The Last Airbender

[Relinquished Reality]

The Last Airbender

So I, as an avatar fan, went to watch the last airbender movie with a young 9 year old today. Well, I was not expecting the movie to only cover the first chapter of the TV series, but that was a bad expectation. I dont know how i expected them to make a move less than two hours cover 3 seasons of a cartoon series. I was disappointed, but that was just because i was being stupid in that aspect,
lol.

But overall, Id have to rate the movie pretty low. It was mainly aimed for young kids who were fans of the avatar series, but at the same time, the dialog was aimed for kids probably the age of 4. Poor dialog, along with the directors thought that the viewer had the incapability to take in the action scenes so they had a lot of slow motion scenes and few things happening at a time.

The first book (water) is covered in this film. The 3 books that are coved in the animated television series are water, earth, then fire. Water is the beginning chapter, it shows us who the characters are, the struggles, and the main points within the series. The 2nd book (earth) is the build up chapter and the 3rd book (fire) is the ending, awesome, pwnage plane, ending chapter. There were hints of a 2nd movie at the end, but I can guarantee that the third movie will be so much better than the one that i just saw and the next one that will come out.

The story plot of the show stayed true with the movie, but a main aspect of the show was left out... there was no humor at all in the entire movie. Soka is portrayed in the show as a very sarcastic and humorous character. in the movie he is not at all, very different. The characters differ very much to add realism... realism is apparently necessary in the same movie where people shoot flames out of their hands, make tornadoes, freeze water, make giant balls of water, and control earth and stones...

So, let me narrow the movie down a bit.
Cons:
-Did not have much detail. just viewed on the overall concept.
-Very slow paced action. Gave you plenty of time to take in whats going on, but i dont like that.
-Dialog for very little kids.
-No humor at all, unlike the show.
Pros:
-Cool visual effects.
-Good acting despite the bad dialog.


Take your kids, it was entertaining.

 

[Necromancer]

Re: The Last Airbender

Yea, it wasn't good. I saw it when it was still in theaters. It was annoying that they took lots of stuff out from the show and that they changed parts of the story a little bit, But I guess that's to be expected when turning a book, TV show, video game, etc. into a movie. I totally agree about Sokka and his humor. He was so god damn stiff in the movie. It was also annoying how they changed the pronunciation of Aang, Sokka, and Iroh. They did it just to make them sound more foreign. Not only is that a stupid reason, but it turns off fans of the show. And did you notice how they didn't explain about Appa and Momo at all? They were just...there. And what about the firebenders? They had to have fire present in order to bend? Really? That was stupid. The characters' movements didn't even match their bending very well either. They had to jump around and do a bunch of crazy sh*t before their element began to bend.

I don't think the other two movies will be much better, but I'm sort of obligated to see them anyway. Still, at least we have the Legend of Korra to look forward to.

 

[Sephiroxas]

Re: The Last Airbender

That's because unfortunately. He took a REALISTIC angel on how REAL kids would react given specific cercumstances. Now I'm not ganna get all into this Airbender stuff again. But I love M. NighShams movies. All of them. Forever. I respect what he did, and I love that movie, I thought it was amazing. I can't wait to see the next ones. Sorry guys, but he made it in his own way. He "fanfiction" a lized it.

And to be honest. At least he did it spot on for the most part. He changed NOTHING really. He was as close to the series as I've ever seen any movie do.

 

[Sean]

Re: The Last Airbender

Everyone I know who saw it says it sucked and failed.

 

[Sephiroxas]

Re: The Last Airbender

Everyone I know who saw it says it sucked and failed.

Of course they did. Because they expected to see the Nickelodeon based, happy go lucky Avatar. When in reality..if you took kids at their ages, tossed them into a fast paced situation like the one given. Showed a small child that 100 years has passed, and that the bones of his people lay encrusted in the ground at his feet.......is pretty much what'd you get from M nights movie. It WOULDN'T be happy. there would be NO time to go "penguin sledding"...

I could go on about this for hours. Because I already have on face book. People joining groups like "M night should be hung for the travesty he did to the avatar fanbase" I expressed my deep disgust for people who couldn't appriciate the fact that the man at least took time out of his life to make the movie. took time to watch the ENTIRE series, and atleast made the story line almost identical..

Again I truly enjoyed that movie. :wub:

Edit: Oh yeah, and as for the kid actors. they did..Mediocre at best. But they're all new to acting it seems and Stiff, akward situations is what you get out of that. I still liked the kid they go to play Zuko. And his Uncle. they were my favorite

The bending was still super epicly awesome bytheway!

 

[Sean]

Re: The Last Airbender

The bending did look good but they weren't expecting to see that, they weren't expecting a cartoon like one, they just said the movie sucked cause the acting was bad and you already knew what was going to happen before it happened, just like The Happening, Signs, etc.

 

[Sephiroxas]

Re: The Last Airbender

The bending did look good but they weren't expecting to see that, they weren't expecting a cartoon like one, they just said the movie sucked cause the acting was bad and you already knew what was going to happen before it happened, just like The Happening, Signs, etc.

Eh..doesn't bother me. the happening was had the best intro for a movie I've ever seen. I couldn't stop watching. :lol:

 

[White_Howler]

Re: The Last Airbender

The bending did look good but they weren't expecting to see that, they weren't expecting a cartoon like one, they just said the movie sucked cause the acting was bad and you already knew what was going to happen before it happened, just like The Happening, Signs, etc.

I think you're missing the point. It's a live action adaptation of a chibi nickelodeon cartoon. It's NOT like his other movies where you know what's going to happen because you're supposed to going into it. It's a nice hat's off to fans of the series.

Then again Sephi and I are Hardcore Avatar: The Last Airbender fans so... maybe we're a bit biased.

 

[Sean]

Re: The Last Airbender

Eh..doesn't bother me. the happening was had the best intro for a movie I've ever seen. I couldn't stop watching. :lol:

I took that movie as more of a comedy rather than a thriller or horror, I remember seeing a review of it on YouTube which made me want to get it, it was possibly the greatest review ever. He made it sound like it was flat out terrible.

"Those bodies were just falling off of the construction building AND HITTING THE GROUND LIKE ****ING MORTAR SHELLS. Then this creepy old lady slapped this chick on the hand for trying to get a PIECE OF CORN BREAD and she had CREEPY FREAKING DOLLS in her house and shxxxt."

It was funny at the time, the way the fellow talked and his tone was flat out hilarious.

 

[Tyloric]

Re: The Last Airbender

That's because unfortunately. He took a REALISTIC angel on how REAL kids would react given specific cercumstances. Now I'm not ganna get all into this Airbender stuff again. But I love M. NighShams movies. All of them. Forever. I respect what he did, and I love that movie, I thought it was amazing. I can't wait to see the next ones. Sorry guys, but he made it in his own way. He "fanfiction" a lized it.

And to be honest. At least he did it spot on for the most part. He changed NOTHING really. He was as close to the series as I've ever seen any movie do.

OH GOD, I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE!

QUICKLY, YOU AND I MUST REPRODUCE! IMMEDIATELY!!

 

[GrimWhim]

Re: The Last Airbender

I know this will upset some people but I personally find M. Night Shamallamadingdong to be one of the worst directors ever. I'd even go so far as to say he's pretty equal to Uwe Boll though perhaps not as arrogant or idiotic. Of course, M. Night didn't make a bunch of ****ty video game movies either.

Still, the quality of his films are definitely comparable to Uwe Bolls' and while the movie looked somewhat interesting, I can gladly say I no longer find myself with the slightest desire to see it now.

 

[Relinquished Reality]

Re: The Last Airbender

Necro, I agree with that post whole-heartedly.

Sephiroxas, Thats what i had my mind set throughout the movie, it just was things i did not expect at all and it made me upset. I was thinking to see a movie that stayed true to the movie and the characters. I understand your point, but that aspect didnt make the movie appealing to me, but ill still readily watch the next two movies.

Also, something in the movie that really ****ed me off was;

Spoiler

the bloody ending!! In the show, Aang took out the fire nations fleet in a giant creature made of water and completely destroyed the entire fleet! That would of been amazing to see in a film, but instead he just made a giant wave that threatened the fire nation's fleet but he didn't do any offence... He just made a giant wave and didn't even use it. I was anticipating the giant beast that entire scene..

 

[D3m190d]

Re: The Last Airbender

I haven't seen the movie, but some friends of mine have. And they didn't particularly like it. Now that I hear most people complain about -only a few that do not - that little part of me that slightly wanted to see the movie, because it may be entertaining, has been annihilated. As I am pretty much like my friends, and hear most people in hear complain about it, I would probably be disappointed too, so I won't take the effort to watch it. =| (I'm not sure if I was going to anyway, but the chance has been reduced from 2%, to 0,01% )

For the rest, I really can't add anything to this thread. xD

 

[Dark Drakan]

Re: The Last Airbender

If anyone wants to watch an animated series turned into a Live Action movie thats utterly terrible go and watch Dragon Ball Evolution. Then you can complain, one of my fave shows was ruined in 90mins.

 

[Necromancer]

Re: The Last Airbender

If anyone wants to watch an animated series turned into a Live Action movie thats utterly terrible go and watch Dragon Ball Evolution. Then you can complain, one of my fave shows was ruined in 90mins.

I've always been glad I never ended up seeing that.

 

[GrimWhim]

Re: The Last Airbender

If anyone wants to watch an animated series turned into a Live Action movie thats utterly terrible go and watch Dragon Ball Evolution. Then you can complain, one of my fave shows was ruined in 90mins.

I watched it out of curiosity. It was so bad, I couldn't stop crying.

 

[SimonKalevra]

Re: The Last Airbender

I saw it, and I want my money back..

It might stay true to the anime, but that doesn't make it less sucky.

The acting was horrible. And I don't know about that whole dance they did before shooting water/fire/air, seemed kinda random, a back flip here and a round-house kick there and A-way goes the magic.

I'm just not a fan - at all!

Only scene I actually liked was when that Fire prince disguised himself and went ninja badass on his own men.

For the sequel (God forbid it) they need to swap out the kids with some more talented ones.

 

[Relinquished Reality]

Re: The Last Airbender

For the sequel (God forbid it) they need to swap out the kids with some more talented ones.

The actors are all not so experienced. Maybe they will get better as time progresses. I'm still going the see the next two because they have very good potential to be a good film.

The dances were funny to me tho. Aang did his 30 minute long dance to make a controlled tornado. it was funny, i laughed as everyone stared at me. the fire benders didn't dance at all tho, they just swiped their arms and flailed and burned everyone.
No wonder they are taking over all the cities, they don't have to dance before they bend the elements.

I mean, I understand this isn't Avatar: The Last Airbender On Ice, but it might of been what the director was aiming for.

 

[Dagzey]

Re: The Last Airbender

Just saw it tonight. It's only been in cinemas for a couple of weeks in Australia

Pros - Great Visual effects (Especially in 3D)
Everything looked like it should (I knew where I was in the world)
Stayed true to the storyline (Absolute Must)
Still had the same 'Heart' (Got choked up and misty eyed Near the end)
Picked the 'lookalikes' for the characters reasonably well (Main Characters)
Considering time limitations, still managed to fit in the Core of the story.
My kids still thought it was great!!!

Cons - Overdone bending actions (Too time consuming)
Mispronounciation of Names (meh, I can live with that one)
Iroh is meant to be old and fat (That Old Codger is my fave character)
Lacked the humor that made the series so great (Especially with Sokka)
They got the races mixed up (but that's only my opinion)

Other than that, I still thought it was worth watching It still gave me the same fuzzy feeling inside, and I look forward to Book II. Much better than DB Evolution too. Glad I never paid a cent for that one.