M. Night Shyamalan ‘Felt So Empty’ Making The Last Airbender and After Earth

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As a gamer with a deep appreciation for the art of filmmaking, I have been following M. Night Shyamalan’s career with great interest. His early works, such as The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, left me utterly captivated and inspired. However, his later movies like The Last Airbender and After Earth left me feeling empty, much like how I imagine Shyamalan felt while making them.

M. Night Shyamalan says he “felt so empty” making The Last Airbender and After Earth.

1. M. Night Shyamalan initially rose to fame as a director, creating films such as The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable (2000), and Signs (2002). Before those, he directed Praying with Anger in 1992 and Wide Awake in 1998.

2004 saw the release of “The Village,” and in 2006, he presented “Lady in the Water.” However, these films did not garner the same positive response as his earlier works.

2024 finds me reminiscing about my cinematic journey, and if given the chance to revisit the enchanting world of The Village, I’d embrace it wholeheartedly. Reflecting on Lady in the Water, a film close to my heart, I can honestly say that there’s not much I’d alter about this masterpiece.

What did M. Night Shyamalan say about The Last Airbender and After Earth?

Subsequently, Shyamalan produced “The Happening” in 2008, “The Last Airbender” in 2010, and “After Earth” in 2013. Critics and audiences universally panned these films.

Shyamalan described to The Atlantic that during the production of The Last Airbender and After Earth, he functioned as a “for-hire director.” This implies that instead of developing his own concepts, he was brought in to oversee projects based on other people’s plans.

“I’m so bad at that,” Shyamalan said. “I’m so bad at it, and I felt so empty.”

After the release of those movies, I, as a passionate gamer and film lover, was thrilled to see Shyamalan bounce back with “The Visit” in 2015. This film earned generally positive feedback from critics and audiences, putting him back in the spotlight. Following that success, he continued his directorial journey with “Split” in 2016, “Glass” in 2019, “Old” in 2021, and most recently “Knock at the Cabin” in 2023. Some of these films struck a chord with viewers more than others, but all managed to find an audience.

In August 2, 2024 US theaters, Josh Hartnett stars as the notorious “Butcher” serial killer in the upcoming film “Trap.” During this movie, he brings his younger daughter, portrayed by Ariel Donoghue, to what seems like a regular pop concert. However, it’s later revealed that the entire event is a clever ruse orchestrated by the police, with the intention of capturing him.

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2024-07-30 20:40