(no subject)
So this is really something I've decided to finally just get off my chest.
So, even ignoring the weird ethnic choices and the wussiness of Zuko's scar - both of which bother immensely, though mostly the latter, since the former I can forgive if it ends up being worth it - there are still things which are causing my great concern in the Avatar movie universe.
There is the fact that I have yet to see Aang -who, in the show, was defined by his happy-go-lucky attitude - crack a single smile, or the fact that I've yet to see Momo at all (sure, he never really served a purpose besides comedic relief, but he's like Dobby, damnit - He should still BE there. Plus he was hilarious.)
However, I've been flipping through the movie-tie in books for it at work, and they've raised a few alarm bells.
First, there is the fact that, in the show, Firebenders attempted to take over the world because they thought themselves the superior element and were a metaphor for Nazis "wanted to share it with the world". Now, I always assumed that, if they had a reason for thinking themselves the superior element, it was because they could create their own fire. Now, it has something to do with drawing it from the "breath" or some such, but the fact is, they didn't need their element nearby as the other Benders do. Earthbender's (except for Toph, but she's an exception to the rule because she's awesome) weakness is encasing them in metal - or on a boat made of metal, whatever - and put a waterbender in a desert and they're screwed (Except for bodily fluids, but what good would that do you, really?). Airbenders... well, if there WERE a way, they'd be fudged too. ANYWAYS, the fact is, Firebenders don't have that problem.
However, I've been reading that, in the movie, only "a few very powerful firebenders can create fire from their own chi" - except when Sozen's comet arrives, then everyone can do it (in the show, the comet just made them uber-powerful).
Now, that made me raise an eyebrow, but I tried to think the best of it - perhaps "chi" is different from "the breath" - however, I then came across a passage that said how, in battle, firebenders will carry a cart of burning coals around with them to bed.
Carry. a CART. of BURNING COALS. IN BATTLE.
Where they often fought people who could CONTROL WATER.
Seriously, I'm very concerned for Zuko vs. Katara at the North Pole - all she'll need to do is TAKE OUT HIS TORCH.
ARRRRRRRGH.
The second point which concerns me greatly - this one will likely be... less noticeable in the first movie, since it's something that concerns the whole of the series, but it likely causes me more concern because of that.
Now, Avatar focused as much on Zuko as it did on Aang. Aang had his road to savior-dom, but Zuko had his path to redemption. He went from being an angry, single-minding prick of a prince who firmly believed in what he was doing, regardless of the impact and advice of others, to an angsty, remorseful teen who was trying his best to make himself and the world a better place. Despite how it sounds, it was an improvement.
Like, he went from being a prince - an exiled prince, albeit - to being a total outlaw, starving and stealing to survive, to gaining some semblance of a life, to have it torn away away, to being a prince again - non-exiled - to finally throwing it away to do what was right. He had the biggest amount of character development of anyone in that show, I think.
Anyways, back in the first season (which the first movie covers), he'd thought of his uncle as a lazy, interfering old man, who had too much fondness for shopping, tea, and Pai Sho. It isn't until the last season - after his betrayal of his uncle for his father (who had scarred, banished, and basically shown no care for Zuko at all), that he realized that his uncle had been more of a father to him, and had only ever been looking out for him, etc. etc. And the ANGST was born.
But I'm reading this book - from Zuko's point of view - based on the movie, and he's already all "My uncle is very wise, and is more of a father to me than my actual father"
And I'm just like "FFFFFFFNO HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO REALIZE THAT YET WTF!"
Seriously, they've mucked up Zuko enough already... so please, don't mess with his amazing development. It was ever so slow and sweet.
Regardless, I'M VERY CONCERNED.
So, even ignoring the weird ethnic choices and the wussiness of Zuko's scar - both of which bother immensely, though mostly the latter, since the former I can forgive if it ends up being worth it - there are still things which are causing my great concern in the Avatar movie universe.
There is the fact that I have yet to see Aang -who, in the show, was defined by his happy-go-lucky attitude - crack a single smile, or the fact that I've yet to see Momo at all (sure, he never really served a purpose besides comedic relief, but he's like Dobby, damnit - He should still BE there. Plus he was hilarious.)
However, I've been flipping through the movie-tie in books for it at work, and they've raised a few alarm bells.
First, there is the fact that, in the show, Firebenders attempted to take over the world because they thought themselves the superior element and were a metaphor for Nazis "wanted to share it with the world". Now, I always assumed that, if they had a reason for thinking themselves the superior element, it was because they could create their own fire. Now, it has something to do with drawing it from the "breath" or some such, but the fact is, they didn't need their element nearby as the other Benders do. Earthbender's (except for Toph, but she's an exception to the rule because she's awesome) weakness is encasing them in metal - or on a boat made of metal, whatever - and put a waterbender in a desert and they're screwed (Except for bodily fluids, but what good would that do you, really?). Airbenders... well, if there WERE a way, they'd be fudged too. ANYWAYS, the fact is, Firebenders don't have that problem.
However, I've been reading that, in the movie, only "a few very powerful firebenders can create fire from their own chi" - except when Sozen's comet arrives, then everyone can do it (in the show, the comet just made them uber-powerful).
Now, that made me raise an eyebrow, but I tried to think the best of it - perhaps "chi" is different from "the breath" - however, I then came across a passage that said how, in battle, firebenders will carry a cart of burning coals around with them to bed.
Carry. a CART. of BURNING COALS. IN BATTLE.
Where they often fought people who could CONTROL WATER.
Seriously, I'm very concerned for Zuko vs. Katara at the North Pole - all she'll need to do is TAKE OUT HIS TORCH.
ARRRRRRRGH.
The second point which concerns me greatly - this one will likely be... less noticeable in the first movie, since it's something that concerns the whole of the series, but it likely causes me more concern because of that.
Now, Avatar focused as much on Zuko as it did on Aang. Aang had his road to savior-dom, but Zuko had his path to redemption. He went from being an angry, single-minding prick of a prince who firmly believed in what he was doing, regardless of the impact and advice of others, to an angsty, remorseful teen who was trying his best to make himself and the world a better place. Despite how it sounds, it was an improvement.
Like, he went from being a prince - an exiled prince, albeit - to being a total outlaw, starving and stealing to survive, to gaining some semblance of a life, to have it torn away away, to being a prince again - non-exiled - to finally throwing it away to do what was right. He had the biggest amount of character development of anyone in that show, I think.
Anyways, back in the first season (which the first movie covers), he'd thought of his uncle as a lazy, interfering old man, who had too much fondness for shopping, tea, and Pai Sho. It isn't until the last season - after his betrayal of his uncle for his father (who had scarred, banished, and basically shown no care for Zuko at all), that he realized that his uncle had been more of a father to him, and had only ever been looking out for him, etc. etc. And the ANGST was born.
But I'm reading this book - from Zuko's point of view - based on the movie, and he's already all "My uncle is very wise, and is more of a father to me than my actual father"
And I'm just like "FFFFFFFNO HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO REALIZE THAT YET WTF!"
Seriously, they've mucked up Zuko enough already... so please, don't mess with his amazing development. It was ever so slow and sweet.
Regardless, I'M VERY CONCERNED.