The Last Airbender

 Although this film got terrible reviews (Rotten Tomatoes gave it a whopping 6%), I can't help clinging to the belief that it has some merit. Although almost all of the things that made the cartoon enjoyable fell away in this critically shortened production, what remained includes the sense of adventure.

The major reasons I can't necessarily recommend this film include the sadly smelling acting, and the pathetically low-budget effects. Not all of the effects were low-budget, and not all of the acting smelled, just enough of both that I noticed even when I was only half-paying attention (Michael found a wolf-spider outside my bedroom door during the last half hour, and then teased me with it. It was a bit distracting).

The final nail in this film's coffin is its complete lack of humor. The most endearing aspect of the Nickelodeon television series was the way it left you laughing, and the way it poked fun at broad parts of our culture. I don't think a single person ever cracked a smile in the movie. It moved steadily and seriously, which made it difficult to love. It compares easily with Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice but even that one stopped for comic relief. The Last Airbender shouldn't need comic relief. It IS comic relief. It's a children's cartoon that includes an old martial artist who makes perfect tea, a ten-year-old with phenomenal powers and a sense of mischief, and a whiny teenager just trying to keep up. It's a perfect setup for funny.

Q: What do you call a fish with no eyes?
A: Blind

Sadly, I can't condemn the thing outright. It did get most of the plot right, and although the editing stinks too (like the acting), the action parts were pretty cool.

I hope they sue the editor. And hire a better scriptwriter for the stillborn sequels.