Aang, the Avatar, did the impossible and ended a century
long conflict, bringing peace back to the world. But scars still linger, most of all Aang’s
own position as the worlds Last Airbender.
That is until the search for a powerful artifact reawakens a long buried
Airbender named Tagah. What should be a
glorious reunion turns dangerous when two very different visions of Airbender
legacy collide, threatening to burn the world Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph and
Zuko fought long and hard to create. Once
more, maybe more than ever, the fate of the world and the potential
resurrection of the Airbenders rests in the hands of Avatar Aang.
Special Note: Ever since I started doing them
in 2015, Extended Summer Series Reviews have always had one unspoken rule about
them: when they start, they run uninterrupted til they (and whatever bonus
movie might come with them) are done. Eleven
years later, I’m breaking that rule for this special occasion. Today, July 25th, marks what would
have been my Dads 75th Birthday.
And one of the shows he loved dearly and helped me get into was Avatar:
The Last Airbender. So when I heard that
the long awaited Avatar Movie wasn’t just getting released but was being
released on his birthday of all times?
Well some rules are meant to be broken here and then right? So yeah, we’re briefly interrupting my
Extended Summer Series Review of The Rose of Versailles to take a look at a
movie I think Dad would have loved as much as he loved the show. Anyway, onto the review and…Happy Birthday
Dad.
What can really be said about Avatar: The Last Airbender
that hasn’t been said already other than it’s basically perfect?
I guess one thing you could always say, or
rather ask, is: when are we getting a sequel?
And I’m not talking about something like The Legend of Korra or the
forthcoming Seven Havens.
I mean when
are we getting a brand new Avatar adventure with the OG Team Avatar?
Well folks, that day has finally come.
Somehow, despite a very public near
termination by Paramount itself, Aang and the team are back in an adventure a
long time coming for both viewers and for Aang himself.
And it’s a good thing too because if you love
the series, this is one feature film continuation that takes the entire Avatar
experience to the next level in mostly good ways but not without a few Toph placed
stumble blocks.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Paramount denying
this movie time on the big screen is downright criminal.
Yes, the leak made them weary but come
on.
This is something that much like this
summers The Odyssey, deserves to be seen not just in a movie theater but on the
biggest screen possible.
Seriously, the
sheer scope of some of Avatar Aang’s set pieces is IMAX worthy and made my eyes
nearly bulge out of my skull with excitement.
This is clearly an Avatar tale that is working with a huge budget and
zero constraints from being on TV (not that the Avatar TV Series isnt ugly by
any means).
The TV Show went big and hit
it’s apex during that unforgettable Series Finale.
Avatar Aang takes that to the next level and
will leave you breathless with how far it pushes the limits of just what anyone
has been capable of in this universe til now.
The animators are clearly leaning more into Shonen battle Anime energy
than ever with how the fights are choreographed and shot with angles echoing
the inspirational greats like Naruto and definitely Dragon Ball Z.
And again, free of TV Series limitations
allows Aang, Katara, Toph, Zuko and even Tagah to do things we never thought possible
until now.
This movie goes big on the
action spectacle and is a feast for the eyes.
Dammit Paramount, PUT THIS IN IMAX!!!!
Ok with that out of the way.
Avatar Aang thankfully avoids the trappings
of feeling like a multipart episode of the series stretched out by telling a
story that is vital to the continuing of Aang’s journey: his guilt over what
happened to the Air Nomads.
Sure he won
the war and brought peace but without his people, Aang’s still lonely, even with
his newfound family.
What really drives
this home is the films central antagonist, Tagah, voiced by the ever awesome
Dave Bautista.
Tagah and Aang are mirror
images of each other.
Both found themselves
in similar circumstances but Tagah went down a much darker path and sees a very
different future for the world than Aang.
This clash of philosophies and heartbreak over the fact that they cant
agree on the best course of action for the resurrection of the Air Nation is
the beating heart of the film.
It pushes
Aang past emotional limits you didn’t think were possible given what he went
through in the show.
It’s one of the
most personal tales in the franchise and it’s very worthy of being it’s own
movie.
While the emotional moments that Avatar does so well are
present, it never forgets to balance things out with some much needed humor and
that always comes from Team Avatar itself.
Sokka and Toph get the best laughs with the formers comedic timing and the
latter’s not so subtle crush on the muscly Tagah (who looks just as buff as
Bautista himself, they had to have originated the character with him in
mind).
The dynamic between the core
group hasn’t changed.
Everyone bounces
off one another so naturally from Aang and Katara’s continued romance to Zuko
and Sokka’s brotherly squabbling.
There
are plenty of moments that tug at the heart with raw emotion but I wont lie and
say I wasn’t laughing hysterically or cheering when I saw Team Avatar back in
action once again.
Not to mention a
certain trip to a certain location yielded some of the best visual gags of the
movie that will make fans chuckle properly.
But just as it homages those Shonen battles, it also
maybe takes a bit too much inspiration.
Shonen Feature Films have their share of flaws from underdeveloped
villains to the unnecessary need to fit every single character into a show with
no reason other than, they’re in the show.
While Tagah has a lot of depth, the Denied have the bare bones basics of
motivations and are kind of just there to give Team Avatar more bad guys to
fight during the finale.
Which is a
shame because there’s potential for a group like The Denied, non Benders who
want bending to avenge wrongs inflicted upon them.
And, I hate to say this, I really do, but
Team Avatar gets a lot of moments to shine but I feel like they weren’t incorporated
into the story as well as they could have been.
We needed more scenes of characters other than Aang and Katara getting
one on one time with Tagah.
This goes
double for Zuko, man the talks he and Tagah could have had given what we learn
about Tagah’s history could have been great.
Again, I love that Aang and the team are here again, I love them so I don’t
hate that everyones present, just felt they could have had meatier roles, that’s
all.
Despite some minor Shonen-esque flaws, Avatar Aang: The
Last Airbender is a big damn hug from a very much missed old friend, that
friend being the original Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The character we love have lost none of what
made them so special.
The villain is one
of the greatest threats Aang has ever faced with a great morally challenged
story to go with them.
And the action
and overall visual spectacle is something made to be seen on the big
screen.
Minor hampers can be called out
but don’t really affect the overall enjoyment of seeing Aang, Katara, Zuko, Toph
and Sokka trading wise cracks and kicking ass once again.
I know Paramount screwed things up with this release
but I really hope this isnt the last Aang centric theatrical adventure we get.
There’s plenty more story to tell and life in
this franchise with the Netflix series fairing far better in its Second Season
and a brand new chapter in the franchise coming later this year.
The world still needs the Avatar.
Just next time, put this sucker in IMAX and
let the crowds cheer in a packed theater.
Welcome back Avatar Aang.
9/10
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