Like any M. Night Shyamalan movie, Avatar the Last Airbender Movie deals with an intriguing supernatural plot. The film is influenced by the arts and mythology of Asia, including its different techniques and styles of martial arts.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is based on the first season of the Nickelodeon animated television series, Avatar: The Legend of Aang. The film follows Aang (Noah Ringer), a 12-year-old airbender from the Air Nation on his quest to master the element of water. Along with a flying bison named Appa (his animal guide), Takara (Nicola Peltz), a waterbender, and her brother Sokka (Jackson Rathbone), they travel to the North Pole to find the only waterbender. The search for him is extensive, made longer by Aang’s inability to concentrate and his youthful desire for adventure and fun.
Aang needs to master the four elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth; in order to fulfill his destiny of becoming the next Avatar. Only he can defeat Fire Lord Sozin of the Fire Nation and restore harmony and balance to the four warring Nations.
The focal point of the film is Aang’s fight to survive. Having been frozen in an iceberg for 100 years, he barely escaped the total destruction of his people, the Air Nomads, by Fire Lord Sozin to ensure world domination for him; thus making Aang ‘The Last Airbender’. Sozin realized, after defeating Avatar Roku (a Firebender) that the next Avatar would come from the Air Nation based on the Avatar Cycle. Aang needs to defeat the current Fire Lord. Ozai before summer approaches, because that’s when his firebending abilities are strongest.
The film will no doubt grab its fans by the throat as they watch its leading man and company find their way north, gaining allies from the people they have saved on their journey and adversaries who have heard of the upcoming Avatar’s reappearance. Also, like Shyamalan’s previous creations, the film is guaranteed to have the most compelling special effects. With Shayamalan directing, the already popular animated series will be turned into a sensational action-packed movie.
M.Night Shyamalan’s interest in the film was piqued when his daughter wished Halloween was Takara. From that moment, watching the animated series has become part of his family activities.
Many disagreements have arisen during the casting of the Asian-themed show. Racism is the dominant theme. However, Avatar The Last Airbender is on its way to its avid fans on July 2, 2010.
