Thirteen years after Avatar Aang and his companions stopped the tyranny of the Fire Nation, the world has changed. The friends founded Republic City, which became a symbol of unity for all nations. It was also the main setting for the animated series "Avatar: The Legend of Korra", which aired from 2012 to 2014.
But Aang cannot rest: even though he stopped Fire Lord Ozai, it did not help revive the destroyed Air Nation. As its last representative, the Avatar collects artifacts of the lost culture until one of them gives him hope.
Aang learns that a map is hidden in the artifact that can lead him to the staff of Avatar Sonam, who lived five thousand years ago. With its help, Sonam could grant people who did not possess magic the ability to control Air. Aang intends to do the same to revive his people.
The World of "Avatar" in All Its Glory
The film is very beautiful. There are many breathtaking scenes: characters use magic, travel through the air, and fight. In these moments, I felt like I was right there with the protagonists.
Scenes showing the beauty of nature are especially magnificent: a huge snowy mountain, calm water, raging typhoons, and so on. All of this is excellently drawn, and the riot of colors combining with each other is striking.
It feels like this is a project where no expense was spared in its development. Therefore, the world looks as it has never been shown before, but as it was always implied.
Airbending is also excellently shown: Aang masters new techniques and interacts with other characters. It looks spectacular and is no less captivating than other natural phenomena, but it gives a feeling of freedom – which is inherent to air.
Combat skills are also excellently revealed: it seems that airbending is the strongest of the four, especially if the bender's imagination allows them to unleash its potential. Perhaps Fire Lord Sozin decided to destroy the Air Nomads not only because of the Avatar but also because he saw them as a serious threat to his plans for world domination.
The action and animation in the film are good: the fights are well-staged, and you can feel the strength and grace of the characters. Perhaps there isn't as meticulous a development of movements based on martial arts as in the animated series, but the characters still look lively – the dynamics don't sag!
The lore is also good: we are shown several previous Avatars, as well as the past of the Air Nation – how its representatives traveled and what they encountered long ago. Back then, their tattoos were even different – a small detail, but interesting!
The world's geography has also expanded: we are shown new locations that no one had talked about before. They are very atmospheric and intriguing. One of them is even connected to the most mysterious creatures of this universe.
An Imperfect Avatar
But the plot is as simple as can be! If you have any experience with storytelling, you will easily understand who the antagonist is here. As soon as I saw him, I immediately formed a rough picture of the subsequent plot twists in my head – in this regard, the film doesn't even try to surprise the viewer. And its duration is modest – only an hour and a half. It's unlikely that many complex plotlines could be fit into such a runtime.
This is also reflected in the characters: the Avatar gathers the old gang, who are mostly there for background. Our familiar faces play on nostalgia, create many "cozy" and humorous moments, but they don't get any depth or full-fledged character arcs.
I liked Katara and Sokka. Katara interacts well with Aang and complements him nicely in several scenes, while her brother exudes his signature charisma and constantly generates funny scenes. The moment with the airship's steering wheel was magnificent!
Only the Avatar is well-developed in the film, as the picture is entirely dedicated to him. The events of the film explain why the Air Nomads had non-airbending followers during Korra's time. It's a shame, of course, that Aang never saw the true revival of his people.
But a couple of logical holes can be found. For example, if the Avatar was able to learn to take away bending and defeated Ozai, why didn't he do the same with the local villain? And why couldn't he use the same power to revive his nation by granting people airbending? After all, if power can be taken away, it can also be granted, as the lion turtles showed. Aang could have found them and asked them to teach him this, but he didn't even try.
On the other hand, I liked that the Avatar is not shown as omnipotent: despite his great abilities, he cannot fight nature, and his Avatar State, although it strengthens the protagonist, does not make him invulnerable.
Also, Aang is easily manipulated. The antagonist exploited the main character's pain, which only deepens his image and makes the Avatar more human.
The icing on the cake of Aang's development was a few philosophical thoughts at the end – the hero came to terms with and accepted the world as it had become. Not that it was too profound, but a pleasant aftertaste remained.
Between Two "Avatars"
The film maintains a good balance between "The Legend of Aang" and "The Legend of Korra": the characters here are no longer the children they were in the first animated series, but they are not as old as we saw them in the second.
For example, Toph here is still the same bright and energetic rebel, but now an important figure leading a metalbending school, not a reclusive old woman. Or Zuko, who as Fire Lord has become more stately and wise, but has not yet lost his stern gaze.
The same applies to Republic City: it's not at all what I remembered from "The Legend of Korra". Here, the city is already quite large, but it still looks in the spirit of the old "Avatar" – like a conditional Ba Sing Se: there is no technopolis with skyscrapers and huge mechs that don't fit into this world at all.
In "The Last Airbender", the balance between technology and magic is well maintained. This is perfectly illustrated by a scene where Sokka "flew" on a homemade device resembling a bicycle with wings. Something similar was in the original animated series, and here it was remembered.
Verdict
"Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender" is a nostalgic project for fans of the original animated series and the entire franchise.
The story in the film is very simple and easily understood in the first third, when the general situation is outlined. But this does not make the picture empty, because it well reveals the main character and his internal changes, even if the other characters seem more like functions.
There are problems with logic that make Aang not the most far-sighted person, because the problem tormenting him could have been solved in a different way. But this is more a flaw of the entire franchise, rather than this particular film. Although this moment could still have been played out.
I liked the visuals: the film has many beautiful shots and spectacular scenes that show the raging forces of nature and the spirit world. Magic is also well shown, and the action is captivating. All together, this creates excellent dynamics, making the picture watchable in one breath.
The creators perfectly maintained the balance of eras: the world has already changed since "The Legend of Aang", but has not yet turned into the technological metropolis from "The Legend of Korra". This is pleasant.
I recommend the film to all fans of the franchise. And those who watched the animated series but are neutral towards it can safely skip the film: there is nothing valuable here.