Monday, December 14, 2009

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ an exceptional epic

(Published Dec. 13, PDI-Entertainment)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Contributor

“Avatar: The Last Airbender,” an acclaimed animated series about an elemental boy’s quest to end a devastating war, ran for three seasons on Nickelodeon. The hit show is being translated into a live-action movie directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan, scheduled for a July 2010 release (not related to James Cameron’s “Avatar” film). The simplification of the mythology and other changes are inevitable--some fans are already complaining about casting choices for non-white roles. But regardless of how the movie turns out, the series is still an excellent program that the uninitiated should watch.

Created by Americans Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino, “Avatar” has visuals influenced by Asian culture and myths, and some of its characters have beliefs inspired by Eastern philosophies. The show looks and feels like a typical anime, fast-paced yet accessible, its heroes mostly agile or well-versed in combat.

The titular character is Aang, a boy with air-manipulating powers, raised by vegetarian monks and is the latest manifestation of the multi-powered Avatar. Hunted by the conquering forces of the Fire Nation, Avatar Aang befriends two teen siblings from the Water Tribe, Katara and Sokka. Together, they search for elemental masters who can teach Aang control over water, earth and fire.

Interestingly, the heroes discover different cultures that they learn from, and ultimately affect. Their journeys bring them to unfamiliar territories, where clans, tribes, or certain characters wear clothes that are heavily patterned after ancient Japanese, Chinese, South American, or Indian garb. The disparate-looking people help provide a bigger view of this unique world, where super-abilities are normal.

One of Avatar Aang’s most formidable adversaries is the conflicted Zuko, exiled prince of the Fire Nation. The character has a more complicated backstory -- he’s an angry warrior trying to win back his father’s respect. The guy really has issues, but he keeps things from becoming dull.

The young characters grow up and learn about sacrifice and failure during wartime. Early on, the series wins the viewer over: Dramatic transformations and epiphanies, spiritual and philosophical insights, and epic clashes make “Avatar” a truly taut, memorable, and remarkable show.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” airs on Nickelodeon (5:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays). A version dubbed in Tagalog airs on TV 5 (5:30 pm. on weekdays).

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