Skip to main contentThe new, universally loathed M. Night Shyamalan magical-kiddie flick wasn't screened for critics by WW press deadlines, and I had other obligations (karaoke!) the night of the preview screening. But I got around to paying for it eventually.
The Last Airbender
WW Critic's Score: 40
"I'm sorry," a guy wearing Lloyd Center 3-D glasses whispered to his girlfriend as the closing credits rolled on a Saturday night show of the movie M. Night Shyamalan once planned to call Avatar. Really, apologies are due all round: from Paramount Pictures for tacking on the most perfunctory depth effects possible and charging an extra three bucks to see the movie through glasses dimly; from the gullible crowds who made the con job into a $70 million holiday weekend hit; and from the group-thinking critics who tried to smear this thing with the stench of unparalleled awfulness.
It's not nearly that bad: The story of a world ruled by people who move the four elements with martial-art poses is no dumber than any of the lovesick werewolves and mechanical-hearted industrialists screening next door; the visuals, including a flying yak-beaver and a snowbound Imperial City, are detailed and enchanting; and the attempt to dedicate a fantasy franchise to Eastern religions and actors is a laudable idea. (I was especially taken by the idea of powerful gods residing in the form of docile cave carp, and I enjoyed the performances of Dev Patel and Aasif Mandvi.) If Shyamalan had stuck to these strengths, instead of filling the lead roles with hamster-cheeked little white children who cannot act, he might have made his first good movie since The Village. Instead, it falls in the category of incompetent things that are nonetheless somewhat interesting, alongside the films of Richard Kelly and tinned meat.
This is a low compliment to have to pay to a director who once ranked among the most promising American talents, but I am not dreading a sequel. Release the second chakra! PG.
Opened Friday at Century 16 Cedar Hills Crossing, Century at Clackamas Town Center, Century Eastport 16, Cinema 99 Stadium 11, Cinemas Bridgeport Village Stadium 18&IMAX, City Center Stadium 12, Cornelius 9 Cinemas, Division Street Stadium 13, Evergreen Parkway Stadium 13, Hilltop 9 Cinema, Lloyd Mall 8 Cinema, Movies On TV Stadium 16, Oak Grove 8 Cinemas, Sherwood Stadium 10, Tigard 11 Cinemas, Wilsonville Stadium 9 Cinema.
WWeek 2015