Critic Reviews
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Kids can forgive a lot and the sometimes-shaky effects work won’t detract from the story. But adults coming to this “Avatar” might be disappointed. From the performances (occasionally stunted and wooden young actors) to the general gee-whiz tone, “Avatar” is an OK but not amazing adaptation.
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As these things go, 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. 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.
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Comparisons aside, the series proves a decent fantasy entry, setting up a compelling showdown between Aang and his allies against the fearsome Fire Nation.
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What weakens the show can be improved on. Longer seasons could help in the future, but what might help Avatar: The Last Airbender more is if the producers are not so precious with the source material.
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It’s solid entertainment: fast-moving, action-packed, with decent fight scenes and some appealing performances, all done on a generous Netflix budget. Don’t expect subtlety – this is aimed at children so the characters and plot are broadly drawn.
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The wealth of accessorizing that went into recreating “Avatar: The Last Airbender” isn’t the issue – it’s what’s missing, which is some of its spirit. That doesn’t mean it’s not watchable, but the amount of compromising between meeting high expectations and clearing the lowest of low bars is a ballast that would hinder any mission.
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It’s an earnest and admirable attempt to reignite the original’s magic.
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Avatar: The Last Airbender tries so hard to heft the weight of its legacy that it ends up sweating bullets.
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Rather than offer a bold take on this material to excite a new generation, the creative team opted instead to go through the motions, spending millions to recreate something that already exists and which will satisfy neither fans old nor new.
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This adaptation is caught between impulses: it trusts its audience less than a children’s show did, while trying to be ‘The Last Airbender for grown-ups’. Some canny casting choices can’t rescue the show from uninspiring craft and tonal confusion.
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Even at its best, the show just serves as a reminder that a much better "Avatar" already exists.
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Netflix gets the look and action right in a lavish series based on the Nickelodeon show, but too-elemental dialogue and uneven performances make this eight-episode sit a bit of a grind for anyone who has gotten past puberty.
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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.