What Lasting AirBender things did you learn??

[Moca Java]

Don't kill the Avatar, he'll just be reborn again; which explains why the Fire Nation killed all the Airbenders in an attempt to kill this same guy 100 years ago...

Wait what? 

...I didn't think of that when I was watching it. 

To be honest the movie wasn't nearly as bad as I expected it to be. It wasn't good, but it wasn't horrible either. Or maybe because the first time I ever saw it was while watching the riff rose colored things for me. I guess I should try watching it without the riff too.

[RVR II]

I learned that Water and Earth can block Fire..
Oh Hell, Who Am I Kidding.. I KNEW THIS ALREADY!!

[Tony Farms AKA Puma Man]

I can't figure out how the Fire nation got all uppity and took over when:

1)  they cannot create fire, only control it
2) Earth blocks fire
3) Water douses fire
4) Wind put out fire

Only some vague notion of their 'machines' seems to explain how everyone got their asses kicked by these guys.

[Scribblesense]

I can't figure out how the Fire nation got all uppity and took over when:

1)  they cannot create fire, only control it
2) Earth blocks fire
3) Water douses fire
4) Wind put out fire

Only some vague notion of their 'machines' seems to explain how everyone got their asses kicked by these guys.

The most well-trained Firebenders can in fact generate fire.

Also, 100 years ago when the Fire Nation destroyed the Air Nomads, they had the help of the Great Comet (later named Sozin's Comet after the Fire Lord at the time, Sozin) which passes their world every 100 years. It greatly enhances the powers of any and all Firebenders, allowing even the weakest to generate flame and the strongest to make the Human Torch look like a huge pussy. I believe Sozin's comet is mentioned in the final scenes of the movie. Also! Some Firebenders can generate Lightning, and we all know shooting Lightning from your hands makes you an evil unstoppable badass.

It should also be noted that the Fire Nation doesn't control the entire world - they exterminated the Air Nation and conquered large but insignificant parts of the Earth Nation, but were unable to conquer large cities. But yes, they are the most technologically advanced nation, and that does make a huge difference in any war. Especially when your two main enemies primarily use large rocks and squirt guns.

Alright, I'm done nerding out.

[CJones]

I can't figure out how the Fire nation got all uppity and took over when:

1)  they cannot create fire, only control it
2) Earth blocks fire
3) Water douses fire
4) Wind put out fire

Only some vague notion of their 'machines' seems to explain how everyone got their asses kicked by these guys.

The most well-trained Firebenders can in fact generate fire.

This was actually something I preferred about the movie. In the movie they make a big deal about being able to create fire from nothing (or from chi or whatever). Only Iroh ever does it, and he only does it once. And yes, they do mention in the movie that the comet will allow any of them to do it. In the cartoon (I've only seen the first season), all the major Fire characters can just shoot fire from their hands and feet whenever they want. Yes it makes them more menacing, but it seems like they're not so much "bending" their element as just shooting fireballs.

[spaceforarent]

Don't kill the Avatar, he'll just be reborn again; which explains why the Fire Nation killed all the Airbenders in an attempt to kill this same guy 100 years ago...

Wait what? 

I haven't seen the movie or show, so this is pure speculation, but maybe the reason for the killing of all the Airbenders was to single the Avatar out?

I don't know what an "Avatar" is, but is there any specific way to tell who is one?

[RVR II]

Don't kill the Avatar, he'll just be reborn again; which explains why the Fire Nation killed all the Airbenders in an attempt to kill this same guy 100 years ago...

Wait what? 

I haven't seen the movie or show, so this is pure speculation, but maybe the reason for the killing of all the Airbenders was to single the Avatar out?

I don't know what an "Avatar" is, but is there any specific way to tell who is one?

I thought they were blue humanoid things being exterminated a couple riffs back but now I have no clue

[Danecho1967]

I don't know what an "Avatar" is, but is there any specific way to tell who is one?
[/quote]

The big flippin' arrow on his forehead?

[Compound]

I don't know what an "Avatar" is, but is there any specific way to tell who is one?

Yeah, he tends to talk to Lord British a lot. Plus he usually has an Ankh somewhere on him.

[Scribblesense]

The big flippin' arrow on his forehead?

Those are Airbender tattoos, not Avatar tattoos.

They know which nation the Avatar is going to be born into, and know that the Avatar will be born within a week of the previous Avatar's death. They have certain tests to determine the identity of the Avatar, and are usually administered early in life.

As we saw in the movie, a test is performed on Aang to determine if he is the Avatar or not. Other than that, there is no way to tell an Avatar from any other person.

I would guess that the Fire Nation destroyed the Air Nomads to prevent the Avatar from fully maturing into his power, and delaying his return, giving them another twenty years or so to burn puppies and commit genocide and whatnot. Also, not killing Aang would have been in their best interest as well, because imprisoning him would have ensured he could not learn to bend the other elements. Keep your enemies close and whatnot.

[Bob]

Never saw the cartoon and have not seen the movie yet, but reading people describe the characters and plot of this movie it sound really, really, freaking stupid.   Then again, I do not like the Harry Potter movies, so maybe that kind of science fiction is not for me.

[RVR II]

Never saw the cartoon and have not seen the movie yet, but reading people describe the characters and plot of this movie it sound really, really, freaking stupid.   Then again, I do not like the Harry Potter movies, so maybe that kind of science fiction is not for me.

Don't be Skeered!

[Scribblesense]

Never saw the cartoon and have not seen the movie yet, but reading people describe the characters and plot of this movie it sound really, really, freaking stupid.   Then again, I do not like the Harry Potter movies, so maybe that kind of science fiction is not for me.

It's an anime-inspired magic kung-fu cartoon that advertisers use to sell sugary cereal and Floam.

It certainly ain't Shakespeare.

[Rococo]

Or not. I still stand by my assessment that while the film isn't great, it's nowhere near as bad as people made it out to be.

The same could be said of most movies to be popularly recognized as awful. Bad movies set off an arms race for critics as they try to one-up each in scathing hyperbole. Ebert won it this time: "The Last Airbender is an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented." Cue the backlash to the backlash: "Hey, this movie wasn't agonizing in every category. I mean, the backdrops and establishing shots were pretty nice." Not incorrect, but sort of missing the point.

My own assessment is that The Last Airbender has possibly the worst script ever committed to a big budget production.

[JWhite]

I can't figure out how the Fire nation got all uppity and took over when:

1)  they cannot create fire, only control it
2) Earth blocks fire
3) Water douses fire
4) Wind put out fire

Only some vague notion of their 'machines' seems to explain how everyone got their asses kicked by these guys.

The cartoon also makes it more balanced and sense, something this movie fails at. At no time did I feel like the Fire Nation was to be feared or powerful. They were as about as threatening as Yemen. 
The most well-trained Firebenders can in fact generate fire.

This was actually something I preferred about the movie. In the movie they make a big deal about being able to create fire from nothing (or from chi or whatever). Only Iroh ever does it, and he only does it once. And yes, they do mention in the movie that the comet will allow any of them to do it. In the cartoon (I've only seen the first season), all the major Fire characters can just shoot fire from their hands and feet whenever they want. Yes it makes them more menacing, but it seems like they're not so much "bending" their element as just shooting fireballs.