"The Last Airbender," the latest film from the M. Night Shyamalan has stayed on trend, if the reviews are to be believed--namely that, after a brilliant start with "Sixth Sense," each film he makes is worse than the one before it. Among the choice descriptions of "Airbender" are "incomprehensible plot, laughable dialogue, and a joyless sense of detachment" (from the Rotten Tomatoes site).
Nonetheless, it took in something like $40 million on its first weekend, a very respectable showing. Some of those flocking to see it presumably are fans of the TV series. And there might be some die-hard fans of MNS left despite his last two or three films.
There has also been controversy over the casting of non-Asian actors in Asian roles although more than one critic has pointed out that the biggest handicap of young lead actor Noah Ringer isn't that he's not Asian, it's that he can't act.
In an interview with the Washington Post's Jen Chaney, Shyamalan said, "The thing that’s protected me creatively is that the movies have made profits. Basically all of them except one have made a lot of profit. That’s been a great source of protection for my creative side, which then protects the commerce."
I haven't seen "Airbender" and, based on the reviews, I'm not sure I want to give it two hours of my life, but if it continues to make money, we'll be seeing more movies (dead or alive) from MNS, including the rest of the planned "Airbender" triology.
Of course it isn't the first bad movie to make money and it won't be the last. But to consistently disappoint and still make money is a rare talent. What's the secret?
(There's more about screenwriting at my newest site, www.ScreenWritingSuccess.com)
