Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar

By Hetal Parikh

Avatar: The Last Airbender series was created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who served as executive producers along with Aaron Ehasz. The last Airbender is a film by M Night Shyamalan. It is based upon a famous animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Avatar is set in an Asian-influenced world of Chinese martial arts and elemental manipulation.

Each of the elements is associated with certain aspects. Water is associated with benevolence and adaptability. Earth is associated with strength and stability. Fire is associated with intensity and passion. And lastly air with peace and harmony. The series follows the adventures of the main protagonist Aang and his friends, who must save the world by defeating the evil Fire Lord and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation. It highlights the four elements air, water, earth and fire in the entire saga.

The martial art is the basis of "Airbending" in the series. Each fighting style represents the element it protected. Ba Gua uses dynamic circular movements and quick directional changes. This technique uses centripetal force to generate power, and uses nearly constant circular movement to create angles between the combatants. Hung Gar was chosen for its firmly rooted stances and powerful strikes to present the solid nature of earth. This martial art is the basis of "Earthbending" in the series. Northern Shaolin Kung Fu uses strong arm and leg movements. This technique is the foundation of "Firebending" in the series. Tai Chi focuses on alignment, body structure, breath, and visualization. This technique is the foundation of "Waterbending" in the series.

The plot of the film speaks of the Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. A century has passed with no hope in sight to change the path of destruction. Four nations tied by destiny when the Fire Nation launches a brutal war against the others. Aang teams with Katara a waterbender, and her brother, Sokka, to restore balance to their war-torn world. Caught between combat and courage, discovers he is the lone Avatar with the power to manipulate all four elements.

Like many of his films, even The Last Airbender is an adaptation. Shyamalan's film was shot in 2D but to add more thrill and excitement, the film was also made in 3D. His last work was The Happening. Apart from these two titles Shyamalan has many other films like The Sixth Sense, Lady In Water, The Village etc. to his credit.

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