It has arrived.
After what feels like an actual age and a lot of drama Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender movie has finally been released.
Like all films, shows, and books I’m excited about I have purposely avoided consuming any content that reviews, analyses, and speculates on any aspect of the story line, plot, or even details of the animation style. I watched the trailer twice and I left it there.
I wanted my palate to be clean of any assumptions and expectations. All I did to prepare was re-watch the three seasons of the show. An absolute joy even if it’s the countless time I’ve binged the whole series.
All I knew before I started is that this film is set in the future, a few years after the end of the 100 year war and that Aang along with team Avatar find a frozen air bender in the ice. That’s it.
Other things I knew was that the film was Directed by Lauren Montgomery and co-directed by Steve Ahn and William Mata. It is a continuation of the series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The story concept and screenplay were by Kenneth Lin and Tim Hedrick along with Christopher Yost who also worked on the screenplay.
Staring in the film was Eric Nam as adult Aang, Jessica Matten as Katara, and Román Zaragoza as Sokka, all of them did a very believable job as adult versions of the characters, we all know so well.
The film was absolutely brilliant, delivering everything I wanted from what feels like the first true extension of Aang’s story on screen. As per usual, I was diligently writing notes while watching and honestly, my hand couldn’t keep up with my thoughts.
While you have my unfiltered thoughts as they came to while I was watching the film you can also listen (and now watch!) a full dedicated episode on The Voice Note where I deep dive into the plot, animation, and themes of the film.
One of my main take aways, it’s perhaps a criticism, of the film is two fold.
This film needed to be longer, one hour and 39 minutes, it was way too short. If The Odyssey was almost three hours then we deserved almost three hours of bending.
Second, and most frustrating, is that I wish we were able to experience this in the theatre as it deserved a cinematic experience.
Aside from these two points (and some very minor plot points) I loved every second, ever scene.
So here you go, my 104 unfiltered thoughts on one of the films of the year.
Enjoy
Wow, seriously the animation is stunning – from the first second of the first scene!
What a beautiful opening. Actually haunting. Beautiful and haunting. It’s cool to see how the Air Nomads lived in the temples.
Monk Gyatso:
“Aang, as an air bender it’s important that you know when to show restraint even if you have the power to win. You are the avatar. A lot of people are going to relay on you.”
That opening quote from Gyatso to Aang is basically the main theme of the film. Even in the series, the creators were always so good at setting the tone without being cheesy about it.
Aang as a young adult really feels like the Aang we knew from the show Opening a film with a dream can be tricky, overdone. It works here because it sets the emotional state that Aang is in. He is haunted by guilt and grief. This makes sense because the show Aang was too young to really process those feelings. He was also trying to master the elements and fight the Fire Lord. But now as a young adult with the war over he has time to think and reflect on his childhood.
Beautiful juxtaposition of the air temple in reality compared to his dream. It’s all in ruins now.
What lovely, layered idea that he is collecting relics from his people’s past while trying to reconcile his own past. How else can someone understand their own history if not by collecting it, curating it, and archiving it!
OK these guys are the Denied, anti benders I guess, similar those Equalists in Kora. They are probably the start of that movement. They are fighting with Aang and want one of the statue thingies he has.
The fighting scenes are very cool. Great action. Great cinematography.
Interesting to see that Aang, even as a young adult is still doing the restrain and avoid thing, he has always done as a young air bender. He wants to talk with them and only use his bending where necessary.
Good quote by one of the Denied:
“We’re done living in the world where benders have all the power and we have none.”
That is epic. Aang’s air bending powers have developed so much. He literally stopped the air temper tower from falling by getting into the avatar state, setting it back on its foundations.
I realised they were doing something incredible with the animation when Aang was talking to his past lives He’s exhausted from that though. Showing the there are limitations even to his powers.
This is cool. They did an opening sequence that recounts the original avatar story (the series) like an updated version of the opening credits. It’s so well done, concise, minimal and rich. This is really what I love about avatar. They always know how to use just enough dialogue and imagery to tell a beautiful story in a very simple and effortless way. They just took three seasons and put it into about 30 – 40 seconds.
It’s such a shame that this wasn’t showing in the cinema. I’m sure the atmosphere would’ve been incredible for a true avatar fans! I wonder how many times I’m going to think this.
So nice to see all old characters like the cabbage guy, the singing people hippies, and the foaming excited guy all in Republic city at the opening of Unity Tower.
Not surprised that Katara has a formal place in the government of Empire city. She was always very good in those spaces, not as a politician but someone who was making things happen from a community perspective.
Katara is healing Aang’s wounds and is worried that the Denied are ruthless enough that they don’t care about killing the Avatar. She seems more of worrier here.
They are showing us Aang’s scar on his back from Season Two when he was injured while he was in the avatar state. Second time they are weaving in this idea about the boundaries of power.
It’s so nice to see Aang and Katara as a couple. They still have the same dynamic they did as friends but its much deeper obviously.
Katara delivering a speech at the opening of Unity Tower is Katara The setting of Empire City is so picturesque, it’s set between two mountains in a river with the moon behind it. I don’t remember seeing it that way when I watched Kora.
Again, I’m astonished by the intensity of the animation here. Seeing Aang go into the avatar state to speak to his past lives, they animators really did a unique job in how they visualise the at imagery with fantasy in a very interesting way.
How cool is it that the avatar can just go into all his past life to seek information and advice. I guess this is how the Internet was supposed to work in a way – how wrong we were!
This is what animation should be like, 2D hand drawn that has some 3D elements that don’t take over the visuals. Computer generated animation has a way of spiralling out of control and distracting form the story, but not here, it’s helping tell the story.
Avatar Xian is so funny, freaking out about “people’s crusty cuticles” is hilarious to me.
This lost legend of Sonam, the forgotten Avatar is intriguing, so is the concept of her staff that can channel the energy of the sport world.
Why doesn’t Aang wake Katara and tell her he’s going to Mount Baihu? He leaves her a note and sends messages of the rest of team Avatar.
It seems too easy that the staff is there at Mount Baihu.
Tagah is the Air Nomad frozen in ice Aang’s letter to Zuko is so funny. It’s good to see that they’re including humour again into the film in a way that makes sense.
I’m surprised that the fire nation under Zuko is still very grand and formal. I suppose it suits the history of the fire nation. And to a degree Zuko’s personality.
I like this montage of seeing how and where they are all living now. Sokka in the Southern Water tribe teaching children about fighting and technology, Toph teaching earth benders how to metal bend, it makes sense.
The scale of the story and animation feels both epic and also intimate. I’m so annoyed. We couldn’t watch this in the cinema. What an experience it would’ve been. OK second time I mention this point.
Aang is climbing up Mount Baihu without Apa? It’s probably too dangerous with the snowstorm.
Again, they are showing us how much effort bending can be, it actually tires you. I guess Aang can’t just bend a giant rock to take him all the way up to the top. It actually takes physical effort to use bending powers.
That ice sphere is almost identical to the one he was in. Even the colour of light inside.
The music here is so good.
This scene was hilarious I’m surprised Aang doesn’t use all of his bending to do things. When he’s cracking open the big snow sphere that has a frozen man inside he doesn’t use fire, just air.
The guy has weird tattoos. He looks like an action figure.
Amazing scene as the mountain collapses on itself and Aang is carrying this frozen Air Nomad through the snow and bending at the same time.
Ah, the frozen Air Nomad can bend air. How did team Avatar find Appa?
There’s a good balance of fast paced action and epic moments with small quite moments of reflection, giving us a minute to take things in. It’s Hayao Miyazaki-esque.
So hang on, that man was keeping the whole mountain standing while he was frozen?? Ok why did I think he might be Sonam. No he’s someone else.
Hahaha the conversation on whether the frozen Air Nomad is attractive or not, is so funny.
You know what I find strange? Is that in a lot of fantasy and sci-fi, people from different times, realms and planets all some how understand each other, they all speak the same language. How is it that this guy can speak the same language they do?
The Avatar world does a great job at advancing technology along with bending So, I want to know how the Denied found out about Avatar Sonam, her staff and the map when it seems like no one in the world as well as most of the past avatars had any clue about it and her.
OK so this guy is called Tagah and he used to fight earth benders. Now it gets more interesting, he’s claiming the staff can give non benders the power to bend. He used to be a non-bender, but Sonam made him an air bender.
Obviously, Aang is ecstatic about his. I think he believes that by bringing back air bending to the world he will redeem himself of the guilt of running away and the grief of losing his people.
The Denied want that power too, to bend air?
Tagah is shocked by the air shop they are taking. I like the idea of showing how in this world, time has changed through machinery. So many fantasy stories don’t ever show the progression of time through technology.
It’s cool learning about Air Bending culture as they travel across the endless sea. Like how they can travel through air currents no one knows about and Tagah teaching Aang this new air bending technique, where they fly and use each other’s energies.
Zuko doesn’t have a strong presence in this so far. I get there are a lot of characters, but still… he’s an important character, he should at least one scene alone with Aang.
Red flag number one: Tagah is weird, his conversation with Aang about the fire nation is odd, and almost killing the Denied in their ship… he has a ruthless violent side. Yeah, he’s probably nuts.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Laputa Castle in the Sky The immortal storm reminds me of Laputa Castle in the Sky by Miyazaki.
The way they are weaving the tornadoes and air is so cool. It reminds you how much there’s endless potential for bending in this world with all the different elements.
I love how all of them are using their different skill sets to save the ship after its been show. From Sokka’s funny navigation to Toph metal bending. What’s great about the show and the film is that they’re always pushing the messaging that if we all work together, we can create good things.
But Aang isn’t with them he’s clearing the way with Tagah. I guess that’s his role always guiding the way, but he can also get lost, I think they are trying to convey if he follows Tagah’s path too deep.
Red Flag number two: Tagah is very manipulative, a bit of a politician. The way he diffuses the situation when Katara gets angry at Aang for putting them at risk. He puts the blame on himself they can keep going instead of turning back.
I never realized how important it is now to keep Aang alive in this world after the war is over. If he dies, the avatar cycle begins again and everything they have built could collapse.
Haha Toph is so funny. She has such a crush on Tagah.
Tagah is so weird. I bet Avatar Sonam put him in the ice because he was evil.
Aang in the Avatar state The Turtle Lion Islands are so beautiful.
Ah, the animation is beautiful. The way they use light actually is stunning. I’m looking at all the details like the rust and the paint chipping on the airships compared to the trees and Sokka’s clothes for example and there is so much depth.
How is it that this, an animated film, has better detail an nuance on a visual medium compared to Master of the Universe that I saw the other day that has terrible CGI which makes everything look bright and flat.
Oh wow, I love how Katara moves with water how she can use it as a way to travel, like surfing through the air.
Kitara is smart - she sussed out Tagah straight away.
Did he just kill everyone! I knew it! Ok maybe it was obvious, but still.
Tagah to Aang, “You’re a traitor to your own just like Sonam.” I knew it, I knew she put him in there cause was evil!
What an incredible fighting scene between him and Aang and I like how through the use of colour the staff is a tool that can be used for good or evil, depending on who is wielding it. Tangah holds it and it’s now red, such a bright gross red.
This was an amazing scene - Aang finding Avatar Sonum’s staff Wait, did he kill Aang in the avatar state?
Omg he stole Appa!
You know what I love about this film so far? It shows you how everybody is capable of evil. The Air Nomads are supposed to be peaceful and enlightened. But power is so seductive and can destroy you doesn’t matter what culture you come from. That on its own is a great lesson from this film
I don’t like Aang feeling sorry for himself. This is like the third or fourth time he feels sorry for himself in the film. Where is he? It’s all black.
Oh he’s with Sonam now?! She’s beautiful.
Sonam’s storytelling is also a stunning bit of animation, different to the rest of the film. It feels like a storybook. It could’ve have gone more minimal and less colour and more lines but is still stunning.
This is good story telling. The fact that Katara was able to heal everyone through water bending because the water here is different due to the island’s strong spiritual energy makes sense, it doesn’t feel like a convenient. Everything is woven into the natural ecosystem and the ruled of this world from the series. Not always an easy thing to do!
I’m really glad that they are all there for Aang and aren’t blaming him for his mistake because he already feels bad enough for himself. It’s sad because he didn’t see the red flags because he just wanted to connect with is culture and past and Taga represented that.
Avatar Sonum is stunning So clever bringing up the ocean sprit to travel to the Spirit world. Throw back to season one!
Loved this bit of dialogue:
Aang: I’m sorry. I know I got us into this, but I promise I’ll fix it.
Katara: we’ll fix it together
And then they all jump into the portal to the spirit world. This is what this show is about. This is the messaging from episode one season one all the way through to this film. It’s really about unity, working together, and friendship, most of all.
It’s so funny seeing them all in the spirit world in different phases of life teenagers, babies, old people. I wonder if it says something about who they really are. Very clever to connect that to the fact that the spirit world is out of balance because of Tagah.
Wait. Where is Iroh? I hope he’s not dead!
The hog spirt thing is so funny is giving me Robin Williams as the Genie in Aladdin vibes. Oh, I just googled him, it’s Taika Waititi. Yikes.
Another bit of good dialogue:
Aang: this isn’t the way. We can use the staff to bring back balance, peace.
Taga: you care so much about your ideals that you’d let your people die! I will do anything to make sure they survive!
Team Avatar! My cabbage guy is so funny even in the movie. I love how they did that.
What the show used to do so well that used to annoy me at first, but I ended up really liking is having showing multiple scenes of action at the same time in different places. In this fight in Aang is fighting Tagah and the avatar team are fighting everybody else in the public city. The animators have balanced it really well. The switching in all these scenes feels very cohesive and still there’s room for storytelling, humour, tension, suspense.
I swear I just can’t get over how beautiful the animation is. I want to rewind to enjoy it.
I think the monster that Tagah becomes a little bit too comical or cartoonish? He could have been more dark to really reflect the grief and vengeance inside him.
I’m really wondering, what is going to happen here to resolve this now that Aang has the staff and he’s turning into a monster himself.
So, in the end of season three Aang took bending away from the Fire Lord, he can’t do that now. I remember also how Katara was always the one who would bring him back from the edge of rage and madness in the avatar state. Both of these could work here, but it would feel like a repeat a cliché.
The memory or fantasy he’s living as a child is such a welcoming visual juxtaposition compared to the darkness of the fight he’s in now.
Wasn’t a huge fan of Tana’s monster state animation The shot of Monk Gyatso’s hand on Aang’s head is so touching.
Amazing quote:
Monk Gyatso:
“Aang. You will do so many great things as the avatar. But you must be prepared to do what frightens you the most. Your people, your home, we are always with you.”
Breaking the stuff is so clever and unexpected but also makes complete sense. It also shows Aang doing the greater good putting his own desires aside for the balance of the world. He knows that no matter what good the staff can bring, the chaos and darkness it could potentially bring wouldn’t make it worth it.
Wow:
Aang: we can’t erase the pain of the past. We couldn’t save them.
Tagah: but it’s our duty to protect our people
Aang: not at the cost of the train everything they stood for. It’s time to let go. You have to forgive yourself. I have to forgive myself too.
Aang: We walk the world for a moment in time. Then we return to the eternal wind.
That was so emotional.
This is really a story of reconciling with his own grief, his past mistakes and trying to come to terms with who he is as an avatar and who he could’ve been. It’s a story about what grief can do to you. It can turn you into somebody who’s hateful and wants revenge and destruction or someone who is sensitive and wants to make the word a better place. But it’s interesting here with angry well in with guilt.
Katara flying down to Aang and they are hugging mid-air; it reminds me of Spirited Away. I see so much of Miyazaki’s influence not only in the animation style in the images, but also in the pacifist messaging.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away I wish there was a bit more humour in this film. I get it it’s a heavy topic but I feel like Sokka is doing all the comedic stuff, it’s a lot on one character when all of them have potential to be funny.
Haha OK Toph too, “I’m done with bad boys.”
It’s a way to tie things up with Aang speaking so Sonam and telling her about the Air Nomad values living on. She is now free of her shame and its cool to see her join the other past avatars.
Again we are back at the beginning almost, with Aang this time not alone but with acolytes all of them searching and archiving Air Nomad relics. That’s a great character arc, Aang was alone, or felt alone and haunted at the beginning but is now free and with his friends and people who believe in his new mission.
A brilliant film that was too short And finding sky bisons! It’s a great symbol of hope for Aang, what a great ending!
I can’t believe this wasn’t at the cinema.
