THE LAST AIRBENDER (Nickelodeon Movies/Paramount Pictures, 2010)

Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan; 103 minutes; fantasy/action; MPAA rating: PG ("for fantasy action violence," but appropriate for ages 7 and up, if you ask me).

Based on an animated series that ran on Nickelodeon for three seasons, The Last Airbender takes place in a world in which the Water, Fire, Air, and Earth nations coexist peacefully under the guidance of the Avatar, the only being that can manipulate all four of the elements ("bending" involves some sort of telekinetic control that allows you to throw water, fire, etc. at your enemies). When the Avatar suddenly vanishes, the Fire Nation declares war on the others, eventually wiping out the Air people and putting the Water and Earth nations under its control. But one day a boy is found encased in a bubble of ice in the Water Nation, and he reveals that he is Aang, the last airbender and a reincarnation of the Avatar. A fallen prince and a devious military officer in the Fire Nation then begin devising schemes to exploit Aang's four "bending" powers.

The Avatar TV series had a large following among tweens and teens, which encouraged Nickelodeon to try a big-screen version. The Last Airbender made money, but the reviews were brutal, and long before the movie came out there were protests over writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's casting of white actors in several key roles despite the characters being of Asian descent in the TV series. Shyamalan is Indian-American, making him south Asian in part, but his heritage didn't help quell the controversy. Personally, I found The Last Airbender to be dull, and since the acting was lackluster in general, what would Shyamalan have had to lose if he'd cast Asian actors across the board? The film's ending leaves room for a sequel, which will probably delight young boys who enjoy imitating the characters' numerous martial arts "bending" poses.

For further viewing, check out various DVD collections of the Avatar: The Last Airbender TV series.