Nearly two decades after Nickelodeon’s beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender concluded its three-season run, the original animated team returns in the feature film, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, which debuts July 25 on Paramount+. The movie is a grand, visually stunning production with large-scale fight sequences that were evidently crafted with a cinematic experience in mind. This makes its relegation to streaming a significant disappointment.
From its opening moments, it is clear that director Lauren Montgomery and her team envisioned Avatar Aang to be experienced on a large cinema screen. The original series often showcased the expansive world that Aang and his companions fought to protect, and the final confrontation between Aang and Fire Lord Ozai was particularly epic. The new film's widened frame and animation style were designed for the biggest screen possible, not for personal devices.
The film's journey to release has been marked by a series of unfortunate events, including shifting release dates, Paramount's decision to move from a theatrical release to a streaming original, and an unfortunate leak of the movie in April. Despite these issues, Avatar Aang is largely a lovingly crafted return to the world created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, offering thrilling action and emotional resonance alongside its gorgeous animation. It aims to be the rousing return fans have desired, especially after a less-than-stellar live-action movie and a mediocre live-action TV adaptation.
Set a few years after the animated series finale, Aang is now in his late teens or early twenties and still developing as the master of the four elements. He has established Republic City, a home for benders of all elements, though he remains the sole airbender. While the film may be challenging for newcomers, it effectively recaps the original series through Aang's actions and a revised opening sequence that introduces Team Avatar and their current situations.
The plot centers on Aang as the fragile peace is threatened by a new group called The Denied, who are non-benders seeking to rebalance power. The story takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of an ancient airbender named Tagah, voiced by Dave Bautista. Driven by Tagah and The Denied's actions, Aang reunites Team Avatar for a global race to secure a powerful artifact that could either restore airbenders or destabilize the established balance.
The script, penned by veteran series writer Tim Hedrick and Marvel collaborator Christopher Yost, effectively focuses on Aang's journey as he grapples with his legacy and the consequences of the Fire Nation's past actions, all while protecting the peace he fought to achieve. Eric Nam delivers a stellar performance as Aang, overcoming initial concerns about the character's aging voice and body not detracting from the emotional core.
A notable aspect of the film is the near-complete recasting of voice actors, a decision made in response to evolving discussions on ethnic representation since the original series aired. While this choice is commendable, the new cast is mostly effective. Jessica Matten's portrayal of Katara is a weaker point, with her dialogue often over-enunciated. Román Zaragoza as Sokka and Dionne Quan as Toph successfully emulate their predecessors' performances. Steven Yeun stands out as Fire Lord Zuko, delivering both comedic and commanding moments.
Dave Bautista makes a strong impression as Tagah, bringing emotional depth to the ancient airbender, while Ken Jeong reprises his role as the perpetually unlucky cabbage merchant. Geraldine Viswanathan offers a sympathetic performance as Kallak, a member of The Denied. Taika Waititi's appearance in a spirit world scene feels shoehorned and serves primarily as a celebrity cameo. Dee Bradley Baker returns as Appa and Momo, the flying bison and lemur, delivering his usual professional performance.
While the visuals and action sequences are impressive, the narrative largely revolves around Aang's arc, with the rest of Team Avatar serving more as familiar presences than integral plot drivers. The plot twists are predictable, though the original series was not known for its surprise turns either.
Avatar Aang functions similarly to Dark Horse Comics' graphic novels, filling in story gaps rather than reinventing the mythology. It commendably avoids the prequel pitfalls that often plague such entries. While it includes subtle nods and explanations for elements in the sequel series, The Legend of Korra, the film does not feel like it's artificially guiding viewers toward that series; these connections are presented as a bonus.
Since Avatar Aang does not significantly push the franchise's narrative forward—that role will be filled by the upcoming Seven Havens TV series—its direct-to-streaming release is a missed opportunity for a communal viewing experience. The film still offers an emotional return for fans on the small screen and serves as a satisfying epilogue without detracting from the original series. However, its potential for a grander impact was hampered by Paramount's lack of confidence, a disservice to the ambition of this otherwise lovingly crafted movie.
