The Last Airbender

Disappointment in M. Night Shyamalan movies has become almost reflexive among fans, who bemoan the director's failure to match the success of his 1999 breakthrough film The Sixth Sense. Shyamalan's movies, though uneven and often reliant on twist endings, tend to be contemplative, with a spiritual component that seems to frustrate moviegoers seeking more obvious thrills. The Last Airbender, a live-action adventure film based on a Nickelodeon animated series, is likely to disappoint as well, since it emphasizes the narrative's cerebral elements over exciting action. The story centers on Aang (Noah Ringer), a preadolescent Airbender accepting his destiny as the reincarnated Avatar, the only person who can manipulate all four elements and maintain peace among the Air, Water, Earth, and Fire nations.