Rated: PG

Release Date: 07/01/2010

Production Company: Paramount Pictures

Noah Ringer, Jackson Rathbone, Nicola Peltz, Jessica Jade Andres, Dev Patel, Cliff Curtis, Aasif Mandvi, Shaun Toub, Keong Sim and Seychelle Gabriel.

Director: M Night Shyamalan. Producers: M. Night Shyamalan, Frank Marshall, Jose L. Rodriguez, Sam Mercer, David Midgen and Scott Aversano. Executive Producers: Scott Aversano, Michael Dante DiMartino, Kathleen Kennedy and Bryan Konietzko. Screenwriter: M. Night Shyamalan. Cinematographer: Andrew Lesnie.

By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

Prior to viewing the live action feature film, "The Last Airbender," I made a point to watch a few episodes of the Nickelodeon animated TV series which the movie is based upon.

The cartoons are exciting, action packed, bursting with vibrant colors and just fun to watch. Sadly the same can't be said of this drab and dreary movie directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan.

Not enough things of importance happen in "The Last Airbender." Those that do seem to move at warp speed making the film and its stilted dialogue feel disjointed. The fact that it's in 3-D adds absolutely nothing to make it more enjoyable. Still, all this may not be problematic enough to keep die-hard "Airbender" fans away.

The story unfolds revealing that for a century, the Earth, Air and Water nations have been annihilated by armies of the Fire nation. There's only one person--the Avatar--who has the power and authority as the chosen one to restore peace and harmony.

But even the Avatar has his work cut out for him because the powerful Fire Nation has obliterated all the Airbenders. So when Water Tribe members Sokka (Jackson Rathbone) and his sister Katara (Nicola Peltz) rescue a 12-year old named Aang (Noah Ringer) from a frozen ocean they are stunned when they see that he has amazing powers and skills. Turns out he's the last Airbender. And they realize he could solve all their problems.

Aang certainly has the attention of Prince Zuko (Dev Patel, "Slumdog Millionaire"). Prince Zuko wants nothing more than to capture this young Avatar with hopes of winning over his demanding father, Fire Lord Ozai (Cliff Curtis," TV's "Trauma") in the process.

So now the chase is on. The problem is, it's just not a very exciting one.
With "The Last Airbender" it seems Shyamalan--whose last movies "The Happening" (2008) and "Lady in The Water" (2006)-- has squandered another golden opportunity here with his strange casting choices, stranger dialogue and rather lame action sequences.

The latter is most surprising especially since the movie costs nearly $150 million to make. Paramount pictures has also invested heavily in promoting "The Last Airbender," somewhere in the area of $130 million.

It may take an Airbender to help guide this movie through the box office this weekend, especially since it's likely to get eclipsed by a few werewolves and vampires.