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Avatar: The Last Airbender First Reviews: It Isn't Perfect, but It's Respectful of the Original and Fun

Netflix's highly-anticipated live-action remake is a quick-paced, action packed series that will entertain viewers, but the sometimes clunky narrative, and subpar special effects may turn away die-hard fans of the original..

TAGGED AS: First Reviews , Netflix , streaming , TV

Avatar: The Last Airbender , Netflix’s new adaptation of Nickelodeon’s groundbreaking animated series, which was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, is the streamer’s latest attempt at translating a popular anime into live action. It is currently streaming on Netflix.

Starring in the series is an impressive ensemble of mostly Asian and Indigenous actors. Gordon Cormier plays Aang; Kiawentiio is Katara; Ian Ousley plays Sokka; Maria Zhang is Suki; Amber Midthunder is Princess Yue; Danny Pudi is The Mechanist; Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is Iroh; Dallas Liu is Zuko; Ken Leung plays Commander Zhao; Daniel Dae Kim is Fire Lord Ozai; Elizabeth Yu is Azula; Tamlyn Tomita is Yukari; Arden Cho is June; and Utkarsh Ambudkar is King Bumi.

Previously, Netflix has had a rocky go at bringing beloved anime to life as live-action entertainment. Death Note and Cowboy Bebop faltered, while One Piec e proved a rousing success. How will this new adaptation be received?

Here’s what critics are saying about season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender :

How does it compare to the anime?

(Photo by ©Netflix)

It’s an earnest and admirable attempt to reignite the original’s magic. — Zaki Hasan, San Francisco Chronicle

Fans can do a little airbending of their own and breathe a huge collective sigh of relief, as Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the beloved animated series is a rollicking fantastical ride that deftly reimagines what made the original show so special. — James Marsh, South China Morning Post

Netflix’s live-action remake isn’t perfect, but if you look past the controversy and open your mind to it, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a fun, addictive return to one of fantasy’s most exciting worlds. — David Opie, Digital Spy

The new show is nowhere near the failure of the film, nor as spectacular as the series — but it’s not of uniform quality, either. — Belen Edwards, Mashable

This new Last Airbender is entertaining enough to work for newcomers to this world, and respectful enough to remind the cartoon’s fans why they loved that world in the first place. — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone

How are the visual effects and action sequences?

Where the live-action series falters a bit is in its special effects, which can fluctuate depending on the episode. Some of the visuals are shaky, and don’t look as crisp as they ought to. Luckily, this is only the case in certain instances, especially at the start, and is never enough to derail the show. — Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant

Specifically, water and airbending don’t feel as natural on-screen. In fights between waterbenders, the scenes don’t mesh well together, with the water effects looking unrealistic. By trying to mimic the style seen in the animated show, the seams are showing between the actors and the special effects. Airbending, done primarily by Aang, lacks the magnitude it should have. — Therese Lacson, Collider

It’s solid entertainment: fast-moving, action-packed, with decent fight scenes and some appealing performances, all done on a generous Netflix budget. — Anita Singh, Daily Telegraph (UK)

It’s of special note how well the choreography captures Aang’s unique way of moving: He excitedly bounces around and casually flutters up into the sky on a whim, like you’d expect from someone who grew up with this power. He has a fun and cool combat style where he likes to spin and flip on a breeze to counter his opponent, and use his surroundings to his advantage – sort of like a pint-sized Jackie Chan who can fly. — Joshua Yehl, IGN Movies

Slapstick humor and frightening violence uneasily coexist, and though similar tonal awkwardness plagued the original, the visceral image of a man screaming as he is being burned alive on screen in live-action might not be appropriate for the youngest of viewers. — Karama Horne, TheWrap

How is the writing and directing?

(Photo by Netflix)

Its eight episodes hit the big highlights of the original show, but miss all the small detail that makes those scenes soar. While the new series starts strong, the cracks begin to show once it starts trying to braid together different storylines. — Therese Lacson, Collider

Even with each of its eight episodes clocking in at about an hour each, it would have been difficult for Netflix’s Avatar to hit all of the same beats as the lengthier cartoon. The live-action Avatar film tried to deal with this challenge by distilling its plot down, and in doing so, stripped away a lot of the narrative that helped make the original feel so expertly developed. — Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge

Although this live-action show has almost the same runtime as the animated one, the first half of this season can sometimes be briskly paced because storylines from different episodes of the original are smashed together in an attempt to make things work in this new form. — Elijah Gonzalez, Paste Magazine

However, in making the transition to live-action, much of the silliness and whimsy of the original are traded for a tone that’s more grounded, more mature, and more violent – but it’s not done just for edginess’ sake. The slightly darker vibe works in service of the story because it makes Aang’s unwavering compassion and anti-war philosophy shine all the brighter. — Joshua Yehl, IGN Movies

What about the production quality and world-building?

Given the number of different locations Avatar’ s story takes its characters, it makes sense that Netflix would try to keep costs down by digitally constructing more fantastical places. But there is so much unnatural lighting and so many scenes where things in the background move with an uncanny swiftness that the show immediately feels like yet another Netflix-branded live-action cartoon that would have been better served by more practicality. — Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge

The camera-work and lighting miss the flair of the animation, with potentially exciting set-pieces made unintelligible purely by how dark they are. Every now and then, it touches on some genuine grandeur through depictions of sheer scale in its physical sets and rendered settings. But there’s more often a disconnect between person and place, which frequently dampens the show’s impact. — Kambole Campbell, Empire Magazine

The adaptation also generally nails the look of this world. The costuming choices seamlessly adapt these characters without brushing over their iconic elements, a considerable feat considering how rarely designs from animated series make this jump gracefully. The sets don’t look cheap or inauthentic either, and these architecture and vistas help firmly place us in this space. The compositing is also generally quite good, and as far as the backdrops are concerned, there isn’t a jarring dissonance between the CGI and practical details. — Elijah Gonzalez, Paste Magazine

The exaggerated hairstyles (created using truly horrendous wigs), color-coded costumes and fantastical animals have an uncanny valley quality to them in live action. They don’t make sense to the eye. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today

Avatar’ s most fundamental issues come down to clunky writing and correspondingly awkward performances. — Angie Han, Hollywood Reporter

How is the cast?

(Photo by Robert Falconer/Netflix)

Comier is everything Aang should be — kind, trusting, and always willing to see the best in others. Kiawentiio as Katara is genuinely lovely, especially as she gains more confidence in her waterbending abilities in the second half of the show. Ousley’s Sokka is good for a laugh, though not everything lands, while showcasing his insecurities. — Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant

The major challenge for Ousley as Sokka is translating animation humor into live-action. Exaggerated jokes from the original show can’t be transferred over without adjustments (and sometimes, the Netflix adaptation gets it very wrong), but Ousley plays Sokka’s comedic scenes with a bit of dry humor and sarcasm that take the edge off. — Therese Lacson, Collider

Daniel Dae Kim is, ironically, cold as Fire Lord Ozai, while Ken Leung is fun as the conniving and cowardly Commander Zhao. — Kambole Campbell, Empire Magazine

Dallas Liu plays Zuko with just enough entitlement and rage to mask the pain underneath, while Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is absolutely sublime as the wise, humorous, yet no less scarred Iroh. — Joshua Yehl, IGN Movies

Any final thoughts?

In short, although Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender can’t fully capture the magic of its predecessor and falls into some of the pitfalls alluded to by the previously mentioned promotional soundbites, it still captures enough of the impact and gravitas of what came before to make this retelling land. — Elijah Gonzalez, Paste Magazine

Even when the series feels scattershot, it remains a tremendous flex of an adaptation. — Lyvie Scott, Inverse

The amount of unconvincing special effects, clunky moments of exposition, and its rush to cover so much story in just eight episodes is not insignificant, but even their powers combined don’t outweigh everything this Last Airbender gets right. Above all else, it has its heart in the right place – and for Team Avatar, that’s what matters most. — Joshua Yehl, IGN Movies

Overall, Season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender is a firm step in the right direction, with a solid foundation and also room to grow. — Therese Lacson, Collider

I would consider this a hit. My rather low expectations have been exceeded, and I’m genuinely interested to see how they handle the next two books of the original. — Paul Tassi, Forbes

it delivers an Avatar that, grittier though it may be, feels far less mature than the kids’ cartoon ever did. — Angie Han, Hollywood Reporter

This live-action remake feels less like shallow exoticism and fully embraces the diverse East Asian, Inuit, Indigenous, and Southeast Asian heritages that enrich the show’s production and cast. — Karama Horne, TheWrap

The Airbender franchise has confidently revived itself; this won’t be the last we see of it. — Jack Seale, Guardian

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‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Review: Netflix Triumphs With Ambitious Live-Action Remake

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Few beloved franchises have inspired as much speculation as Netflix’s ambitious live-action new take on “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” The original animated series captivated audiences when it debuted in 2005 on Nickelodeon, and was praised for its epic worldbuilding and nuanced characterizations. It won everything from an Emmy to a Peabody award, and launched an entire franchise of comics, games, a spin-off series — and one rather unfortunate live-action movie.

In 2018, Netflix rekindled fans’ hopes when it announced an ambitious 8-episode live-action remake of Book One, the first arc of the original storyline, helmed by the original showrunners Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. But in 2020, the duo exited the revival over creative differences. That same year, Netflix strategically debuted the 61-episode animated series during quarantine, creating a new generation of captive fans.

Behind-the-scenes shakeups aside, new showrunner Albert Kim and his team have stepped up and proven worthy custodians of the rich “Avatar” universe. While not a beat-for-beat adaptation, this beautifully crafted revival captures the original’s spirit while updating aspects that needed to be addressed better.

Netflix’s “Avatar” exists in a lush fantasy world where people naturally manifest the ability to “bend” or manipulate nature’s elements. Four nations inhabit this universe: the Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, Air Nomads and the Fire Nation. Legend tells of ‘the Avatar,’ master of all four elements, maintaining harmony between them. But the previous Avatar mysteriously vanished 100 years ago. In the power vacuum, the ruthless Fire Nation eradicated the Air Nomads and conquered the other nations and tribes, unleashing totalitarian rule.

The story begins when Southern Water Tribe siblings Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley) discover a 12-year-old Airbender named Aang (Gordon Cormier), who mysteriously emerges from an icy sphere after lying dormant in an “avatar state” for almost 100 years. As the last of his people, Aang awakens confused, guilt-ridden and utterly unprepared for his destiny.

However, the Fire Nation’s Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu) — banished from his childhood home by his father, Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim), until he captures the Avatar — also becomes aware of Aang’s “awakening” and soon attacks the Southern Water Tribe. This forces Katara, Sokka and Aang to flee. The hero’s journey starts here; Aang must master the remaining elements to defeat the Fire Nation and restore balance to the world.

Visually, the show remains loyal to its source material, impressively recreating the stunning landscapes and dynamic action that initially captured fans’ hearts. The top-notch production design brings settings like Ozai’s eternally flaming throne room and the windswept vistas soaring over Aang’s sky-bison Aapa’s fur to life. Some characters, like the Kyoshi Warriors, appear lifted straight from the iconic frames of the cartoon.

The effects deliver, for the most part, especially during the climatic bending battles. But there are a few missteps. At one point, a disturbing CGI rendering of Aang’s face in the “Avatar State” looks jarringly out of place. The occasional compositing issues aside, the series delivers on adventure, and the CGI in the final battle is spectacular.

The cast proves plenty engaging, especially young actor Cormier, who embodies the buoyant Aang effortlessly. At the same time, Liu exudes the brooding, tormented Prince Zuko, as does Elizabeth Yu, whose portrayal of Zuko’s plotting sister Azula is sinister. But fan-favorite Paul Sun-Hyung Lee predictably steals his scenes as the ever-delightful Uncle Iroh . A character that could have used more screen time, however, was Kim’s Fire Lord Ozai, who spent most of the series in his throne room. Commander Zhao, played by Ken Lau, was given an expanded role in a departure from the source material.

Streamlining the plot felt necessary: avoiding overly episodic original subplots resulted in a tight, propulsive eight-episode arc. Showrunner Kim and his team did an admirable job curating the most resonant storylines. However, the pacing could be better, spending more time than necessary in some areas while speeding through others to reach the next plot point.

The series also seems unable to reconcile its younger viewers with more sophisticated older fans. Slapstick humor and frightening violence uneasily coexist, and though similar tonal awkwardness plagued the original, the visceral image of a man screaming as he is being burned alive on screen in live-action might not be appropriate for the youngest of viewers.

This adaptation should also be commended for bringing an authentic Asian voice to the franchise. Where the original animated series occasionally flirted with appropriation in borrowing cultural elements, Albert Kim and producers Jabbar Raisani, Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore and Michael Goi add a much-needed nuance — honoring the pan-Asian influences through an authentic lens. This live-action remake feels less like shallow exoticism and fully embraces the diverse East Asian, Inuit, Indigenous, and Southeast Asian heritages that enrich the show’s production and cast.

As a whole, Netflix’s ambitious “Avatar” stands as a captivating passing of the torch — honoring fans of the acclaimed original while initiating a new generation into its intricate world. Here’s hoping the climatic finale is but the first chapter in an ongoing live-action saga.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” premieres Thursday, Feb. 22, on Netflix.

The post ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Review: Netflix Triumphs With Ambitious Live-Action Remake appeared first on TheWrap .

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Avatar: The Last Airbender review – a sparkling return for one of the greatest fantasy series of all time

After two decades of waiting, we’re back in the Airbender universe with a live-action blue-eyed boy … who traps himself in an iceberg for a century so he can save the shattered world. What a thrilling ride

I n case you’re new to the Airbender universe – Netflix’s adventure drama Avatar: The Last Airbender is a live-action remake of the popular Nickelodeon animated series of the same name, which debuted in 2005. It is linked to the 2010 M Night Shyamalan film The Last Airbender – that was also a live-action version of the cartoon – but none of the Airbender properties is anything to do with the highest-grossing movie of all time, Avatar, whose copyright lawyers nabbed the simple one-word title everyone wanted. Being forced to add a colon and a clunky subheading to its name did not stop Avatar: The Last Airbender from becoming one of the most acclaimed animated series of all time. Almost two decades on, the fanbase is still there, ready to follow the story anew.

The narrative fits the template of countless fantasy series, with a world split into kingdoms that are perpetually at war or on the brink of it, where young people wield an uncommon influence and where magical powers exist to be used or abused. Here, there are regions defined by fire, earth, water and air, with each population containing “benders” – people with the ability to bend their local element to their will and use it as a weapon. At any one time there is a single person, the Avatar, who has the potential to learn how to bend all four elements and become an omnipotent, celestial peacekeeper whose eyes turn blue when they’re about to sort a bad guy out.

Episode one introduces 12-year-old Aang (Gordon Cormier), a prodigious airbender who has just received shocking news from his elders: he is the next Avatar. Then the nefarious fire people, taking advantage of a comet that increases their powers, invade and kill all the airbenders except Aang, who suspends himself inside an iceberg for a century before emerging, teaming up with 14-year-old waterbender Katara (Kiawentiio) and her warrior older brother Sokka (Ian Ousley), and setting off on a quest to complete his training and rebuild a shattered world.

That we are not sure how people knew Aang was the Avatar, or how the thing with the comet worked, or how Aang knew he should trap himself inside an icy pod thing, is not meant to detain us. This is a familiar tale of a kid with a big future. Aang, who helpfully comes from a tribe with face markings in the form of a big arrow pointing down towards the face – so everyone can see this is the main guy, right here – would rather reject his destiny and goof off like a normal kid. “I never asked to be special!” is one of several on-the-nose lines of dialogue reinforcing the idea that this garlanded child will have to sacrifice his youth to perform his sacred duties.

Before long, however, Aang has his first run-in with Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu), a prince of the warmongering Fire Nation – who we know is a self-hating baddie because he has a facial disfigurement (such is the slightly troubling visual grammar of the fantasy genre). The burn mark across his eye says he is an exile, rejected by the king and with a nasty combination of violent urges and unresolved daddy issues. When Zuko shows that he is willing to pursue Aang across continents in the hope of capturing the new Avatar and proving himself to the folks back home, incinerating any civilians who get in his way, Aang’s eyes go blue and the arrow on his head begins glowing, as he accepts his calling and says yes: let’s Av it.

And so Aang and his companions are chased from one location to another – Katara and Sokka’s homeland looks a lot like Alaska, while the island kingdom the heroic trio visit next is unmistakably styled to resemble feudal Japan. Everywhere they go, life lessons are learned and hand-to-hand combat engaged in, with the strongly choreographed fight sequences adding an exciting rock/paper/scissors-esque twist to what would otherwise be regular martial arts battles, as benders of different elements face-off. Will fire evaporate water? Can water turn earth to mud? And will air put fire out, or will it have a sort of bellows effect that just makes everything worse?

The landscapes sparkle, there is a giant six-legged flying bison that carries everyone spectacularly from place to place through the clouds and the young cast are up to the task. Ousley and Kiawentiio strike up a nicely spiky sibling relationship as Sokka and Katara, while Cormier gives Aang the right mix of boyish cheek and inherent authority, as the three of them uphold the impression that a child and two teenagers can defeat genocidal authoritarians with wholesome pluck, gentle sarcasm and the ability to summon a hurricane. The Airbender franchise has confidently revived itself; this won’t be the last we see of it.

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Did We Really Need Netflix’s Live-Action ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’?

By Alan Sepinwall

Alan Sepinwall

M. Night Shyamlan’s 2010 film The Last Airbender may be the gold standard for how not to translate a beloved property from one medium to another. Though Shyamalan covered much of the plot of the first season of the animated fantasy epic Avatar: The Last Airbender , he misunderstood nearly everything else about the show, from casting white actors in roles that were designed to be Asian or Indigenous (and getting terrible performances out of them) to something as easily avoidable as mispronouncing half the characters’ names.

The original Avatar cartoon, which ran on Nickelodeon from 2005-08, is a classic no matter how you want to categorize it: as a cartoon, as a kids show, and as a rip-roaring adventure series with enough ambition and depth to be appreciated by audiences of any age. Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the series took place in an Asian-influenced parallel world, divided up into four nations, each of them featuring some citizens with the ability to telekinetically “bend” one of the four fundamental elements: water, earth, fire, and air. In each generation, an Avatar is born, who can control all four elements, bridge the gap between the human and spirit worlds, bring balance to both levels of reality, and act as both a fierce warrior and a profound sage.

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Like Aang trying to master his many powers and responsibilities, DiMartino and Konietzko had to figure out how to incorporate many big ideas, influences, and genres into a weekly 24-minute package that could be fully appreciated by, and appropriate for, a grade school audience. They did it well enough to earn ratings and acclaim, make a slightly more mature sequel series called The Legend of Korra , get various comic book spinoffs to both shows, and, on occasion, inspire live-action filmmakers to take a stab at the title.

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At the same time, this new version makes a few iffy choices, and on the whole bumps up against the low ceiling that greets almost any such attempt at taking on an iconic work.

The promising aspects start with the effective mix of young unknowns and wily veterans stepping into these big roles. Gordon Cormier convincingly plays Aang as someone who would much rather extend his carefree childhood a few more years than embrace these massive new adult responsibilities. Ian Ousley finds the proper spot on the Venn diagram that allows Sokka to be comic relief but also a sincere character worth rooting for, and he has good sibling chemistry with Kiawentiio as Katara. (She’s weaker away from him, but grows into the role a bit more by season’s end.) Dallas Liu has to hit an even smaller target, since Zuko is both a relentless villain and a tragic victim of his physically and emotionally abusive father; he does it very well. On the adult side, Daniel Dae Kim is perfectly smug and sinister as Ozai. And if Paul Sun-Hyung Lee plays Zuko’s Uncle Iroh as a more overtly serious figure than the deceptively foolish, Yoda-esque character from the first show, it allows Iroh and Zuko’s relationship to become the most emotionally potent one so far in this version. And, perhaps as compensation for Iroh being less silly, Ken Leung plays the season’s other main villain, ambitious Fire Nation officer Zhao, with a dry, cutting sense of humor that his animated counterpart lacked.

Where the Netflix show captures the style of the original, though, the substance proves somewhat more elusive. While the cartoon began with Katara and Sokka discovering Aang during a routine fishing trip, this one starts out on the eve of the Fire Nation’s genocidal campaign against the Airbenders. We see a furious battle between earthbending spies and firebending soldiers, and then get to spend a bit of time with Aang right as his teacher Gyatso (Lim Kay Siu) explains that Aang is the new Avatar. The Aang/Gyatso scenes do a better job of establishing emotional stakes for our hero than the cartoon, which took a few episodes to settle on a tone, and they also neatly convey what a joyful, inspiring kid this was even before he became the most important person in the world.

But the emphasis on action — including an assault on an Air Nomad temple while Aang and Appa are away on the doomed flight that will render them popsicles for the next 100 years — is also something of a giveaway that this is meant to be a darker and more serious show, geared towards teenagers and up rather than the all-ages approach of the cartoon. (We frequently, for instance, hear firebending victims scream in agony as they burn just slightly off-screen.) The animated series didn’t lack for action — if anything, it reveled in the freedom to show both benders and non-benders (including Sokka’s warrior crush Suki, well played in an episode here by Maria Zhang) defy various laws of physics at every turn — nor for heavy moments. Yet it ultimately took its cues from Aang, who tried to put brightness and laughter out into the world whenever possible. This Aang certainly has moments like that (Gordon Cormier has an infectious, movie star smile), but the new series is more interested in his self-doubt than his silliness.

If the tonal shift is by choice, the other issue is one that can’t really be helped in the modern TV economy. Recreating all those animated wonders is neither easy, nor cheap, which is why most series on this scale can only produce eight episodes per season. (In hindsight, it’s surprising that House of the Dragon was able to make 10 in its first year; reportedly, the HBO drama will only do eight next time.) Because all the installments are close to an hour long, the actual runtime is almost identical to the first animated season. But by dividing those 240 minutes into eight episodes rather than 20, much of what happens feels rushed. Like Disney’s recent Percy Jackson and the Olympians , this Avatar has to race through all the big events of an incident-heavy first volume. (Multiple unrelated characters, for instance, cross paths in the Omashu episodes, simply because that’s the only place where the show can fit them all.) As a result, some of the characterization has to be filled in more by the performances, or by prior knowledge from cartoon fans, than anything the actors are given to play.

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Most of all, it proves that this story can be told in live-action, provided the people involved have a much firmer grasp on the ideas than M. Night Shyamalan did.

All eight episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender are now streaming on Netflix. I’ve seen the whole season.

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First Reviews for Netflix’s Avatar: Last Airbender: Critics Share Mixed Reactions to Live-Action Show

With the February 22 release date of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender right around the corner, reactions and reviews from critics are starting to arrive.

[ Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast & Characters In Live-Action Show (Photos) ]

First Critic Reactions to Netflix's Avatar

Netflix recently held the official red carpet premiere for Avatar: The Last Airbender in Los Angeles, and afterward, critics shared their first thoughts and reviews on X (formerly Twitter) about what they've seen so far.

Collider's Mike Thomas proclaimed that it "is fantastic," also noting how the actors "FEEL like Team Avatar:

"The first episode of Netflix's 'Avatar The Last Airbender' is fantastic! From the opening scene, you realize that this is far better than the 2010 film. The fights are great, but the standouts are the actors. These kids FEEL like Team Avatar. A fun new take on a timeless classic."

Joshua Yehl from IGN echoed that same sentiment while also sharing that this take is "more dramatic, mature, and violent than the original:"

"The first episode of Netflix’s 'Avatar The Last Airbender' is pretty incredible. It’s more dramatic, mature, and violent than the original. The best part is what they add to flesh out and enrich the story we already know, like showing the Order 66 of the airbenders. A great start!"

Anthony from The Movie Podcast praised its "faithful visual adaptation" but admitted that it "stumbles in cast performances, narrative, & philosophical depth:"

"'Avatar The Last Airbender' Ep 1 Dazzles with its GRAND SCALE & VIBRANT environments. Fans can rejoice in its faithful visual adaptation and stylistic action sequences. Yet, it slightly stumbles in cast performances, narrative, & philosophical depth. Excited for how S1 ends!"

Critic David Opie shared that "eps 1 + 2 are pretty decent," but "there are definitely issues:"

"'Avatar The Last Airbender' eps 1 + 2 are pretty decent so far and I say that as an obsessive fan. There are definitely issues, but it’s better than the controversies would have you think. If you’re open to it, you’ll have fun, but if you’ve already made up your mind, you’ll hate it."

Rama's Screen claimed the first episode "was spectacular," praising both the cast and visuals:

"Netflix AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER ep.1 was spectacular! This Live-Action version has done the old animated show -- of which I was a fan -- incredible justice. The cast were terrific, the visuals were remarkable and Gordon Cormier (Aang) is a revelation."

@RenGeekness showered praise onto the project, exclaiming how "the cast brings to life the characters & dynamics in all new ways:"

"I can confidently say I fell in love with the world of 'Avatar The Last Airbender' all over again! The cast brings to life the characters & dynamics in all new ways forging its own path in this fantastic story with compelling characterizations, breathtaking world-building & action."

IGN writer Rafael Motamayor wasn't nearly as positive, blatantly saying that the first episode "is a huge letdown" consisting of "too much exposition, poor writing & horrible pacing:"

"I am finally allowed to say that the first episode of 'Avatar The Last Airbender' is a huge letdown. Sure, the bending looks great and generally the visuals are solid, but this is a mixed bag of an adaptation. Too much exposition, poor writing & horrible pacing. Dallas Liu rules, tho."

Film critic Sean Boelman also noted the abundance of exposition while reinforcing how this show is still "much better than the last live-action version of this property:"

"As someone who grew up watching the animated show, I thought episode 1 of 'Avatar The Last Airbender' was a solid start. It's a lot of exposition, but Gordon Komier is great, and the visuals are quite good. *Certainly* much better than the last live-action version of this property."

Journalist Kristen Maldonado stated that while it "isn't perfect," there's "a spark of something special here:"

"'Avatar The Last Airbender' isn’t perfect, but there’s a spark of something special here filled with humor & heart. It’s amazing to see so many Indigenous & Asian faces on our screens. Dallas Liu is a star, Ian Ousley has the best lines & this is my fav Amber Midthunder performance."

The Streamr writer Caiden Reed shared that "[they] definitely can see how some may not like it as much:"

"I really enjoyed the first episode of 'Avatar The Last Airbender'. I'm getting a better understanding of why they made certain changes. I definitely can see how some may not like it as much. Some of the bending's visuals are slightly off. I hope to enjoy the rest of [the show."

@TwoLetterMo was notably rough on the project, explaining that the show feels "in a rush to get somewhere and feels completely isolating for new viewers:"

"I can only give thoughts on Ep 1 of Netflix’s 'Avatar The Last Airbender' but… Yikes! The show is in a rush to get somewhere and feels completely isolating for new viewers, paying lip-service to beats from the animated show with very little care. You'll know if this is for you and this is not for me."

@LuminousDagger echoed a similarly negative stance, claiming that the show is "off to a bad start," and that "mischaracterization is present and VFX looks unfinished:"

"I've watched the first episode of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', and it's off to a bad start. The life and colour that was once there is now non-existent in this live-action adaptation. Mischaracterization is present and VFX looks unfinished when not focused on the bending."

Could Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Be a Disappointment?

For many fans, seeing negative thoughts on this new adaptation is undoubtedly disappointing, especially since everything up until this point seemed faithful and high quality.

Hopefully, audiences can take solace because no one seems to think it is worse than M. Night Shyamalan's critically panned 2010 film.

A lot is riding on the success of this project for Netflix. With Stranger Things coming to a close, the studio is undoubtedly looking for the next big thing—and Avatar could easily fit the bill.

Not only are there more seasons built into the story, but there's plenty of potential for spin-offs, such as an adaptation of The Legend of Korra or even another original idea set in the same world.

[ Avatar: The Last Airbender Movie: Fire Look at Adult Aang, Zuko & More ]

Avatar: The Last Airbender debuts on Netflix on Thursday, February 22.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender Review: A Greatest-Hits Collection Sorely Out Of Its Element

Like the master of all four elements at its center, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" has always had a reputation for being many things at once. Upon its debut almost twenty years ago, the beloved animated series earned instant praise for its handling of surprisingly mature storytelling broken down into its simplest terms for kids. Despite its episodic structure, the individual pieces added up to an even greater whole, rivaling many serialized formats for adults that had already begun popping up with increasing frequency at the time. And in stark contrast to the world-ending stakes and century-long war providing a backdrop to the action, the show never once lost sight of its most important aspect of all: having fun every step of the way.

Now it's Team Avatar's turn in the spotlight once again — or, that is, the Netflix version that has long been in the works and has gone through its fair share of behind-the-scenes chaos. (The much-publicized parting of ways between the streamer and original creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko over good ol' fashioned "creative differences" was an early sign of trouble, though the pair still retains partial writing credit on the premiere episode.)

This live-action adaptation arrives at a time when much of the core fanbase are now grown adults and have had a front-row seat to Hollywood's recent trend of dredging up and lightly redressing every recognizable piece of IP they can get their hands on. The creative team, led by writer and executive producer Albert Kim, seems somewhat indebted to the steady stream of live-action Disney remakes that have proved profitable at the box office. Yet, the jury has remained out on whether taking a similar approach to Aang, Katara, Sokka, and their quest to save the four nations would ever really work. After all, how could anyone hope to improve upon perfection or, at the very least, provide a gateway for a new generation of fans ... one that couldn't be achieved by simply throwing on the original show, mind you, which is also currently streaming on Netflix?

Unfortunately, even after watching all eight episodes made available to the press, I struggled to find any solid answer to these most pressing of questions. Despite its obvious good intentions, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" ultimately lets itself down through the most predictable of issues: a medium that doesn't fit the story, a wildly uneven grasp of pacing and tone, and a nagging sense of soullessness where the original's heart and spirit used to reside.

Glimmers of potential

After a freshly reinvented opening sequence that puts the Netflix budget on display for all to see, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" quickly runs through the basic fundamentals. One hundred years of war has engulfed the four nations — neatly split into kingdoms of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air – and the world has largely given up hope on the long-missing prophesied savior known as the Avatar, the one mystical being capable of controlling all four elements through powers known as "bending." Reawakened after a century into an era he hardly recognizes, the reincarnated Avatar Aang (Gordon Cormier) must team up with Water Tribe friends Sokka (Ian Ousley) and waterbender Katara (Kiawen-tiio) on a journey to save the world ... all while outrunning the dangers nipping at their heels, primarily the complicated antagonist Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu) of the oppressive Fire Nation.

Despite their inexperience, our main quartet of young performers is mostly up to the challenge of embodying such fan-favorite heroes and villains (particularly Ousley and Liu, both of whom shoulder some of the most challenging material). It's just a shame that such authentically cast and diverse leads, a much-needed pivot from the largely whitewashed voice cast of the original, must constantly work even harder to overcome issues beyond their control. Viewers will have to put up with plenty of stilted dialogue, awfully lackluster blocking and framing, and a recurring tendency to have characters launch into extended monologues while staring off into the middle distance, unloading their innermost thoughts and feelings aloud with all the subtlety of a fire-blast to the face. Thankfully, however, it was a brilliant choice to surround the child actors with a strong stable of supporting veterans lending gravitas and experience, from Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Zuko's Uncle Iroh to Danny Pudi as the eccentric Machinist to Utkarsh Ambudkar as mad King Bumi to Ken Leung and Daniel Dae Kim as fearsome Fire Nation figures Commander Zhao and Fire Lord Ozai, respectively.

There are even flashes of creative inspiration found in changes made to certain characters and storylines. Though aspects of Sokka and Katara's personalities and Aang's backstory, in particular, have also been tweaked, only sometimes working as an improvement, none fare better than this show's new take on secondary antagonist Zhao — partly aided by unexpected changes made to the character, but mostly by Leung perfectly threading the needle between camp and menace.

Out of its element

Still, nothing manages to hide the fact that far too much of the property's main appeal gets lost in translation between the animated show and this new one. As it turns out, compressing 20 bite-sized chunks of episodic storytelling into eight serialized installments (running upwards of 45 minutes each, compared to the tight 25-minute episodes of the original) was a losing proposition from the start. When the conventions of modern-day streaming — and, tellingly, the viewing habits that have sprung up as a result — require an approach diametrically opposite to that of the original, is it any surprise that this adaptation only ever comes across like attempts to fit a round peg into a square hole?

The final result is an exercise in cognitive dissonance. Apart from the more bombastic and expensive-looking battle sequences set strategically at night, elemental powers rendered in only occasionally convincing VFX never quite gel with live-action performers who might as well be in completely different, flatly lit environments. The tone oscillates wildly, leaning hard into its darker and more self-serious take on the material in one moment before abruptly switching gears and injecting the cartoonish humor and lighthearted visuals of the original the next. Even the pacing suffers from the Netflixification of "Avatar," simultaneously feeling too rushed and too stretched out. Streamlining entire multi-episode arcs and breezing through significant moments at a rapid-fire clip does Team Avatar no favors (animal sidekicks Appa and Momo get a minimum of focus as a result), while one can almost feel the writers padding out the runtime with extraneous material far more egregious than any so-called "filler" episode from the original. Worst of all, however, the Netflix series doesn't even seem aware of its own target demographic. Far too violent for kids (depicting "realistic" firebending in live action means having to sit through countless innocents gruesomely burned alive, who knew!) but not nearly sophisticated enough to hold the attention of original fans who are now grown up, "The Last Airbender" suffers from an identity crisis even worse than that of Aang.

If nothing else, this entire venture should go a long way toward vindicating fans of traditional television. Writers and showrunners used to break stories with commercial breaks in mind, which had the happy side effect of enforcing a natural three-act structure. In the case of the Nickelodeon original specifically, the animation allowed a freedom of expression, imagination, and tone that could never be replicated in live action. None of that is on display in this stale, streaming-era reimagining of the classic tale, treating viewers to a greatest-hits collection with little of the heart, humor, and soul fans came to expect.

Forget the threat of Zuko or Aang's own self-doubts plaguing every step of his journey: the Avatar's greatest challenge yet turns out to be nothing less than the streaming model itself.

/Film Rating: 4 out of 10

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" premieres February 22, 2024 on Netflix.

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Dave Bautista and Eric Nam to Headline Voice Cast for ‘Aang: The Last Airbender’ Animated Movie at Paramount, Nickelodeon

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Dave Bautista and Eric Nam are set to headline the voice cast for the upcoming “ Avatar: The Last Airbender ” movie in development at Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Studios. The film’s working title is “Aang: The Last Airbender.” The news was announced during Paramount’s slate presentation at CinemaCon .

Joining Bautista and Nam in the voice cast are Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten and Roman Zaragoza. Plot details for the film remain under wraps. Bautista will voice a villain character. The new “Avatar” animated film is set for release on Oct. 10, 2025 from Paramount.

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During the same CinemaCon presentation, Paramount also revealed the voice cast for Rihanna’s new animated “Smurfs” movie. The music icon is voicing Smurfette and creating original music for the movie. She’ll be joined by Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell and John Goodman. “The Smurfs” movie is set for release on Feb. 15, 2025.

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Aang: The Last Airbender, the first animated movie in Avatar trilogy, will follow Aang as an adult

Eric Nam and Dave Bautista are among the voice cast.

Jessica is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, where she covers TV, movies, and pop culture. Her work has appeared in Bustle, NYLON, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and more. She lives in California with her dog.

Eric Nam and Dave Bautista are stepping into the world of the four nations.

Paramount announced Thursday at CinemaCon that Nam will voice Aang in the first film from the animated Avatar film trilogy, tentatively titled Aang: The Last Airbender. Bautista has been cast in a villain role, with Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten, and Roman Zaragoza rounding out the cast.

Plot details remain hidden somewhere in the Fire Nation, but Lauren Montgomery, who worked as storyboard artist on Avatar: The Last Airbender and sequel series The Legend of Korra , will direct the animated feature, which is set to hit theaters on Oct. 10, 2025.

News of the first animated film came in 2021 when Nickelodeon announced the launch of Avatar Studios with plans to expand the Avatar universe with original creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who were tapped as co-chief creative officers. The studio confirmed plans for two more films the following year. Both DiMartino and Konietzko are on board to executive produce the trilogy, which will be told as separate stories as opposed to a unified three-parter.

The original animated series, which ran on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008, centers on a young monk named Aang as he masters the four elements — water, earth, fire, and air — to bring peace to the realm. Netflix recently released a live-action TV adaptation from creator Albert Kim, starring Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio Tarbell, Daniel Dae Kim , and Dallas Liu. (DiMartino and Konietzko were previously involved, but dropped out due to creative differences.) It received a two-season renewal.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender Review - Restoring Balance

First Released Feb 22, 2024 released

Fan-pleasing spectacle won't replace the animated original, but it has its own charms.

By Steve Watts on February 22, 2024 at 12:01AM PST

It's nearly impossible to view Netflix's new live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation outside of the shadow of its predecessors--both the wildly successful animated series that birthed a beloved franchise, and the terrible big-screen adaptation from M. Night Shyamalan. Could another live-action adaptation avoid the movie's pitfalls, even reliant as it is on child actors? Inversely, how could any adaptation make good on the stratospheric expectations of the original cartoon series that has attracted such a devoted fandom? With those questions at the forefront of my mind, I was surprised to find that Netflix's Avatar is a delight. It owes much of its success to finding a careful balance between the sprawling scope of the cartoon and the too-truncated movie. It won't replace the original animated series in the hearts of fans, but it's sincere, respectful of the source material, and includes just enough additions and nuance to make the material its own.

For those unfamiliar, Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a fantasy world, primarily inspired by an amalgamation of various Asian cultures, consisting of four nation-states: the Fire Nation, Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, and Air Nomads. Each has its own traditions and culture, defined in large part by the magical ability of some of their citizens to "bend" the named elements to their will. Waterbenders can make water float in midair or transform it into ice blocks, firebenders can manifest or breathe fire, etc. The four nations are held in check by the Avatar, the only human being who can bend all four elements, who is reincarnated into each of the nations sequentially. When the Fire Nation declares an imperialist war on all the others, the Avatar vanishes for 100 years, allowing a multigenerational conflict to burn its way across the world.

That may sound like a lot of lore to absorb upfront, and if Netflix's adaptation has one major weakness, it's that so much of the first episode is spent catching you up to speed. The lore dump of the first episode makes for occasionally clunky expository dialogue, and that's a lot to ask of the primarily child-forward cast. It also seems overeager to establish some of its weightier themes early, which can make the affair feel gloomier than it should. It's unfortunate that this first episode doesn't put its best foot forward, because after those awkward early moments, the show quickly finds its stride.

The Avatar is a young Airbender named Aang, who is frozen in ice until he's discovered by a pair of youngsters in the Southern Water Tribe, siblings Sokka and Katara. Those three are the key protagonists of the story, Team Avatar as they come to be known, and they're pursued doggedly by a Fire Nation prince, Zuko.

If the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender was intended for kids around eight and up, this live-action adaptation seems geared more towards a young adult or teen audience. It's more violent--there are multiple immolations complete with screams--but the violence isn't particularly gruesome or gratuitous. It's also surprising as a longtime fan of the cartoon to hear Sokka slip out the occasional word like "ass," but that doesn't feel out of place for his characterization in this adaptation.

One heavier theme of the series revolves around the pressure that Aang must be under, with so much responsibility falling on his young shoulders as the Avatar. It's hard not to feel that the child actor, Gordon Cormier, is similarly being asked to carry a lot of this show. Despite a line or two of flat delivery in the aforementioned first episode, though, he rises to the challenge. His performance is full of life and playfulness and earnest optimism. Similarly, Kiawentiio Tarbell (Katara) takes a role that could be a fairly thankless voice of reason and imbues it with sparkling big-sister energy. Ian Ousley (Sokka) is especially a standout as the eldest of the three, managing to capture Sokka's overconfidence and goofball energy while showing a lot of sweetness and vulnerability.

Meanwhile, the antagonists bring just as much if not more richness to their performances. Daniel Dae Kim as Firelord Ozai is terrifying--distractingly bad chin hair aside--as a brutally efficient ruler and strategist who uses his own children as pawns in his manifest destiny. Dallas Liu (Zuko) strikes an excellent balance between a fearsome foe seething with anger, and a hurt and scared child trying to live up to his father's expectations. The best by far, though, is Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, who plays Zuko's uncle, Iroh. Fans of the animated show already understand why Iroh is such a beloved character, but Lee's live-action performance made me fall in love with him all over again.

This adaptation makes a choice, and I think a correct one, to show more of the Fire Nation's inner workings, and that includes featuring much more of Princess Azula as played here by Elizabeth Yu. In the original series, Azula was scarcely seen in the first season, but in later seasons, she came to be known as essentially a living weapon--a powerful firebender and all-around sadist who Ozai could simply point at his enemies. The added screen time this early into the story gives her a more layered depiction, putting her competition with Zuko and her scheming machinations front and center. As an example, this live-action adaption sees Azula form a secret partnership with the preening and politically calculating Lieutenant Zhao (portrayed by Ken Leung, who gets to make a meal out of his scenes), creating a palace intrigue story that enhances our understanding of both characters at once. Azula's sidekicks are also present but underused, one of the few elements that feels like fan service with no rewarding payoff.

It's the actors themselves that make the best case for this live-action adaptation. Having a human actor interpret the material and wear it on their face and body language can communicate new ideas and accent the existing material in profound ways. At one point when Iroh tries to instill some fatherly wisdom, Zuko lashes out with a comment that's unnecessarily cruel and biting. You can see the mixture of hurt and disappointment behind Lee's eyes, as well as the sudden pangs of guilt in Liu's. Elsewhere, Lee transitions seamlessly from an affable old teddy bear to a fiercely protective lion as tensions in a scene rise. Similarly, we get to see Aang having a few tender moments with his mentor Monk Gyatso (Lim Kay Siu), whose soft-spoken demeanor and protectiveness serve to mirror Iroh's relationship with Zuko.

The season feels slightly abridged from the animated original's first season, but not by much. Part of that is, at about an hour long, each of the eight episodes is twice the length of an animated episode. But it also combines stories and even ties familiar elements together in unexpected ways. The result is a season that flows like one continuous story, without one-off excursions or bottle episodes. Plus, this adaptation lightly adds new elements to certain characters' backgrounds in ways that feel suitably aligned with the existing material but add new layers and nuances to events.

Perhaps most importantly, though, this live-action adaptation manages to nail the one element it absolutely couldn't afford to do without: the kineticism of the fight scenes. On this point, it was especially hard not to think back to the Shyamalan adaptation, in which fights were often stilted and stiff. One of the most iconic elements of the Avatar series is how the various bending forms, all inspired by real-life martial arts, incorporate moves and elemental manipulation into one smooth action that looks both believable and fantastical. This live-action version captures that beautifully, with varied fight choreography that expresses the uniqueness and fluidity of each bending form, and mostly wide shots that let you appreciate the elegant movements of the martial arts. Watching benders clash against each other, or occasionally, against a skilled opponent with no bending powers at all, is a real treat.

It all reaches a climax that feels mildly melodramatic in many of the same ways that the first season finale of the animated series did, albeit slightly more earned by laying some important groundwork earlier in the season. And like the original, it does rely partly on a love story subplot that felt too rushed to be as meaningful as it was clearly meant to be. But I was glad to find that Avatar: The Last Airbender also captures the show's heart, with characters grappling with ideas like patriarchy, generational trauma, pacifism, and the power of human connections. The finale brings several relationships and stories to a satisfying conclusion, while setting the stage for what's to come next. Against all odds, I can't wait.

Leave Blank
The cast's acting chops carry most of the show, with a standout performance from Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh
Modified structure combines familiar plots in clever ways
New story elements feel at home and add richness to the characters' backgrounds
The first episode is too lore- and exposition-heavy, with a dour tone that risks turning off viewers before it gets to the good stuff
Sokka's love story subplots aren't given enough space to feel earned

About the Author

Steve Watts

@sporkyreeve

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Avatar: the last airbender review - netflix's impressive adaptation keeps animation's best qualities.

The Netflix series is a rather faithful adaptation, carrying the spirit of the original through intricate details and proper character development.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 Hopes & Story Potential Teased By Netflix Cast

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation is faithful, with proper character development.
Characters from the original series are brought to life in the live-action adaptation, showing depth and connection.
Despite some special effects issues, the live-action series is a worthy adaptation, much better than the previous film.

There was a lot of trepidation surrounding Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender . It’s par for the course, considering how beloved the original series was, and how reviled the live-action film was by comparison. And while the latest version of Avatar: The Last Airbender gets off to a bit of a shaky start due, in large part, to heavy exposition, the Netflix series is a rather faithful adaptation, carrying the spirit of the original while bringing its world to life through intricate details (the way bending is rendered onscreen is pretty great), lush costumes, and proper character development.

Based on the acclaimed animated Nickelodeon television series, Avatar: The Last Airbender is an action-adventure fantasy series developed by Albert Kim. The series follows Aang, a young man training to harness the four elements to live up to the title of Avatar - the one who will restore balance to the world.

The live-action series gets the characters and story right overall
The fight sequences are great, as is the variety of bending
The cast is great and they really grow into their roles
The special effects are not always that great
The series has a shaky start due to heavy exposition

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 basically follows the journey of the Nickelodeon show’s first season. Aang (Gordon Cormier) — the last airbender and avatar who can bend each of the four elements, earth, wind, water, and fire — has emerged after 100 years of being frozen in ice. With the help of friends Katara (Kiawentiio) and her brother Sokka (Ian Ousley), Aang aims to learn the remaining bending skills and save the world from the threat of the Fire Nation, which has sent the exiled Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu), along with his Uncle Iroh (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee), to find him.

Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Cast Brings Beloved Characters To Life In Their Own Way

Every episode sees the trio in a new location, which is a great way to expand the worldbuilding and the development of the characters along the way. The characters themselves are multidimensional. There’s an instant connection I had with them and, while the cast feels very much like their animated counterparts , they also breathe new life into Aang, Katara, and Sokka so they’re more than empty copies. And for those who haven’t seen the original series in a while, the new Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation will make you feel like you’re reuniting with old friends after some time apart.

The actors, perhaps because of their ages, take a bit to settle fully into their roles, but once they do (by the end of the second episode) their performances and dynamic grow stronger with each episode. Liu is especially well-cast as Zuko, balancing a fiery anger with resentment and emotional vulnerability. Zuko’s villain redemption storyline from the original series is wonderfully set up in the live-action's eight-episode season, and it’s hard not to feel for him as he struggles with gaining his estranged father’s approval without losing himself in the process.

The buildup is well-paced and the stakes are high, with the overarching story never overshadowing the individual arcs of the characters.

Cormier’s Aang is weighted down by guilt for not preventing the massacre of the Air Nomads, and the pressure of saving everyone from the Fire Nation, but the actor is able to infuse the character with unbridled joy and hope despite the burden he carries. Comier is everything Aang should be — kind, trusting, and always willing to see the best in others. Kiawentiio as Katara is genuinely lovely, especially as she gains more confidence in her waterbending abilities in the second half of the show. Ousley’s Sokka is good for a laugh, though not everything lands, while showcasing his insecurities.

There are certain characters — Elizabeth Yu’s Princess Azula, specifically — who don’t get as big a storyline as the others, but the seeds are planted for more to come in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2. Yu’s performance is a perfect blend of rage and disdain, and I can’t wait to see what she does next with the role. On the other hand, the series doesn’t lose anything by minimizing the role of characters like Momo, who is primarily there for comedic relief, and Appa, who has less personality here than in the original series.

Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Special Effects Are Hit Or Miss

Where the live-action series falters a bit is in its special effects, which can fluctuate depending on the episode. Some of the visuals are shaky, and don’t look as crisp as they ought to. Luckily, this is only the case in certain instances, especially at the start, and is never enough to derail the show. As the series builds to an explosive season 1 finale, the effects get better, as though the budget was being withheld for use on the majority of the second half.

Netflix’s live-action adaptation, developed by showrunner Albert Kim, does excel at bringing to life the various bending styles — earthbending and waterbending look especially good during fight sequences, which are pretty good despite not being as intricate as its animated predecessor. The buildup is well-paced and the stakes are high, with the overarching story never overshadowing the individual arcs of the characters. Avatar: The Last Airbender makes certain changes to canon , but it doesn’t stray far from the original story or the spirit of the animated series.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Is A Worthy Live-Action Adaptation

I can also say with complete confidence that the Netflix series is exceptionally better than M. Night Shyamalan’s disastrous The Last Airbender . It’s more of a faithful adaptation, and you can tell the writing team are fans of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko’s work. The worldbuilding is beautifully developed, and you really get a sense of each location, what makes it tick and how the people have been shaped by it. The costumes are gorgeous, the makeup and hairstyles generally superb (minus one poor choice in wig), and the details of the sets and locations elevate the series.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is yet another successful adaptation for Netflix, which hit home-runs with the live-action One Piece . The streamer may have missed the mark with series like Cowboy Bebop , but Avatar: The Last Airbender shows what can be done when an adaptation gets creative while staying true to its source material. With a great cast — including the always fantastic Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai — showing they’re able to grow alongside their characters, and a story full of depth and excitement, the live-action series is well worth the wait.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action)

Review: Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is a failure in every way

The year was 2010. Barack Obama was president. The only “Tik Tok” to speak of was the song by Kesha . And a beloved animated Nickelodeon series had come to life as a live-action movie.

I’m talking, of course, about the critically panned 2010 film “The Last Airbender,” directed by M. Night Shyamalan. An adaptation of the beloved 2005-08 series “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” Shyamalan’s film has become infamous for its failures. But there was no way yet another adaptation of that richly mythological series could crash and burn so spectacularly, right?

Look, I wanted Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (now streaming, ★ out of four), a new live-action series, to be good. I watched the original series first as a kid and then again (and again) as an adult, and consider it one of the best TV shows ever made (just ask my ballot in this poll ).

There was so much potential in this story − about a world in which some people have the superpower to control water, fire, earth and air through what is called “bending” − to create something gorgeous and striking in a live-action medium. Not as a shot-for-shot recreation, but as its own epic that embraced the themes and tone of its source material. But out of fear of angering die-hard fans, lack of time and/or budget or a fundamental misunderstanding of what “adaptation” really means, the new “Avatar” is a regretful mess in its first season. Both too slavish to the original and too far removed from it, the new “Avatar” fails in every way. And it’s infuriating.

In both the new and original series, the world of “Avatar” is divided into four nations: the Earth Kingdom, the Air Nomads, the Water Tribes and the Fire Nation, each with benders who can control their respective elements. Things were fine until the Fire Nation started a centurylong war bent on world domination. Just as this war was starting, the mythical Avatar, the only bender who can control all four elements, disappeared.

Turns out the 12-year-old Avatar Aang (Gordon Cormier) is the only airbender to survive a Fire Nation-led genocide (hence the title), and wound up frozen in an iceberg for 100 years before he’s woken by teen waterbender Katara (Kiawentiio) and her brother Sokka (Ian Ousley). The trio sets off on a mission for Aang to learn all four elements and help save the world. They are closely hunted by the Fire Nation’s Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu), who has a maniacal desire to capture Aang after his father (Daniel Dae Kim) banished him until he can do so.

More: 'Avatar: The Last Airbender': Release date, cast, where to watch live-action series

Creator Albert Kim (“Sleepy Hollow”) has clearly tried to maintain fidelity to the animated series. In many ways, it looks like a carbon copy of the cartoon brought to life − some scenes and aesthetics are recreated with excruciating detail. The original pilot (one of the weakest episodes of the cartoon) is basically refilmed. But it was a lot of effort for naught.

The exaggerated hairstyles (created using truly horrendous wigs), color-coded costumes and fantastical animals have an uncanny valley quality to them in live action. They don’t make sense to the eye. After all, entire countries do not all wear the same shade of blue every day in the real world. Even superhero costumes get a tasteful makeover between comic-book pages and a Marvel movie.

So the new “Avatar” looks sort of like a corrupted facsimile of the original, and at the same time the heart of the first “Avatar” is gone. The new series is emotionally hollow, tonally dissonant and yells its themes at the audience like an unhinged political podcast. The story is condensed from 20 half-hour episodic chapters to eight ill-formed episodes. The writing is creaky, clunky and bogged down by entirely unnecessary exposition and Easter eggs for fans that might as well have neon signs above them reading, “Hey, we watched the animated series, we promise!” (A particularly cringe-worthy moment in the pilot episode has one character reciting the voiceover introduction from the cartoon as if it were a normal thing to say in conversation. It is not.)

One thing the series has going for it is that the actors are of Asian and Indigenous descent, just as they were depicted in the cartoon. The film received sharp criticism for casting white actors in all roles except for the villain. But alas, the child actors, while trying their hardest, can’t rise to the occasion (with the notable exception of Liu). The adult actors appear to have lowered themselves to what they think is the level of the material, reading lines like it’s the first time they’ve encountered language.

It’s clear after two failed attempts to tell this story in live action that the greatness of “Avatar” was because of its animation, not in spite of it. Photorealism robs stories of their magic (not just this one, just see any Disney remake ). It's almost like animation is more than just a cheaper way to make kids' TV. It's a beautiful art form all its own.

In animation, the whooshing and whipping water that Katara bent was gorgeously, and unrealistically, a deep blue. Aang bent air that was white, far easier to see than our transparent reality. Every bending battle, the highlight of any episode of the original “Avatar,” is sluggish, the actors' moves out of sync with the poor-quality effects.

It didn't have to be this way. Perhaps there wasn't a more successful way to adapt this story, but maybe it need not have been adapted. The original "Avatar" wasn't lacking; there was no need, other than Hollywood's insatiable greed, to remake it.

As it happens, that near-perfect animated original is also available to stream on Netflix. I highly recommend it.

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Dave Bautista Will Take on Aang in His 'Last Airbender' Movie

The animated movie will follow the adventures of the original Avatar gang.

The Big Picture

Aang: The Last Airbender movie is set to hit theaters on October 10, 2025, continuing the original Team Avatar's adventures.
Dave Bautista will portray the villain in the upcoming film, adding excitement and suspense to the highly anticipated story.
Paramount's Avatar Studios department plans more theatrical releases, expanding the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender for fans.

With the release of Avatar: The Last Airbender , Aang's story has become more popular than ever. But after the debut of the live-action iteration of the story has delighted the world, it's time for the original animated character to return in Aang: The Last Airbender , a movie currently set to hit theaters on October 10, 2025. While it might sound exciting to finally know the title of the first animated theatrical release connected to the franchise, it wasn't the only surprise Paramount had in store for their panel at this year's edition of CinemaCon .

The studio also announced that Dave Bautista is set to portray the villain in Aang: The Last Airbender . While more details surrounding the character's identity are currently under wraps, the fact that Bautista has been cast in the upcoming story proves that the studio is ready to bring Aang and his friends to the big screen in the best way they can. While Bautista has portrayed heroes over the majority of his career, he's also stepped into the shoes of formidable villains, just like he did in the recent Knock at the Cabin . Time will tell if this new villain will be more dangerous than Fire Lord Ozai ( Mark Hamill ), Aang's first major antagonist.

Dave Bautista is more than ready to step into the world of Aang: The Last Airbender , after the performer's acting career was launched due to his role as Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. In recent years, Bautista has appeared in titles such as Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Dune: Part Two , where he portrayed the unpredictable Glossu Rabban. Before he was a major film star, Bautista dominated the ring fighting against people like John Cena , until he seized a brilliant opportunity and became known for his big screen roles.

The World of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Expands

Aang: The Last Airbender will finally continue the adventures of the original Team Avatar, after The Legend of Korra focused on entirely new characters. The upcoming movie is only one of the stories Paramount has planned as part of their Avatar Studios department, with more theatrical releases based on different characters making their way to the big screen in the near future. Details on the upcoming movies are currently kept under wraps, but taking into account how successful Netflix 's version of the story has become, it's clear that audiences are ready to stay in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender for a very long time.

Aang: The Last Airbender is currently scheduled to hit theaters on October 10, 2025. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

In a war-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender

A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save the world, and fight against an enemy bent on stopping him. A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save the world, and fight against an enemy bent on stopping him. A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save the world, and fight against an enemy bent on stopping him.

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Trivia James Sie, the original voice of the cabbage merchant in the animated series, also plays the cabbage merchant in two episodes of the live action adaptation.
Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: Avatar: The Live-Action Bender (2018)

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Avatar: The Last Airbender [Live-Action] - Review

Things are lookin' appa.

Don’t think of Netflix’s latest animation-to-live-action series as a straight adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender , but rather as a dramatic reimagining of the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon. This show works not by rehashing every shot, but thanks to an intimate focus on showcasing its cast of compelling characters. Already powerful emotional moments gain new depth thanks to a willingness to depict what’s only alluded to in the original series. Granted, this interpretation has its fair share of flaws, but it’s a far cry from M. Night Shyamalan’s disastrous 2010 spin on young hero Aang’s mission to master air, fire, water, and earth and defeat the villainous Fire Lord. The amount of unconvincing special effects, clunky moments of exposition, and its rush to cover so much story in just eight episodes is not insignificant, but even their powers combined don’t outweigh everything this Last Airbender gets right. Above all else, it has its heart in the right place – and for Team Avatar, that’s what matters most.

The story centers on Aang, who after accidentally being frozen in time for a century, awakens to find his people have been wiped out and the Fire Nation is waging war on the world. How Aang became the last Airbender, and the way that trauma shapes his future, is always in focus in the new series, no matter how wild and magical the story gets. It’s a captivating premise that puts the weight of the world on Aang’s shoulders, and forces him to challenge the very idea of what being the Avatar means, wisely putting less emphasis on how he's the one person in the world who can control all four elements and focusing squarely on his role as a peacemaker, a savior, and a miracle worker who keeps the world’s four nations existing in harmony. That’s a lot to demand from an adolescent, but Aang leads with kindness and does his best.

Much of the silliness and whimsy of the original are traded for a tone that's more grounded, more mature, and more violent.

It’s one thing to hear about the genocidal Fire Nation wiping a whole society off the map. But to see it dramatized, Order 66-style, not only shows how the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender fell into such a hopeless state but helps us understand exactly what, and who, Aang has lost. It’s all part of a world that is lovingly brought to life, from its grand cities down to its quirky hybrid animals. However, in making the transition to live-action, much of the silliness and whimsy of the original are traded for a tone that’s more grounded, more mature, and more violent – but it’s not done just for edginess’ sake. The slightly darker vibe works in service of the story because it makes Aang’s unwavering compassion and anti-war philosophy shine all the brighter.

Aang, Katara, and Sokka (played respectively by Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, and Ian Ousley) make for a solid group of young actors who faithfully capture the spirit of Avatar’s core trio. Cormier looks and acts like the Blue Fairy turned a 2D sketch of Aang into a real boy; it’s impressive for a 12-year-old actor to be the lead of such a major story, and he does it well by evoking the joy and playfulness of his character while also thoughtfully dealing with an immense amount of responsibility no one of any age should have to bear. Sokka is by far the funniest character, which goes a long way to lighten the mood and voicing the thoughts of the audience when weird stuff happens, as it often does in this world where martial artists manipulate fire, water, earth, or air. His sister, Katara, is more hit-and-miss, at times delivering moving words as the beating heart of the team and at others falling a bit flat. Still, watching these three characters form bonds of friendship and learn to work together as a team makes for some of the show’s most enjoyable moments.

Watching these three characters form bonds of friendship makes for some of the most enjoyable moments.

As the Avatar, Aang learns to command the elements with tremendous force, but it’s his kind heart that gives him his strength, and it’s to Cormier’s credit that he makes Aang impossible not to root for. It’s of special note how well the choreography captures Aang’s unique way of moving: He excitedly bounces around and casually flutters up into the sky on a whim, like you’d expect from someone who grew up with this power. He has a fun and cool combat style where he likes to spin and flip on a breeze to counter his opponent, and use his surroundings to his advantage – sort of like a pint-sized Jackie Chan who can fly. It’s worth noting, though, that while all of the environments and settings look stunning, it’s not always convincing when the characters move around in them.

The characters who gain the most from this adaptation’s changes are the Fire Nation’s Prince Zuko and his uncle, General Iroh, who are on a mission to hunt down the Avatar. Dallas Liu plays Zuko with just enough entitlement and rage to mask the pain underneath, while Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is absolutely sublime as the wise, humorous, yet no less scarred Iroh. Their bond as pseudo-father/son outcasts runs deep, and a series of flashbacks show the fiery tragedies that forged it. Anyone familiar with the source material knows Zuko and Iroh have a great storyline ahead of them, so it’s impressive that this retelling manages to add new layers that make it even more nuanced and poignant.

Spending more time with the Fire Nation characters means we see a surprising amount of the Big Bad Evil Guy, Fire Lord Ozai. It’s a risky decision: Seeing so little of Ozai until the end of the original series is part of what makes the character work so well – kind of like if Jaws could shoot fireballs out of his mouth. But it all works to excellent effect here, and not just because original series veteran Daniel Dae Kim delivers a steely, intimidating performance and at one point takes his shirt off. Ozai is just as ruthless in his war to conquer the world as he is in toughening up his son Zuko and daughter Azula, even if it means playing them against each other to cause an unfathomable amount of pain and daddy issues. Elizabeth Yu crushes it as Azula, with an introduction so cruel and sadistic it’s actually kind of impressive – and she only grows more unhinged from there. All that made me glad her introduction wasn’t saved for the second season.

Elizabeth Yu crushes it as Azula.

It’s clear from the get-go that this show will have bending – lots and lots of bending. For the most part, it looks incredible. Forget how it took six Earthbenders to throw a single, slow-moving rock in Shyamalan’s movie; accented by distinct martial arts styles, Netflix’s Earthbenders raise up pillars from the ground and strike with thunderous impact. Firebending is explosive and dazzling, like watching Liu Kang pop off. Airbending channels tornadoes and gales that blast enemies away. Unfortunately, Waterbending isn’t quite as well done, given the liquid often looks plasticky and feels more like a playful splash than a torrential strike when it hits an opponent. Aside from that wet blanket, the bending is on point, making every fight scene exciting and consistent in packing a wondrous surprise.

Aang’s quest to master all four elements and face Ozai is a long one, spanning three seasons in the original series. But while the first of those seasons told its story over 20 23-minute episodes, the live-action show does it in eight. Significant cuts are made in favor of focusing squarely on Team Avatar’s main quest to reach and defend the Northern Water Tribe from invading Fire Nation forces, and the results are mixed. About half the episodes feel like they’re hustling to get through more plot than they have time for. On one hand, there’s some admirable condensing in the writing, stitching together thematically complementary elements from multiple episodes of the cartoon while also squeezing in some delightful fan service.

The result is erratic pacing and a general sense of unwieldiness.

But it comes at the expense of breathing room for all those characters and events. The result is erratic pacing, conversations that take sharp turns out of nowhere, and a general sense of unwieldiness. On the flip side, when the show takes its time, we’re treated to some truly amazing stuff. Avatar features a cast of brilliantly crafted characters, each with their own personal mission and philosophy on life, and the show is at its best when it slows down enough to explore them.

There’s plenty to enjoy with this adaptation. The first time we see Zuko’s black metal warship, it’s given the same type of immense scale and daunting musical cue as Star Wars gives a Star Destroyer. Everything from the costuming and makeup to props and weapons are made with excellent attention to detail. And all the little surprises make it fun to watch whether you know the material or not, such as an intense moment between Iroh and a nameless Earthbender soldier that shows what it’s like being on two sides of a pointless war.

But there are also many quibbles to be had, like how we’re often reminded that the Avatar needs to keep a low profile, and yet when the heroes travel to a big city, they immediately take off their disguises and walk around in bright, primary-colored clothing that practically screams their true identities. As a fan of the original show, I couldn’t help but notice that Aang’s ability to commune with past Avatars gets a new wrinkle that changes how the supercharged Avatar State works. This allows for a truly awesome display of power early on that emphasizes what makes this power unique, but the change seems only designed for that singular moment and for the rest of the show the characters have to keep coming up with excuses for why that awesome thing can’t be done whenever trouble arises. Animal pals Appa and Momo are present, and Momo in particular looks adorably lifelike, but they don’t appear enough to feel like they’re actual characters rather than loyal pets – which means, unfortunately, Appa serves as just a fuzzy, flying taxi.

And, if there’s one aspect of this world that feels undercooked, it’s the spiritual side. A bit of time is devoted to how the Spirit World works and the Avatar’s connection to it, but it’s not enough to prepare us for how important it becomes later on, so there’s a haze of confusion when all the glowy things start happening.

The Verdict

It goes without saying that Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest animated series ever made, so a second attempt at a live-action adaptation was never going to come without high expectations and lots of nitpicking at the finer details. But over the course of its eight episodes, those kinds of criticisms – while valid – tend to melt away when the new Avatar hits its stride. The show doesn’t live up to the original in every way possible, but it's still a worthy adaptation that adds a textured richness to the lore. What’s most important is that it captures the spirit of the original while forging its own path; for as different as the two series may be, this one keeps the flawed, complicated, lovable characters at the forefront, showcasing what makes them great and adding new layers of depth along the way.

Avatar: The Last Airbender [Live-Action]

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, let's hope it is.

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"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.

Let's start with the 3D, which was added as an afterthought to a 2D movie. Not only is it unexploited, unnecessary and hardly noticeable, but it's a disaster even if you like 3D. M. Night Shyamalan's retrofit produces the drabbest, darkest, dingiest movie of any sort I've seen in years. You know something is wrong when the screen is filled with flames that have the vibrancy of faded Polaroids. It's a known fact that 3D causes a measurable decrease in perceived brightness, but "Airbender" looks like it was filmed with a dirty sheet over the lens.

Now for the movie itself. The first fatal decision was to make a live-action film out of material that was born to be anime. The animation of the Nickelodeon TV series drew on the bright colors and "clear line" style of such masters as Miyazaki, and was a pleasure to observe. It's in the very nature of animation to make absurd visual sights more plausible.

Since "Airbender" involves the human manipulation of the forces of air, earth, water and fire, there is hardly an event that can be rendered plausibly in live action. That said, its special effects are atrocious. The first time the waterbender Katara summons a globe of water, which then splashes (offscreen) on her brother Sokka, he doesn't even get wet. Firebenders' flames don't seem to really burn, and so on.

The story takes place in the future, after Man has devastated the planet and survives in the form of beings with magical powers allowing them to influence earth, water and fire. These warring factions are held in uneasy harmony by the Avatar, but the Avatar has disappeared, and Earth lives in a state of constant turmoil caused by the warlike Firebenders.

Our teenage heroes Katara and Sokka discover a child frozen in the ice. This is Aang ( Noah Ringer ), and they come to suspect he may be the Avatar, or Last Airbender. Perhaps he can bring harmony and quell the violent Firebenders. This plot is incomprehensible, apart from the helpful orientation that we like Katara, Sokka and Aang and are therefore against their enemies.

The dialogue is couched in unspeakable quasi-medieval formalities; the characters are so portentous they seem to have been trained for grade school historical pageants. Their dialogue is functional and action-driven. There is little conviction that any of this might be real even in their minds. All of the benders in the movie appear only in terms of their attributes and functions, and contain no personality.

Potentially interesting details are botched. Consider the great iron ships of the Firebenders. These show potential as Steampunk, but are never caressed for their intricacies. Consider the detail Miyazaki lavished on Howl's Moving Castle. Trying sampling a Nickelodeon clip from the original show to glimpse the look that might have been.

After the miscalculation of making the movie as live action, there remained the challenge of casting it. Shyamalan has failed. His first inexplicable mistake was to change the races of the leading characters; on television Aang was clearly Asian, and so were Katara and Sokka, with perhaps Mongolian and Inuit genes. Here they're all whites. This casting makes no sense because (1) It's a distraction for fans of the hugely popular TV series, and (2) all three actors are pretty bad. I don't say they're untalented, I say they've been poorly served by Shyamalan and the script. They are bland, stiff, awkward and unconvincing. Little Aang reminds me of Wallace Shawn as a child. This is not a bad thing (he should only grow into Shawn's shoes), but doesn't the role require little Andre, not little Wally?

As the villain, Shyamalan has cast Cliff Curtis as Fire Lord Ozai and Dev Patel (the hero of " Slumdog Millionaire ") as his son Prince Zuko. This is all wrong. In material at this melodramatic level, you need teeth-gnashers, not leading men. Indeed, all of the acting seems inexplicably muted. I've been an admirer of many of Shyamalan's films, but action and liveliness are not his strong points. I fear he takes the theology of the Bending universe seriously.

As "The Last Airbender" bores and alienates its audiences, consider the opportunities missed here. (1) This material should have become an A-list animated film. (2) It was a blunder jumping aboard the 3D bandwagon with phony 3D retro-fitted to a 2D film. (3) If it had to be live action, better special effects artists should have been found. It's not as if films like "2012" and " Knowing " didn't contain "real life" illusions as spectacular as anything called for in "The Last Airbender."

I close with the hope that the title proves prophetic.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film Credits

The Last Airbender (2010)

Rated PG for fantasy action violence

103 minutes

Noah Ringer as Aang

Dev Patel as Prince Zuko

Nicola Peltz as Katara

Jackson Rathbone as Sokka

Shaun Toub as Uncle Iroh

Aasif Mandvi as Zhao

Cliff Curtis as Fire Lord Ozai

Written and directed by

M. Night Shyamalan

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Avatar: the last airbender, common sense media reviewers.

Vibrant, intense live-action adventure tale has violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Responsibility, bravery, and understanding your pl

Aang is a spirited kid with a kind nature. The adu

Actors' ethnic backgrounds seldom "match" their on

Lots of fantasy fighting, including hand-to-hand c

Teen characters flirt, find romance. A few brief k

"Asses," "kick his ass," "stupid," "idiot," and "b

Nothing in the series itself, but Avatar: The Last

A mercenary swigs from a flask.

Positive Messages

Responsibility, bravery, and understanding your place in the world are all themes.

Positive Role Models

Aang is a spirited kid with a kind nature. The adults around him are supportive.

Diverse Representations

Actors' ethnic backgrounds seldom "match" their on-screen portrayals -- Chinese and Korean Americans wear Japanese-inspired costumes, for example -- but the fantasy series is helmed by people of color, including showrunner Albert Kim. The cast is diverse, with main character Aang played by Gordon Cormier (who's Filipino and White Canadian). Other actors have White, Korean, Japanese, Mohawk, Chinese, Indian, and Assiniboine heritage. The elemental worlds draw inspiration from Inuit culture, feudal Japan, Tibetan Buddhism, and there's a bustling Silk Road-type metropolis. Women and girls are portrayed as athletic and capable warriors, but the series ultimately still focuses on male leads (Aang and Zuko). A character who uses a wheelchair has several scenes; he's portrayed positively and isn't defined by his disability.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Lots of fantasy fighting, including hand-to-hand combat. Scenes of intense peril. Benders use the elements, including fire and earth, to fight. A village and characters are brutally set on fire. Martial arts-inspired combat is frequently on display. Swords and other weapons used. A giant millipede-like creature traps people in webs; jump scares. An abusive parent intentionally burns/scars his child's face to teach the child a lesson. Another child sees her mother burned to death in front of her, the attack shown on screen. There's a big explosion-filled (but bloodless) battle scene where a Godzilla-like creature rampages; many fighters fall screaming to their deaths.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Teen characters flirt, find romance. A few brief kisses. One character walks in on someone who's partly undressed -- he covers his bare chest with his arms as she looks at him admiringly, played for humor. A ceremonial fight includes men with their shirts off.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

"Asses," "kick his ass," "stupid," "idiot," and "butt."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Nothing in the series itself, but Avatar: The Last Airbender is part of a franchise with spin-offs, video games, and plenty of tie-in merchandise.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Avatar: The Last Airbender is a live-action version of the acclaimed animated show and book series . This action-adventure series chronicles young Avatar Aang's (Gordon Cormier) quest to save the world from the evil Fire Nation, led by Fire Lord Ozai ( Daniel Dae Kim ). It's more mature than the previous incarnations, with lots of fantasy fighting and scenes of intense peril. Benders use the elements, including fire and earth, to fight. Characters are set on fire, including a parent as a child hides and watches in terror. A village is violently set on fire; the destruction is brutal. Martial arts-inspired combat is frequently on display; swords and other weapons are used. A battle scene is filled with explosions and a Godzilla-like monster rampages, smashing several boats with soldiers on board. Language includes "ass," "stupid," and "idiot." The series is diverse, with several actors of Asian and Indigenous descent and on-screen fantasy worlds inspired by Tibetan Buddhism, feudal Japan, and Inuit cultures. Positive messages include understanding your own power, courage , finding yourself, and friendship.

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (41)
Kids say (8)

Based on 41 parent reviews

Finally my Dream Series! In Live Action!

What the world needs most, what's the story.

In AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, young monk-in-training Aang (Gordon Cormier) is just a regular kid with some special skills. He's an Airbender, but some people think he may be the Avatar, a person who can master all the elements. When the Fire Nation destroys his village, he's transported to another, unfamiliar world of water and snow, and becomes a part of a new community. Together with siblings Sokka (Ian Ousley) and Katara (Kiawentiio), they must fight to keep safe from the encroaching Fire Lord ( Daniel Dae Kim ) and his minions.

Is It Any Good?

This action-packed series is decidedly more mature than its animated counterpart. But Avatar: The Last Airbender is a worthy revisiting of Aang's tale. The cast is stacked with outstanding Asian, Native American, and First Nations actors, and the world-building is as in-depth as its predecessor's. Families with younger kids might do well to start with the animated version , but tweens and teens will appreciate the swift storytelling and adventurous spirit of this now classic tale.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about bravery and courage on display in Avatar: The Last Airbender . How does Aang find courage in difficult situations?

War is a major theme in this series. How do the various worlds deal with the ongoing fighting?

The fantasy worlds in the series are inspired by real-life cultures. Which references did you notice? Does watching Avatar: The Last Airbender make you want to learn more about the real counterparts?

Premiere date : February 22, 2024
Cast : Gordon Cormier , Kiawentiio , Ian Ousley
Network : Netflix
Genre : Action
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Sports and Martial Arts , Brothers and Sisters , Great Girl Role Models
Character Strengths : Courage
TV rating : TV-14
Award : Common Sense Selection
Last updated : February 27, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Avatar: The Last Airbender movie with adult Aang delayed from 2025 to 2026

T he world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is split right now. On the one hand, Netflix is in the middle of producing a live-action TV remake of the original show; the first season was managed by Albert Kim, and the upcoming second and third seasons will be overseen by Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani, after Kim left . Meanwhile, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko — the creators of the original Last Airbender animated series on Nickelodeon — jumped ship on the Netflix remake much earlier to go make a series of animated movies for Nickelodeon and Paramount. The first of these, a movie following the adventures lead character Aang years after the end of the original, when he and his friends have grown to adulthood, is reportedly called Aang: The Last Airbender .

Originally, Aang: The Last Airbender was going to comeo ut on October 10, 2025. However, Variety reports that Paramount is shuffling around its release calendar a bit, and the movie is now scheduled to release on Jan. 20, 2026.

Overall, the delay isn't that bad, just a few months. However, an interesting knock-on effect is that the delay brings Aang: The Last Airbender closer to the release date of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 on Netflix. Wouldn't it be fun if the new animated Avatar movie from the original creators went head to head with the continuation of Netflix's live-action remake? The Netflix show only got renewed last month; given how long it takes to get production going on a show that big, we don't expect a second season to come out until 2026.

Aang: The Last Airbender will star Eric Nam in the role of Aang and Dave Bautista in the role of a villain, although we know any details. Jessica Matten, Roman Zaragoza and Dionne Quan will play grown-up versions of Aang's friends Katara, Sokka and Toph respectively.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account , sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel .

This article was originally published on winteriscoming.com as Avatar: The Last Airbender movie with adult Aang delayed from 2025 to 2026 .

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The Last Airbender Movie Review
Review of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action Movie) Review
The Last Airbender Movie Review and Ratings by Kids
The Last Airbender movie review (2010)

VIDEO

This actually looks good... AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER TEASER REACTION (NETFLIX)
Why the New Avatar Last Airbender movie is embarrassing

COMMENTS

Avatar: The Last Airbender First Reviews: It Isn't Perfect, but It's
Avatar: The Last Airbender, Netflix's new adaptation of Nickelodeon's groundbreaking animated series, which was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, is the streamer's latest attempt at translating a popular anime into live action.It is currently streaming on Netflix. Starring in the series is an impressive ensemble of mostly Asian and Indigenous actors.
The Last Airbender
The four nations of Air, Water, Earth and Fire lived in harmony until the Fire Nation declared war. A century later, there is still no end in sight to the destruction, then, an Avatar named Aang ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender Review
good. The live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series enriches the original story with meaningful new material, but its breakneck pacing, exposition-heavy dialogue, and hit-or-miss effects aren ...
'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Review: Netflix Triumphs With ...
The story begins when Southern Water Tribe siblings Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley) discover a 12-year-old Airbender named Aang (Gordon Cormier), who mysteriously emerges from an icy ...
The Last Airbender Movie Review
Based on Nickelodeon's popular Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon TV series, THE LAST AIRBENDER follows titular final Airbender Aang (Noah Ringer), who's a special master of all elements -- fire, water, earth, and air -- and has the power to unite the people of all four nations.He's been frozen in a block of ice for 100 years, during which time all of the other Airbenders were killed by greedy ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender review
I n case you're new to the Airbender universe - Netflix's adventure drama Avatar: The Last Airbender is a live-action remake of the popular Nickelodeon animated series of the same name ...
The Last Airbender (2010)
The Last Airbender: Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. With Noah Ringer, Dev Patel, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Jackson Rathbone. Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, must master all four elements and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom.
Review: Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is a ...
Event Search Movies & TV Music Theater Dance Art & Exhibits Classical Books. Movies & TV. Review: Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is a worthy effort, but feels all too familiar Boasting a big budget and impressive AAPI cast, the live-action remake of the popular animated series is an admirable attempt to reignite the original's ...
'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Review: Netflix Series More Water Than Fire
In each generation, an Avatar is born, who can control all four elements, bridge the gap between the human and spirit worlds, bring balance to both levels of reality, and act as both a fierce ...
The Last Airbender Review
1.5 out of 5 Stars, 3/10 Score. The title Avatar isn't the only thing that The Last Airbender has lost in its transition from the small-screen world of animated television to the realm of would-be ...
First Reviews for Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender: Critics Share
With the February 22 release date of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender right around the corner, reactions and reviews from critics are starting to arrive. [ Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast & Characters In Live-Action Show (Photos)] First Critic Reactions to Netflix's Avatar Netflix. Netflix recently held the official red carpet premiere for Avatar: The Last Airbender in Los ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender Review: A Greatest-Hits Collection Sorely
Forget the threat of Zuko or Aang's own self-doubts plaguing every step of his journey: the Avatar's greatest challenge yet turns out to be nothing less than the streaming model itself. /Film ...
Dave Bautista to Star in Aang: The Last Airbender, New Avatar Movie
Dave Bautista and Eric Nam are set to headline the voice cast for the upcoming " Avatar: The Last Airbender " movie in development at Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Studios. The film's ...
Aang: The Last Airbender, the first animated movie in Avatar trilogy
Avatar: The Last Airbender. Everett Collection. The original animated series, which ran on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008, centers on a young monk named Aang as he masters the four elements ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender Review
The Avatar is a young Airbender named Aang, who is frozen in ice until he's discovered by a pair of youngsters in the Southern Water Tribe, siblings Sokka and Katara. Those three are the key ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender Review
The series has a shaky start due to heavy exposition. Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 basically follows the journey of the Nickelodeon show's first season. Aang (Gordon Cormier) — the last airbender and avatar who can bend each of the four elements, earth, wind, water, and fire — has emerged after 100 years of being frozen in ice.
'Avatar: The Last Airbender' review: Netflix gets it oh so wrong
Review: Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is a failure in every way. The year was 2010. Barack Obama was president. The only "Tik Tok" to speak of was the song by Kesha. And a beloved ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender with a subscription on Netflix, Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV. Seasons Season 1 100% 2005 Details Season 2 100% 2006 Details ...
The Last Airbender (2010)
Like the movie itself, the review is simple to the point of emptiness: 1. The original series LAST AIRBENDER was not merely good, it was one of the most original and best written series in the history of TV. ... The original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series is the rare kind of fantasy fiction ostensibly aimed at kids which can also be ...
'Aang: The Last Airbender' Movie Casts Dave Bautista
Adventure. Fantasy. In a war-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world. Release ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender Movie Shares Working Title
The streaming service ordered a live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and its first season went live earlier this year. After earning solid reviews from fans, Netflix has ordered ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV Series 2024- )
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Created by Albert Kim. With Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu. A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save the world, and fight against an enemy bent on stopping him.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Review
The Verdict. It goes without saying that Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest animated series ever made, so a second attempt at a live-action adaptation was never going to come without high expectations and lots of nitpicking at the finer details. But over the course of its eight episodes, those kinds of criticisms - while valid ...
Avatar: The Last Airbender [Reviews]
Summary. When the hostile Fire Nation threatens to enslave the Water, Earth, and Air Nations, a reluctant and irresponsible boy must face his destiny as the Avatar, the Chosen One who can restore ...
The Last Airbender movie review (2010)
I fear he takes the theology of the Bending universe seriously. As "The Last Airbender" bores and alienates its audiences, consider the opportunities missed here. (1) This material should have become an A-list animated film. (2) It was a blunder jumping aboard the 3D bandwagon with phony 3D retro-fitted to a 2D film.
Avatar: The Last Airbender TV Review
Parents need to know that Avatar: The Last Airbender is a live-action version of the acclaimed animated show and book series.This action-adventure series chronicles young Avatar Aang's (Gordon Cormier) quest to save the world from the evil Fire Nation, led by Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim).It's more mature than the previous incarnations, with lots of fantasy fighting and scenes of intense peril.
Avatar: The Last Airbender movie with adult Aang delayed from ...
The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is split right now. On the one hand, Netflix is in the middle of producing a live-action TV remake of the original show; the first season was managed by ...
Fortnite's Avatar Event Is Live, Here Are The Free And Paid ...
Epic. Fortnite's mega-crossover with Avatar: The Last Airbender kicks off in full today with the release of the mini Avatar battle pass that allows players to earn free rewards, or buy a more ...

Avatar: The Last Airbender First Reviews: It Isn't Perfect, but It's Respectful of the Original and Fun

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