Last Airbender, The (3D)

Stars: Noah Ringer, Dev Patel, Jackson Rathbone, Nicola Peltz, Cliff Curtis, Shaun Toub, Katharine Houghton, Aasif Mandvi, Seychelle Gabriel

Director: M Night Shyamalan

There are lots and lots and lots of special effects, but absolutely no audience involvement in this stagnant fantasy about polar dwellers of the future who can bend earth, fire, air and water to their wills.

The last airbender has to take on the might of the fire people, but few will wonder why and fewer still will care, especially in view of soggy visuals and a below-par cast, of whom Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel is virtually the only recognisable name.

The effects of bent water, air and fire go on and on, as does, unfortunately, the film, to which the 3D adds little, if any impact. Developments in the 'plot' are as lackadaisical as they are ridiculous, and neither the story nor its characters ever really takes form.

David Quinlan

USA 2010. UK Distributor: Paramount. Technicolor.
102 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 08 Aug 2010