Aang film review declares it the true heir to the original series
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Polygon has published a positive review of "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender," declaring it the first worthy successor to the original 2005–2008 animated series after nearly two decades of disappointing follow-ups, including a widely panned 2010 live-action film and a Netflix adaptation criticised for lacking the charm of the source material. Director Lauren Montgomery, who worked on the original Avatar, The Legend of Korra and acclaimed DC animated films, gives the movie a tone the reviewer likens to a Superman story, positioning Aang as a lone survivor of a lost culture confronting a formidable new adversary.
The film opens with a flashback to a young Aang and his mentor Monk Gyatso before shifting to an adult Aang still burdened by unresolved trauma from surviving genocide, with the plot centring on his pursuit of a group called the Denied after they steal a recovered Air Nomad artefact. Old friends Sokka and Fire Lord Zuko feature in smaller subplots that show how the characters have matured, while the review singles out Dave Bautista's performance as Tagah, an ancient airbender compared to Superman villain General Zod, as a standout element that gives Aang a genuinely formidable antagonist.
- Polygon review praises "Avatar Aang" as the series' true successor
- Director Lauren Montgomery brings Superman-esque tone to the film
- Dave Bautista's villain Tagah likened to General Zod
New here? Start with this
Avatar: The Last Airbender began as an animated series that ran from 2005 to 2008, following Aang, a young "airbender" and last survivor of a wiped-out people called the Air Nomads, as he trains to master different elemental powers and stop a war. The show is widely loved, but attempts to follow it up have struggled: a 2010 live-action film was heavily criticised, and a more recent Netflix series was seen as missing the charm of the original. A new film, "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender," is the latest attempt to continue the story on screen.
The new film is directed by Lauren Montgomery, who previously worked on the original animated series, its sequel Legend of Korra, and several DC superhero animated films. It picks up with Aang as an adult still dealing with the trauma of having survived the destruction of his people, and follows him as he pursues a group called the Denied after they steal an important cultural artefact. Familiar characters Sokka and Fire Lord Zuko also appear, alongside actor Dave Bautista as a powerful new antagonist named Tagah.
The film matters to fans because it is being judged against nearly two decades of follow-ups that failed to recapture what made the original series work, making this the latest test of whether the franchise can be successfully continued.
More coverage
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Polygon as “Avatar Aang The Airbender Review: The original series finally has a worthy successor”.