The first teaser for M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender is live, and it seems to confirm a dirty little secret currently unfolding in the backwoods of Pennsylvania: Manoj is back! (I think.)
There's none of his trademark portentous dialogue here, which may yet emerge as clips and additional trailers surface in the year leading up to Airbender's summer 2010 release. Until then, take heart in the merely semi-portentous narration, introducing viewers to the young legend of the title -- not simply a myth, we're told, but perhaps "the chosen one who will bring balance to a world at war" (and probably sell a crapload of DVD's for the animated series on which the film is based). He's also super-conscientious about exercising and blowing out candles before bedtime, though judging from the worried, furrow-browed look on his face, he won't be getting much sleep in the days to come.
Leading man Dev Patel is also nowhere to be seen; Paramount relies instead on a total of two shots, including the nifty, dramatic conclusion that I suppose counts as the customary Manoj Twist™. I won't spoil it, but in no time flat, it's clear that he's already superseded killer plants as the mortal enemy of choice. Good on him, and to the extent you can, keep the faith for another 120 minutes as interesting as these.
VERDICT: Sold!