The Last Air Bender (2010; Genre: adventure, family, fantasy) Rating : 1 / 5 "What the. . ."

Studio                       Nickelodeon Movies


Distributed by          Paramount Pictures


A film by                   M. Night Shyamalan


Release date            30 June 2010  


Running time            103 minutes


Language                  English


Starring                     Noah Ringer
                                  Nicola Peltz
                                                                                               Jackson Rathbone
                                                                                                  Dev Patel

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Quick Synopsis
Four nations "Air, Water, Fire and Earth" is living in peace until Fire nation started the war. It is the job of Avatar to keep the nations in balance and peace, however, when the Avatar is needed, he disappeared. 100 years later the Avatar "Aang" is found by Katara and his brother. Aang soon discovers that he has been trapped under water for a century. Realizing that it is he is responsible in keeping the world balance again, Aang has to learn how to bend the three other elements "Water, Fire and Earth".

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Review

It is sad just looking at the cast but it get even sadder watching the whole movie ruined by incompetent blunt action sequences with a big failure character execution and bad casting. For anime fans, this is the biggest disappointment of anime adaptation this year. Mr Night just getting worse since the master piece of Sixth Sense. Unbelievably, the cast just can't even pronounce the main character right. It should be "Aang" not "Oong". 

The special effects is okay but the action shooting technic is a big throw down for the movie. Moreover, the storyline is rushed thus neglecting the most important part of the anime which is the character building of Aang that is developing it from ordinary child to an avatar. Well, come on Mr. Night. This is what the fans is looking for, the great story of the Aang adventure, not the special effects. 

On the other side, the casting seems like a eeny, mini, miney, moo picking. From the picture at the left side, you can see what's wrong with it. Personally, I quite agree with the Aang casting but the rest of the character is just super dumb. Especially the fire bender cast, Prince Zuko should be tough with a deep voice character but turns out in the movie, Zuko just another teen with soft voice which like to nag around. Well, I guess its the story line fault "lacks of character building" which makes Zuko looks like a pampered prince. 

Here is the video of fans voicing their disappointment :

On the bright side, you have to give a praise for this Noah Ringer acting as Aang. Noah did a good job for his first acting career rather than the other casts. If I may say, its the lack of character building which makes Noah executed the Aang character badly. If Mr. Night just put a bit more attention on Aang character development, the movie might turns out to be a bit better. 

Overall, there is a little chance for the sequel of this movie. 

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Trailer

The Karate Kid (2010; Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport) Rating: 4 / 5 "Watch it or regret it"

The new karate kid is "the modern" version of the previous original version or in other words, Karate Kid is both interesting for young and adult to enjoy. Still keeping the original plot, Karate Kid bring the audience to a new level of story telling. Unlike, the original version that is enjoyable to many age, the new karate kid has the dark side of the story so do a bit violence for children under 10 to watch. Like in Australia, many critics claim that the movie is too violence for children. Well, I admit it in some part of the scene where the kid brutally beaten by his peers but then I would say screw the critics!!!.

Who is in "The Karate Kid"?

Jackie Chan as Mr. Han

Jackie Chan has been acting as good police in Police Story, the best detectives in Rush Hour and Luckiest spy in Tuxedo. Now, Jackie is back not to kick some a** but to teach how to kick some a** in the New Karate Kid. Jackie Chan executed his character "Mr.Han" very well and as usual, Jackie fighting choreography is interestingly fun and appealing to watch and I would love repeat the fighting scene until I am sick of it. 'The spy next door' might let you down, but you will definitely love this movie.

Jaden Smith as Dre Parker

You might have seen this great young actor in pursuit of happiness. His great acting skill is unquestionable, guess it is inherited from his father "Will Smith". Haven't seen him in any fighting movie, Jaden Smith surely surprises his audience with his kung fu skill in this karate kid.

The movie begins with Parker family moving to China in looking for a better life. Like any other foreign kids, Dre is a subject of inevitable bullying at school. One day, Dre faith brings him to a fighting tournament where Jackie is the one who is going to train Dre Parker from zero to a tremendous kungfu fighter.

Still keeping the original plot, the new karate kid is enjoyable to watch with a greater level of story telling. Unlike, classic karate kid, this remake include the dark element which makes the story much more interesting for today tastes. I would love the story dragged a bit longer, but unfortunately it has already running for 140 mins which kinda long for this movie genre. Well, this movie is a "spot on" for my entertainment this week.