'The Last Airbender' is based on the animated series 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' and has a built-in audience ready to fall in love.  This was a primary factor in Paramount and Nickelodeon’s decision to hire M. Night Shyamalan to write, produce and direct what they believe to be a three-film powerhouse franchise.

The movie also has a bonafide controversy enveloping it, acting as free publicity that a movie cannot buy.  M. Night Shyamalan and studio backers Paramount and Nickelodeon Movies are probably happy about the turmoil surrounding 'The Last Airbender' and the controversial casting choices that were made. 

The controversy, which centers around the film casting Caucasian kids (if you can call 26-year-old Jackson Rathbone a kid) in the previously Asian kids’ roles, has added a buzz that the film otherwise might not have had as well as taken away from the glaring fact that, 'The Last Airbender' isn’t very good.  Apparently a $150 million budget (and $130 million for marketing) doesn’t necessarily buy a good script these days.  

The fact that the studios want this franchise to be a money-making juggernaut for years to come is what makes the end result so puzzling.  Shyamalan did a less-than-stellar job of character development in this first installment.  There is absolutely no reason to identify with these characters, let alone fall in love with them.

Shyamalan bragged in circuit interviews about how he took out the slapstick elements that appealed to younger children.  What he didn’t brag about was the fact that he took out the slapstick without adding any funny moments or quality character developments of his own. 

Besides the pathetic adaptation and the overall mismanagement of the opening installment, the most stunning letdown regarding 'Airbender' is that the visuals are disappointing - ocean scene at the end not withstanding.

The bread-and-butter of this series had to be the visual effects, but even they leave much to be desired. The stunts don’t seem risky; the fighting sequences are bland; and there are absolutely no “whoa” moments to knock the audience on their heels.     

Not to be outdone by the terrible writing, producing and disappointing visuals, the acting also leaves a lot to be desired.  With the exception of Noah Ringer as Aang, who is sufficiently believable as the omnipotent Avatar, there is no proof, via acting, that Shyamalan’s casting of white actors in the lead roles was even necessary. 

Jackson Rathbone is absolutely “Blah” in his turn as Sokka.  It appears that he is there for no other reasons than to be terrible; to bring in the Twilight audience; and to enable the film to develop a love story between Sokka and starlet-in-training Seychelle Gabriel, who is stunning yet barely present, in her role as Princess Yue.

Nicola Peltz also does nothing for the film and does not hold her own as waterbender Katara.  While her looks and acting skills may carry this franchise in the future, she was hardly a force to be reckoned with in this film.  Shyamalan told People magazine that he did not want to make 'Airbender' without Peltz, a verbal compliment he says he has only used on Haley Joel Osment’s critically acclaimed casting turn in 'The Sixth Sense.' 

Paramount and Nickelodeon Movies should’ve used that stance as a way to cast Shyamalan into oblivion and save 'The Last Airbender' from its current and self inflicted state of mediocrity.