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"THE LAST AIRBENDER" (2010) (Noah Ringer, Dev Patel) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Minor Extreme Heavy Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy Mild Extreme None None Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Minor None Heavy Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Fantasy/Adventure: A brother and sister attempt to help a boy, who's more than 100 years old, fulfill his destiny as a mystical being who can control earth, air, wind and fire and thus bring peace back to their world that's been terrorized by one nation and its fire-controlling ruler. PLOT: Throughout the centuries, a mystical being known as the Avatar has kept peace around the world and between its four nations, Air, Water, Earth and Fire. One hundred years ago, however, Aang (NOAH RINGER), the latest in a long line of reincarnated Avatars, ran away from his home among monks when he learned of his destiny. Along with his huge, wingless flying creature, he ended up in suspended animation, forever stuck in the form of a boy, all while the Fire Nation took advantage of his absence and waged war on the other nations. Knowing that the return of the Avatar would end his reign of terror, Fire Lord Ozai (CLIFF CURTIS) has ordered Commander Zhao (AASIF MANDVI) and his army to find and capture the Avatar in order to keep him at bay. Also on the same quest is Ozai's teenage son, Prince Zuko (DEV PATEL), who can control fire with his mind like his father and others of their nation, but has been banished by Ozai for being too soft. If Zuko, with the help of his Uncle Iroh (SHAUN TOUB), can find the Avatar, his father will lift the teen's exile. Little do any of them know that teenage siblings Katara (NICOLA PELTZ) and Sokka (JACKSON RATHBONE) have found and rescued Aang, not initially aware of his importance. But when Zhao's forces capture the boy, Katara, who's the last of her "waterbender" kind who can control water through telekinesis, urges her brother that they must save the boy. After they do and realize he's not only an "airbender," but also the actual Avatar, they set out for the Northern Water tribe where Princess Yue (SEYCHELLE GABRIEL) and others there can help Aang learn how to control the other three natural elements. From then on, it's a race against time to transform Aang into the destined Avatar before Zhao and his forces attack. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of the TV show they'll probably be interested, while the kids as heroes angle might draw others. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For fantasy action violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: NOAH RINGER plays the latest in a long line of reincarnated Avatars who are destined to keep the world at peace. It's been anything but that since he ran away 100 years ago upon learning of his duties and ended up in suspended animation. Still just a boy, but possessing the ability to control air and quite proficient at the martial arts, he must contend with fulfilling his destiny -- and thus learn to control the other elements -- while putting an end to Ozai's rule of terror. DEV PATEL plays the exiled and banished Fire Nation prince, a teen whose only way back into good graces with his father is by capturing the Avatar. Trying to prove his mettle, he acts angrily and violently, with his only ally being his uncle who accompanies him on his quest and related journeys. NICOLA PELTZ plays a girl from the Water Tribe who's the last waterbender among her people. Along with her older brother, she's determined to rescue Aang and then help him restore peace in their world. JACKSON RATHBONE plays her older brother who does his best to try to protect her and Princess Yue from harm, all while similarly aiding Aang to fulfill his destiny. SHAUN TOUB plays Zuko's uncle, a wise general who accompanies him on his quest but doesn't possess the hatred that fuels much of the Fire Nation. AASIF MANDVI plays Fire Lord Ozai's main commander whose mission is to conquer all of the other nations through their control of fire along with their use of technologically advanced weapons. He's also ordered to capture the Avatar. CLIFF CURTIS plays Zuko's father who banished his son for being weak and will only let him return from exile if he captures and returns the Avatar. He's responsible for the reign of terror and destruction across the other nations. SEYCHELLE GABRIEL plays a princess of the Northern Water Tribe who must be protected from harm and thus ends up spending time with Sokka (and thus both end up smitten with each other). CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this fantasy adventure film that's been rated PG. No profanity or colorful phrases are uttered, and there's only a brief kiss between teens. Violence consists of both large scale battles (hand to hand, with various weapons) and one-on-one fighting with all sorts of hitting, kicking and other such contact, including via telekinetic powers (except for one bloody lip, most of that's blood free, although human skeletal remains from a past slaughter are seen). It's possible some of that and some peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers (especially very young ones), while some kids might be enticed to imitate some of the action. Bad attitudes are present, as is tense family material, while there's possible brief alcohol content. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's camera movement in the film, but it's mostly fluid rather than bouncy. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Commander Zhao and others hold up a toast, but we don't know the content of their mugs. BLOOD/GORE Aang discovers the human skeletal remains (skulls, ribcages, arms, legs, etc.) of his former monk mentors (from a slaughter long ago) and he even accidentally steps on one bone. Prince Zuko has a large scar on the side of his face (from an unseen burning). Prince Zuko has a bit of a bloody lip after being hit on the head with something. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE With the Avatar MIA, the Fire Nation has waged war on the other lands, and this continues through the film. Those responsible obviously have bad attitudes. We hear that Ozai banished his son, Prince Zuko, for appearing soft, and won't lift his exile until the teen returns with the Avatar. We later see a flashback to where he was supposed to battle his father and then sister, with Prince Zuko then being hit by a blast of fire (we don't see the impact, but do see the resultant scar on the side of his face). Prince Zuko is then ruthless in his attempt to capture Aang, and acts mean and angrily toward others. A man leads Aang into a trap, pulls out a knife, and we then see many people pointing their bows and arrows at Aang as he's captured. We later see him strung up by his wrists. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material (but probably no one else). While believing they're trailing an animal while hunting, Sokka and Katara see some sort of movement under the ice on which they stand. Sokka breaks that ice, but then cracks form and spread, and the siblings run to the edge of them. An enormous ice orb then surfaces, and Katara grab's Sokka's boomerang looking weapon and breaks that ice. The flow of water from that knocks her back into Sokka, while a beam of light shines into the sky (they then find Aang, unconscious, along with his large flying creature). Fire Nation forces arrive in Katara & Sokka's village, making everyone nervous, especially as they round up the elders. One brings Aang to the leader who grabs and manhandles the boy before exiting with a martial arts kick that sends a flame of fire outward (no one seems to be hit). Aang discovers the human skeletal remains (skulls, ribcages, arms, legs, etc.) of his former monk mentors (from a slaughter long ago) and he even accidentally steps on one bone. Learning his "family" of monks were slaughtered in the past, Aang is angry, with glowing eyes and fierce winds around him. Aang transcends into the spirit world where he enters a cave and the large head of a dragon suddenly startles him from out of the dark. We see the mysterious dragon (mostly only in head form, but later once in full body form) on several other occasions, but none that are startling. Ashes fall on the ice/snow of the Northern Water tribe lands and we then see that Commander Zhao's large, metal ships are steaming that way, spewing ash from their smokestacks. Prince Zuko swims under the ice but then can't get out, so he uses his fiery nature to melt the ice and thus allow him up to the surface and air. Commander Zhao catches an important spirit creature (that's in the form of a large fish) in a bag and then stabs into that with a knife, killing the creature (and thus lessening its magical powers for the Northern Water tribe people as they battle the Fire Nation). SPOILER ALERT: Princess Yue sacrifices herself (by lying in a body of water and letting her life force leave her body to go to a recently killed but very important spirit creature) in order to save others. We then see the color leave her now lifeless body. Aang controls water to create a huge wave that towers above a city as well as attacking Fire Nation ships, causing the latter to flee (one person is seen blasted back toward his ship when his ramp from that is hit by the water). GUNS/WEAPONS Swords/Spears/Battle Axes/Knives/Arrows/Boomerang looking weapon: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound and maybe kill (bodies are seen, but they could just be unconscious) others. See "Violence" for details. Sokka carries a spear and boomerang (or something similar looking) while hunting. A man leads Aang into a trap, pulls out a knife, and we then see many people pointing their bows and arrows at Aang as he's captured. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: None. The fighting, stunts and other action, as well as various martial arts poses could prove enticing for some kids to want to imitate. Aang has various tattoos on his body. JUMP SCENES Aang transcends into the spirit world where he enters a cave and the large head of a dragon suddenly startles him from out of the dark. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful, ominous, action-oriented and heavily dramatic music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY None. SEX/NUDITY Katara walks in on Aang shirtless (he quickly puts one on), and we later see Aang shirtless while training. Princess Yue and Sokka briefly kiss. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear voice over narration from Katara stating that her and Sokka's father is off in the war, while their mother was taken and killed sometime in the past (thus leaving Sokka to be Katara's protector). We hear that Ozai banished his son, Prince Zuko, for appearing soft, and won't lift his exile until the teen returns with the Avatar. We later see a flashback to where he was supposed to battle his father and then sister, with Prince Zuko then being hit by a blast of fire (we don't see the impact, but do see the resultant scar on the side of his face). There's talk that Iroh's son died in a past siege that Iroh led. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The Eastern philosophies, principles and such on display in the film. Telekinesis. The comment that wars are won by changing hearts. Being chosen/destined to be someone/something you don't want to be. Reincarnation. The controversy regarding replacing some of the original Asian characters (from the TV show) with Caucasian performers. VIOLENCE An enormous ice orb surfaces from broken ice over water, and Katara grab's Sokka's boomerang looking weapon and breaks that ice. The flow of water from that knocks her back into Sokka. The tail from Aang's large but currently lethargic flying creature lands on Sokka, briefly but mistakenly making him think the creature is going to eat him. A man grabs and manhandles Aang before exiting with a martial arts kick that sends a flame of fire outward (no one seems to be hit). Aang uses a blast of wind to knock three guards back against a wall during his escape. Aang discovers the human skeletal remains (skulls, ribcages, arms, legs, etc.) of his former monk mentors (from a slaughter long ago). This is the result of unseen, past violence. Prince Zuko spars with various men, hitting and kicking them before blasting two of them back with bolts of fire. Katara shoves a soldier backwards, followed by Aang blasting him with wind. They and Sokka then end up surrounded, while a fiery blast is shot at an earthbender who blocks that with dirt. A rock then hits one soldier, followed by an all-out fight between the Fire Nation Soldiers and Katara, Sokka and Aang, along with various locals. There's hitting, kicking (including Sokka to one man's crotch/butt from behind, followed by an unseen blow with his boomerang type device) and the firing and then blocking of bolts of fire, as well as Aang using wind to blow others back. In a montage, we see Aang blow one person backwards, while we see that Commander Zhao's forces have apparently ransacked/destroyed a village. We see a flashback to where Prince Zuko was supposed to battle his father and then sister, with Prince Zuko then being hit by a blast of fire (we don't see the impact, but do see the resultant scar on the side of his face). A man leads Aang into a trap, pulls out a knife, and we then see many people pointing their bows and arrows at Aang as he's captured. We later see him strung up by his wrists. Prince Zuko (in disguise) hits two guards (we hear the sounds and then see them strung up -- dead or unconscious) and then hits a third (we don't see that impact either). He then uses his swords to cut down Aang (strung up by his wrists), while Aang uses wind to blow several guards back. He and Prince Zuko then battle various guards/soldiers, with Aang using large stone panels to hit or trap them, while Prince Zuko engages in a sword battle (and uses those swords to block fireballs blasted at Aang who hits many of the attackers with his long pole). As they exit, something from afar is fired and hits Prince Zuko on the head, knocking him out. There's a fairly large explosion and resultant fire on a ship, with many thinking Prince Zuko is dead from that (but we know he isn't). Prince Zuko flings bolts of fire at Katara several times, with her blocking three, but the fourth hits and knocks her out (thus allowing Prince Zuko to kidnap Aang who's in a meditative state). Commander Zhao's forces attack the Northern Water tribe kingdom, shooting blasts of fire into that, while the soldiers on both sides battle in hand to hand combat with various weapons and the water tribe people use water to blast and/or encase their opponents in ice. Prince Zuko shoots fire at Aang who avoids that, and the two then battle, with hitting, kicking, bashing Aang back against a wall and flipping Prince Zuko down hard onto the floor. Katara then encases Prince Zuko in a mound of ice. Commander Zhao catches an important spirit creature (that's in the form of a large fish) in a bag and then stabs into that with a knife, killing the creature (and thus lessening its magical powers for the Northern Water tribe people as they battle the Fire Nation). Commander Zhao fires a blast of fire at Prince Zuko, but Iroh blocks that. Big columns of water smash into, encase and then drop Commander Zhao hard to a bridge, leaving him unconscious. Aang controls water to hit and freeze many Fire Nation soldiers. Aang controls water to create a huge wave that towers above a city as well as attacking Fire Nation ships, causing the latter to flee (one person is seen blasted back toward his ship when his ramp from that is hit by the water). Reviewed June 29, 2010 / Posted July 1, 2010

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