The Last Airbender did not do M. Night Shyamalan any favours with the critics. The film seemingly fell flat on its face, which is strange considering how successful the show was, not to mention the fact that a successful director was taking the reigns. However, eight years on from the release of the first film, is there likely to be a second?
Potential release date
In reality, there are many who have said that they do not believe that the Last Airbender 2 should be released. The original struggled and many believe that the damage has been done. Despite this, M. Night Shyamalan has stated that he does have plans to make the film but he wants to release one of his other ideas first. However, he has written the script and has said that he is very pleased with the first draft, which is uncommon for him but this suggests that a release date is being considered. While the film has not even begun production yet, it is likely that it is going to be several years until it is released. When you consider that films such as the original can take as much as three years to create, it won’t be released until at least 2022.
Why did The Last Airbender Struggle?
The film was a big budget film, which of course, does not guarantee it to be a hit success but what really caused it to turn into a disaster?
The critic community did not look favourably on the film for many reasons. To begin with, the film was deemed to be confusing by many. The whole film was underpinned by the cartoon series but Shyamalan put his spin on it. There was a dialogue that really made it difficult for viewers to understand what was happening, particularly those who were not familiar with the original series. In fact, when you consider the first released trailers, which contained no dialogue, the alarm bells should have been ringing then.
The confusion that came with the film was put down to the fact that adults were unaware of who the film was aimed at? Was it for young teens, young adults, children or everyone? In fact, it was made for children under the age of ten. Shyamalan seems pretty adamant that he was not going to change the film so that it fitted into a wider audience, simply because the film should belong to children and that was a compromise he was not willing to make.
Finally, the way in which the film was produced was altered during the process. The production team realised that a large chunk of the film would have to be made using special effects and green screens. This is as far away from the original ideas of Shyamalan as you could get, especially when he wanted it filmed in stunning locations and landscapes. Therefore, the film was re-budgeted with a lot of the money then going to industrial light and magic. The filming locations changed to the point where they were then filming in areas surrounding Pennsylvania. As if that wasn’t enough to throw the film off track, novice directors were then brought in by producers to take care of the effects process.
So, it is now slightly clearer as to why the film was deemed to be a disaster from the beginning. It seems as though Shyamalan’s original ideas were overlooked and that could be the problem. He has stated that he wants to stick to the contracted three films, so perhaps he has learned from his mistakes the first time around, which could mean that The Last Airbender 2 could actually be worth watching.
35 Comments
I have just watched The Last Airbender the first film and find the critics opinion was most likely the thing that cost the film dearly. It’s always the case that films can be killed by misinformed reports and 8 years on this is proven in the watching.
Me and two young boys were glued to the screen whilst the story unrolled in its very clear format, the 5year old explained to me what was happening although I could clearly see for myself.
End result was we looked for Last Airbender 2 which needs to happen soon followed by 3, if the press takes an open minded approach rather than hating it would be a great success. Stop slating what you either did not watch or clearly could not try to understand.
I agree 100%. If you are a Last airbender fan, then the movie makes perfect sense. My kids and I thought it was awesome and have been waiting patiently for the 2nd. We need a finale!!
I also agree that they don’t even take a look at the movie as much as everyone else! They just like to criticize it so much for there benefits! It’s entertainment! I will be waiting for the next two movies since that’s what it’s about right!
i loved the movie when it originally came out, and still am glued to the screen when i watch it now, 10 years later
I LOVED this movie, and am very sad that the other pieces of the puzzle will be so different from the first. I think if people will watch it with an open mind and listen to the message, they will be able to see the beauty of this film for what it is. a glorious coming of age story with so many plot twists and turns that can stand on their own. And stop looking at it as a different version of a wonderful story that we all watched as children.
No story has ever been told the same twice and to assume that it should be is completely irrational.
Please hurry up with the rest of the series!!!
The first movie was great! My daughter and I loved it and are super bummed there has not been a sequel yet. I really hope this happens soon and I’m looking forward to the live-action adaptation that is in the works.
I loved this movie. I never watched the series and understood the story plot just fine. I will be waiting for the sequel. We need an ending! And by the way, all my children are almost of out of the house (meaning I am an older watcher). I found the movie to appeal to audiences of all ages.
Julie
I am an older adult who purchased the Last Airbender for my grandson. As a responsible adult I watched it first. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and started trying to find the second in the series. I also did not have any problems understanding any of it. I would encourage the makers to get the ball rolling on making the next one. The critics are full of it.
I agree as well. I watched this movie when it came out on DVD and I loved it at the age of 20 and my 4 year old liked it as well. I loved the storyline, I felt all the details for the background were explained well, and the special effects were great! Another hinderance to films that are based on books, previous animations, or comics is that the fan base often wants things to be exactly as they remember them. I have felt that way for other movies like Twilight and Harry Potter but having not seen any of the animations prior to watching this movie I was enamoured and excited to see part 2. The only issue I see now is the fact that all the actors will have to change since they are almost 10 years older… and I hate it when that happens *pout… I’d still be excited to see it anyway thoug. Critics suck bc they are just people with opinions and guess what? We all have opinions…
I fucking love ❤️ this movie the critics don’t know wtf they talking about .
This is great! My sons have always done this to me! Critics are pretty infuriating most of the time. This was an incredible movie and we’re dying for the second!
I totally agree, considering we just watched it for the first time. Although I have heard of the cartoon but never watched it, I found that the movie was easy to follow. We were very disappointed to find it ended just after water. A 2nd and 3rd film need to be created quickly or at least talked about seriously.
Totally agree with your comments. My grandchildren and I just watched the film in 2020 and we all loved it. I dont understand the critic’s comments they must have been high to not understand the film. We can’t wait for next films wish they would have already been made. Would have loved to binged watched this as a series on Netflix.
I just watched The Last Airbender, which I believe is an open door for a great story line, as a young monk peices together a responsibility to bring positivity back to the world of benders and grow into the talents to do so.
I have been a fan of the show since it first came out when I was a kid. I was really excited for the movie(in 2010) but 9 year old me hated it. It was nothing compared to the show. The main reasons as to why the movie was a failure was because it didnt do the characters any justice.It got them completely wrong and they acted like some other character. Also, the bending was a bit weird in the movie. It does not take 6 earthbenders to move one medium sized rock, let alone make it move so slowly. The scenery and the effects for the bending are good but the way the characters are portrayed need to be heavily fixed in order to make the sequel any good.
If you are not a fan , you will be confused Try to watch the cartoon first
I am a big fan of The Last Airbender. I too have been waiting patiently for the second movie. I love the story, I want to know more. And I am anxious to see the Avatar master all of the elements to change people’s hearts without having to destroy the fire nation. I feel that the second movie will be well worth the wait!
Actually, a very enjoyable film, when one considers some of the dire films that the critics seem to drool over it is little wonder that a good, simple and highly enjoyable film was well beyond their ability to accept, my wife and I are not familiar with the story before watching the film and had no trouble at all following it, yes it was simplistic, but what is the issue with this. particularly as it was to be aimed at a younger audience. Some of you “professional” critics really do need to get your heads out of the area from which the sun doesn’t shine!
It is a shame that critics can do such damage, and unwarranted in my opinion and that of many others who thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I look forward to The Last Airbender 2!
I have watched the movie and I liked it the problem with critics is they like to shoot down movies because they can’t make them and the movie is meant to be for kids if the critics are kids they would have loved the movie I look forward to seeing the next air bender 2 movie
I just watched it for the second time since it came out. I really liked it both times. I did not watch the cartoon, but I had no trouble following the plot and understanding what was going on. It’s a kid’s movie, and made for children, so maybe “adults” just don’t get it, because they are trying to make it more complicated than necessary. I’m 63 years old, but the kid in me still loves it and I hope they make the sequels and finish the story before I’m sequestered in a nursing home and can’t get out to watch it in the theater!
I have just finished watching The Last Airbender with my son on Film 4 and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. I have not seen the cartoon series but was familiar with it from my nephews. It became clear to me early on that this was intended to be part of a trilogy and I (and my son) look forward to the next film and the third. Soldier on Mr M. Night Shyamalan! ignore the critics, I have enjoyed all your movies and when all the airbender movies and Glass are all made viewed and released to DVD and Blu Ray both trilogies will take pride of place in my movie collection.
I have just watched the movie The Last Airbender for the second time and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time I watched it. I just don’t see why the critics gave it such a bad review; there’s nothing wrong with it! And as far as it being for children only, I disagree; in fact it was quite refreshing – no foul language, no nudity, no sex, no confusion, etc.; nothing like what we have to endure when watching most movies of today – full of foul language, nudity, sex, etc.. I am 61 and wish they had already made a sequel to the movie! Hurry up, times a wastin’!
I just watched The Last Airbender and loved it. I’ve never watched the show so I had no idea what it was about before I watched it. It was not confusing, it was quite clear what was going on and I’m completely surprised people are claiming that is confusing! What’s confusing?! It was a great movie and I look forward to the sequel.
I personally like all of the Avatar – The Last Air Bender series, and I love the movie also yes they messed up the name of Aang and called him Auhn or so it sounds, but the people that criticize the names pronunciation do not realize not everyone speaks proper dialect, and I know for fact it happens all the time one word can be said many different ways and have different meaning depending on where your from. Never the less the name doesn’t matter the story it close to the series and I actually watched the Movie first and then the whole cartoon series and back to the movie. There was a few noticeable differences like the name, and the fact that the brother was not clumsy as in the cartoon, but that is what makes movies great. If everything was the same why would we care to watch them cause it would be the same thing we already saw. People now days need to be more appreciative, and less of a spoiled brat that want everything perfect, life is not perfect and nether are critics or any-other person Movie was awesome and that is my opinion.
I just recently watched The Last Airbender and I had never followed the series and understood exactly what was going on. I am anxiously awainting for the 2nd and the 3rd.
Im a 16 year old boy and I still love and watch the movie but it could have been better i can’t wait for the second one
I loved the movie and I can’t wait for the others!
I love the The Last Airbender show in the movie I really suggest that part two should continue because the first part was good I cannot wait to see The Last Airbender 2 it’s so exciting I really hope to hear they will be a part 2 of the last Airbender.
I just watched the movie on netflix right now, and i thought it was Amazing! i dont understand the hate towards the film. it was a great watch indeed!
We loved the movie!! Please come out with a second one. The critics make no sense. They must be Democrat’s. 🙂
I have just watched this movie with my wife and 12 year old daughter and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. When the movie ended we looked straight away for the release date for part 2 and were all disappointed to read so much negativity from the critics. None of us have ever watched the animated series or even new that it existed. The story line was crystal clear from beginning to end and I seriously can’t understand why so many critics stated that it was difficult to follow, did they actually watch it???????????
My son and I loved this movie!!! We watched it for the 3rd time last night. It was as good as it was 3 or 4 years ago when we first watched it . Although initially we were unfamiliar with the story line we found it easy enough to follow. We went searching for the 2nd movie and came upon this article instead. What a let down to discover that the critics basically killed what could have been a great movie series. We would absolutely go see this in the theater! We truly hope M. Night Shyamalan picks the story back up because many fans are waiting to re-enter the world of the Last Airbender.
Make the 2nd and 3rd movie..
I watched the movie first without having seen the series and i loved it. I watched the series after the movie. I watched it as an adult and i believe it made perfect sense. .Not only i loved but is one of my favourite movies and i am still waiting for part two. I am gutted there is no part two yet. The critics base their reveiws on criteria which are unrelated to how nice is the story telling of a movie. Can we do something about it?