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===Critical response===
===Critical response===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Last Airbender'' holds an approval rating of 5%, based on 193 reviews with an average rating of 3/10, making it the lowest-rated film produced by [[Nickelodeon Movies]], as well as Shyamalan's worst-reviewed film to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=M. Night Shyamalan|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223075808/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Last Airbender'' squanders its popular source material with incomprehensible plotting, horrible acting, and detached joyless direction."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/|title=The Last Airbender Movie Reviews|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830134552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 20 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|title=The Last Airbender (2010): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705121616/http://apps.metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|archive-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-02 |first1= Patrick |last1= Goldstein |first2= James |last2= Rainey |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |title=Audiences agree with critics on 'Last Airbender': It's a stinker |work=[[CinemaScore]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131182746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Last Airbender'' holds an approval rating of 5%, based on 192 reviews with an average rating of 3/10, making it the lowest-rated film produced by [[Nickelodeon Movies]], as well as Shyamalan's worst-reviewed film to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=M. Night Shyamalan|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223075808/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Last Airbender'' squanders its popular source material with incomprehensible plotting, horrible acting, and detached joyless direction."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/|title=The Last Airbender Movie Reviews|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830134552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 20 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|title=The Last Airbender (2010): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705121616/http://apps.metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|archive-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-02 |first1= Patrick |last1= Goldstein |first2= James |last2= Rainey |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |title=Audiences agree with critics on 'Last Airbender': It's a stinker |work=[[CinemaScore]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131182746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Liam Lacey of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' stated the film had little chance to develop its characters and therefore suffered, with the overall storyline of the film becoming a run-on narrative.<ref>{{cite news |author=Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |title=The Last Airbender: Another bend in Shyamalan's career |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=2010-07-02 |location=Toronto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128065202/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Owen Gleiberman]] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', who gave the film a C, "''The Last Airbender'' keeps throwing things at you, but its final effect is, in every way, flat."<ref>{{cite news |author= Owen Gleiberman |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |url= https://ew.com/article/2010/06/30/last-airbender-3/ |title=The Last Airbender|publisher= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=2010-06-27 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128133142/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20398345,00.html |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film half a star in his review, stating that it "bores and alienates its audiences," and notes the poor use of 3D among the film's faults.<ref name="ebert-review">{{cite news |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-airbender-2010 |title=The Last Airbender |date=2010-06-30 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |access-date=April 24, 2020 }}</ref> Keith Phipps of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the film an F, criticizing the performances of the child actors, overuse of exposition, and shoehorned 3D special effects, calling it the worst summer blockbuster of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-last-airbender-1798165371 |title=The Last Airbender |author=Keith Phipps |work=A.V. Club |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141310/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-last-airbender,42682/ |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said that the lack of correct casting caused the film to lose substantial credibility in regard to its source material, but did praise the casting and acting of Ringer as Aang.<ref>{{cite news |last=Honeycutt |first=Kirk |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |title=The Last Airbender – Film Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217135639/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Debruge of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' criticized the casting and the score, saying that the overall effect of each play into making the film a bore.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-06-30 |author= Peter Debruge |url= https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/the-last-airbender-1117943102/ |title=The Last Airbender Review |publisher=Variety.com |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100703041247/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117943102.html?categoryId=31&cs=1 |archive-date=2010-07-03 |access-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref> [[Rifftrax]] put the film at number 5 of The Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time, saying "We CAN state for the record that it is quite easy to detest this movie even if you've never seen a frame of the TV show."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10/ |title=Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time |date=2012-12-20 |author=Rifftrax |work=Mystery Science Theater 3000 |access-date=2013-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905052624/http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10 |archive-date=September 5, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Liam Lacey of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' stated the film had little chance to develop its characters and therefore suffered, with the overall storyline of the film becoming a run-on narrative.<ref>{{cite news |author=Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |title=The Last Airbender: Another bend in Shyamalan's career |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=2010-07-02 |location=Toronto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128065202/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Owen Gleiberman]] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', who gave the film a C, "''The Last Airbender'' keeps throwing things at you, but its final effect is, in every way, flat."<ref>{{cite news |author= Owen Gleiberman |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |url= https://ew.com/article/2010/06/30/last-airbender-3/ |title=The Last Airbender|publisher= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=2010-06-27 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128133142/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20398345,00.html |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film half a star in his review, stating that it "bores and alienates its audiences," and notes the poor use of 3D among the film's faults.<ref name="ebert-review">{{cite news |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-airbender-2010 |title=The Last Airbender |date=2010-06-30 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |access-date=April 24, 2020 }}</ref> Keith Phipps of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the film an F, criticizing the performances of the child actors, overuse of exposition, and shoehorned 3D special effects, calling it the worst summer blockbuster of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-last-airbender-1798165371 |title=The Last Airbender |author=Keith Phipps |work=A.V. Club |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141310/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-last-airbender,42682/ |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said that the lack of correct casting caused the film to lose substantial credibility in regard to its source material, but did praise the casting and acting of Ringer as Aang.<ref>{{cite news |last=Honeycutt |first=Kirk |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |title=The Last Airbender – Film Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217135639/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Debruge of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' criticized the casting and the score, saying that the overall effect of each play into making the film a bore.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-06-30 |author= Peter Debruge |url= https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/the-last-airbender-1117943102/ |title=The Last Airbender Review |publisher=Variety.com |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100703041247/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117943102.html?categoryId=31&cs=1 |archive-date=2010-07-03 |access-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref> [[Rifftrax]] put the film at number 5 of The Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time, saying "We CAN state for the record that it is quite easy to detest this movie even if you've never seen a frame of the TV show."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10/ |title=Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time |date=2012-12-20 |author=Rifftrax |work=Mystery Science Theater 3000 |access-date=2013-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905052624/http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10 |archive-date=September 5, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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'{{Short description|2010 American action-adventure fantasy film by M. Night Shyamalan}} {{About|the 2010 film|the TV series it was based on|Avatar: The Last Airbender|the franchise|Avatar: The Last Airbender (franchise)}} {{Good article}} {{Use American English|date=May 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox film | name = The Last Airbender | image = The Last Airbender Poster.png | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[M. Night Shyamalan]] | writer = M. Night Shyamalan | based_on = {{Based on|''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''|[[Michael Dante DiMartino]]|[[Bryan Konietzko]]}} | producer = {{Plainlist| * M. Night Shyamalan * [[Sam Mercer]] * [[Frank Marshall (filmmaker)|Frank Marshall]] }}<!-- DO NOT add Kathleen Kennedy and Scott Aversano; they were credited as and "executive producers". *ONLY* Shyamalan, Mercer, and Marshall were credited as "producers" without qualifiers, as required by the documentation for Template:Infobox film (consistent with industry standards). --> | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Noah Ringer]] * [[Dev Patel]] * [[Nicola Peltz]] * [[Jackson Rathbone]] * [[Shaun Toub]] * [[Aasif Mandvi]] * [[Cliff Curtis]] }} | cinematography = [[Andrew Lesnie]] | editing = [[Conrad Buff IV|Conrad Buff]] | music = [[James Newton Howard]] | studio = {{Plainlist| * [[Paramount Pictures]] * [[Nickelodeon Movies]] * [[Blinding Edge Pictures]] * {{nowrap|[[The Kennedy/Marshall Company]]}} }} | distributor = Paramount Pictures | released = {{Film date|2010|06|30|New York City|2010|07|01|United States|ref2=<ref name="hrjuly162020">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-airbender-release-moved-one-24711|title=Last Airbender release moved up one day|first=Carl|last=DiOrio|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=June 16, 2010|access-date=November 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145753/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-airbender-release-moved-one-24711|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>}} | runtime = 103 minutes<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-last-airbender/36563/main |title=The Last Airbender &#124; Movie |publisher=Moviefone.com |date=June 24, 2010 |access-date=June 28, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100702005838/http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-last-airbender/36563/main |archive-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/last-airbender-2010-5 | title=''THE LAST AIRBENDER'' (12A) | work= [[Paramount Pictures]] | publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=June 21, 2010 | access-date= August 8, 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140220174425/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/last-airbender-2010-5 | archive-date=February 20, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $150 million<ref name="budget" /><ref name="mojo" /> | gross = $319.7 million<ref name="mojo" /><ref name="thenumbers" /> }} '''''The Last Airbender''''' is a 2010 American [[action film|action]]-[[adventure film|adventure]] [[fantasy film]] written, co-produced and directed by [[M. Night Shyamalan]], produced by [[Paramount Pictures]], [[Nickelodeon Movies]], [[Blinding Edge Pictures]], and [[the Kennedy/Marshall Company]], and distributed by Paramount Pictures.<ref name="bfi">{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8d488128|title=The Last Airbender (2010)|work=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=January 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108191530/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8d488128|archive-date=January 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thenumbers" /><ref name="hrjuly162020"/><ref name="PressRelease1">{{cite web |last=Sarafin |first=Jarrod |date=June 10, 2008 |title=Paramount and M.Night Shyamalan Previews Last Airbender |url=http://www.mania.com/paramount-mnight-shyamalan-previews-last-airbender_article_58631.html?campid=0&ssns=29& |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630170753/http://www.mania.com/paramount-mnight-shyamalan-previews-last-airbender_article_58631.html |archive-date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=June 29, 2008 |publisher=Mania Entertainment}}</ref> Based on [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 1)|the first season]] of the [[Nickelodeon]] [[Cartoon series|animated television series]] ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', the film stars [[Noah Ringer]] as [[Aang]], with [[Dev Patel]] playing [[Prince Zuko]], [[Nicola Peltz]] and [[Jackson Rathbone]] as [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]] and [[Sokka]].<ref name="mtv">Marnell, Blair. [https://www.mtv.com/news/2596517/last-airbender-noah-ringer-cowboys-and-aliens-cast/ "'Last Airbender' Star Noah Ringer Joins 'Cowboys And Aliens' Cast."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929182238/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/04/19/last-airbender-noah-ringer-cowboys-and-aliens-cast/ |date=September 29, 2012 }} ''MTV''. April 19, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2022.</ref> The film tells the story of Aang, a young Avatar who must master all four elements of air, water, fire and earth and restore balance to the world while stopping the Fire Nation from conquering the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. Development for the film began in January 2007, and the casting and pre-production process happened during 2008. Filming began on March 2009 and ended on September 2009, with a preliminary schedule held in [[Greenland]] for two weeks, and the rest of the film were shot in major locations across [[Pennsylvania]], United States. Post-production began in August and took several months due to extensive visual effects. The name ''Avatar'' was dropped from the title to avoid confusion with [[James Cameron]]'s 2009 film ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''. ''The Last Airbender'' premiered in [[New York City]] on June 30, 2010, and was theatrically released in United States the following day. The film was panned by critics, audiences, and fans of the animated series, who panned the screenplay, acting, direction, casting, effects, editing, action sequences, story, unfaithfulness to the source material, characters, and 3D conversion, and was named the worst film of 2010 and even [[List_of_films_considered_the_worst#The_Last_Airbender_(2010)|one of the worst films of all time]] by several publications, though reviews for the musical score were largely positive. Produced on a $150 million budget, the film grossed $131 million domestically and $319.7 million worldwide, but was considered a [[Box-office bomb|box-office disappointment]]. ''The Last Airbender'' was originally envisioned as the first of a [[trilogy]] of films based on the three seasons of the series, but due to the notable negative backlash and disappointing box office performance of the film, the planned trilogy was ultimately scrapped. ==Plot== A century has passed since the Fire Nation declared war on the other three nations of air, water, and earth in their attempt to conquer the world. [[Sokka]] and his younger sister [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]], who live in the Southern Water Tribe, discover an unusual [[iceberg]]. Breaking into the iceberg releases a beam of light and reveals a 12-year-old boy named [[Aang]] and his pet flying [[bison]] [[Appa (character)|Appa]]. [[Zuko]], the disgraced prince of the Fire Nation, detects the light from Aang's release and arrives at the Southern Water Tribe to demand the villagers hand over the Avatar: the only person capable of manipulating, or "bending", all four elements of air, water, earth, and fire. Aang surrenders himself to save the village, but escapes the Fire Nation ship and flies to Appa, brought by Katara and Sokka. The trio travel to Aang's homeland at the Southern Air Temple, where Aang learns he was in the iceberg for a century and that the Fire Nation wiped out the other Air Nomads, including his guardian [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters|Monk Gyatso]]. In despair, Aang enters the Avatar State and finds himself in the Spirit World where he encounters a Dragon Spirit. Katara's pleas bring Aang out of the Avatar State. The group arrives at an Earth Kingdom village controlled by the Fire Nation. When they are arrested and imprisoned, they incite a rebellion, battling and defeating the Fire Nation soldiers occupying the village. Aang tells Katara and Sokka that he only knows airbending and has yet to master the other three elements. They make their way to the Northern Water Tribe where Aang can learn from waterbending masters. During a side trip to the Northern Air Temple, Aang is betrayed by a peasant and captured by Fire Nation archers led by [[Admiral Zhao|Commander Zhao]]. However, a masked marauder called the Blue Spirit helps Aang escape. Zhao realizes that Zuko is the Blue Spirit, and has a crossbowman fire a bolt that knocks Zuko out, but Aang uses his skills to escape with the unconscious Zuko. Aang watches over Zuko until morning, then leaves to reunite with Sokka and Katara. Zhao tries again to kill Zuko by blowing up his ship, but Zuko secretly survives and sneaks aboard Zhao's ship. Upon arriving, Aang and company are welcomed by the citizens of the Northern Water Tribe, and waterbending master [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters|Pakku]] teaches Aang and Katara. The Fire Nation arrives and Zhao begins his attack while Zuko continues his independent search for the Avatar. After defeating Katara in battle, Zuko captures Aang, who reenters the Avatar State to search for the Dragon Spirit for help to defeat the Fire Nation. The Dragon Spirit advises him to "use the ocean and show the power of water". Returning to his body, Aang battles Zuko until Katara freezes Zuko in ice, then leaves to join the battle. Zuko's uncle [[Iroh]] and Zhao make their way to a sacred cave where Zhao captures the Moon Spirit. Despite Iroh's pleas, Zhao kills the Moon Spirit to strip all the waterbenders of their abilities. Enraged by Zhao's sacrilege, Iroh reveals his mastery of firebending, frightening Zhao and his entourage out of the sacred cave. Princess Yue gives her life to revive the Moon Spirit. Zhao finds out Zuko survived and they prepare to fight, but Iroh talks Zuko out of it and Zhao is drowned by waterbenders. Recalling his life before being trapped in the ice, Aang enters the Avatar State and raises the ocean into a gigantic wall to drive the Fire Nation back. Zuko's father [[Fire Lord Ozai]] learns of the defeat and tasks his daughter Princess [[Azula]] with preventing the Avatar from mastering earth and fire. ==Cast== {{See also|List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters}} [[File:Noah Ringer.jpg|thumb|right|170px|[[Noah Ringer]] made his acting debut in the film as [[Aang]]. A practitioner of [[Taekwondo]], Ringer shaved his head to stay cool during his training. His resemblance to the television series' protagonist led to him being nicknamed "Avatar".]] {{Cast listing| * [[Noah Ringer]] as [[Aang]]:<ref name=ewlineup>{{cite magazine|author=Nicole Sperling|title=Shyamalan lines up his cast for 'The Last Airbender'|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=December 10, 2008|url= https://ew.com/article/2008/12/10/shyamalan-casts/|access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117185711/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2008/12/10/shyamalan-casts/|archive-date=November 17, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><br /> A young boy who is one of the last Airbender who disappeared from public sight a hundred years ago. While chronologically 112 years old, Aang still retains his biological age of 12. He is the latest incarnation of the Avatar Spirit. Though he is capable of bending all four elements, at the beginning of the film he has only learned to airbend. * [[Dev Patel]] as [[Zuko|Prince Zuko]]:<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|title=Shyamalan cast floats on 'Air'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 1, 2009|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/shyamalan-cast-floats-on-air-1117999413/|access-date=2019-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731211051/https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/shyamalan-cast-floats-on-air-1117999413/|archive-date=July 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><br /> A sixteen-year-old Fire Nation prince who travels with his Uncle Iroh. The former heir to the throne, he was exiled by his father, Fire Lord Ozai, who caused him a facial scar following a battle with him and ordered him to capture the Avatar (who had not been seen in almost a century, making the assignment a [[wikt:wild-goose chase|wild-goose chase]]) in order to regain his lost honor. * [[Nicola Peltz]] as [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]]:<ref name=ewlineup/><br /> A fourteen-year-old girl of the [[Southern Water Tribe]] and its last remaining [[waterbender]]. Since the death of her mother, Kya, she has served as the motherly figure in her family and is no stranger to responsibility despite her young age. * [[Jackson Rathbone]] as [[Sokka]]:<ref name=ewlineup /><br /> Katara's fifteen-year-old brother and a warrior from the [[Southern Water Tribe]]. He can be condescending and has no waterbending abilities. He often takes up leadership roles by virtue of coming up with most of the workable plans and tactics. * [[Shaun Toub]] as [[Iroh|General Iroh]]:<ref name=more /><br /> Zuko's paternal uncle and the brother of Fire Lord Ozai. He is very easy-going and friendly and often acts as a surrogate father to Zuko. Formerly a great general of the Fire Nation, personal tragedies led to his retirement, and the role of heir-presumptive passed to his younger brother. He is the only firebender shown in the film who is advanced enough to bend fire using only his [[Qi|ch'i]]. * [[Aasif Mandvi]] as Admiral Zhao:<ref name=more>{{cite news|title=More are cast in M. Night Shyamalan's Last Airbender|work=[[Sci Fi Wire]]|date=March 13, 2009|url=http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/more-are-cast-in-m-night.php|access-date=March 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317063646/http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/more-are-cast-in-m-night.php|archive-date=March 17, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><br /> A hot-tempered Fire Nation Commander in pursuit of the Avatar. He is Zuko's principal rival. He has an obsession with libraries. * [[Seychelle Gabriel]] as Princess Yue: <br /> The princess of the Northern Water Tribe, who was Sokka's [[Love interest|romantic love interest]]. In a tragic turn of events, she sacrificed herself to save the water tribe and the balance of the planet, by turning into the moon.<ref name=more/> * [[Cliff Curtis]] as Fire Lord Ozai:<br /> The mighty leader of the Fire Nation, the brother of Iroh, and the father of Prince Zuko and Princess Azula. * [[Summer Bishil]] as [[Azula|Princess Azula]]:<br /> Age fourteen. She is the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and sister to Prince Zuko. She appears once at the battle where Zuko refuses to fight and again at the end where she accepts the role as hunter of her older brother and uncle, and destroyer of the Avatar. * [[Francis Guinan]] as Master Pakku:<br /> A waterbending master of the Northern Water Tribe who taught Aang to waterbend. * [[Randall Duk Kim]] as Old man in temple: <br />An Earth Kingdom villager, who often visits the remains of the Northern Air Temple. * Isaac Jin Solstein as Haru: <br /> He started the prison uprising by earthbending a pebble to the back of the lead Fire Nation soldier's head. * [[Keong Sim]] as Tyro: <br /> He and other earthbenders in his occupied village agreed to be imprisoned in exchange for the non-benders being allowed to live in peace. * [[John Noble]] as the voice of The Dragon Spirit: <br /> A new [[composite character]] taking over the roles of Avatar Roku, Fang, Koh, and Guru Pathik from the animated series. * [[Katharine Houghton]] as Kanna (Gran Gran): <br /> She is Katara and Sokka's paternal grandmother. She gives her grandchildren her blessing to rescue and travel with Aang, as she believes him to be the Avatar and that they're destined to travel with him to save the world. * [[Damon Gupton]] as Monk Gyatso: <br /> He was Aang's mentor and best friend in the Northern Air Temple, providing him spiritual guidance. He is long dead by the time Aang is awakened, having died when the Fire Nation first attacked the Air Nomads 100 years prior to the events of the film. }} ==Production== ===Development=== On January 8, 2007, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies announced that they had signed [[M. Night Shyamalan]] to write, direct, and produce a trilogy of live-action films based on ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''. The first of these films was to be a faithful adaptation of the main characters' adventures in [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 1)|Book One: Water]].<ref>"{{cite web|title=Shyamalan's 'Avatar' also to bigscreen |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/shyamalan-s-avatar-also-to-bigscreen-1117956950/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 8, 2007 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210112751/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117956950.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1|archive-date=2007-02-10}}</ref> According to an interview with the co-creators in ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'' magazine, Shyamalan came across ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' when his daughter wanted to be [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]] for [[Halloween]]. Intrigued, Shyamalan researched and watched the series with his family. "Watching ''Avatar'' has become a family event in my house... so we are looking forward to how the story develops in season three," said Shyamalan. "Once I saw the amazing world that Mike and Bryan created, I knew it would make a great feature film".<ref>"{{cite web|title=Nickelodeon's Avatar Returns to Restore Peace to The Four Corners of the World and Prepares to Face Off With the Fire Nation Once and for All|url=http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1048320|date=January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207041134/http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1048320|archive-date=2009-02-07}}</ref> He added he was attracted to the spiritual and martial arts influences on the show.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rachel Abramowitz|title=Shyamalan Unveils Airbender Secrets|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 28, 2010|quote=M. Night Shyamalan had a sense about 'Airbender': 'This would make a killer movie'}}</ref> ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' co-creators [[Michael Dante DiMartino]] and [[Bryan Konietzko]] voiced their opinion in an interview regarding Shyamalan writing, directing, and producing the film. The two displayed much enthusiasm over Shyamalan's decision for the adaptation, stating that they admire his work and, in turn, he respects their material.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3&id=40610 |title=Avatar Creators Praise Night |access-date=March 17, 2006 |author=Mike Szymanski |date=March 17, 2007 |publisher=[[Sci Fi Wire]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405040313/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3 |archive-date=April 5, 2006 }}</ref> In a 2014 interview, Konietzko and DiMartino said that the project was given the go-ahead without their approval, and when they tried to provide input, it all got pushed to the wayside. Konietzko added even further that "A) We didn't want it to be done at all. Before anyone was attached, we didn't want it. And then B) If it was going to be done, we wanted to do it, but they weren't going to let us. C) When they attached Night, we just thought, 'Well, this is what we've been dealt. We'll just offer help when it's asked of us, and if it's not, we'll stay out of the way'. In the beginning, it was more positive and we offered help, but then we had a big falling out".<ref>{{Cite video|last=reznoire|title=Bryan Konietzko & Michael Dante DiMartino discuss The Last Airbender film|date=2014-08-19|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P1bbfeZqms| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/7P1bbfeZqms| archive-date=2021-11-13 | url-status=live|access-date=2016-09-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Producer [[Frank Marshall (film producer)|Frank Marshall]] stated he hoped for the film to achieve a family-friendly rating: "I'm not even sure we want to get in the PG-13 realm." Furthermore, Shyamalan said, "A lot of the inspiration for the direction we took comes from a friend of mine. A Nathan Blackmer helped shape this Idea into the film it became. I took away a little bit of the slapsticky stuff that was there for the little little kids, the fart jokes and things like that...We grounded Katara's brother...and that really did wonderful things for the whole theme of the movie."<ref name="production">{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/secrets-and-glimpses-of-the-last-airbender-filming-5301315 |title=Secrets And Glimpses Of The Last Airbender Filming – M. Night Shyamalan |publisher=Gizmodo |date=2009-06-23 |access-date=2022-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105145449/http://io9.com/5301315/secrets-and-glimpses-of-the-last-airbender-filming/?skyline=true&s=x |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Brad Grey said that despite the director's career being inconsistent, he "believed in [Shyamalan's] vision and that he could execute it," adding that "It's a bold step because he had to create a potential new franchise."<ref name=budget>{{cite news |title = Last Airbender carries Shyamalan into new territory |first = Claudia |last = Eller |url = https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-airbender-20100625,0,1232454.story |newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] |date = June 25, 2010 |access-date = June 25, 2010 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103140009/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-airbender-20100625,0,1232454.story |archive-date = January 3, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The studio was willing to spend $250 million on a trilogy of films, one for each season.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Fernandez| first=Jay A.| url=http://film.org/film/news/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=4305| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620072322/http://film.org/film/news/loader.cfm?csModule=security%2Fgetfile&pageid=4305| url-status=dead| archive-date=2010-06-20| title=Four more land 'Airbender' roles| journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]| date=March 15, 2009| access-date=April 3, 2009}}</ref> ''The Last Airbender'''s budget wound up being $150 million, in addition to over $130 million spent on marketing costs, making it Shyamalan's most expensive film.<ref name=budget/> During production, the name ''Avatar'' was removed from the title to avoid confusion with the highly successful 2009 film ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grove |first1=Martin A. |title='Last Airbender' was first 'Avatar' |date=June 25, 2010 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-airbender-was-first-avatar-24983 |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=28 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505173753/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-airbender-was-first-avatar-24983 |archive-date=May 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Casting=== Shyamalan originally offered the roles of [[Aang]] to [[Noah Ringer]]; [[Sokka]] to [[Jackson Rathbone]]; [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]] to [[Nicola Peltz]]; and [[Zuko]] to [[Jesse McCartney]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Sperling |first1=Nicole |title=Shyamalan lines up his cast for 'The Last Airbender' |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/12/10/shyamalan-casts/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205142123/https://ew.com/article/2008/12/10/shyamalan-casts/|archive-date=December 5, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', Shyamalan claimed that he did not want to make ''The Last Airbender'' without Nicola Peltz, "I said that only once before in my career, and that was when I met [[Haley Joel Osment|Haley]] in ''[[The Sixth Sense]]'' auditions."<ref>{{cite web |last=Dyball |first=Rennie |url=https://people.com/movies/3-reasons-to-watch-for-actress-nicola-peltz/ |title=3 Reasons to Watch for Actress Nicola Peltz|publisher=People.com |date=2010-02-01 |access-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204181455/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340703,00.html |archive-date=February 4, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2009, [[Dev Patel]] replaced [[Jesse McCartney]], whose tour dates conflicted with a boot camp scheduled for the cast to train in martial arts.<ref>{{cite news | date= 2009-02-01 |author= Michael Fleming |title= Shyamalan cast floats on 'Air' |work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url= https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/shyamalan-cast-floats-on-air-1117999413/ |access-date=2022-01-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/502311/slumdog-millionaire-star-joins-the-last-airbender/ |title=Slumdog Millionaire Star Joins The Last Airbender |publisher= /Film |date=2009-02-01 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527191040/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/02/01/slumdog-millionaire-star-joins-the-last-airbender/ |archive-date=2010-05-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, McCartney has since claimed that he had been replaced by the producers for political reasons shortly before filming began, and had no say in the matter.<ref>{{Cite web |date= May 20, 2020 |author= Dana Rose Falcone |url= https://people.com/tv/masked-singer-runner-up-frog-jesse-mccartney-heartbreaking-moments-career-why-he-competed/ |title= Masked Singer Runner-Up Jesse McCartney Reveals 'Heartbreaking' Career Moments, Why He Competed |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200524142745/https://people.com/tv/masked-singer-runner-up-frog-jesse-mccartney-heartbreaking-moments-career-why-he-competed/ |archive-date= May 24, 2020 |url-status= live |access-date= May 30, 2020 }}</ref> [[Katharine Houghton]] played "Gran Gran", the grandmother of Katara and Sokka, and [[Seychelle Gabriel]] portrayed Princess Yue, a love interest of Sokka's and princess of the Northern Water Tribe.<ref>{{cite news|title=Inqlings: For Manuel, a job he can phone in|work=[[Philly.com]]|date=2009-04-09|url=http://www.film.org/film/news/upload/INQlings-3.pdf|access-date=2009-03-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621050209/http://film.org/film/news/upload/INQlings-3.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-21}}</ref> Isaac Jin Solstein played an earthbending boy.<ref>{{cite news |title = New Last Airbender Casting Stays On Right Side Of Racebending Debate? |first = Brendon |last = Connelly |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/504087/new-last-airbender-casting-stays-on-right-side-of-racebending-debate/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = June 9, 2009 |access-date = January 5, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100115231848/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/09/new-last-airbender-casting-stays-on-right-side-of-racebending-debate/ |archive-date = January 15, 2010 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Comedian [[Aasif Mandvi]] was cast as Commander Zhao, [[Cliff Curtis]] as Fire Lord Ozai, and [[Keong Sim]] was cast in the role of an Earthbender.<ref>{{cite news|title=More are cast in M. Night Shyamalan Last Airbender|work=[[Sci Fi Wire]]|date=2009-03-13|url=http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/more-are-cast-in-m-night.php|access-date=2009-03-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317063646/http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/more-are-cast-in-m-night.php|archive-date=March 17, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Ringer began practicing [[Taekwondo]] – the martial art and national sport of [[Korea]] – at the age of 10.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roth |first1=James |title=Local boy is 'The Last Airbender' |url=https://starlocalmedia.com/carrolltonleader/news/local-boy-is-the-last-airbender/article_b2f48318-fd9e-517e-a155-b73316650e34.html |publisher=Star Local Media |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> He began shaving his head during his martial arts training to help cool off, which gave him the nickname "Avatar" due to his resemblance to Aang from the animated series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weary |first1=Evelina |title=Chatting with 'Cowboys and Aliens' Youngest Star, Noah Ringer |url=https://younghollywood.com/scene/chatting-with-cowboys-and-aliens-youngest-star-noah-ringer.html |publisher=[[Young Hollywood]] |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526233026/http://www.younghollywood.com/scene/chatting-with-cowboys-and-aliens-youngest-star-noah-ringer.html |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> When he heard about the film adaptation, he made an audition tape with his instructor and sent it to the filmmakers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dawson |first1=Richard |title='Airbender' star discovered online |date=June 28, 2010 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a234878/airbender-star-discovered-online/ |publisher=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> Having not acted before, Ringer was required to attend acting school a month before filming commenced.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Linda Seto of Dallas Young Actors Studio in Farmers Branch |url=http://voyagedallas.com/interview/meet-linda-seto-dallas-young-actors-studio-11496-luna-rd-700-farmers-branch-texas-75234/ |publisher=Voyage Dallas |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905020555/http://voyagedallas.com/interview/meet-linda-seto-dallas-young-actors-studio-11496-luna-rd-700-farmers-branch-texas-75234 |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peltz was familiar with the character before submitting for the part of Katara, having been a fan of the animated series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amos |first1=Joel |title=The Last Airbender: Inside Airbender with Nicola Peltz |date=July 2010 |url=https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/816044/the-last-airbender-inside-airbender-with-nicola-peltz-1/ |publisher=[[SheKnows Media]] |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601231045/http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/816044/the-last-airbender-inside-airbender-with-nicola-peltz-1 |archive-date=June 1, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Before ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' was released, Patel auditioned for the role of Zuko by submitting a tape to the studio.<ref name="Zuko">{{cite web |author= <!--Posted on--> Jul 05, 2010 |url= http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1335:starlogs-qlast-airbenderq-set-visit-dev-patel&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56 |title= Starlog's "Last Airbender" set visit: Dev Patel |publisher= Fangoria.com |date= 2010-07-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110710224141/http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1335:starlogs-qlast-airbenderq-set-visit-dev-patel&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56 |archive-date= July 10, 2011 |url-status= dead |access-date= 2020-04-04 }}</ref> Shyamalan called Patel personally to inform him that he got the part.<ref name="Zuko" /> Training for the film was intense, as he had to learn Wushu and different martial arts.<ref name="Zuko" /> Patel recalls fighting, punching, and throwing, and said the experience was "truly amazing."<ref name="Zuko" /> While he was filming ''Slumdog'' in India, he would finish a take and turn one of the channels over to the animated series.<ref name="Zuko" /> Even though it is based on a cartoon, he wanted to bring as much of himself as possible to the character he was portraying.<ref name="Zuko" /> [[Shaun Toub]], who was cast as [[Iroh]], describes his character in the first film as "loose" and "free".<ref name="Iroh">{{cite web |author= <!--Posted on--> Jul 01, 2010 |url= http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1314:qthe-last-airbenderq-set-visit-shaun-toub&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56 |title= Starlog's "The Last Airbender" set visit: Shaun Toub |publisher= Fangoria.com |date= 2010-07-01 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110710224203/http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1314:qthe-last-airbenderq-set-visit-shaun-toub&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56 |archive-date= July 10, 2011 |url-status= dead |access-date= 2020-04-04 }}</ref> He compares Zuko's "obsession" to his childhood memories and how kids are always looking for their parents' approval, saying that Zuko just wants his father's. "He isn't necessarily bad; he just has a great deal of built up anger and forgets to consider others. I think people will understand that he's not bad, he's just angry and hurting because he really wants his father to love him, but his father is too busy with other things."<ref name="Iroh" /> He says that Patel was able to influence him into appreciating the business of filmmaking more.<ref name=Iroh /> While comparing the animated series to the film, he says the film is much more serious.<ref name="Iroh" /> He attributed this change to the director trying to relate to every age group, rather than just kids.<ref name="Iroh" /> ====Casting controversy==== The casting of white actors in the [[East Asia]]n and [[Inuit]]-influenced Avatar universe, as well as the fact that the casting of the heroes and villains seemed to be racially backward from the show, triggered negative reactions from fans marked by accusations of racism, a letter-writing campaign, and various protests.<ref>{{cite news|author=Graeme McMillan|title=Avatar Casting Makes Fans See... White|access-date=2022-01-05|date=2008-12-17|url= https://gizmodo.com/avatar-casting-makes-fans-see-white-5111680|work=[[Gizmodo]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220073248/http://io9.com/5111680/avatar-casting-makes-fans-see-white|archive-date=December 20, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Jeff Yang|title=Avatar an Asian thing- why isn't the cast?|access-date=2022-01-05|date=2008-12-29|url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Avatar-an-Asian-thing-why-isn-t-the-cast-3252822.php|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201034055/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F01%2F28%2FDDMU15ICE4.DTL|archive-date=February 1, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> "To take this incredibly loved children's series, and really distort not only the ethnicity of the individual characters but the message of acceptance and cultural diversity that the original series advocated, is a huge blow," said Michael Le of Racebending.com, a fan site calling for a boycott of the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/5/26/20117491/critics-airbender-prince-were-whitewashed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531152434/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37336714|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-05-31|title= Critics: 'Airbender' & 'Prince' were 'whitewashed'|agency=Associated Press|author=Hajela, Deepti |date=2010-05-25|access-date=2022-01-05}}</ref> As a result of the casting, the Media Action Network for Asian-Americans also called for a boycott of the film. "This was a great opportunity to create new Asian-American stars...I'm disappointed," stated Guy Aoki, president of the organization.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/07/04/last_airbender_opens_debate_on_race/|title=Airbender reopens race debate|publisher=Boston Globe|author=Aucoin, Don|date=2010-07-04|access-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304220322/http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/07/04/last_airbender_opens_debate_on_race/?page=full|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> After a casting call specifically looking for "Caucasians and other ethnicities," Shyamalan explained that "Ultimately, this movie, and then the three movies, will be the most culturally diverse tent-pole movies ever released, period." to reassure critics. Furthermore, Paramount provided a statement about the casting choices, "The movie has 23 credited speaking roles – more than half of which feature Asian and Pan Asian actors of Korean, Japanese and Indian descent. The filmmaker's interpretation reflects the myriad qualities that have made this series a global phenomenon. We believe fans of the original and new audiences alike will respond positively once they see it."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Chris |title=A whitewash for 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' and 'The Last Airbender' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-23-la-ca-racebender-20100523-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 23, 2010 |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> Shyamalan commented on the issues regarding fans' perceptions of the casting, "Anime is based on ambiguous facial features. It's meant to be interpretive. It's meant to be inclusive of all races, and you can see yourself in all these characters...This is a multicultural movie and I'm going to make it even more multicultural in my approach to its casting. There's African-Americans in the movie...so it's a source of pride for me. The irony that [protesters] would label this with anything but the greatest pride, that the movie poster has Noah and Dev on it and my name on it. I don't know what else to do."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/07/talking_with_director_m_night.html|title=Talking with director M. Night Shyamalan about 'Last Airbender,' race and more|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Chaney |first=Jen|date=2010-07-01|access-date=2010-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010234814/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/07/talking_with_director_m_night.html|archive-date=October 10, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Rathbone also dismissed the complaints saying, "I think it's one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan. It's one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit."<ref>{{cite news|author=Larry Carroll|title=Twilight Star Jackson Rathbone Hopes To 'Show His Range' in Last Airbender|work=[[MTV]]|date=2009-01-15|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1602757/twilight-star-jackson-rathbone-hopes-to-show-his-range-in-last-airbender/|access-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217132058/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1602757/story.jhtml|archive-date=February 17, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The controversy was poorly received by critics as well.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Jordan |url=http://www.ugo.com/movies/airbender-casting-call-controversy-continues |title=Racebending – The Controversy Continues – The Last Airbender |publisher=UGO.com |date=2010-05-21 |access-date=2010-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612072534/http://www.ugo.com/movies/airbender-casting-call-controversy-continues |archive-date=2012-06-12 }}</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] was one of the critical voices against the casting. When asked about casting a white cast to portray the characters, he said, "The original series ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' was highly regarded and popular for three seasons on Nickelodeon. Its fans take it for granted that its heroes are Asian. Why would Paramount and Shyamalan go out of their way to offend these fans? There are many young Asian actors capable of playing the parts."<ref>{{cite news |date= December 23, 2009 |author= Roger Ebert |author-link= Roger Ebert |title= What color were Zuzu's petals in "It's a Wonderful Life"? Easy! Movie Answer Man |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/answer-man/what-color-were-zuzus-petals-in-its-a-wonderful-life-easy |work= [[Roger Ebert]] |access-date= December 16, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014727/https://www.rogerebert.com/answer-man/what-color-were-zuzus-petals-in-its-a-wonderful-life-easy |archive-date= December 17, 2018 |url-status= live }}</ref> In July 2013, series co-creator Bryan Konietzko responded to an online comment about skin color in ''[[The Legend of Korra]]''. Konietzko wrote that his work on the two series "speaks for itself which obviously does not include the gross misinterpretations and misrepresentations of our work in [Shyamalan's] work."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/54495619739/this-past-friday-i-published-this-post-which |title=This past Friday I published this post which |last=Konietzko |first=Bryan |date=3 July 2013 |website=Tumblr |access-date=3 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707034120/http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/54495619739/this-past-friday-i-published-this-post-which |archive-date=July 7, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Filming=== Pre-production began in late 2008, while [[Principal photography|filming]] began on 13 March 2009 in [[Greenland]]. After two weeks, the cast and crew moved to [[Reading, Pennsylvania]], where production designers and special effects crews worked for several weeks, preparing the local site for the film.<ref name="filming">{{cite news|author=George Hatza|title=Sixth Sense director shooting new movie in Reading beginning Thursday; Pagoda to get a close-up|work=[[Reading Eagle]]|date=April 1, 2009|url=http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=131944|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404043056/http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=131944|archive-date=April 4, 2009|access-date=January 5, 2022}}</ref> A production team scouting the area found the [[Pagoda (Reading, Pennsylvania)|Pagoda]] on [[Mount Penn, Pennsylvania|Mount Penn]], which served as an ancient temple in the film.<ref name="filming" /> Reading mayor Tom McMahon explained that crews made road improvements and buried electrical lines surrounding the structure.<ref name="filming" /> Filming also took place in [[Ontelaunee Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania|Ontelaunee Township]] and at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower in Pennsylvania after the production crew finished at the Pagoda. Some scenes were also shot in [[Philadelphia]] after the Berks Economic Development company showed the production "a number of buildings, but couldn't come up with enough to meet their requirements" because "they needed buildings to shoot all the interiors, and were looking for a group of buildings with high ceilings and specific column spacing".<ref name="production" /><ref name="filming" /> The production offices were leased from Temple University Health System at its corporate offices located at 2450 West Hunting Park Avenue. Rehearsals also took place at this location. Filming took place inside the abandoned Budd Company complex across the street, which was fitted out as a studio including temporary air conditioning piped into the set. Filming ended on 26 September 2009. ===Visual effects=== [[Pablo Helman]], who previously worked on ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]'', was the visual effects supervisor for the [[Industrial Light and Magic]] team on the film.<ref name=effects>{{cite web |url=http://www.btlnews.com/crafts/ilm-bends-fantasy-into-reality-in-the-last-airbender/ |title=ILM Bends Fantasy into Reality in The Last Airbender &#124; Below the Line |publisher=Btlnews.com |date=2010-07-01 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815043343/http://www.btlnews.com/crafts/ilm-bends-fantasy-into-reality-in-the-last-airbender/ |archive-date=August 15, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> He worked with Shyamalan, reviewing each scene and talking about the visual effects needed to tell the story, and ultimately worked with about 300 people to reflect the director's vision, who he said [[storyboard]]ed it.<ref name=effects /> [[Image:WateranimationLAM.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Upper: Water being animated.<br /> Lower: Final version of animated scene.]] Industrial Light and Magic were tasked with visualizing the elemental tribes of Air, Water, Earth, and Fire; most importantly creating the "bending" styles of these elements.<ref name=effects /> Additionally, they were required to animate creatures and enhance stunt work with digital doubles. "The work was challenging," shares Helman. "We had to figure out what "bending" is for fire, water, air and earth."<ref name=effects /> The project was started without the desired technology needed to create the effects. Rather than software, computer graphic cards were the basis for "bending" the elements, allowing previews to be viewed more swiftly. This resulted in Shyamalan having to direct more than sixty takes before the effect was finished and lined up with his visions.<ref name=effects /> Due to reality-based expectations, fire and water were the hardest elements to effectively bend, and because of particle work which was unable to be rendered in hardware, earth bending also was difficult to create.<ref name=effects /> With water, the variety in different scales required Helman and his team to create different techniques. The concept for air was derived from the animation of the television series.<ref name=effects /> To create the air bending effect, visual effects art director Christian Alzman and digital matte department supervisor Barry Williams explained that seeing dust and snow particles, rather than seeing the air itself, helped shape the real-world effect of bending the element. Before the bending effects could be applied, though, the actor's movements had to be matched; Shyamalan, therefore, wanted each character's bending styles to be unique to fit with their unique personalities.<ref name=effects /> The challenge for fire did not come with making it look realistic, but rather making the fire behave in an unrealistic way that would be believable to the audience.<ref name=effects /> The film that inspired ''The Last Airbender''{{'}}s fire style was [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|the sixth ''Harry Potter'']] film, which was re-engineered to reflect two-dimensional simulations.<ref name="fire">{{cite news |date= July 1, 2010 |last= Boucher |first= Geoff |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-01-la-et-fire-20100701-story.html |title= The Last Airbender and ILM's quest for fire |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100708011934/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/07/last-airbender-and-ilms-quest-for-fire.html |archive-date= July 8, 2010 |url-status= live |access-date= 2020-04-04 }}</ref> Helman's team referenced images of flames being pushed through the air by giant fans for certain shots needed throughout the film. The team also considered using a meshed image of real and digital fire, but in the end, went with the richer, deeper texture of computer-generated flame.<ref name="fire" /> The film also used [[matte paintings]], which had to be in 3D because the visual style included long-duration shots in which the camera always moved.<ref name=effects /> The climax, which was enacted on a {{convert|200|x|200|ft|m}} set, had to be merged with stills of the Greenland landscapes, as well as the low-angle lighting that was captured on location there.<ref name=effects /> The camera was animated to get angles needed for different shots in the film by importing these stills into the computer. Multiple cameras were utilized to achieve the different wire-work and animation that was used to create the creatures and many fight scenes within the film. In creating these creatures, the team looked at various real-world creatures to influence the look of the lemur [[Momo (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Momo]]'s wings.<ref name=effects /> In order for them to be believable, they looked for examples of the same size and weight as the animated character and then produced hybrids from different animals to make each species distinct. This was done by observing actual animals to get a take on how they would act.<ref name=effects /> Shyamalan's take on the personality of each creature also influenced the creation stage of the creatures. For example, Momo has flying mechanics based on a giant [[fruit bat]]. Other elements, such as texturing, hair or scale simulation, and light and shadow complementary to the live action, were added to make the final animation appear as real as possible during the later stages of character development.<ref name=effects /> [[Paramount Pictures]] made an announcement in late April 2010, revealing that ''The Last Airbender'' would be released in [[3-D film|3D]].<ref name=convert>{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://www.deadline.com/2010/04/airbender-goes-3d/ |title=Paramount And M. Night Shyamalan Make 'Airbender' Into 3D Conversion |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=2010-04-22 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520123323/http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/airbender-goes-3d/ |archive-date=May 20, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> This decision came after an increasing number of films being made or converted to 3D, such as ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'', ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' and ''[[Clash of the Titans (2010 film)|Clash of the Titans]]'', made a decent profit at the [[box office]].<ref name=3D>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/04/22/the-last-airbender-to-get-3-d-treatment/ |title='The Last Airbender' to Get 3-D Treatment |last=Schuker |first=Lauren A.E. |date=April 22, 2010 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=April 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425000735/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/04/22/the-last-airbender-to-get-3-d-treatment/ |archive-date=April 25, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Helman stated that Shyamalan's way of shooting without fast edits and the film's visuals could lend itself to the 3D conversion well, [[James Cameron]] voiced his disapproval on any film being converted using this process, saying, "You can slap a 3-D label on it and call it 3-D, but there's no possible way that it can be done up to a standard that anybody would consider high enough."<ref name=Cameron>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2010/04/22/avatars_cameron_calls_for_3d_watchdog.html |title=Avatar's Cameron calls for 3-D watchdog |work=thestar.com |date=2010-04-22 |access-date=2022-01-05 |location=Toronto |first=Peter |last=Howell |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023162746/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/799551--cameron-to-hollywood-we-need-3-d-watchdog |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/the-last-airbender-and-the-green-hornet-convert-to-3d-1952949.html |title=The Last Airbender and The Green convert to 3D |work=The Independent |date=2010-04-23 |access-date=2010-08-05 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171905/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/the-last-airbender-and-the-green-hornet-convert-to-3d-1952949.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite this, Shyamalan opted to work with Stereo D LLC, the company who worked on James Cameron's own ''Avatar''.<ref name=convert /> The conversion process for the film cost between $5 million and $10 million, adding to the reported $100 million that already went into the film.<ref name=3D /> ===Music=== {{Main|The Last Airbender (soundtrack)}} In December 2008, [[James Newton Howard]] was announced as the composer for ''[[The Last Airbender (soundtrack)|The Last Airbender]]''.<ref name="music">{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/501815/james-newton-howard-to-score-the-last-airbender/ |title=James Newton Howard To Score The Last Airbender|publisher= /Film |date=2008-12-19 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112151909/http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/12/19/james-newton-howard-to-score-the-last-airbender/ |archive-date=November 12, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film marks the seventh collaboration between Howard and [[M. Night Shyamalan]], with the latest being the 2008 film ''[[The Happening (2008 film)|The Happening]]''.<ref name="music" /> On May 13, 2009, producer Frank Marshall announced that Howard was recording music for the teaser trailer that was later released that summer;<ref>{{cite web |author=LeDoctor |url=https://www.twitter.com/LeDoctor/ |title=Frank Marshall (LeDoctor) on Twitter |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331181756/https://twitter.com/LeDoctor |archive-date=March 31, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> it was later confirmed by Marshall that all of the film's trailers featured original music by Howard himself.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.slashfilm.com/508412/news-tidbits-iron-man-2-the-last-airbender-and-xxx-3d/|title=News Tidbits: Iron Man 2, The Last Airbender and xXx 3D |publisher=/Film |date=2010-04-02 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707012708/http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/04/02/news-tidbits-iron-man-2-the-last-airbender-and-xxx-3d/ |archive-date=2010-07-07 }}</ref> The soundtrack, released by Lakeshore Records on June 29, 2010, required Howard to hire a 119-member ensemble.<ref name=amtla>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=the-last-airbender-r1818607/review|pure_url=yes}}|first=William|last=Ruhlmann |title=The Last Airbender |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=July 8, 2010}}</ref> Running at about 66 minutes, it contains eleven tracks ranging from three to seven minutes, and one track, "Airbender Suite", that is nearly eleven minutes long. Reviews for the score were overwhelmingly positive.<ref name=amtla/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/last_airbender.html |title=The Last Airbender (James Newton Howard) |publisher=Filmtracks |date=2010-06-29 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811061503/http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/last_airbender.html |archive-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-The-Last-Airbender-Soundtrack-889312.php|title=Music Review: The Last Airbender Soundtrack|date=2010-06-27|access-date=2022-01-05|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]}}</ref> ==Marketing== ===Promotion=== The [[Trailer (promotion)|teaser trailer]] for the film was attached to ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', released in theaters on June 24, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title = The Last Airbender Teaser Trailer Attached to Transformers 2 |first = Peter |last = Sciretta |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/503499/the-last-airbender-teaser-trailer-attached-to-transformers-2/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = April 28, 2009 |access-date = January 5, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106202447/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/04/28/the-last-airbender-teaser-trailer-attached-to-transformers-2/ |archive-date = January 6, 2010}}</ref> The teaser trailer was also shown exclusively on the June 22, 2009 episode of ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title = A Brief First Look at The Last Airbender Teaser Trailer |first = Peter |last = Sciretta |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/504245/a-brief-first-look-at-the-last-airbender-teaser-trailer/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = June 20, 2009 |access-date = January 8, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100113052704/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/20/a-brief-first-look-at-the-last-airbender-teaser-trailer/ |archive-date = January 13, 2010}}</ref> The trailer shows Aang airbending in a temple which is being attacked by a multitude of Fire Nation ships.<ref>{{cite news |title = The Last Airbender Trailer For Christmas |first = Peter |last = Sciretta |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/505097/the-last-airbender-trailer-for-christmas/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = August 24, 2009 |access-date = January 5, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106213141/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/08/24/the-last-airbender-trailer-for-christmas/ |archive-date = January 6, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = The Last Airbender Trailer Delayed Until February |first = Peter |last = Sciretta |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/506493/the-last-airbender-trailer-delayed-until-february/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = December 3, 2009 |access-date = January 5, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106203210/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/12/03/the-last-airbender-trailer-delayed-until-february/ |archive-date = January 6, 2010}}</ref> Three additional trailers were released leading up to the film's release.<ref>{{cite news |title = Who's Buying What in the Super Bowl 2010 |first = Brian |last = Steinberg |url = http://adage.com/superbowl10/article?article_id=141168 |work = [[Advertising Age]] |date = December 21, 2009 |access-date = January 8, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100114072308/http://adage.com/superbowl10/article?article_id=141168 |archive-date = January 14, 2010 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/64546-alternate-trailer-for-the-last-airbender-online |title=Alternate Trailer for The Last Airbender Online |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=2010-03-25 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224171014/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=64546 |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.twitter.com/LeDoctor/status/11463163016 |title=Twitter / Frank Marshall: New Airbender trailer is l |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306100435/https://twitter.com/LeDoctor/status/11463163016 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first TV spot aired during [[Super Bowl XLIV]] on February 7, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/02/last-airbender-super-bowl/ |title=Last Airbender's Super Bowl Ad Unleashes Fun |publisher=Wired |date=2010-02-05 |access-date=2010-05-12 |first=Scott |last=Thill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106201315/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/02/last-airbender-super-bowl/ |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> It showed parts of the film that were not shown in the teaser trailer and had no [[Diegesis|diagetic]] dialogue, but merely [[narration]]. On February 10, the theatrical trailer was released online.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=63186 |title=New Trailer for The Last Airbender! |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=2010-02-10 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809093230/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=63186 |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 9, 2010, Nickelodeon Consumer Products also debuted the upcoming line of toys based on ''The Last Airbender''. It includes various 3{{frac|3|4}}-inch action figures, as well as larger, action-enabled figures, costumes, and other props. Among the toys featured in the line were figures based on Aang, Prince Zuko, Sokka, Katara, and a fully ride-able Appa the Sky Bison.<ref name="Toys">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2596029/m-night-shyamalans-the-last-airbender-toys-arrive/ |title=M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Last Airbender' Toys Arrive! |publisher=MTV |date=2010-01-26 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211142329/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/02/09/m-night-shyamalans-the-last-airbender-toys-arrive/ |archive-date=February 11, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> "We worked very closely with M. Night, the rest of the Paramount team and our in-house design team, along with our partner Spin-Master, to come up with the right assortment, the right size for these action figures and make sure we had representation of all the nations within the 'Airbender' series," said Nickelodeon's Lourdes Arocho. ''The Last Airbender'' action figures released in three "waves"; with wave one beginning on June 1,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/the-last-airbender-toys-kofi-44634/ |title=The Last Airbender: Appa and Other Characters Revealed! |publisher=Screen Rant |date=2010-02-09 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200944/http://screenrant.com/the-last-airbender-toys-kofi-44634/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> wave two near the film's July release date, and wave three near the 2010 holiday season.<ref name="Toys" /> [[THQ Studio Australia]] also developed a video game based on the film, which was released on June 29, 2010, for the [[Wii]] and the [[Nintendo DS]].<ref>[http://us.thq.com/us/game/detail/5799 US.thq.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822224659/http://us.thq.com/us/game/detail/5799 |date=2010-08-22 }}</ref> ===Graphic novels=== Two original black-and-white [[graphic novel]]s, entitled ''[[The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko's Story]]'' and ''The Last Airbender'', drawn in the [[manga]] style, were written by [[Dave Roman]] and Alison Wilgus. "''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' has shown incredible crossover appeal with manga fans. The release of ''The Last Airbender'' movie and original tie-in manga gives us the chance to share completely new stories with Avatar fans looking for more about Aang, Zuko, and their favorite characters." Dallas Middaugh, Associate Publisher of [[Del Rey Manga]] said in a statement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mnightfans.com/the-last-airbender-manga-from-del-rey-and-nickelodeon/ |title=The Last Airbender Manga from Del Rey and Nickelodeon |publisher=M. Night Fans |date=2009-07-30 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327192548/http://www.mnightfans.com/the-last-airbender-manga-from-del-rey-and-nickelodeon/ |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The second manga was released on June 22, 2010. The plot, like the film, is a condensed version of the [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 1)|first season]] of the series.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345518551 Amazon.com]</ref> The prequel, ''Zuko's Story'', is co-written by Alison Wilgus and Dave Roman and illustrated by [[Nina Matsumoto]] and was released on May 18, 2010.<ref name=preview /> The synopsis for the graphic novel was released in early 2010, "When Prince Zuko dared to question authority, his father, Fire Lord Ozai, banished him from the Fire Nation. Horribly scarred and stripped of everything he held dear, Zuko has wandered the earth for almost three years in search of his only chance at redemption: the Avatar, a mystical being who once kept the four nations in balance. Everyone he encounters believes that this is an impossible task, as the Avatar disappeared a century ago. But Zuko stubbornly continues the search. He must regain his honor, so his quest is all he has left."<ref name=preview>{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2596707/the-last-airbender-prequel-zukos-story-preview/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: 'The Last Airbender: Prequel: Zuko's Story' Preview |publisher=MTV |date=2010-05-13 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714145416/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/05/12/the-last-airbender-prequel-zukos-story-preview/ |archive-date=July 14, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Roman and Wilgus, who developed comics based on the series for [[Nick Magazine]], consulted series creators Mike Dante DiMartino and [[Bryan Konietzko]], and the head writer for the show [[Aaron Ehasz]] while they were developing ''Zuko's Story''.<ref name=comic>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2596735/the-last-airbender-qa-exploring-zukos-story-with-co-writer-dave-roman/ |title=The Last Airbender Q&A: Exploring Zuko's Story With Co-Writer Dave Roman |publisher=MTV |date=2010-05-17 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008040731/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/05/17/the-last-airbender-qa-exploring-zukos-story-with-co-writer-dave-roman |archive-date=October 8, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The four wanted to try a comic that would fit into with the continuity of the show. The prequel, though mostly associated with the film, was meant to be a prequel to the series.<ref name=comic /> Roman explained, "In a lot of ways, it's like an expanded origin. With the film and the series, there are differences and there are places where they split off, but the setup for both is exactly the same – so when you're introduced to the characters, that's the part where they're completely identical." The prequel allowed the expansions of different details told in the series; for example, an episode called "The Blue Spirit" in the series was seen in the film.<ref name=comic /> However, since explaining everything that happened in that episode was hard to translate onto film, the prequel allowed for them to "delve" into that specific story. What more, when asked about whether he answered some questions that were left open at the end of the series, Roman stated that, while he had a strong relationship with the show's creators and got their blessing for his project, it wasn't his plot to address.<ref name=comic /> ==Release== To avoid confusion with James Cameron's ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'', the title was changed from ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' to simply ''The Last Airbender''.<ref name="/FILM">{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/498850/m-night-shyamalans-the-last-airbender-gets-release-date-avatar-dropped-from-title/|title=M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender Gets Release Date, Director Update, "Avatar" Dropped From Title|last=Stephenson|first=Hunter|date=April 15, 2008|publisher=/FILM|access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915085717/http://www.slashfilm.com/m-night-shyamalans-the-last-airbender-gets-release-date-avatar-dropped-from-title/|archive-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref> The film premiered in [[New York City]] on June 30, 2010,<ref name="premiere">{{cite web |author=LMCullen |title=VIPs bei der Premiere von 'The Last Airbender in 3D' in NY |url=http://www.eclipsemovie.org/scrumptious-pictures-of-jackson-rathbone-at-the-last-airbender-premiere/vips-bei-der-premiere-von-the-last-airbender-in-3d-in-ny-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916021519/http://www.eclipsemovie.org/scrumptious-pictures-of-jackson-rathbone-at-the-last-airbender-premiere/vips-bei-der-premiere-von-the-last-airbender-in-3d-in-ny-2/ |archive-date=September 16, 2010 |access-date=July 8, 2010 |publisher=Eclipse Movie}}</ref> and opened the following day in 3,169 theaters, against ''[[The Twilight Saga: Eclipse]]'' which also stars Jackson Rathbone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2010&wk=27&p=.htm |title=Theater Counts for Week 27 of 2010 |publisher=Boxofficemojo.com |date=2010-01-07 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725120124/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2010&wk=27&p=.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Home media=== ''The Last Airbender'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] on November 16, 2010.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/live-action-epic-based-on-nickelodeons-popular-series-delivers-inspiring-adventure-the-whole-family-can-enjoy-the-last-airbender-102852659.html |title=Live-Action Epic Based on Nickelodeon's Popular Series Delivers Inspiring Adventure the Whole Family Can Enjoy: The Last Airbender |publisher=PR Newswire |access-date=September 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918001349/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/live-action-epic-based-on-nickelodeons-popular-series-delivers-inspiring-adventure-the-whole-family-can-enjoy-the-last-airbender-102852659.html |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same time, a Blu-ray 3D version was also made available exclusively at [[Best Buy]] locations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5255 |title=News flash on Blu-ray 3D release |access-date=October 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013205140/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5255 |archive-date=October 13, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Last Airbender'' was re-released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 25, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Last Airbender Blu-ray |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Last-Airbender-Blu-ray/177950/ |publisher=Bluray.com |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> The film has earned $48.7 million from DVD/Blu-ray sales, with 1.6 million DVDs and 300,000 Blu-ray discs sold as of December 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Last-Airbender-The#tab=video-sales |title=The Last Airbender (2010) - Financial Information |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231093123/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Last-Airbender-The#tab=video-sales |archive-date=December 31, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==Reception== ===Box office=== ''The Last Airbender'' had grossed $131,772,187 in the United States, and $187,941,694 in other countries, making for a total of $319,713,881 worldwide.<!--Since studios and theaters share the box office grosses of every film, usually 50/50, the film did not break even.--><ref name="mojo">{{cite web |date=August 22, 2010 |title=The Last Airbender (2010) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lastairbender.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823021507/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lastairbender.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> On its opening day in the United States, ''The Last Airbender'' made $16,614,112, ranking fifth overall for Thursday openings,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=thu&p=.htm |title=Opening Thursday Records at the Box Office |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=July 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704225820/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=thu&p=.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> and placed second behind ''The Twilight Saga: Eclipse''.<ref>{{cite web |date=2010-02-07 |title=Eclipse Dips on Thursday, 'Airbender' Debuts Solidly |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed4168811524/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725120435/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?Lid=2847&p=.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2018 |access-date=2022-01-05 |publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> For its opening three-day, Fourth of July weekend, ''The Last Airbender'' accumulated a total of $40,325,019. The following Monday, it grossed $11,479,213. 54% of its total gross was from 3D presentations at 1,606 screens. On Thursday, July 1, 2010, its opening day, it debuted at #2 behind ''The Twilight Saga: Eclipse''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3279619076/ |title=Eclipse Swoons But Sweeps Up Over Independence Weekend |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=July 6, 2010 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804020332/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2852&p=.htm |archive-date=August 4, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Opening internationally in 923 sites, the film grossed an estimated $9 million, $8 million of which was from 870 sites in [[Russia]], making it the number one film there.<ref>{{cite news |last=Segers |first=Frank |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/eclipse-still-has-bite-no-25371 |title=Eclipse still has bite at No. 1 overseas |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 12, 2010 |access-date=August 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145816/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/eclipse-still-has-bite-no-25371 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film grossed $9.4 million from its second weekend in international markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2873&p=.htm |title=Around-the-World Roundup: 'Inception' Still Spinning on Top |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=2010-04-08 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127084350/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2873&p=.htm |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was the twentieth highest-grossing film of 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2010&p=.htm |title=Boxofficemojo.com |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222004148/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2010&p=.htm |archive-date=February 22, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and is the fourth-highest-grossing film produced by Nickelodeon Movies, behind ''[[The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water]]'' (2015), ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014 film)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' (2014), and ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|The Adventures of Tintin]]'' (2011). <ref name="mojo" /><ref name="thenumbers">{{cite web |date=August 20, 2010 |title=The Last Airbender – Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/BENDR.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220119/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/BENDR.php |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=August 22, 2010 |publisher=The Numbers}}</ref> ===Critical response=== On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Last Airbender'' holds an approval rating of 5%, based on 193 reviews with an average rating of 3/10, making it the lowest-rated film produced by [[Nickelodeon Movies]], as well as Shyamalan's worst-reviewed film to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=M. Night Shyamalan|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223075808/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Last Airbender'' squanders its popular source material with incomprehensible plotting, horrible acting, and detached joyless direction."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/|title=The Last Airbender Movie Reviews|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830134552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 20 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|title=The Last Airbender (2010): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705121616/http://apps.metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|archive-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-02 |first1= Patrick |last1= Goldstein |first2= James |last2= Rainey |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |title=Audiences agree with critics on 'Last Airbender': It's a stinker |work=[[CinemaScore]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131182746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Liam Lacey of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' stated the film had little chance to develop its characters and therefore suffered, with the overall storyline of the film becoming a run-on narrative.<ref>{{cite news |author=Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |title=The Last Airbender: Another bend in Shyamalan's career |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=2010-07-02 |location=Toronto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128065202/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Owen Gleiberman]] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', who gave the film a C, "''The Last Airbender'' keeps throwing things at you, but its final effect is, in every way, flat."<ref>{{cite news |author= Owen Gleiberman |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |url= https://ew.com/article/2010/06/30/last-airbender-3/ |title=The Last Airbender|publisher= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=2010-06-27 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128133142/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20398345,00.html |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film half a star in his review, stating that it "bores and alienates its audiences," and notes the poor use of 3D among the film's faults.<ref name="ebert-review">{{cite news |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-airbender-2010 |title=The Last Airbender |date=2010-06-30 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |access-date=April 24, 2020 }}</ref> Keith Phipps of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the film an F, criticizing the performances of the child actors, overuse of exposition, and shoehorned 3D special effects, calling it the worst summer blockbuster of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-last-airbender-1798165371 |title=The Last Airbender |author=Keith Phipps |work=A.V. Club |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141310/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-last-airbender,42682/ |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said that the lack of correct casting caused the film to lose substantial credibility in regard to its source material, but did praise the casting and acting of Ringer as Aang.<ref>{{cite news |last=Honeycutt |first=Kirk |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |title=The Last Airbender – Film Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217135639/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Debruge of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' criticized the casting and the score, saying that the overall effect of each play into making the film a bore.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-06-30 |author= Peter Debruge |url= https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/the-last-airbender-1117943102/ |title=The Last Airbender Review |publisher=Variety.com |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100703041247/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117943102.html?categoryId=31&cs=1 |archive-date=2010-07-03 |access-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref> [[Rifftrax]] put the film at number 5 of The Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time, saying "We CAN state for the record that it is quite easy to detest this movie even if you've never seen a frame of the TV show."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10/ |title=Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time |date=2012-12-20 |author=Rifftrax |work=Mystery Science Theater 3000 |access-date=2013-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905052624/http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10 |archive-date=September 5, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{quote box|width=25em|align=left|"The Last Airbender" is an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented. The laws of chance suggest that ''something'' should have gone right. Not here. It puts a nail in the coffin of low-rent 3D, but it will need a lot more coffins than that.|—[[Roger Ebert]], ''[[Sun Times]]''<ref name="ebert-review" />}} Charlie Jane Anders in the review by [[io9]] criticized "the personality-free hero, the nonsensical plot twists, the CG clutter, the bland romance, the new-age pablum...", concluding that "Shyamalan's true achievement in this film is that he takes a thrilling cult TV series, ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'', and he systematically leeches all the personality and soul out of it – in order to create something generic enough to serve as a universal spoof of every epic, ever."<ref name="comedy">{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/m-night-shyamalan-finally-made-a-comedy-5576076 |title=M. Night Shyamalan Finally Made A Comedy |date=2010-07-01 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703091053/http://io9.com/5576076/m-night-shyamalan-finally-made-a-comedy |archive-date=July 3, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Anders summarized the experience of watching the film by stating that, "Actually, my exact words when I walked out of this film were, 'Wow, this makes ''[[Dragonball Evolution]]'' look like a masterpiece.'"<ref name="comedy" /> ''[[Ain't It Cool News]]''' review questioned why Shyamalan was allowed to write the script, as well as why he was even chosen to direct such a high-profile film after a string of previous flops: "Burdened by [a] never-ending onslaught of expository dialogue awkwardly delivered by actors giving career-worst performances across the board, ''The Last Airbender'' is so outrageously bad it's a wonder it ever got before cameras."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/45651 |title=If It Bends, It's Funny! If It Breaks, It's Mr. Beaks's The Last Airbender review! |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216034944/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/45651 |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Scott Bowles of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave a generally favorable review, claiming that Shyamalan delivered on fight scenes and the film worked as a kid's film, although he also added that poor scriptwriting made some of the performances sound wooden.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2010-07-01-airbender01_ST_N.htm |title=Shyamalan's 'Airbender' has some good elements |first=Scott|last=Bowles |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419012042/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2010-07-01-airbender01_ST_N.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Another favorable review came from Stephanie Zacharek of MovieLine, who praised the way Shyamalan captures the art of action and human motion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieline.com/2010/07/review-a-few-nifty-visuals-cant-rescue-exhausting-last-airbender.php |title=REVIEW: A Few Nifty Visuals Can't Exhausting Last Airbender |website=Movieline |date=June 9, 2010|access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702203944/http://www.movieline.com/2010/07/review-a-few-nifty-visuals-cant-rescue-exhausting-last-airbender.php |archive-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref> David Roark of ''[[Relevant Magazine]]'' accused other critics of having a bias against Shyamalan and gave the film a positive review, stating that its visuals and heart far outweighed the clunky plotting and "awful" dialogue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/reviews/22137-the-last-airbender |title=REVIEW: The Last Airbender: David Roark Says All the Other Critics Are (Mostly) Wrong |work=RELEVANT Magazine |date=July 2, 2010 |access-date=July 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705103722/http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/reviews/22137-the-last-airbender |archive-date=2010-07-05 }}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' noted an unfortunate linguistic problem that reduced British viewers to "a state of nervous collapse" due to laughter. In [[British English]], 'bent' is a slang term for gay, with 'bender' meaning a gay man, giving an entirely different meaning to lines such as, "I could tell at once that you were a bender." Bradshaw commented that the response from the audience to such lines was "deafeningly immature" and would "inevitably be repeated in every cinema in the land showing ''The Last Airbender''." Bradshaw expressed his amazement that Shyamalan has managed to make a film worse than ''[[Lady in the Water]]'' or ''[[The Happening (2008 film)|The Happening]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |title=Film review: The Last Airbender |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/12/the-last-airbender |work=The Guardian |date=2010-08-13 |location=London |access-date=December 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114221908/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/12/the-last-airbender |archive-date=November 14, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kirk Honneycut of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' wrote, "Shyamalan, who never has mounted an epic film before, gets only passing grades. Huge sets and unit work from Greenland to New Zealand all look strangely underlit. One wonders whether the projector blew a light bulb. The movie was foolishly converted to 3D after principal photography, but if anything, this conversion is worse than ''Clash of the Titans''."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |title=The Last Airbender: Film Review |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 14, 2010 |access-date=2020-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217135639/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> A ''[[Collider (website)|Collider.com]]'' review says: "I'm calling it: ''The Last Airbender'' is the worst movie of 2010. It's too disturbing to consider that there could be something even more hideous out there."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/the-last-airbender-review/|title=THE LAST AIRBENDER Review |last=Goldberg |first=Matt |date=2010-07-01 |website=Collider |access-date=2020-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109032926/https://collider.com/the-last-airbender-review/ |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref>{{cite magazine|first=Richard|last=Corliss|authorlink=Richard Corliss|date=July 2, 2010|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2000996,00.html|title=''The Last Airbender'': Worst Movie Epic Ever?|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|accessdate=September 22, 2022}}</ref> ===Crew responses=== Shyamalan argued that his style and art-form of storytelling resulted in the negative reviews of the film and compared it to asking a painter to change to a different style: "I bring as much integrity to the table as humanly possible. It must be a language thing, in terms of a particular accent, a storytelling accent. I can only see it this certain way and I don't know how to think in another language. I think these are exactly the visions that are in my head, so I don't know how to adjust it without being me."<ref name="nymag"/> Shyamalan also addressed criticisms about the barely 90-minute runtime of the film, which was considered bizarre given that it had to condense a 20-episode TV season into one film, and is a far shorter runtime than is typical for summer blockbusters. Shyamalan's response was that all of his previous films were 90 minutes because they were small-scale supernatural thrillers, and as a result, his instinct for the pacing of the film was to edit it down to 90 minutes. This short runtime indirectly led to several other problems which multiple critics objected to: characters frequently resort to giving long speeches of exposition to summarize entire scenes that were cut for time, and a running voiceover commentary by Katara was added in which she summarizes entire subplots (e.g. Sokka's relationship with Yue) that barely appear on-screen.<ref name="nymag">{{cite web | title = Vulture Reads M. Night his Last Airbender Reviews | work = New York Magazine | url = https://www.vulture.com/2010/07/m_night_shyamalan_on_the_last.html | access-date = January 5, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120125014545/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/07/m_night_shyamalan_on_the_last.html | archive-date = January 25, 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref> When Shyamalan gave the Ashok C. Sani Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence lecture at [[New York University Stern School of Business|NYU's Stern School of Business]] on April 16, 2019, he revealed that he regretted accepting the directing position on the film, stating "There has always been this inexorable pull to join the group, a constant seduction in the form of whatever you want to tally, in the form of money, or safety, ease, not getting criticized. I did these movies, and I rightfully got crushed, because they rightfully said, 'You don't believe in yourself, you don't believe in your own voice, and you don't believe in your values." Shyamalan would go on to begin financing his own projects as a result.<ref>{{cite web |date= 17 April 2019 |last1= Kohn |first1= Eric |title= M. Night Shyamalan Says Bad Reviews of 'Glass' Made Him Cry |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/m-night-shyamalan-glass-bad-reviews-1202059607/ |website= [[IndieWire]] |access-date= May 4, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190423080354/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/m-night-shyamalan-glass-bad-reviews-1202059607/ |archive-date= April 23, 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Dev Patel]] expressed regret and dislike for his role and his experience with the film. At a 2016 actor's roundtable with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' while promoting his film ''[[Lion (2016 film)|Lion]]'' during Oscar contender season, Patel said, "I don't know what I would like to play, but I know what I'm afraid of playing: those big studio movies. After ''[[Slumdog Millionaire|Slumdog]]'', I did a film that was not well received at all. The budget of ''Slumdog'' was like the budget of the craft services of this movie." He added, “I completely felt overwhelmed by the experience. I felt like I wasn't being heard. That was really scary for me, and that's really when I learned the power of no, the idea of saying no. Listen to that instinct you get when you read those words for the first time." He described his performance as Prince Zuko as being as though he "saw a stranger on the screen that I couldn't relate to."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dev-patel-regretting-last-airbender-i-saw-a-stranger-screen-951544 |title=Dev Patel on Regretting 'Last Airbender': I "Saw a Stranger on the Screen" |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=December 1, 2016 |website=Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202113203/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dev-patel-regretting-last-airbender-i-saw-a-stranger-screen-951544 |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=YyQGKSzYqBg | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/YyQGKSzYqBg| archive-date=2021-11-13 | url-status=live|title=THR Full Oscar Actor's Roundtable: Andrew Garfield, Casey Affleck, Dev Patel, & More |date=January 23, 2017 |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=January 23, 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In a question-and-answer session on Reddit with [[Dante Basco]], the original voice of Prince Zuko, when he was asked what he thought of the ''Last Airbender'' film, he responded by saying that the show's creators, Konietzko and DiMartino, told him not to see it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/17ybeo/i_am_rufio_prince_zuko_ama/c89x58c |title=Ry- comments on i am Rufio & Prince Zuko... AMA! |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129102148/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/17ybeo/i_am_rufio_prince_zuko_ama/c89x58c/ |archive-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Accolades=== ''The Last Airbender'' received nine nominations at the [[31st Golden Raspberry Awards]] including Worst Picture.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eclipse, Last Airbender Lead Razzie Nominations|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1656514/eclipse-last-airbender-lead-razzie-nominations/|work=MTV|date=2011-01-24|access-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127030826/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656514/eclipse-last-airbender-lead-razzie-nominations.jhtml|archive-date=January 27, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The film went on to sweep the [[Razzies]] with five awards: Worst Picture, Worst Director (Shyamalan), Worst Screenplay (Shyamalan), Worst Supporting Actor ([[Jackson Rathbone]]), and a special award, "Worst Eye-Gouging Mis-Use of 3D."<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12589752 | journal=BBC News | date=27 February 2011 | title=M Night Shyamalan's Last Airbender wins Razzie Awards | access-date=2011-02-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924185227/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12589752 | archive-date=September 24, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="razzies">{{cite web|title=The 31st Annual Razzie Awards|url=http://razzies.com/history/11winners.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103033553/http://razzies.com/history/11winners.asp|archive-date=2013-01-03 }}</ref><ref name="ew-razzies">{{cite magazine |date= 2011-02-27 |author= Bryan Lufkin |title= Razzies on-the-scene: M. Night Shyamalan 'wins' big at last night's camp-fest |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/02/27/razzie/ |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |access-date= 2021-01-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110228232027/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/02/27/razzie/ |archive-date= February 28, 2011 |url-status= live }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominee ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- | rowspan=14|[[2010 in film|2010]] |[[2010 Teen Choice Awards|Teen Choice Awards]] | Choice Summer: Movie | ''The Last Airbender'' | {{nom}} | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |last1=Soll |first1=Lindsay |title=TEEN CHOICE AWARDS 2010: FIRST ROUND OF NOMINEES ANNOUNCED |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2553497/teen-choice-awards-2010-nominees/ |publisher=[[MTV]] |access-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504150802/http://www.mtv.com/news/2553497/teen-choice-awards-2010-nominees/ |archive-date=4 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|[[International Film Music Critics Association]] | Film Music Composition of the Year for "Flow Like Water" | rowspan="2"| [[James Newton Howard]] | {{nom}} | align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2011 |url=http://filmmusiccritics.org/2011/02/ifmca-announces-its-2010-nominees-for-scoring-excellence/ |title=IFMCA announces its 2010 nominees for scoring excellence |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321143633/http://filmmusiccritics.org/2011/02/ifmca-announces-its-2010-nominees-for-scoring-excellence/ |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror film | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2"|[[32nd Young Artist Awards|Young Artist Award]] | Best Performance in a Feature Film (Leading Young Actor) | [[Noah Ringer]] | {{nom}} | align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref name="Young Artist Awards 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms32.html |title=32nd Annual Young Artist Awards |access-date=2012-03-31 |work=YoungArtistAwards.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808150433/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms32.html |archive-date=2013-08-08 }}</ref> |- | Best Performance in a Feature Film (Supporting Young Actress) | [[Seychelle Gabriel]] | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="9"|[[31st Golden Raspberry Awards]] | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]] | [[Frank Marshall (film producer)|Frank Marshall]], [[Sam Mercer]] and [[M. Night Shyamalan]] | {{won}} | align="center" rowspan="9"| <ref name="razzies" /> |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]] | rowspan="2"| [[M. Night Shyamalan]] | {{won}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]] | {{won}} |- | rowspan=2|[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor|Worst Supporting Actor]] | [[Dev Patel]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Jackson Rathbone]] <br><small>(also for ''[[The Twilight Saga: Eclipse]]'')</small><br/> | {{won}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress|Worst Supporting Actress]] | [[Nicola Peltz]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo|Worst Screen Couple / Worst Screen Ensemble]] | The Entire Cast | {{nom}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel|Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel]] | rowspan="2"|''The Last Airbender'' | {{nom}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Awards#Categories|Worst Eye-Gouging Mis-Use of 3D]] | {{won}} |- |} ==Cancelled sequels== While filming ''The Last Airbender'', Shyamalan mapped out a [[rough draft]] for a second film that was "darker" and includes [[Azula]], portrayed by [[Summer Bishil]], as the main antagonist.<ref name=la2>{{cite web |last=Warmoth |first=Brian |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/1643066/last-airbender-2-will-be-darker-m-night-shyamalan-says/ |title=Last Airbender 2 Will Be Darker, M. Night Shyamalan Says |publisher=MTV |date=2010-07-06 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712062850/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1643066/20100706/story.jhtml |archive-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a July 2010 interview with ''[[New York Magazine]]'', Shyamalan commented "In the next few months we'll be able to know whether we have that opportunity or not" when asked about the sequel.<ref name="nymag"/> No such announcement was made, and in a September 2010 interview when asked if he knew when the sequel will be made, he replied, "I don't, because there are so many factors they take into account", adding, "I guess it will get into an area where it becomes a discussion – like pros and cons."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2597385/the-last-airbender-sequel-m-night-shyamalan-book-2-adaptation/|title=Will 'The Last Airbender' Get A Sequel? M. Night Shyamalan Ponders Potential 'Book 2' Adaptation|author=Rick Marshall|date=3 September 2010|publisher=MTV|access-date=January 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.the-last-airbender-2.com/2012/04/last-airbender-2-earth-and-m-night.html/|title=The Last Airbender, Part 2 (Earth) and M. Night Shyamalaman|author=Jonathan Smith|date=23 April 2012|access-date=2011-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518103921/http://www.the-last-airbender-2.com/2012/04/last-airbender-2-earth-and-m-night.html|archive-date=May 18, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2015, Shyamalan told [[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro UK]] that he may work on the sequel after completing [[Split (2016 American film)|his next thriller]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/09/exclusive-m-night-shyamalan-to-make-another-thriller-before-the-last-airbender-2-5381979/|title=EXCLUSIVE: M. Night Shyamalan to make 'another thriller' before The Last Airbender 2|publisher=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro UK]]|author=Hanna Flint|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910011740/http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/09/exclusive-m-night-shyamalan-to-make-another-thriller-before-the-last-airbender-2-5381979/|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> which was supposed to start shooting in November 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/joaquin-phoenix-m-night-shyamalan-jason-bloom-reunite-wayward-pines-the-visit-1201505677/|title=Joaquin Phoenix, M. Night Shyamalan & Jason Blum In Talks To Reunite On New Project|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|author=Ali Jaafar|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=September 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910193016/http://deadline.com/2015/08/joaquin-phoenix-m-night-shyamalan-jason-bloom-reunite-wayward-pines-the-visit-1201505677/|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2018, [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (upcoming TV series)|an unrelated live-action remake]] of the original ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' for [[Netflix]] was announced, ending any lingering speculation of a potential sequel to ''The Last Airbender''.<ref name="Polygon September 2018">{{cite news |title=Avatar: The Last Airbender creators return for live-action Netflix remake |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/18/17874344/avatar-the-last-airbender-live-action-series-netflix |access-date=18 September 2018 |work=Polygon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918182614/https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/18/17874344/avatar-the-last-airbender-live-action-series-netflix |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|Film|United States}} * [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters|List of ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' characters]] * [[List of films considered the worst]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}} {{Portal|Film|United States|Speculative fiction|Fantasy|2010s}} * {{Official website|http://www.thelastairbendermovie.com/}} * {{IMDb title|0938283}} * {{mojo title|lastairbender}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|last_airbender}} * {{Metacritic film}} {{Navboxes |title = ''The Last Airbender'' |list = {{Avatar: The Last Airbender}} {{M. Night Shyamalan}} {{Blinding Edge Pictures}} {{Nickelodeon Movies}} }} {{Navboxes |title = Awards for ''The Last Airbender'' |list = {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor}} }} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Last Airbender, The}} [[Category:2010 films]] [[Category:2010 3D films]] [[Category:2010s fantasy adventure films]] [[Category:American 3D films]] [[Category:American children's adventure films]] [[Category:American fantasy adventure films]] [[Category:Avatar: The Last Airbender]] [[Category:Films about reincarnation]] [[Category:Films shot in Greenland]] [[Category:Films shot in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Films shot in Vietnam]] [[Category:Live-action films based on animated series]] [[Category:Blinding Edge Pictures films]] [[Category:The Kennedy/Marshall Company films]] [[Category:Paramount Pictures films]] [[Category:Race-related controversies in film]] [[Category:Casting controversies in film]] [[Category:Film controversies]] [[Category:Film controversies in the United States]] [[Category:Nickelodeon Movies films]] [[Category:Films scored by James Newton Howard]] [[Category:Films directed by M. Night Shyamalan]] [[Category:Films produced by Frank Marshall]] [[Category:Films produced by M. Night Shyamalan]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by M. Night Shyamalan]] [[Category:Golden Raspberry Award winning films]] [[Category:2010 martial arts films]] [[Category:American martial arts films]] [[Category:Films set in Antarctica]] [[Category:2010s English-language films]] [[Category:2010s American films]]'
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'{{Short description|2010 American action-adventure fantasy film by M. Night Shyamalan}} {{About|the 2010 film|the TV series it was based on|Avatar: The Last Airbender|the franchise|Avatar: The Last Airbender (franchise)}} {{Good article}} {{Use American English|date=May 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox film | name = The Last Airbender | image = The Last Airbender Poster.png | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[M. Night Shyamalan]] | writer = M. Night Shyamalan | based_on = {{Based on|''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''|[[Michael Dante DiMartino]]|[[Bryan Konietzko]]}} | producer = {{Plainlist| * M. Night Shyamalan * [[Sam Mercer]] * [[Frank Marshall (filmmaker)|Frank Marshall]] }}<!-- DO NOT add Kathleen Kennedy and Scott Aversano; they were credited as and "executive producers". *ONLY* Shyamalan, Mercer, and Marshall were credited as "producers" without qualifiers, as required by the documentation for Template:Infobox film (consistent with industry standards). --> | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Noah Ringer]] * [[Dev Patel]] * [[Nicola Peltz]] * [[Jackson Rathbone]] * [[Shaun Toub]] * [[Aasif Mandvi]] * [[Cliff Curtis]] }} | cinematography = [[Andrew Lesnie]] | editing = [[Conrad Buff IV|Conrad Buff]] | music = [[James Newton Howard]] | studio = {{Plainlist| * [[Paramount Pictures]] * [[Nickelodeon Movies]] * [[Blinding Edge Pictures]] * {{nowrap|[[The Kennedy/Marshall Company]]}} }} | distributor = Paramount Pictures | released = {{Film date|2010|06|30|New York City|2010|07|01|United States|ref2=<ref name="hrjuly162020">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-airbender-release-moved-one-24711|title=Last Airbender release moved up one day|first=Carl|last=DiOrio|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=June 16, 2010|access-date=November 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145753/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-airbender-release-moved-one-24711|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>}} | runtime = 103 minutes<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-last-airbender/36563/main |title=The Last Airbender &#124; Movie |publisher=Moviefone.com |date=June 24, 2010 |access-date=June 28, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100702005838/http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-last-airbender/36563/main |archive-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/last-airbender-2010-5 | title=''THE LAST AIRBENDER'' (12A) | work= [[Paramount Pictures]] | publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=June 21, 2010 | access-date= August 8, 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140220174425/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/last-airbender-2010-5 | archive-date=February 20, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $150 million<ref name="budget" /><ref name="mojo" /> | gross = $319.7 million<ref name="mojo" /><ref name="thenumbers" /> }} '''''The Last Airbender''''' is a 2010 American [[action film|action]]-[[adventure film|adventure]] [[fantasy film]] written, co-produced and directed by [[M. Night Shyamalan]], produced by [[Paramount Pictures]], [[Nickelodeon Movies]], [[Blinding Edge Pictures]], and [[the Kennedy/Marshall Company]], and distributed by Paramount Pictures.<ref name="bfi">{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8d488128|title=The Last Airbender (2010)|work=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=January 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108191530/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8d488128|archive-date=January 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thenumbers" /><ref name="hrjuly162020"/><ref name="PressRelease1">{{cite web |last=Sarafin |first=Jarrod |date=June 10, 2008 |title=Paramount and M.Night Shyamalan Previews Last Airbender |url=http://www.mania.com/paramount-mnight-shyamalan-previews-last-airbender_article_58631.html?campid=0&ssns=29& |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630170753/http://www.mania.com/paramount-mnight-shyamalan-previews-last-airbender_article_58631.html |archive-date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=June 29, 2008 |publisher=Mania Entertainment}}</ref> Based on [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 1)|the first season]] of the [[Nickelodeon]] [[Cartoon series|animated television series]] ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', the film stars [[Noah Ringer]] as [[Aang]], with [[Dev Patel]] playing [[Prince Zuko]], [[Nicola Peltz]] and [[Jackson Rathbone]] as [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]] and [[Sokka]].<ref name="mtv">Marnell, Blair. [https://www.mtv.com/news/2596517/last-airbender-noah-ringer-cowboys-and-aliens-cast/ "'Last Airbender' Star Noah Ringer Joins 'Cowboys And Aliens' Cast."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929182238/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/04/19/last-airbender-noah-ringer-cowboys-and-aliens-cast/ |date=September 29, 2012 }} ''MTV''. April 19, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2022.</ref> The film tells the story of Aang, a young Avatar who must master all four elements of air, water, fire and earth and restore balance to the world while stopping the Fire Nation from conquering the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. Development for the film began in January 2007, and the casting and pre-production process happened during 2008. Filming began on March 2009 and ended on September 2009, with a preliminary schedule held in [[Greenland]] for two weeks, and the rest of the film were shot in major locations across [[Pennsylvania]], United States. Post-production began in August and took several months due to extensive visual effects. The name ''Avatar'' was dropped from the title to avoid confusion with [[James Cameron]]'s 2009 film ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''. ''The Last Airbender'' premiered in [[New York City]] on June 30, 2010, and was theatrically released in United States the following day. The film was panned by critics, audiences, and fans of the animated series, who panned the screenplay, acting, direction, casting, effects, editing, action sequences, story, unfaithfulness to the source material, characters, and 3D conversion, and was named the worst film of 2010 and even [[List_of_films_considered_the_worst#The_Last_Airbender_(2010)|one of the worst films of all time]] by several publications, though reviews for the musical score were largely positive. Produced on a $150 million budget, the film grossed $131 million domestically and $319.7 million worldwide, but was considered a [[Box-office bomb|box-office disappointment]]. ''The Last Airbender'' was originally envisioned as the first of a [[trilogy]] of films based on the three seasons of the series, but due to the notable negative backlash and disappointing box office performance of the film, the planned trilogy was ultimately scrapped. ==Plot== A century has passed since the Fire Nation declared war on the other three nations of air, water, and earth in their attempt to conquer the world. [[Sokka]] and his younger sister [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]], who live in the Southern Water Tribe, discover an unusual [[iceberg]]. Breaking into the iceberg releases a beam of light and reveals a 12-year-old boy named [[Aang]] and his pet flying [[bison]] [[Appa (character)|Appa]]. [[Zuko]], the disgraced prince of the Fire Nation, detects the light from Aang's release and arrives at the Southern Water Tribe to demand the villagers hand over the Avatar: the only person capable of manipulating, or "bending", all four elements of air, water, earth, and fire. Aang surrenders himself to save the village, but escapes the Fire Nation ship and flies to Appa, brought by Katara and Sokka. The trio travel to Aang's homeland at the Southern Air Temple, where Aang learns he was in the iceberg for a century and that the Fire Nation wiped out the other Air Nomads, including his guardian [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters|Monk Gyatso]]. In despair, Aang enters the Avatar State and finds himself in the Spirit World where he encounters a Dragon Spirit. Katara's pleas bring Aang out of the Avatar State. The group arrives at an Earth Kingdom village controlled by the Fire Nation. When they are arrested and imprisoned, they incite a rebellion, battling and defeating the Fire Nation soldiers occupying the village. Aang tells Katara and Sokka that he only knows airbending and has yet to master the other three elements. They make their way to the Northern Water Tribe where Aang can learn from waterbending masters. During a side trip to the Northern Air Temple, Aang is betrayed by a peasant and captured by Fire Nation archers led by [[Admiral Zhao|Commander Zhao]]. However, a masked marauder called the Blue Spirit helps Aang escape. Zhao realizes that Zuko is the Blue Spirit, and has a crossbowman fire a bolt that knocks Zuko out, but Aang uses his skills to escape with the unconscious Zuko. Aang watches over Zuko until morning, then leaves to reunite with Sokka and Katara. Zhao tries again to kill Zuko by blowing up his ship, but Zuko secretly survives and sneaks aboard Zhao's ship. Upon arriving, Aang and company are welcomed by the citizens of the Northern Water Tribe, and waterbending master [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters|Pakku]] teaches Aang and Katara. The Fire Nation arrives and Zhao begins his attack while Zuko continues his independent search for the Avatar. After defeating Katara in battle, Zuko captures Aang, who reenters the Avatar State to search for the Dragon Spirit for help to defeat the Fire Nation. The Dragon Spirit advises him to "use the ocean and show the power of water". Returning to his body, Aang battles Zuko until Katara freezes Zuko in ice, then leaves to join the battle. Zuko's uncle [[Iroh]] and Zhao make their way to a sacred cave where Zhao captures the Moon Spirit. Despite Iroh's pleas, Zhao kills the Moon Spirit to strip all the waterbenders of their abilities. Enraged by Zhao's sacrilege, Iroh reveals his mastery of firebending, frightening Zhao and his entourage out of the sacred cave. Princess Yue gives her life to revive the Moon Spirit. Zhao finds out Zuko survived and they prepare to fight, but Iroh talks Zuko out of it and Zhao is drowned by waterbenders. Recalling his life before being trapped in the ice, Aang enters the Avatar State and raises the ocean into a gigantic wall to drive the Fire Nation back. Zuko's father [[Fire Lord Ozai]] learns of the defeat and tasks his daughter Princess [[Azula]] with preventing the Avatar from mastering earth and fire. ==Cast== {{See also|List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters}} [[File:Noah Ringer.jpg|thumb|right|170px|[[Noah Ringer]] made his acting debut in the film as [[Aang]]. A practitioner of [[Taekwondo]], Ringer shaved his head to stay cool during his training. His resemblance to the television series' protagonist led to him being nicknamed "Avatar".]] {{Cast listing| * [[Noah Ringer]] as [[Aang]]:<ref name=ewlineup>{{cite magazine|author=Nicole Sperling|title=Shyamalan lines up his cast for 'The Last Airbender'|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=December 10, 2008|url= https://ew.com/article/2008/12/10/shyamalan-casts/|access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117185711/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2008/12/10/shyamalan-casts/|archive-date=November 17, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><br /> A young boy who is one of the last Airbender who disappeared from public sight a hundred years ago. While chronologically 112 years old, Aang still retains his biological age of 12. He is the latest incarnation of the Avatar Spirit. Though he is capable of bending all four elements, at the beginning of the film he has only learned to airbend. * [[Dev Patel]] as [[Zuko|Prince Zuko]]:<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Fleming|title=Shyamalan cast floats on 'Air'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 1, 2009|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/shyamalan-cast-floats-on-air-1117999413/|access-date=2019-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731211051/https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/shyamalan-cast-floats-on-air-1117999413/|archive-date=July 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><br /> A sixteen-year-old Fire Nation prince who travels with his Uncle Iroh. The former heir to the throne, he was exiled by his father, Fire Lord Ozai, who caused him a facial scar following a battle with him and ordered him to capture the Avatar (who had not been seen in almost a century, making the assignment a [[wikt:wild-goose chase|wild-goose chase]]) in order to regain his lost honor. * [[Nicola Peltz]] as [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]]:<ref name=ewlineup/><br /> A fourteen-year-old girl of the [[Southern Water Tribe]] and its last remaining [[waterbender]]. Since the death of her mother, Kya, she has served as the motherly figure in her family and is no stranger to responsibility despite her young age. * [[Jackson Rathbone]] as [[Sokka]]:<ref name=ewlineup /><br /> Katara's fifteen-year-old brother and a warrior from the [[Southern Water Tribe]]. He can be condescending and has no waterbending abilities. He often takes up leadership roles by virtue of coming up with most of the workable plans and tactics. * [[Shaun Toub]] as [[Iroh|General Iroh]]:<ref name=more /><br /> Zuko's paternal uncle and the brother of Fire Lord Ozai. He is very easy-going and friendly and often acts as a surrogate father to Zuko. Formerly a great general of the Fire Nation, personal tragedies led to his retirement, and the role of heir-presumptive passed to his younger brother. He is the only firebender shown in the film who is advanced enough to bend fire using only his [[Qi|ch'i]]. * [[Aasif Mandvi]] as Admiral Zhao:<ref name=more>{{cite news|title=More are cast in M. Night Shyamalan's Last Airbender|work=[[Sci Fi Wire]]|date=March 13, 2009|url=http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/more-are-cast-in-m-night.php|access-date=March 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317063646/http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/more-are-cast-in-m-night.php|archive-date=March 17, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><br /> A hot-tempered Fire Nation Commander in pursuit of the Avatar. He is Zuko's principal rival. He has an obsession with libraries. * [[Seychelle Gabriel]] as Princess Yue: <br /> The princess of the Northern Water Tribe, who was Sokka's [[Love interest|romantic love interest]]. In a tragic turn of events, she sacrificed herself to save the water tribe and the balance of the planet, by turning into the moon.<ref name=more/> * [[Cliff Curtis]] as Fire Lord Ozai:<br /> The mighty leader of the Fire Nation, the brother of Iroh, and the father of Prince Zuko and Princess Azula. * [[Summer Bishil]] as [[Azula|Princess Azula]]:<br /> Age fourteen. She is the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and sister to Prince Zuko. She appears once at the battle where Zuko refuses to fight and again at the end where she accepts the role as hunter of her older brother and uncle, and destroyer of the Avatar. * [[Francis Guinan]] as Master Pakku:<br /> A waterbending master of the Northern Water Tribe who taught Aang to waterbend. * [[Randall Duk Kim]] as Old man in temple: <br />An Earth Kingdom villager, who often visits the remains of the Northern Air Temple. * Isaac Jin Solstein as Haru: <br /> He started the prison uprising by earthbending a pebble to the back of the lead Fire Nation soldier's head. * [[Keong Sim]] as Tyro: <br /> He and other earthbenders in his occupied village agreed to be imprisoned in exchange for the non-benders being allowed to live in peace. * [[John Noble]] as the voice of The Dragon Spirit: <br /> A new [[composite character]] taking over the roles of Avatar Roku, Fang, Koh, and Guru Pathik from the animated series. * [[Katharine Houghton]] as Kanna (Gran Gran): <br /> She is Katara and Sokka's paternal grandmother. She gives her grandchildren her blessing to rescue and travel with Aang, as she believes him to be the Avatar and that they're destined to travel with him to save the world. * [[Damon Gupton]] as Monk Gyatso: <br /> He was Aang's mentor and best friend in the Northern Air Temple, providing him spiritual guidance. He is long dead by the time Aang is awakened, having died when the Fire Nation first attacked the Air Nomads 100 years prior to the events of the film. }} ==Production== ===Development=== On January 8, 2007, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies announced that they had signed [[M. Night Shyamalan]] to write, direct, and produce a trilogy of live-action films based on ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''. The first of these films was to be a faithful adaptation of the main characters' adventures in [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 1)|Book One: Water]].<ref>"{{cite web|title=Shyamalan's 'Avatar' also to bigscreen |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/shyamalan-s-avatar-also-to-bigscreen-1117956950/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 8, 2007 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210112751/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117956950.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1|archive-date=2007-02-10}}</ref> According to an interview with the co-creators in ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'' magazine, Shyamalan came across ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' when his daughter wanted to be [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]] for [[Halloween]]. Intrigued, Shyamalan researched and watched the series with his family. "Watching ''Avatar'' has become a family event in my house... so we are looking forward to how the story develops in season three," said Shyamalan. "Once I saw the amazing world that Mike and Bryan created, I knew it would make a great feature film".<ref>"{{cite web|title=Nickelodeon's Avatar Returns to Restore Peace to The Four Corners of the World and Prepares to Face Off With the Fire Nation Once and for All|url=http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1048320|date=January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207041134/http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1048320|archive-date=2009-02-07}}</ref> He added he was attracted to the spiritual and martial arts influences on the show.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rachel Abramowitz|title=Shyamalan Unveils Airbender Secrets|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 28, 2010|quote=M. Night Shyamalan had a sense about 'Airbender': 'This would make a killer movie'}}</ref> ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' co-creators [[Michael Dante DiMartino]] and [[Bryan Konietzko]] voiced their opinion in an interview regarding Shyamalan writing, directing, and producing the film. The two displayed much enthusiasm over Shyamalan's decision for the adaptation, stating that they admire his work and, in turn, he respects their material.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3&id=40610 |title=Avatar Creators Praise Night |access-date=March 17, 2006 |author=Mike Szymanski |date=March 17, 2007 |publisher=[[Sci Fi Wire]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405040313/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3 |archive-date=April 5, 2006 }}</ref> In a 2014 interview, Konietzko and DiMartino said that the project was given the go-ahead without their approval, and when they tried to provide input, it all got pushed to the wayside. Konietzko added even further that "A) We didn't want it to be done at all. Before anyone was attached, we didn't want it. And then B) If it was going to be done, we wanted to do it, but they weren't going to let us. C) When they attached Night, we just thought, 'Well, this is what we've been dealt. We'll just offer help when it's asked of us, and if it's not, we'll stay out of the way'. In the beginning, it was more positive and we offered help, but then we had a big falling out".<ref>{{Cite video|last=reznoire|title=Bryan Konietzko & Michael Dante DiMartino discuss The Last Airbender film|date=2014-08-19|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P1bbfeZqms| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/7P1bbfeZqms| archive-date=2021-11-13 | url-status=live|access-date=2016-09-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Producer [[Frank Marshall (film producer)|Frank Marshall]] stated he hoped for the film to achieve a family-friendly rating: "I'm not even sure we want to get in the PG-13 realm." Furthermore, Shyamalan said, "A lot of the inspiration for the direction we took comes from a friend of mine. A Nathan Blackmer helped shape this Idea into the film it became. I took away a little bit of the slapsticky stuff that was there for the little little kids, the fart jokes and things like that...We grounded Katara's brother...and that really did wonderful things for the whole theme of the movie."<ref name="production">{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/secrets-and-glimpses-of-the-last-airbender-filming-5301315 |title=Secrets And Glimpses Of The Last Airbender Filming – M. Night Shyamalan |publisher=Gizmodo |date=2009-06-23 |access-date=2022-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105145449/http://io9.com/5301315/secrets-and-glimpses-of-the-last-airbender-filming/?skyline=true&s=x |archive-date=November 5, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Brad Grey said that despite the director's career being inconsistent, he "believed in [Shyamalan's] vision and that he could execute it," adding that "It's a bold step because he had to create a potential new franchise."<ref name=budget>{{cite news |title = Last Airbender carries Shyamalan into new territory |first = Claudia |last = Eller |url = https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-airbender-20100625,0,1232454.story |newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] |date = June 25, 2010 |access-date = June 25, 2010 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103140009/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-airbender-20100625,0,1232454.story |archive-date = January 3, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The studio was willing to spend $250 million on a trilogy of films, one for each season.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Fernandez| first=Jay A.| url=http://film.org/film/news/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=4305| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620072322/http://film.org/film/news/loader.cfm?csModule=security%2Fgetfile&pageid=4305| url-status=dead| archive-date=2010-06-20| title=Four more land 'Airbender' roles| journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]| date=March 15, 2009| access-date=April 3, 2009}}</ref> ''The Last Airbender'''s budget wound up being $150 million, in addition to over $130 million spent on marketing costs, making it Shyamalan's most expensive film.<ref name=budget/> During production, the name ''Avatar'' was removed from the title to avoid confusion with the highly successful 2009 film ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grove |first1=Martin A. |title='Last Airbender' was first 'Avatar' |date=June 25, 2010 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-airbender-was-first-avatar-24983 |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=28 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505173753/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-airbender-was-first-avatar-24983 |archive-date=May 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Casting=== Shyamalan originally offered the roles of [[Aang]] to [[Noah Ringer]]; [[Sokka]] to [[Jackson Rathbone]]; [[Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Katara]] to [[Nicola Peltz]]; and [[Zuko]] to [[Jesse McCartney]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Sperling |first1=Nicole |title=Shyamalan lines up his cast for 'The Last Airbender' |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/12/10/shyamalan-casts/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205142123/https://ew.com/article/2008/12/10/shyamalan-casts/|archive-date=December 5, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', Shyamalan claimed that he did not want to make ''The Last Airbender'' without Nicola Peltz, "I said that only once before in my career, and that was when I met [[Haley Joel Osment|Haley]] in ''[[The Sixth Sense]]'' auditions."<ref>{{cite web |last=Dyball |first=Rennie |url=https://people.com/movies/3-reasons-to-watch-for-actress-nicola-peltz/ |title=3 Reasons to Watch for Actress Nicola Peltz|publisher=People.com |date=2010-02-01 |access-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204181455/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340703,00.html |archive-date=February 4, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2009, [[Dev Patel]] replaced [[Jesse McCartney]], whose tour dates conflicted with a boot camp scheduled for the cast to train in martial arts.<ref>{{cite news | date= 2009-02-01 |author= Michael Fleming |title= Shyamalan cast floats on 'Air' |work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url= https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/shyamalan-cast-floats-on-air-1117999413/ |access-date=2022-01-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/502311/slumdog-millionaire-star-joins-the-last-airbender/ |title=Slumdog Millionaire Star Joins The Last Airbender |publisher= /Film |date=2009-02-01 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527191040/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/02/01/slumdog-millionaire-star-joins-the-last-airbender/ |archive-date=2010-05-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, McCartney has since claimed that he had been replaced by the producers for political reasons shortly before filming began, and had no say in the matter.<ref>{{Cite web |date= May 20, 2020 |author= Dana Rose Falcone |url= https://people.com/tv/masked-singer-runner-up-frog-jesse-mccartney-heartbreaking-moments-career-why-he-competed/ |title= Masked Singer Runner-Up Jesse McCartney Reveals 'Heartbreaking' Career Moments, Why He Competed |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200524142745/https://people.com/tv/masked-singer-runner-up-frog-jesse-mccartney-heartbreaking-moments-career-why-he-competed/ |archive-date= May 24, 2020 |url-status= live |access-date= May 30, 2020 }}</ref> [[Katharine Houghton]] played "Gran Gran", the grandmother of Katara and Sokka, and [[Seychelle Gabriel]] portrayed Princess Yue, a love interest of Sokka's and princess of the Northern Water Tribe.<ref>{{cite news|title=Inqlings: For Manuel, a job he can phone in|work=[[Philly.com]]|date=2009-04-09|url=http://www.film.org/film/news/upload/INQlings-3.pdf|access-date=2009-03-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621050209/http://film.org/film/news/upload/INQlings-3.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-21}}</ref> Isaac Jin Solstein played an earthbending boy.<ref>{{cite news |title = New Last Airbender Casting Stays On Right Side Of Racebending Debate? |first = Brendon |last = Connelly |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/504087/new-last-airbender-casting-stays-on-right-side-of-racebending-debate/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = June 9, 2009 |access-date = January 5, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100115231848/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/09/new-last-airbender-casting-stays-on-right-side-of-racebending-debate/ |archive-date = January 15, 2010 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Comedian [[Aasif Mandvi]] was cast as Commander Zhao, [[Cliff Curtis]] as Fire Lord Ozai, and [[Keong Sim]] was cast in the role of an Earthbender.<ref>{{cite news|title=More are cast in M. Night Shyamalan Last Airbender|work=[[Sci Fi Wire]]|date=2009-03-13|url=http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/more-are-cast-in-m-night.php|access-date=2009-03-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317063646/http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/more-are-cast-in-m-night.php|archive-date=March 17, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Ringer began practicing [[Taekwondo]] – the martial art and national sport of [[Korea]] – at the age of 10.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roth |first1=James |title=Local boy is 'The Last Airbender' |url=https://starlocalmedia.com/carrolltonleader/news/local-boy-is-the-last-airbender/article_b2f48318-fd9e-517e-a155-b73316650e34.html |publisher=Star Local Media |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> He began shaving his head during his martial arts training to help cool off, which gave him the nickname "Avatar" due to his resemblance to Aang from the animated series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weary |first1=Evelina |title=Chatting with 'Cowboys and Aliens' Youngest Star, Noah Ringer |url=https://younghollywood.com/scene/chatting-with-cowboys-and-aliens-youngest-star-noah-ringer.html |publisher=[[Young Hollywood]] |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526233026/http://www.younghollywood.com/scene/chatting-with-cowboys-and-aliens-youngest-star-noah-ringer.html |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> When he heard about the film adaptation, he made an audition tape with his instructor and sent it to the filmmakers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dawson |first1=Richard |title='Airbender' star discovered online |date=June 28, 2010 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a234878/airbender-star-discovered-online/ |publisher=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> Having not acted before, Ringer was required to attend acting school a month before filming commenced.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Linda Seto of Dallas Young Actors Studio in Farmers Branch |url=http://voyagedallas.com/interview/meet-linda-seto-dallas-young-actors-studio-11496-luna-rd-700-farmers-branch-texas-75234/ |publisher=Voyage Dallas |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905020555/http://voyagedallas.com/interview/meet-linda-seto-dallas-young-actors-studio-11496-luna-rd-700-farmers-branch-texas-75234 |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peltz was familiar with the character before submitting for the part of Katara, having been a fan of the animated series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amos |first1=Joel |title=The Last Airbender: Inside Airbender with Nicola Peltz |date=July 2010 |url=https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/816044/the-last-airbender-inside-airbender-with-nicola-peltz-1/ |publisher=[[SheKnows Media]] |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601231045/http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/816044/the-last-airbender-inside-airbender-with-nicola-peltz-1 |archive-date=June 1, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Before ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' was released, Patel auditioned for the role of Zuko by submitting a tape to the studio.<ref name="Zuko">{{cite web |author= <!--Posted on--> Jul 05, 2010 |url= http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1335:starlogs-qlast-airbenderq-set-visit-dev-patel&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56 |title= Starlog's "Last Airbender" set visit: Dev Patel |publisher= Fangoria.com |date= 2010-07-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110710224141/http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1335:starlogs-qlast-airbenderq-set-visit-dev-patel&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56 |archive-date= July 10, 2011 |url-status= dead |access-date= 2020-04-04 }}</ref> Shyamalan called Patel personally to inform him that he got the part.<ref name="Zuko" /> Training for the film was intense, as he had to learn Wushu and different martial arts.<ref name="Zuko" /> Patel recalls fighting, punching, and throwing, and said the experience was "truly amazing."<ref name="Zuko" /> While he was filming ''Slumdog'' in India, he would finish a take and turn one of the channels over to the animated series.<ref name="Zuko" /> Even though it is based on a cartoon, he wanted to bring as much of himself as possible to the character he was portraying.<ref name="Zuko" /> [[Shaun Toub]], who was cast as [[Iroh]], describes his character in the first film as "loose" and "free".<ref name="Iroh">{{cite web |author= <!--Posted on--> Jul 01, 2010 |url= http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1314:qthe-last-airbenderq-set-visit-shaun-toub&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56 |title= Starlog's "The Last Airbender" set visit: Shaun Toub |publisher= Fangoria.com |date= 2010-07-01 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110710224203/http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1314:qthe-last-airbenderq-set-visit-shaun-toub&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56 |archive-date= July 10, 2011 |url-status= dead |access-date= 2020-04-04 }}</ref> He compares Zuko's "obsession" to his childhood memories and how kids are always looking for their parents' approval, saying that Zuko just wants his father's. "He isn't necessarily bad; he just has a great deal of built up anger and forgets to consider others. I think people will understand that he's not bad, he's just angry and hurting because he really wants his father to love him, but his father is too busy with other things."<ref name="Iroh" /> He says that Patel was able to influence him into appreciating the business of filmmaking more.<ref name=Iroh /> While comparing the animated series to the film, he says the film is much more serious.<ref name="Iroh" /> He attributed this change to the director trying to relate to every age group, rather than just kids.<ref name="Iroh" /> ====Casting controversy==== The casting of white actors in the [[East Asia]]n and [[Inuit]]-influenced Avatar universe, as well as the fact that the casting of the heroes and villains seemed to be racially backward from the show, triggered negative reactions from fans marked by accusations of racism, a letter-writing campaign, and various protests.<ref>{{cite news|author=Graeme McMillan|title=Avatar Casting Makes Fans See... White|access-date=2022-01-05|date=2008-12-17|url= https://gizmodo.com/avatar-casting-makes-fans-see-white-5111680|work=[[Gizmodo]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220073248/http://io9.com/5111680/avatar-casting-makes-fans-see-white|archive-date=December 20, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Jeff Yang|title=Avatar an Asian thing- why isn't the cast?|access-date=2022-01-05|date=2008-12-29|url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Avatar-an-Asian-thing-why-isn-t-the-cast-3252822.php|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201034055/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F01%2F28%2FDDMU15ICE4.DTL|archive-date=February 1, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> "To take this incredibly loved children's series, and really distort not only the ethnicity of the individual characters but the message of acceptance and cultural diversity that the original series advocated, is a huge blow," said Michael Le of Racebending.com, a fan site calling for a boycott of the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/5/26/20117491/critics-airbender-prince-were-whitewashed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531152434/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37336714|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-05-31|title= Critics: 'Airbender' & 'Prince' were 'whitewashed'|agency=Associated Press|author=Hajela, Deepti |date=2010-05-25|access-date=2022-01-05}}</ref> As a result of the casting, the Media Action Network for Asian-Americans also called for a boycott of the film. "This was a great opportunity to create new Asian-American stars...I'm disappointed," stated Guy Aoki, president of the organization.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/07/04/last_airbender_opens_debate_on_race/|title=Airbender reopens race debate|publisher=Boston Globe|author=Aucoin, Don|date=2010-07-04|access-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304220322/http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/07/04/last_airbender_opens_debate_on_race/?page=full|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> After a casting call specifically looking for "Caucasians and other ethnicities," Shyamalan explained that "Ultimately, this movie, and then the three movies, will be the most culturally diverse tent-pole movies ever released, period." to reassure critics. Furthermore, Paramount provided a statement about the casting choices, "The movie has 23 credited speaking roles – more than half of which feature Asian and Pan Asian actors of Korean, Japanese and Indian descent. The filmmaker's interpretation reflects the myriad qualities that have made this series a global phenomenon. We believe fans of the original and new audiences alike will respond positively once they see it."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Chris |title=A whitewash for 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' and 'The Last Airbender' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-23-la-ca-racebender-20100523-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 23, 2010 |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> Shyamalan commented on the issues regarding fans' perceptions of the casting, "Anime is based on ambiguous facial features. It's meant to be interpretive. It's meant to be inclusive of all races, and you can see yourself in all these characters...This is a multicultural movie and I'm going to make it even more multicultural in my approach to its casting. There's African-Americans in the movie...so it's a source of pride for me. The irony that [protesters] would label this with anything but the greatest pride, that the movie poster has Noah and Dev on it and my name on it. I don't know what else to do."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/07/talking_with_director_m_night.html|title=Talking with director M. Night Shyamalan about 'Last Airbender,' race and more|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Chaney |first=Jen|date=2010-07-01|access-date=2010-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010234814/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/07/talking_with_director_m_night.html|archive-date=October 10, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Rathbone also dismissed the complaints saying, "I think it's one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan. It's one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit."<ref>{{cite news|author=Larry Carroll|title=Twilight Star Jackson Rathbone Hopes To 'Show His Range' in Last Airbender|work=[[MTV]]|date=2009-01-15|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1602757/twilight-star-jackson-rathbone-hopes-to-show-his-range-in-last-airbender/|access-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217132058/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1602757/story.jhtml|archive-date=February 17, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The controversy was poorly received by critics as well.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Jordan |url=http://www.ugo.com/movies/airbender-casting-call-controversy-continues |title=Racebending – The Controversy Continues – The Last Airbender |publisher=UGO.com |date=2010-05-21 |access-date=2010-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612072534/http://www.ugo.com/movies/airbender-casting-call-controversy-continues |archive-date=2012-06-12 }}</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] was one of the critical voices against the casting. When asked about casting a white cast to portray the characters, he said, "The original series ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' was highly regarded and popular for three seasons on Nickelodeon. Its fans take it for granted that its heroes are Asian. Why would Paramount and Shyamalan go out of their way to offend these fans? There are many young Asian actors capable of playing the parts."<ref>{{cite news |date= December 23, 2009 |author= Roger Ebert |author-link= Roger Ebert |title= What color were Zuzu's petals in "It's a Wonderful Life"? Easy! Movie Answer Man |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/answer-man/what-color-were-zuzus-petals-in-its-a-wonderful-life-easy |work= [[Roger Ebert]] |access-date= December 16, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014727/https://www.rogerebert.com/answer-man/what-color-were-zuzus-petals-in-its-a-wonderful-life-easy |archive-date= December 17, 2018 |url-status= live }}</ref> In July 2013, series co-creator Bryan Konietzko responded to an online comment about skin color in ''[[The Legend of Korra]]''. Konietzko wrote that his work on the two series "speaks for itself which obviously does not include the gross misinterpretations and misrepresentations of our work in [Shyamalan's] work."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/54495619739/this-past-friday-i-published-this-post-which |title=This past Friday I published this post which |last=Konietzko |first=Bryan |date=3 July 2013 |website=Tumblr |access-date=3 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707034120/http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/54495619739/this-past-friday-i-published-this-post-which |archive-date=July 7, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Filming=== Pre-production began in late 2008, while [[Principal photography|filming]] began on 13 March 2009 in [[Greenland]]. After two weeks, the cast and crew moved to [[Reading, Pennsylvania]], where production designers and special effects crews worked for several weeks, preparing the local site for the film.<ref name="filming">{{cite news|author=George Hatza|title=Sixth Sense director shooting new movie in Reading beginning Thursday; Pagoda to get a close-up|work=[[Reading Eagle]]|date=April 1, 2009|url=http://www2.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=131944|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404043056/http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=131944|archive-date=April 4, 2009|access-date=January 5, 2022}}</ref> A production team scouting the area found the [[Pagoda (Reading, Pennsylvania)|Pagoda]] on [[Mount Penn, Pennsylvania|Mount Penn]], which served as an ancient temple in the film.<ref name="filming" /> Reading mayor Tom McMahon explained that crews made road improvements and buried electrical lines surrounding the structure.<ref name="filming" /> Filming also took place in [[Ontelaunee Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania|Ontelaunee Township]] and at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower in Pennsylvania after the production crew finished at the Pagoda. Some scenes were also shot in [[Philadelphia]] after the Berks Economic Development company showed the production "a number of buildings, but couldn't come up with enough to meet their requirements" because "they needed buildings to shoot all the interiors, and were looking for a group of buildings with high ceilings and specific column spacing".<ref name="production" /><ref name="filming" /> The production offices were leased from Temple University Health System at its corporate offices located at 2450 West Hunting Park Avenue. Rehearsals also took place at this location. Filming took place inside the abandoned Budd Company complex across the street, which was fitted out as a studio including temporary air conditioning piped into the set. Filming ended on 26 September 2009. ===Visual effects=== [[Pablo Helman]], who previously worked on ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]'', was the visual effects supervisor for the [[Industrial Light and Magic]] team on the film.<ref name=effects>{{cite web |url=http://www.btlnews.com/crafts/ilm-bends-fantasy-into-reality-in-the-last-airbender/ |title=ILM Bends Fantasy into Reality in The Last Airbender &#124; Below the Line |publisher=Btlnews.com |date=2010-07-01 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815043343/http://www.btlnews.com/crafts/ilm-bends-fantasy-into-reality-in-the-last-airbender/ |archive-date=August 15, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> He worked with Shyamalan, reviewing each scene and talking about the visual effects needed to tell the story, and ultimately worked with about 300 people to reflect the director's vision, who he said [[storyboard]]ed it.<ref name=effects /> [[Image:WateranimationLAM.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Upper: Water being animated.<br /> Lower: Final version of animated scene.]] Industrial Light and Magic were tasked with visualizing the elemental tribes of Air, Water, Earth, and Fire; most importantly creating the "bending" styles of these elements.<ref name=effects /> Additionally, they were required to animate creatures and enhance stunt work with digital doubles. "The work was challenging," shares Helman. "We had to figure out what "bending" is for fire, water, air and earth."<ref name=effects /> The project was started without the desired technology needed to create the effects. Rather than software, computer graphic cards were the basis for "bending" the elements, allowing previews to be viewed more swiftly. This resulted in Shyamalan having to direct more than sixty takes before the effect was finished and lined up with his visions.<ref name=effects /> Due to reality-based expectations, fire and water were the hardest elements to effectively bend, and because of particle work which was unable to be rendered in hardware, earth bending also was difficult to create.<ref name=effects /> With water, the variety in different scales required Helman and his team to create different techniques. The concept for air was derived from the animation of the television series.<ref name=effects /> To create the air bending effect, visual effects art director Christian Alzman and digital matte department supervisor Barry Williams explained that seeing dust and snow particles, rather than seeing the air itself, helped shape the real-world effect of bending the element. Before the bending effects could be applied, though, the actor's movements had to be matched; Shyamalan, therefore, wanted each character's bending styles to be unique to fit with their unique personalities.<ref name=effects /> The challenge for fire did not come with making it look realistic, but rather making the fire behave in an unrealistic way that would be believable to the audience.<ref name=effects /> The film that inspired ''The Last Airbender''{{'}}s fire style was [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|the sixth ''Harry Potter'']] film, which was re-engineered to reflect two-dimensional simulations.<ref name="fire">{{cite news |date= July 1, 2010 |last= Boucher |first= Geoff |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-01-la-et-fire-20100701-story.html |title= The Last Airbender and ILM's quest for fire |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100708011934/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/07/last-airbender-and-ilms-quest-for-fire.html |archive-date= July 8, 2010 |url-status= live |access-date= 2020-04-04 }}</ref> Helman's team referenced images of flames being pushed through the air by giant fans for certain shots needed throughout the film. The team also considered using a meshed image of real and digital fire, but in the end, went with the richer, deeper texture of computer-generated flame.<ref name="fire" /> The film also used [[matte paintings]], which had to be in 3D because the visual style included long-duration shots in which the camera always moved.<ref name=effects /> The climax, which was enacted on a {{convert|200|x|200|ft|m}} set, had to be merged with stills of the Greenland landscapes, as well as the low-angle lighting that was captured on location there.<ref name=effects /> The camera was animated to get angles needed for different shots in the film by importing these stills into the computer. Multiple cameras were utilized to achieve the different wire-work and animation that was used to create the creatures and many fight scenes within the film. In creating these creatures, the team looked at various real-world creatures to influence the look of the lemur [[Momo (Avatar: The Last Airbender)|Momo]]'s wings.<ref name=effects /> In order for them to be believable, they looked for examples of the same size and weight as the animated character and then produced hybrids from different animals to make each species distinct. This was done by observing actual animals to get a take on how they would act.<ref name=effects /> Shyamalan's take on the personality of each creature also influenced the creation stage of the creatures. For example, Momo has flying mechanics based on a giant [[fruit bat]]. Other elements, such as texturing, hair or scale simulation, and light and shadow complementary to the live action, were added to make the final animation appear as real as possible during the later stages of character development.<ref name=effects /> [[Paramount Pictures]] made an announcement in late April 2010, revealing that ''The Last Airbender'' would be released in [[3-D film|3D]].<ref name=convert>{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://www.deadline.com/2010/04/airbender-goes-3d/ |title=Paramount And M. Night Shyamalan Make 'Airbender' Into 3D Conversion |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=2010-04-22 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520123323/http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/airbender-goes-3d/ |archive-date=May 20, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> This decision came after an increasing number of films being made or converted to 3D, such as ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'', ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' and ''[[Clash of the Titans (2010 film)|Clash of the Titans]]'', made a decent profit at the [[box office]].<ref name=3D>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/04/22/the-last-airbender-to-get-3-d-treatment/ |title='The Last Airbender' to Get 3-D Treatment |last=Schuker |first=Lauren A.E. |date=April 22, 2010 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=April 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425000735/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/04/22/the-last-airbender-to-get-3-d-treatment/ |archive-date=April 25, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Helman stated that Shyamalan's way of shooting without fast edits and the film's visuals could lend itself to the 3D conversion well, [[James Cameron]] voiced his disapproval on any film being converted using this process, saying, "You can slap a 3-D label on it and call it 3-D, but there's no possible way that it can be done up to a standard that anybody would consider high enough."<ref name=Cameron>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2010/04/22/avatars_cameron_calls_for_3d_watchdog.html |title=Avatar's Cameron calls for 3-D watchdog |work=thestar.com |date=2010-04-22 |access-date=2022-01-05 |location=Toronto |first=Peter |last=Howell |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023162746/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/799551--cameron-to-hollywood-we-need-3-d-watchdog |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/the-last-airbender-and-the-green-hornet-convert-to-3d-1952949.html |title=The Last Airbender and The Green convert to 3D |work=The Independent |date=2010-04-23 |access-date=2010-08-05 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171905/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/the-last-airbender-and-the-green-hornet-convert-to-3d-1952949.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite this, Shyamalan opted to work with Stereo D LLC, the company who worked on James Cameron's own ''Avatar''.<ref name=convert /> The conversion process for the film cost between $5 million and $10 million, adding to the reported $100 million that already went into the film.<ref name=3D /> ===Music=== {{Main|The Last Airbender (soundtrack)}} In December 2008, [[James Newton Howard]] was announced as the composer for ''[[The Last Airbender (soundtrack)|The Last Airbender]]''.<ref name="music">{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/501815/james-newton-howard-to-score-the-last-airbender/ |title=James Newton Howard To Score The Last Airbender|publisher= /Film |date=2008-12-19 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112151909/http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/12/19/james-newton-howard-to-score-the-last-airbender/ |archive-date=November 12, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film marks the seventh collaboration between Howard and [[M. Night Shyamalan]], with the latest being the 2008 film ''[[The Happening (2008 film)|The Happening]]''.<ref name="music" /> On May 13, 2009, producer Frank Marshall announced that Howard was recording music for the teaser trailer that was later released that summer;<ref>{{cite web |author=LeDoctor |url=https://www.twitter.com/LeDoctor/ |title=Frank Marshall (LeDoctor) on Twitter |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331181756/https://twitter.com/LeDoctor |archive-date=March 31, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> it was later confirmed by Marshall that all of the film's trailers featured original music by Howard himself.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.slashfilm.com/508412/news-tidbits-iron-man-2-the-last-airbender-and-xxx-3d/|title=News Tidbits: Iron Man 2, The Last Airbender and xXx 3D |publisher=/Film |date=2010-04-02 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707012708/http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/04/02/news-tidbits-iron-man-2-the-last-airbender-and-xxx-3d/ |archive-date=2010-07-07 }}</ref> The soundtrack, released by Lakeshore Records on June 29, 2010, required Howard to hire a 119-member ensemble.<ref name=amtla>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=the-last-airbender-r1818607/review|pure_url=yes}}|first=William|last=Ruhlmann |title=The Last Airbender |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=July 8, 2010}}</ref> Running at about 66 minutes, it contains eleven tracks ranging from three to seven minutes, and one track, "Airbender Suite", that is nearly eleven minutes long. Reviews for the score were overwhelmingly positive.<ref name=amtla/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/last_airbender.html |title=The Last Airbender (James Newton Howard) |publisher=Filmtracks |date=2010-06-29 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811061503/http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/last_airbender.html |archive-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-The-Last-Airbender-Soundtrack-889312.php|title=Music Review: The Last Airbender Soundtrack|date=2010-06-27|access-date=2022-01-05|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]}}</ref> ==Marketing== ===Promotion=== The [[Trailer (promotion)|teaser trailer]] for the film was attached to ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', released in theaters on June 24, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title = The Last Airbender Teaser Trailer Attached to Transformers 2 |first = Peter |last = Sciretta |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/503499/the-last-airbender-teaser-trailer-attached-to-transformers-2/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = April 28, 2009 |access-date = January 5, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106202447/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/04/28/the-last-airbender-teaser-trailer-attached-to-transformers-2/ |archive-date = January 6, 2010}}</ref> The teaser trailer was also shown exclusively on the June 22, 2009 episode of ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title = A Brief First Look at The Last Airbender Teaser Trailer |first = Peter |last = Sciretta |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/504245/a-brief-first-look-at-the-last-airbender-teaser-trailer/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = June 20, 2009 |access-date = January 8, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100113052704/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/20/a-brief-first-look-at-the-last-airbender-teaser-trailer/ |archive-date = January 13, 2010}}</ref> The trailer shows Aang airbending in a temple which is being attacked by a multitude of Fire Nation ships.<ref>{{cite news |title = The Last Airbender Trailer For Christmas |first = Peter |last = Sciretta |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/505097/the-last-airbender-trailer-for-christmas/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = August 24, 2009 |access-date = January 5, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106213141/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/08/24/the-last-airbender-trailer-for-christmas/ |archive-date = January 6, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = The Last Airbender Trailer Delayed Until February |first = Peter |last = Sciretta |url = https://www.slashfilm.com/506493/the-last-airbender-trailer-delayed-until-february/ |work = [[/Film]] |date = December 3, 2009 |access-date = January 5, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106203210/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/12/03/the-last-airbender-trailer-delayed-until-february/ |archive-date = January 6, 2010}}</ref> Three additional trailers were released leading up to the film's release.<ref>{{cite news |title = Who's Buying What in the Super Bowl 2010 |first = Brian |last = Steinberg |url = http://adage.com/superbowl10/article?article_id=141168 |work = [[Advertising Age]] |date = December 21, 2009 |access-date = January 8, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100114072308/http://adage.com/superbowl10/article?article_id=141168 |archive-date = January 14, 2010 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/64546-alternate-trailer-for-the-last-airbender-online |title=Alternate Trailer for The Last Airbender Online |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=2010-03-25 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224171014/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=64546 |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.twitter.com/LeDoctor/status/11463163016 |title=Twitter / Frank Marshall: New Airbender trailer is l |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306100435/https://twitter.com/LeDoctor/status/11463163016 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first TV spot aired during [[Super Bowl XLIV]] on February 7, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/02/last-airbender-super-bowl/ |title=Last Airbender's Super Bowl Ad Unleashes Fun |publisher=Wired |date=2010-02-05 |access-date=2010-05-12 |first=Scott |last=Thill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106201315/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/02/last-airbender-super-bowl/ |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> It showed parts of the film that were not shown in the teaser trailer and had no [[Diegesis|diagetic]] dialogue, but merely [[narration]]. On February 10, the theatrical trailer was released online.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=63186 |title=New Trailer for The Last Airbender! |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=2010-02-10 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809093230/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=63186 |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 9, 2010, Nickelodeon Consumer Products also debuted the upcoming line of toys based on ''The Last Airbender''. It includes various 3{{frac|3|4}}-inch action figures, as well as larger, action-enabled figures, costumes, and other props. Among the toys featured in the line were figures based on Aang, Prince Zuko, Sokka, Katara, and a fully ride-able Appa the Sky Bison.<ref name="Toys">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2596029/m-night-shyamalans-the-last-airbender-toys-arrive/ |title=M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Last Airbender' Toys Arrive! |publisher=MTV |date=2010-01-26 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211142329/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/02/09/m-night-shyamalans-the-last-airbender-toys-arrive/ |archive-date=February 11, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> "We worked very closely with M. Night, the rest of the Paramount team and our in-house design team, along with our partner Spin-Master, to come up with the right assortment, the right size for these action figures and make sure we had representation of all the nations within the 'Airbender' series," said Nickelodeon's Lourdes Arocho. ''The Last Airbender'' action figures released in three "waves"; with wave one beginning on June 1,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/the-last-airbender-toys-kofi-44634/ |title=The Last Airbender: Appa and Other Characters Revealed! |publisher=Screen Rant |date=2010-02-09 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200944/http://screenrant.com/the-last-airbender-toys-kofi-44634/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> wave two near the film's July release date, and wave three near the 2010 holiday season.<ref name="Toys" /> [[THQ Studio Australia]] also developed a video game based on the film, which was released on June 29, 2010, for the [[Wii]] and the [[Nintendo DS]].<ref>[http://us.thq.com/us/game/detail/5799 US.thq.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822224659/http://us.thq.com/us/game/detail/5799 |date=2010-08-22 }}</ref> ===Graphic novels=== Two original black-and-white [[graphic novel]]s, entitled ''[[The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko's Story]]'' and ''The Last Airbender'', drawn in the [[manga]] style, were written by [[Dave Roman]] and Alison Wilgus. "''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' has shown incredible crossover appeal with manga fans. The release of ''The Last Airbender'' movie and original tie-in manga gives us the chance to share completely new stories with Avatar fans looking for more about Aang, Zuko, and their favorite characters." Dallas Middaugh, Associate Publisher of [[Del Rey Manga]] said in a statement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mnightfans.com/the-last-airbender-manga-from-del-rey-and-nickelodeon/ |title=The Last Airbender Manga from Del Rey and Nickelodeon |publisher=M. Night Fans |date=2009-07-30 |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327192548/http://www.mnightfans.com/the-last-airbender-manga-from-del-rey-and-nickelodeon/ |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The second manga was released on June 22, 2010. The plot, like the film, is a condensed version of the [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 1)|first season]] of the series.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345518551 Amazon.com]</ref> The prequel, ''Zuko's Story'', is co-written by Alison Wilgus and Dave Roman and illustrated by [[Nina Matsumoto]] and was released on May 18, 2010.<ref name=preview /> The synopsis for the graphic novel was released in early 2010, "When Prince Zuko dared to question authority, his father, Fire Lord Ozai, banished him from the Fire Nation. Horribly scarred and stripped of everything he held dear, Zuko has wandered the earth for almost three years in search of his only chance at redemption: the Avatar, a mystical being who once kept the four nations in balance. Everyone he encounters believes that this is an impossible task, as the Avatar disappeared a century ago. But Zuko stubbornly continues the search. He must regain his honor, so his quest is all he has left."<ref name=preview>{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2596707/the-last-airbender-prequel-zukos-story-preview/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: 'The Last Airbender: Prequel: Zuko's Story' Preview |publisher=MTV |date=2010-05-13 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714145416/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/05/12/the-last-airbender-prequel-zukos-story-preview/ |archive-date=July 14, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Roman and Wilgus, who developed comics based on the series for [[Nick Magazine]], consulted series creators Mike Dante DiMartino and [[Bryan Konietzko]], and the head writer for the show [[Aaron Ehasz]] while they were developing ''Zuko's Story''.<ref name=comic>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2596735/the-last-airbender-qa-exploring-zukos-story-with-co-writer-dave-roman/ |title=The Last Airbender Q&A: Exploring Zuko's Story With Co-Writer Dave Roman |publisher=MTV |date=2010-05-17 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008040731/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/05/17/the-last-airbender-qa-exploring-zukos-story-with-co-writer-dave-roman |archive-date=October 8, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The four wanted to try a comic that would fit into with the continuity of the show. The prequel, though mostly associated with the film, was meant to be a prequel to the series.<ref name=comic /> Roman explained, "In a lot of ways, it's like an expanded origin. With the film and the series, there are differences and there are places where they split off, but the setup for both is exactly the same – so when you're introduced to the characters, that's the part where they're completely identical." The prequel allowed the expansions of different details told in the series; for example, an episode called "The Blue Spirit" in the series was seen in the film.<ref name=comic /> However, since explaining everything that happened in that episode was hard to translate onto film, the prequel allowed for them to "delve" into that specific story. What more, when asked about whether he answered some questions that were left open at the end of the series, Roman stated that, while he had a strong relationship with the show's creators and got their blessing for his project, it wasn't his plot to address.<ref name=comic /> ==Release== To avoid confusion with James Cameron's ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'', the title was changed from ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' to simply ''The Last Airbender''.<ref name="/FILM">{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/498850/m-night-shyamalans-the-last-airbender-gets-release-date-avatar-dropped-from-title/|title=M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender Gets Release Date, Director Update, "Avatar" Dropped From Title|last=Stephenson|first=Hunter|date=April 15, 2008|publisher=/FILM|access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915085717/http://www.slashfilm.com/m-night-shyamalans-the-last-airbender-gets-release-date-avatar-dropped-from-title/|archive-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref> The film premiered in [[New York City]] on June 30, 2010,<ref name="premiere">{{cite web |author=LMCullen |title=VIPs bei der Premiere von 'The Last Airbender in 3D' in NY |url=http://www.eclipsemovie.org/scrumptious-pictures-of-jackson-rathbone-at-the-last-airbender-premiere/vips-bei-der-premiere-von-the-last-airbender-in-3d-in-ny-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916021519/http://www.eclipsemovie.org/scrumptious-pictures-of-jackson-rathbone-at-the-last-airbender-premiere/vips-bei-der-premiere-von-the-last-airbender-in-3d-in-ny-2/ |archive-date=September 16, 2010 |access-date=July 8, 2010 |publisher=Eclipse Movie}}</ref> and opened the following day in 3,169 theaters, against ''[[The Twilight Saga: Eclipse]]'' which also stars Jackson Rathbone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2010&wk=27&p=.htm |title=Theater Counts for Week 27 of 2010 |publisher=Boxofficemojo.com |date=2010-01-07 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725120124/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2010&wk=27&p=.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Home media=== ''The Last Airbender'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] on November 16, 2010.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/live-action-epic-based-on-nickelodeons-popular-series-delivers-inspiring-adventure-the-whole-family-can-enjoy-the-last-airbender-102852659.html |title=Live-Action Epic Based on Nickelodeon's Popular Series Delivers Inspiring Adventure the Whole Family Can Enjoy: The Last Airbender |publisher=PR Newswire |access-date=September 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918001349/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/live-action-epic-based-on-nickelodeons-popular-series-delivers-inspiring-adventure-the-whole-family-can-enjoy-the-last-airbender-102852659.html |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same time, a Blu-ray 3D version was also made available exclusively at [[Best Buy]] locations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5255 |title=News flash on Blu-ray 3D release |access-date=October 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013205140/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5255 |archive-date=October 13, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Last Airbender'' was re-released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 25, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Last Airbender Blu-ray |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Last-Airbender-Blu-ray/177950/ |publisher=Bluray.com |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> The film has earned $48.7 million from DVD/Blu-ray sales, with 1.6 million DVDs and 300,000 Blu-ray discs sold as of December 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Last-Airbender-The#tab=video-sales |title=The Last Airbender (2010) - Financial Information |access-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231093123/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Last-Airbender-The#tab=video-sales |archive-date=December 31, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==Reception== ===Box office=== ''The Last Airbender'' had grossed $131,772,187 in the United States, and $187,941,694 in other countries, making for a total of $319,713,881 worldwide.<!--Since studios and theaters share the box office grosses of every film, usually 50/50, the film did not break even.--><ref name="mojo">{{cite web |date=August 22, 2010 |title=The Last Airbender (2010) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lastairbender.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823021507/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lastairbender.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> On its opening day in the United States, ''The Last Airbender'' made $16,614,112, ranking fifth overall for Thursday openings,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=thu&p=.htm |title=Opening Thursday Records at the Box Office |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=July 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704225820/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=thu&p=.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> and placed second behind ''The Twilight Saga: Eclipse''.<ref>{{cite web |date=2010-02-07 |title=Eclipse Dips on Thursday, 'Airbender' Debuts Solidly |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed4168811524/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725120435/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?Lid=2847&p=.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2018 |access-date=2022-01-05 |publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> For its opening three-day, Fourth of July weekend, ''The Last Airbender'' accumulated a total of $40,325,019. The following Monday, it grossed $11,479,213. 54% of its total gross was from 3D presentations at 1,606 screens. On Thursday, July 1, 2010, its opening day, it debuted at #2 behind ''The Twilight Saga: Eclipse''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3279619076/ |title=Eclipse Swoons But Sweeps Up Over Independence Weekend |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=July 6, 2010 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804020332/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2852&p=.htm |archive-date=August 4, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Opening internationally in 923 sites, the film grossed an estimated $9 million, $8 million of which was from 870 sites in [[Russia]], making it the number one film there.<ref>{{cite news |last=Segers |first=Frank |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/eclipse-still-has-bite-no-25371 |title=Eclipse still has bite at No. 1 overseas |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 12, 2010 |access-date=August 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145816/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/eclipse-still-has-bite-no-25371 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film grossed $9.4 million from its second weekend in international markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2873&p=.htm |title=Around-the-World Roundup: 'Inception' Still Spinning on Top |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=2010-04-08 |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127084350/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2873&p=.htm |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was the twentieth highest-grossing film of 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2010&p=.htm |title=Boxofficemojo.com |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222004148/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2010&p=.htm |archive-date=February 22, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and is the fourth-highest-grossing film produced by Nickelodeon Movies, behind ''[[The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water]]'' (2015), ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014 film)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' (2014), and ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|The Adventures of Tintin]]'' (2011). <ref name="mojo" /><ref name="thenumbers">{{cite web |date=August 20, 2010 |title=The Last Airbender – Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/BENDR.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220119/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/BENDR.php |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=August 22, 2010 |publisher=The Numbers}}</ref> ===Critical response=== On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Last Airbender'' holds an approval rating of 5%, based on 192 reviews with an average rating of 3/10, making it the lowest-rated film produced by [[Nickelodeon Movies]], as well as Shyamalan's worst-reviewed film to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=M. Night Shyamalan|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223075808/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Last Airbender'' squanders its popular source material with incomprehensible plotting, horrible acting, and detached joyless direction."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/|title=The Last Airbender Movie Reviews|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830134552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 20 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|title=The Last Airbender (2010): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705121616/http://apps.metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|archive-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-02 |first1= Patrick |last1= Goldstein |first2= James |last2= Rainey |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |title=Audiences agree with critics on 'Last Airbender': It's a stinker |work=[[CinemaScore]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131182746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Liam Lacey of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' stated the film had little chance to develop its characters and therefore suffered, with the overall storyline of the film becoming a run-on narrative.<ref>{{cite news |author=Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |title=The Last Airbender: Another bend in Shyamalan's career |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=2010-07-02 |location=Toronto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128065202/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Owen Gleiberman]] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', who gave the film a C, "''The Last Airbender'' keeps throwing things at you, but its final effect is, in every way, flat."<ref>{{cite news |author= Owen Gleiberman |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |url= https://ew.com/article/2010/06/30/last-airbender-3/ |title=The Last Airbender|publisher= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=2010-06-27 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128133142/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20398345,00.html |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film half a star in his review, stating that it "bores and alienates its audiences," and notes the poor use of 3D among the film's faults.<ref name="ebert-review">{{cite news |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-airbender-2010 |title=The Last Airbender |date=2010-06-30 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |access-date=April 24, 2020 }}</ref> Keith Phipps of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the film an F, criticizing the performances of the child actors, overuse of exposition, and shoehorned 3D special effects, calling it the worst summer blockbuster of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-last-airbender-1798165371 |title=The Last Airbender |author=Keith Phipps |work=A.V. Club |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141310/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-last-airbender,42682/ |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said that the lack of correct casting caused the film to lose substantial credibility in regard to its source material, but did praise the casting and acting of Ringer as Aang.<ref>{{cite news |last=Honeycutt |first=Kirk |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |title=The Last Airbender – Film Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217135639/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Debruge of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' criticized the casting and the score, saying that the overall effect of each play into making the film a bore.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-06-30 |author= Peter Debruge |url= https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/the-last-airbender-1117943102/ |title=The Last Airbender Review |publisher=Variety.com |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100703041247/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117943102.html?categoryId=31&cs=1 |archive-date=2010-07-03 |access-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref> [[Rifftrax]] put the film at number 5 of The Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time, saying "We CAN state for the record that it is quite easy to detest this movie even if you've never seen a frame of the TV show."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10/ |title=Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time |date=2012-12-20 |author=Rifftrax |work=Mystery Science Theater 3000 |access-date=2013-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905052624/http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10 |archive-date=September 5, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{quote box|width=25em|align=left|"The Last Airbender" is an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented. The laws of chance suggest that ''something'' should have gone right. Not here. It puts a nail in the coffin of low-rent 3D, but it will need a lot more coffins than that.|—[[Roger Ebert]], ''[[Sun Times]]''<ref name="ebert-review" />}} Charlie Jane Anders in the review by [[io9]] criticized "the personality-free hero, the nonsensical plot twists, the CG clutter, the bland romance, the new-age pablum...", concluding that "Shyamalan's true achievement in this film is that he takes a thrilling cult TV series, ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'', and he systematically leeches all the personality and soul out of it – in order to create something generic enough to serve as a universal spoof of every epic, ever."<ref name="comedy">{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/m-night-shyamalan-finally-made-a-comedy-5576076 |title=M. Night Shyamalan Finally Made A Comedy |date=2010-07-01 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703091053/http://io9.com/5576076/m-night-shyamalan-finally-made-a-comedy |archive-date=July 3, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Anders summarized the experience of watching the film by stating that, "Actually, my exact words when I walked out of this film were, 'Wow, this makes ''[[Dragonball Evolution]]'' look like a masterpiece.'"<ref name="comedy" /> ''[[Ain't It Cool News]]''' review questioned why Shyamalan was allowed to write the script, as well as why he was even chosen to direct such a high-profile film after a string of previous flops: "Burdened by [a] never-ending onslaught of expository dialogue awkwardly delivered by actors giving career-worst performances across the board, ''The Last Airbender'' is so outrageously bad it's a wonder it ever got before cameras."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/45651 |title=If It Bends, It's Funny! If It Breaks, It's Mr. Beaks's The Last Airbender review! |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216034944/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/45651 |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Scott Bowles of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave a generally favorable review, claiming that Shyamalan delivered on fight scenes and the film worked as a kid's film, although he also added that poor scriptwriting made some of the performances sound wooden.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2010-07-01-airbender01_ST_N.htm |title=Shyamalan's 'Airbender' has some good elements |first=Scott|last=Bowles |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419012042/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2010-07-01-airbender01_ST_N.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Another favorable review came from Stephanie Zacharek of MovieLine, who praised the way Shyamalan captures the art of action and human motion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieline.com/2010/07/review-a-few-nifty-visuals-cant-rescue-exhausting-last-airbender.php |title=REVIEW: A Few Nifty Visuals Can't Exhausting Last Airbender |website=Movieline |date=June 9, 2010|access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702203944/http://www.movieline.com/2010/07/review-a-few-nifty-visuals-cant-rescue-exhausting-last-airbender.php |archive-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref> David Roark of ''[[Relevant Magazine]]'' accused other critics of having a bias against Shyamalan and gave the film a positive review, stating that its visuals and heart far outweighed the clunky plotting and "awful" dialogue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/reviews/22137-the-last-airbender |title=REVIEW: The Last Airbender: David Roark Says All the Other Critics Are (Mostly) Wrong |work=RELEVANT Magazine |date=July 2, 2010 |access-date=July 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705103722/http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/reviews/22137-the-last-airbender |archive-date=2010-07-05 }}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' noted an unfortunate linguistic problem that reduced British viewers to "a state of nervous collapse" due to laughter. In [[British English]], 'bent' is a slang term for gay, with 'bender' meaning a gay man, giving an entirely different meaning to lines such as, "I could tell at once that you were a bender." Bradshaw commented that the response from the audience to such lines was "deafeningly immature" and would "inevitably be repeated in every cinema in the land showing ''The Last Airbender''." Bradshaw expressed his amazement that Shyamalan has managed to make a film worse than ''[[Lady in the Water]]'' or ''[[The Happening (2008 film)|The Happening]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |title=Film review: The Last Airbender |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/12/the-last-airbender |work=The Guardian |date=2010-08-13 |location=London |access-date=December 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114221908/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/aug/12/the-last-airbender |archive-date=November 14, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kirk Honneycut of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' wrote, "Shyamalan, who never has mounted an epic film before, gets only passing grades. Huge sets and unit work from Greenland to New Zealand all look strangely underlit. One wonders whether the projector blew a light bulb. The movie was foolishly converted to 3D after principal photography, but if anything, this conversion is worse than ''Clash of the Titans''."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |title=The Last Airbender: Film Review |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 14, 2010 |access-date=2020-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217135639/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> A ''[[Collider (website)|Collider.com]]'' review says: "I'm calling it: ''The Last Airbender'' is the worst movie of 2010. It's too disturbing to consider that there could be something even more hideous out there."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/the-last-airbender-review/|title=THE LAST AIRBENDER Review |last=Goldberg |first=Matt |date=2010-07-01 |website=Collider |access-date=2020-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109032926/https://collider.com/the-last-airbender-review/ |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref>{{cite magazine|first=Richard|last=Corliss|authorlink=Richard Corliss|date=July 2, 2010|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2000996,00.html|title=''The Last Airbender'': Worst Movie Epic Ever?|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|accessdate=September 22, 2022}}</ref> ===Crew responses=== Shyamalan argued that his style and art-form of storytelling resulted in the negative reviews of the film and compared it to asking a painter to change to a different style: "I bring as much integrity to the table as humanly possible. It must be a language thing, in terms of a particular accent, a storytelling accent. I can only see it this certain way and I don't know how to think in another language. I think these are exactly the visions that are in my head, so I don't know how to adjust it without being me."<ref name="nymag"/> Shyamalan also addressed criticisms about the barely 90-minute runtime of the film, which was considered bizarre given that it had to condense a 20-episode TV season into one film, and is a far shorter runtime than is typical for summer blockbusters. Shyamalan's response was that all of his previous films were 90 minutes because they were small-scale supernatural thrillers, and as a result, his instinct for the pacing of the film was to edit it down to 90 minutes. This short runtime indirectly led to several other problems which multiple critics objected to: characters frequently resort to giving long speeches of exposition to summarize entire scenes that were cut for time, and a running voiceover commentary by Katara was added in which she summarizes entire subplots (e.g. Sokka's relationship with Yue) that barely appear on-screen.<ref name="nymag">{{cite web | title = Vulture Reads M. Night his Last Airbender Reviews | work = New York Magazine | url = https://www.vulture.com/2010/07/m_night_shyamalan_on_the_last.html | access-date = January 5, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120125014545/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/07/m_night_shyamalan_on_the_last.html | archive-date = January 25, 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref> When Shyamalan gave the Ashok C. Sani Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence lecture at [[New York University Stern School of Business|NYU's Stern School of Business]] on April 16, 2019, he revealed that he regretted accepting the directing position on the film, stating "There has always been this inexorable pull to join the group, a constant seduction in the form of whatever you want to tally, in the form of money, or safety, ease, not getting criticized. I did these movies, and I rightfully got crushed, because they rightfully said, 'You don't believe in yourself, you don't believe in your own voice, and you don't believe in your values." Shyamalan would go on to begin financing his own projects as a result.<ref>{{cite web |date= 17 April 2019 |last1= Kohn |first1= Eric |title= M. Night Shyamalan Says Bad Reviews of 'Glass' Made Him Cry |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/m-night-shyamalan-glass-bad-reviews-1202059607/ |website= [[IndieWire]] |access-date= May 4, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190423080354/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/m-night-shyamalan-glass-bad-reviews-1202059607/ |archive-date= April 23, 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Dev Patel]] expressed regret and dislike for his role and his experience with the film. At a 2016 actor's roundtable with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' while promoting his film ''[[Lion (2016 film)|Lion]]'' during Oscar contender season, Patel said, "I don't know what I would like to play, but I know what I'm afraid of playing: those big studio movies. After ''[[Slumdog Millionaire|Slumdog]]'', I did a film that was not well received at all. The budget of ''Slumdog'' was like the budget of the craft services of this movie." He added, “I completely felt overwhelmed by the experience. I felt like I wasn't being heard. That was really scary for me, and that's really when I learned the power of no, the idea of saying no. Listen to that instinct you get when you read those words for the first time." He described his performance as Prince Zuko as being as though he "saw a stranger on the screen that I couldn't relate to."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dev-patel-regretting-last-airbender-i-saw-a-stranger-screen-951544 |title=Dev Patel on Regretting 'Last Airbender': I "Saw a Stranger on the Screen" |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=December 1, 2016 |website=Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202113203/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dev-patel-regretting-last-airbender-i-saw-a-stranger-screen-951544 |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=YyQGKSzYqBg | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/YyQGKSzYqBg| archive-date=2021-11-13 | url-status=live|title=THR Full Oscar Actor's Roundtable: Andrew Garfield, Casey Affleck, Dev Patel, & More |date=January 23, 2017 |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=January 23, 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In a question-and-answer session on Reddit with [[Dante Basco]], the original voice of Prince Zuko, when he was asked what he thought of the ''Last Airbender'' film, he responded by saying that the show's creators, Konietzko and DiMartino, told him not to see it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/17ybeo/i_am_rufio_prince_zuko_ama/c89x58c |title=Ry- comments on i am Rufio & Prince Zuko... AMA! |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129102148/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/17ybeo/i_am_rufio_prince_zuko_ama/c89x58c/ |archive-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Accolades=== ''The Last Airbender'' received nine nominations at the [[31st Golden Raspberry Awards]] including Worst Picture.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eclipse, Last Airbender Lead Razzie Nominations|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1656514/eclipse-last-airbender-lead-razzie-nominations/|work=MTV|date=2011-01-24|access-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127030826/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656514/eclipse-last-airbender-lead-razzie-nominations.jhtml|archive-date=January 27, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The film went on to sweep the [[Razzies]] with five awards: Worst Picture, Worst Director (Shyamalan), Worst Screenplay (Shyamalan), Worst Supporting Actor ([[Jackson Rathbone]]), and a special award, "Worst Eye-Gouging Mis-Use of 3D."<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12589752 | journal=BBC News | date=27 February 2011 | title=M Night Shyamalan's Last Airbender wins Razzie Awards | access-date=2011-02-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924185227/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12589752 | archive-date=September 24, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="razzies">{{cite web|title=The 31st Annual Razzie Awards|url=http://razzies.com/history/11winners.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103033553/http://razzies.com/history/11winners.asp|archive-date=2013-01-03 }}</ref><ref name="ew-razzies">{{cite magazine |date= 2011-02-27 |author= Bryan Lufkin |title= Razzies on-the-scene: M. Night Shyamalan 'wins' big at last night's camp-fest |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/02/27/razzie/ |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |access-date= 2021-01-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110228232027/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/02/27/razzie/ |archive-date= February 28, 2011 |url-status= live }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominee ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- | rowspan=14|[[2010 in film|2010]] |[[2010 Teen Choice Awards|Teen Choice Awards]] | Choice Summer: Movie | ''The Last Airbender'' | {{nom}} | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |last1=Soll |first1=Lindsay |title=TEEN CHOICE AWARDS 2010: FIRST ROUND OF NOMINEES ANNOUNCED |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2553497/teen-choice-awards-2010-nominees/ |publisher=[[MTV]] |access-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504150802/http://www.mtv.com/news/2553497/teen-choice-awards-2010-nominees/ |archive-date=4 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|[[International Film Music Critics Association]] | Film Music Composition of the Year for "Flow Like Water" | rowspan="2"| [[James Newton Howard]] | {{nom}} | align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2011 |url=http://filmmusiccritics.org/2011/02/ifmca-announces-its-2010-nominees-for-scoring-excellence/ |title=IFMCA announces its 2010 nominees for scoring excellence |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321143633/http://filmmusiccritics.org/2011/02/ifmca-announces-its-2010-nominees-for-scoring-excellence/ |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror film | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2"|[[32nd Young Artist Awards|Young Artist Award]] | Best Performance in a Feature Film (Leading Young Actor) | [[Noah Ringer]] | {{nom}} | align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref name="Young Artist Awards 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms32.html |title=32nd Annual Young Artist Awards |access-date=2012-03-31 |work=YoungArtistAwards.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808150433/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms32.html |archive-date=2013-08-08 }}</ref> |- | Best Performance in a Feature Film (Supporting Young Actress) | [[Seychelle Gabriel]] | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="9"|[[31st Golden Raspberry Awards]] | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]] | [[Frank Marshall (film producer)|Frank Marshall]], [[Sam Mercer]] and [[M. Night Shyamalan]] | {{won}} | align="center" rowspan="9"| <ref name="razzies" /> |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]] | rowspan="2"| [[M. Night Shyamalan]] | {{won}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]] | {{won}} |- | rowspan=2|[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor|Worst Supporting Actor]] | [[Dev Patel]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Jackson Rathbone]] <br><small>(also for ''[[The Twilight Saga: Eclipse]]'')</small><br/> | {{won}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress|Worst Supporting Actress]] | [[Nicola Peltz]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo|Worst Screen Couple / Worst Screen Ensemble]] | The Entire Cast | {{nom}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel|Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel]] | rowspan="2"|''The Last Airbender'' | {{nom}} |- | [[Golden Raspberry Awards#Categories|Worst Eye-Gouging Mis-Use of 3D]] | {{won}} |- |} ==Cancelled sequels== While filming ''The Last Airbender'', Shyamalan mapped out a [[rough draft]] for a second film that was "darker" and includes [[Azula]], portrayed by [[Summer Bishil]], as the main antagonist.<ref name=la2>{{cite web |last=Warmoth |first=Brian |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/1643066/last-airbender-2-will-be-darker-m-night-shyamalan-says/ |title=Last Airbender 2 Will Be Darker, M. Night Shyamalan Says |publisher=MTV |date=2010-07-06 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712062850/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1643066/20100706/story.jhtml |archive-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a July 2010 interview with ''[[New York Magazine]]'', Shyamalan commented "In the next few months we'll be able to know whether we have that opportunity or not" when asked about the sequel.<ref name="nymag"/> No such announcement was made, and in a September 2010 interview when asked if he knew when the sequel will be made, he replied, "I don't, because there are so many factors they take into account", adding, "I guess it will get into an area where it becomes a discussion – like pros and cons."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2597385/the-last-airbender-sequel-m-night-shyamalan-book-2-adaptation/|title=Will 'The Last Airbender' Get A Sequel? M. Night Shyamalan Ponders Potential 'Book 2' Adaptation|author=Rick Marshall|date=3 September 2010|publisher=MTV|access-date=January 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.the-last-airbender-2.com/2012/04/last-airbender-2-earth-and-m-night.html/|title=The Last Airbender, Part 2 (Earth) and M. Night Shyamalaman|author=Jonathan Smith|date=23 April 2012|access-date=2011-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518103921/http://www.the-last-airbender-2.com/2012/04/last-airbender-2-earth-and-m-night.html|archive-date=May 18, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2015, Shyamalan told [[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro UK]] that he may work on the sequel after completing [[Split (2016 American film)|his next thriller]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/09/exclusive-m-night-shyamalan-to-make-another-thriller-before-the-last-airbender-2-5381979/|title=EXCLUSIVE: M. Night Shyamalan to make 'another thriller' before The Last Airbender 2|publisher=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro UK]]|author=Hanna Flint|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910011740/http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/09/exclusive-m-night-shyamalan-to-make-another-thriller-before-the-last-airbender-2-5381979/|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> which was supposed to start shooting in November 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/joaquin-phoenix-m-night-shyamalan-jason-bloom-reunite-wayward-pines-the-visit-1201505677/|title=Joaquin Phoenix, M. Night Shyamalan & Jason Blum In Talks To Reunite On New Project|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|author=Ali Jaafar|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=September 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910193016/http://deadline.com/2015/08/joaquin-phoenix-m-night-shyamalan-jason-bloom-reunite-wayward-pines-the-visit-1201505677/|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2018, [[Avatar: The Last Airbender (upcoming TV series)|an unrelated live-action remake]] of the original ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' for [[Netflix]] was announced, ending any lingering speculation of a potential sequel to ''The Last Airbender''.<ref name="Polygon September 2018">{{cite news |title=Avatar: The Last Airbender creators return for live-action Netflix remake |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/18/17874344/avatar-the-last-airbender-live-action-series-netflix |access-date=18 September 2018 |work=Polygon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918182614/https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/18/17874344/avatar-the-last-airbender-live-action-series-netflix |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|Film|United States}} * [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters|List of ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' characters]] * [[List of films considered the worst]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}} {{Portal|Film|United States|Speculative fiction|Fantasy|2010s}} * {{Official website|http://www.thelastairbendermovie.com/}} * {{IMDb title|0938283}} * {{mojo title|lastairbender}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|last_airbender}} * {{Metacritic film}} {{Navboxes |title = ''The Last Airbender'' |list = {{Avatar: The Last Airbender}} {{M. Night Shyamalan}} {{Blinding Edge Pictures}} {{Nickelodeon Movies}} }} {{Navboxes |title = Awards for ''The Last Airbender'' |list = {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor}} }} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Last Airbender, The}} [[Category:2010 films]] [[Category:2010 3D films]] [[Category:2010s fantasy adventure films]] [[Category:American 3D films]] [[Category:American children's adventure films]] [[Category:American fantasy adventure films]] [[Category:Avatar: The Last Airbender]] [[Category:Films about reincarnation]] [[Category:Films shot in Greenland]] [[Category:Films shot in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Films shot in Vietnam]] [[Category:Live-action films based on animated series]] [[Category:Blinding Edge Pictures films]] [[Category:The Kennedy/Marshall Company films]] [[Category:Paramount Pictures films]] [[Category:Race-related controversies in film]] [[Category:Casting controversies in film]] [[Category:Film controversies]] [[Category:Film controversies in the United States]] [[Category:Nickelodeon Movies films]] [[Category:Films scored by James Newton Howard]] [[Category:Films directed by M. Night Shyamalan]] [[Category:Films produced by Frank Marshall]] [[Category:Films produced by M. Night Shyamalan]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by M. Night Shyamalan]] [[Category:Golden Raspberry Award winning films]] [[Category:2010 martial arts films]] [[Category:American martial arts films]] [[Category:Films set in Antarctica]] [[Category:2010s English-language films]] [[Category:2010s American films]]'
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'@@ -157,5 +157,5 @@ ===Critical response=== -On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Last Airbender'' holds an approval rating of 5%, based on 193 reviews with an average rating of 3/10, making it the lowest-rated film produced by [[Nickelodeon Movies]], as well as Shyamalan's worst-reviewed film to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=M. Night Shyamalan|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223075808/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Last Airbender'' squanders its popular source material with incomprehensible plotting, horrible acting, and detached joyless direction."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/|title=The Last Airbender Movie Reviews|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830134552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 20 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|title=The Last Airbender (2010): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705121616/http://apps.metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|archive-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-02 |first1= Patrick |last1= Goldstein |first2= James |last2= Rainey |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |title=Audiences agree with critics on 'Last Airbender': It's a stinker |work=[[CinemaScore]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131182746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> +On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Last Airbender'' holds an approval rating of 5%, based on 192 reviews with an average rating of 3/10, making it the lowest-rated film produced by [[Nickelodeon Movies]], as well as Shyamalan's worst-reviewed film to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=M. Night Shyamalan|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223075808/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Last Airbender'' squanders its popular source material with incomprehensible plotting, horrible acting, and detached joyless direction."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/|title=The Last Airbender Movie Reviews|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830134552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 20 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|title=The Last Airbender (2010): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705121616/http://apps.metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|archive-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-02 |first1= Patrick |last1= Goldstein |first2= James |last2= Rainey |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |title=Audiences agree with critics on 'Last Airbender': It's a stinker |work=[[CinemaScore]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131182746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Liam Lacey of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' stated the film had little chance to develop its characters and therefore suffered, with the overall storyline of the film becoming a run-on narrative.<ref>{{cite news |author=Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |title=The Last Airbender: Another bend in Shyamalan's career |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=2010-07-02 |location=Toronto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128065202/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/the-last-airbender-another-bend-in-shyamalans-career/article1624623/ |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Owen Gleiberman]] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', who gave the film a C, "''The Last Airbender'' keeps throwing things at you, but its final effect is, in every way, flat."<ref>{{cite news |author= Owen Gleiberman |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |url= https://ew.com/article/2010/06/30/last-airbender-3/ |title=The Last Airbender|publisher= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=2010-06-27 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128133142/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20398345,00.html |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film half a star in his review, stating that it "bores and alienates its audiences," and notes the poor use of 3D among the film's faults.<ref name="ebert-review">{{cite news |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-airbender-2010 |title=The Last Airbender |date=2010-06-30 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |access-date=April 24, 2020 }}</ref> Keith Phipps of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the film an F, criticizing the performances of the child actors, overuse of exposition, and shoehorned 3D special effects, calling it the worst summer blockbuster of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-last-airbender-1798165371 |title=The Last Airbender |author=Keith Phipps |work=A.V. Club |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2022-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141310/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-last-airbender,42682/ |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said that the lack of correct casting caused the film to lose substantial credibility in regard to its source material, but did praise the casting and acting of Ringer as Aang.<ref>{{cite news |last=Honeycutt |first=Kirk |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |title=The Last Airbender – Film Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2010-06-30 |access-date=2010-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217135639/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/last-airbender-film-review-29776 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Debruge of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' criticized the casting and the score, saying that the overall effect of each play into making the film a bore.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-06-30 |author= Peter Debruge |url= https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/the-last-airbender-1117943102/ |title=The Last Airbender Review |publisher=Variety.com |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100703041247/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117943102.html?categoryId=31&cs=1 |archive-date=2010-07-03 |access-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref> [[Rifftrax]] put the film at number 5 of The Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time, saying "We CAN state for the record that it is quite easy to detest this movie even if you've never seen a frame of the TV show."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10/ |title=Top 10 Worst Movies of All Time |date=2012-12-20 |author=Rifftrax |work=Mystery Science Theater 3000 |access-date=2013-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905052624/http://www.rifftrax.com/worst-movies-of-all-time-top-10 |archive-date=September 5, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> '
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[ 0 => 'On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Last Airbender'' holds an approval rating of 5%, based on 192 reviews with an average rating of 3/10, making it the lowest-rated film produced by [[Nickelodeon Movies]], as well as Shyamalan's worst-reviewed film to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=M. Night Shyamalan|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223075808/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Last Airbender'' squanders its popular source material with incomprehensible plotting, horrible acting, and detached joyless direction."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/|title=The Last Airbender Movie Reviews|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830134552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 20 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|title=The Last Airbender (2010): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705121616/http://apps.metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|archive-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-02 |first1= Patrick |last1= Goldstein |first2= James |last2= Rainey |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |title=Audiences agree with critics on 'Last Airbender': It's a stinker |work=[[CinemaScore]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131182746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>' ]
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[ 0 => 'On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Last Airbender'' holds an approval rating of 5%, based on 193 reviews with an average rating of 3/10, making it the lowest-rated film produced by [[Nickelodeon Movies]], as well as Shyamalan's worst-reviewed film to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=M. Night Shyamalan|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223075808/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/m_night_shyamalan/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Last Airbender'' squanders its popular source material with incomprehensible plotting, horrible acting, and detached joyless direction."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/|title=The Last Airbender Movie Reviews|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830134552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a [[weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 20 out of 100, based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|title=The Last Airbender (2010): Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705121616/http://apps.metacritic.com/film/titles/lastairbender|archive-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-07-02 |first1= Patrick |last1= Goldstein |first2= James |last2= Rainey |url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |title=Audiences agree with critics on 'Last Airbender': It's a stinker |work=[[CinemaScore]] |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131182746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/07/audiences-agree-with-critics-on-last-airbender-its-a-stinker.html |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>' ]
Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node)
false
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp)
'1685711047'