On M. Night Shyamalan And THE LAST AIRBENDER
I think it’s fair to say that this is the last hurrah for M. Night Shyamalan. Still coasting on the stunning success of The Sixth Sense, Shyamalan has spent the last decade producing a lethal string of films that would have killed the career of almost anyone else. I almost think the guy is utilizing some sort of Indian curse or incantation to prop up his flagging career.
How else would someone explain the enormous sum of money thrown at him to produce a big screen adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender? After The Lady In The Water and The Happening, I wouldn’t give Shyamalan a dollar bill to go ’round the corner and buy me a coffee. Even Hitchcock would have been tossed out on his fat ass had he defecated himself so publicly.
Although the film isn’t slated to hit theaters until this summer, test screenings are already taking place. This is probably due to nervous studio executives desperately trying to determine if Shyamalan has anything left in the financial tank. But two early reviews that have appeared on Aint It Cool News seem to leave everyone even more confused than before about this film.
Here’s the highest praise the positive review could muster:
Overall, I think they have a fun-to-watch summer movie here. I’d put it more on the Narnia level rather than the Lord of the Rings level, but still it has a nice feel to it and unlike most of the other test screenings I’ve been to, I’m actually really looking forward to watching this one again when released to see how it looks in the end, and hoping I am not as bothered by (Jackson) Rathbone then.
Meanwhile, the negative review is quite nasty:
This was some of the most wooden acting I’ve ever seen. The lead child actor was the main culprit and he seemed amateurish compared to some of the others, his two friends weren’t much better. Out of the adult actors, the guy who portrayed Commander Zhao should never be allowed to act again. His line reading was atrocious, especially when acting next to others such as Cliff Curtis (although he’s been better) and Dev Patel …There were also some weird scenes here and there interjected throughout the movie. An oddly miss-placed scene featuring a foot massage as well as some corny attempts setting up romances. One scene that I laughed at (but was intended to be serious) is when a certain baddy punches a fish to death. The horror the horror!
Meanwhile, to counter the negative word of mouth, Paramount is releasing their Super Bowl spot early. It’s an effective trailer full of interesting money shots. It also mimics the tone of the trailers for Clash of the Titans, which is unwelcome. The trailer is embedded after the jump:
[youtube n-sh82kWaEM]
So what do we say about M. Night Shyamalan and his prospects with this film?
I can tell you that I get a slight queasiness seeing Shyamalan listed as a writer for this film; I’m just not sure the guy can write something objectively anymore. There is a slight bit of hope that adapting someone else’s material will prevent him from indulging in the self-absorbed nonsense that has plagued his other films. Neither review seems to slam Shyamalan himself, so perhaps he will escape unscathed. We shall see.
I really hate to dog on Shyamalan, because I really think he is a visual stylist who knows how to build tension. But I haven’t really liked a film of his since Unbreakable, and even the last five minutes of that film made me angry. Almost every film since then has eroded my confidence in him even further; the “swing away at water glasses” bullshit in Signs, the substandard Twilight Zone crap in The Village, and on and on.
Can a children’s film really hope to help Shyamalan regain his touch?
12 Comments
Holy shit dude. That comment about using an “indian curse” is really offensive.
I’m cautiously optimistic about the film. I saw those 2 reviews and they are based on rough cuts and they are done by people who aren’t familiar with the source material so the guy who was overly critical seemed to me as a guy who simply didn’t understand the significance of the stuff he was “laughing” about (but I did because I watched the series).
The ad spot has me pumped and the fact that Night already has source material to work from has me pumped and the fact that he’s genuinely passionate about the film has me pumped.
It needs to be noted that Night asked Nick to make this because he fell in love with the show and not the other way around.
Secondly as far as being downright nasty about the “wooden acting”. . . the kid he’s flaming is literally 12 years old. I’m willing to cut Noah Ringer some slack. He’s also a black belt in Tae kwon do so there’s a good chance he could probably take 90% of his critics in a fight :)
@ Richard – I couldn’t tell. I’m white.
@ random guy – I hope you’re right. I’m sure Shyamalan does too, because he desperately needs a hit.
Seriously, I don’t agree with your post here about M. Night. I found Signs to be one of his better movies. And Unbreakable is one of my favorite movies of all time.
Sure, The Sixth Sense had the shocking twist at the end that the others have lacked, but each has told a great story. I have enjoyed all of his movies and eagerly await the next.
Movies reviews are always subjective and you are entitled to your opinion, but I think there are a lot of people out there who enjoy his work.
Looks like they’re still desperately trying to hide the racebending. :P
Up to and including THE VILLAGE, M. Night Shyamalan’s films have always been very watchable, with intelligent storylines and an attention to characterisation not always seen from Hollywood genre directors (recent examples AVATAR/TRANSFORMERS).
While I’m a big fan of blockbusting cut-explosion-cut-shoot-em-up-action films, I also enjoy the careful pace with which his movies deliver the action and drama.
THE SIXTH SENSE and THE VILLAGE were both fantastically realised movies with tremendous twist denouements.
It doesn’t always work – e.g. SIGNS where the ending was very difficult to believe. Likewise UNBREAKABLE, where a fantastic movie was thrown away suddenly – eschewing a face-off between the ‘enemies’ – for a wall of newspapers and title page pay-off. However, the journey to the end for both those movies was definitely worth the admission fee.
THE LADY AND THE WATER just didn’t work for me overall – despite the hangdog charm and world-weary despair of PAUL GIAMATTI. But it wasn’t for lack of ambition on the filmmaker’s part. I weirdly enjoyed watching it but all the while I kept thinking – WHO THE HELL IS THIS FILM AIMED AT?
THE HAPPENING. . . oh dear. You’re only as good as your last movie someone once said and this was dreadful. Just didn’t work at all.
Not sure about THE LAST AIRBENDER but perhaps it’s a filmmaker trying to secure a hit movie to get back on track to original, thoughtful genre movies he was making when his career began.
Ray,
I pretty much agree with your whole post, but I honestly thought The Happening was his last chance and if that failed, his career was done – but he has come out fighting, and got himself a big film deal. He’s not dead yet.
I’ve forever thought that Shyamalan had three great scripts/ideas in him, and after that doing the whole directing/producing/writing thing – it simply got too much for him, especially at how quickly he has been churning movies out.
I mean hell, even Quentin Tarantino had to take a big break between Jackie Brown and Kill Bill to let his mind work, and Paul Thomas Anderson doesn’t go from movie to movie. Shyamalan has desperately needed a break from his obsessive need to have control over everything.
I just wish he would direct someone elses script. Writing/Directing just became too much for him – and it shows in his rapidly weakening filmography.
To be completely honest, I like the trailer. IF nothing else, I know the special effects will rock. Looking at the reviews you put up there, the first reviewer calls it a “fun-to-watch summer movie.” That hardly a negative review and it’s more along the lines of what I’m expecting. The second reviewer is obviously a hater and he’s never seen the story.
I think this movie will do well. If they were making wagers in Las Vegas, I would put my money on this movie because judging all of the cynics on the other threads and websites, I stand a good chance of cleaning up. I would use that money to put a down payment on a new house.
This movie will be good. ILM is doing the effects. Frank Marshall is executive producer. Koneitzo and DiMartino are both on board. Quit whining already.
@ That Guy – I disagree. The first review is hardly a rave. Sure, “fun summer blockbuster” is a nice phrase, but then the reviewer turns around and downgrades it to Narnia level. The second review is pretty bad. I’m sure the film will make some money, and I’m sure that the effects will look nice. But this film will need to go a long way to achieve status among fanboys or cinephiles.
“@ Richard – I couldn’t tell. I’m white.”
Well I’m not and it’s disappointing to see it there.
“@ Richard – I couldn’t tell. I’m white.”
You’re compounding your error into something increasingly offensive.