in him joining the Avatar's cause and eventually befriended him and his friends, who taught him the real meaning of love and loyalty, His uncle taught him about true honor. They encouraged him to face his fears and confront his sadistic sister and unloving father. He reignited his relationship with his on/off girlfriend (which remained stable) and he realized how to use a different source for his ambition. He corrected his moral values and righted his wrongs. And he began to accept that his father will never love him, because his father is unworthy of him.

Avatar: The Legend of Aang provides characters for nearly every type of personality and by watching the series you may learn some things about yourself that you never knew. Highly educational and yet, highly entertaining!

I'm still looking forward to a sequel for The Last Airbender.