DVD Review: Avatar Season 3 Vol. 4
Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko's Series for Nickelodeon
Quite often, the climax of a series or a movie is a major let-down. That final confrontation just isn't as cool as you were hoping for, or the creators' imaginations hit the wall when it comes time to bring all the plot threads together.
That's definitely not the case with Season 3, Volume 4 of Avatar: The Last Airbender which wraps things up in fine style. Creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are to be commended for maintaining the strength of this series throughout its 3-year run. Unlike many 'family-oriented' programs that entertain no one, Avatar managed to have something for the whole family: slapstick comedy for the kiddies, high-flying martial arts action for the teens, and intricate plots, plus Oriental philosophy, for the grownups.
What Happens in This DVD?
Anyone who wants to know the background of Avatar: The Last Airbender can check out this previous review, which covered the events just prior before this series.
Knowing that Sozin's Comet is coming and that every Firebender will have increased power thanks to its influence, Fire Lord Ozai (Mark Hamill) decides to completely raze the Earth Kingdom, burning the entire continent to cinders. In order to assert his dominance over the whole world, he also crowns himself the Phoenix King and makes his daughter Azula (Grey DeLisle) Fire Lord in his stead.
Meanwhile, Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) wrestles with the fact that he must stop Ozai, but doesn't know how to do so without killing him. Due to his upbringing at the Southern Air Temple, he has an ingrained respect for all life, and doesn't want to kill anyone, even someone as ruthless as the Fire Lord. Aang also grapples with the strength of his feelings towards Katara (Mae Whitman).
Without giving away any spoilers, a large part of what makes this DVD so special is how Aang manages to achieve his goals without betraying his basic principles. Oh, and the fight scenes rock.
Avatar's Future?
DiMartino and Konietzko have said that, despite this arc wrapping up, that they still want to tell more stories in the Avatar universe.
I’m not going to say anything (about a new series)," DiMartino told Newsarama in October of 2007. "We’re still in the very early stages of development and ideas are very fluid at this point, but we’re still excited about the Avatar world and have other stories we want to tell within it."
There's also a proposed live-action trilogy, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, with the first film set for release on July 2, 2010. Despite Shyamalan's recent record of movies (The Happening, anyone?), DiMartino and Konietzko say they're thrilled that he's working on a live-action Avatar. Due to a conflict with James Cameron's 2009 film of the same name, this movie will be simply called The Last Airbender.
"The movie is in the earliest stages, so it is too soon to comment on exactly what we will be doing," Bryan Konietzko told Sci-Fi Wire in March of 2007. "However, Mike and I have met with Night and, on top of really admiring his craft, he is a great guy who really respects the material. It means a lot to us that he personally chose to do this project, and we look forward to helping him in any way."
The Final Analysis
Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko have handled Avatar: The Last Airbender brilliantly, creating a series that functioned well throughout its run, and wrapping it up before it jumped the shark. Much like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, DiMartino and Konietzko stuck to their original vision despite Avatar's runaway success, and it's all the better for it. Book 3 Volume 4 is highly recommended, as is every single one of the Avatar: The Last Airbender DVDs. It gets a 9/10.
