What I Love About ATLA and Fear About The Movie
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a fantastic series, yet the movie adaptation appears to be focusing on all the wrong things. And this is all aside from the Racebending problems.
Okay, let me start with this: Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of my favorite series, for so many reasons. One: the characters, especially for an American cartoon, are just so complex. They all have their fairly obvious faults, but they deal with them and keep fairly realistic even though there are in a fictional world. They deal with serious problems--death of parents, death of children, abandoment/over-protectiveness of parents, adjusting to different countries and their customs, parental abuse, disfigurements (aka: Zuko's blatant and permanent facial scar), physical disabilities (Toph's blindness, Teo's need to be in a wheelchair), and the fact that despite it being a "children's show" and a cartoon the story gives a fairly realistic depiction of being in a war (they won a peabody award because of that for crying out loud!), including genocide, failed major battles, and major sudden losses.
One of the most shocking parts of the series though, that gets me every time I watch it, is the fact that they show teenagers with serious problems--not romance or having problems being themselves, but legitmate mental problems. I'm referring chiefly of course, to Jet--probably one of the only times you will see a teenage terrorist on a children's show, and one that truely believes he's doing the right thing (usually, bad guys in cartoons are (for one, adults, and two) just doing things to be bad or just increase thier own power and make things better for themselves--which is more like Firelord Ozai, not because they really think killing innocent people is for the greater good which is what Jet thinks he's doing). Especially not one so charismatic that they charm the main characters. Much less, one that ends up DYING on screen (or as close to on screen as Nickelodeon would allow them. And of course, also Azula, who is probably the only time you will see a teenager have a legitimate mental breakdown on screen. One who not only is sadistic and twisted, but also begins to hallucinate and become so parinoid she banishes all her gaurds, until she finally looses it and begins crying after trying to kill people. Even if you hate her, her breakdown scene is still so uncomfortable because you know that she isn't really evil--she's just incredibly messed up.
Now, when I discovered they were making a film, I admit, the way I found out gave me a biased view. I found out while on the Avatar: The Last Airbender wikipedia, on the page about the "Ember Island Players" episode. I found out because in the production notes section of this page, they mentioned the episode may have been in response to the fact that during the season before, the movie had been annouced. What it currently says is similar to that:
"Sokka's statement about the special effects echoes a common "silver lining" statement made by people who have just been subjected to a lousy movie: the film itself may have stunk, but "at least the special effects were decent." In that light, Sokka's statement could be considered to cast the play itself-a derivative work created at second-hand, distorting the events it seeks to retell-as a reference to the M. Night Shyamalan movie adaptation The Last Airbender that had been announced after the show's second season. "
So already I was nervous about this adaption, which the makers of the original series may have already been nervous about (now I fully am aware this could've just been a fan add-in, and creation of the episode might have been completely unrelated to the fact that the movie was being made). Then I heard about the casting, and found the Racebending website. It only got worse from there. Zuko's lack of scar pisses me off. Yes, I know it IS there, but the fact that it is so small and barely noticable infuriates me. The scar is supposed to be large, bright red against pale skin so at first glance at Zuko, it is impossible not to notice. It makes him a frightening character to even look at, and gives him a more "evil" appearance (which is why when you find out how he got it, you suddenly feel sympathy for him). And although Dev Patel's dark skin contributes to the fact that the scar is harder to see, it is more the make-up department and director's fault for not making the scar more visable. But even the casting aside, the fact that the trailers for the movie show this serious bald kid just using his various bending powers to attack the evil Fire Nation people angered me more. The movie could've just made an insulting cast choice, but then have a great film otherwise, but no. As I have been getting more and more angry about--THAT IS NOT AANG.
Another part of what makes Avatar such a great series is the fact that despite all these serious and horrifying things going on, and awful events that are treated seriously and with the proper respect--the show never lets you forget that these are just kids. Now, M. Knight Shymalan stated when making the film that "I took away a little bit of the slapsticky stuff that was there for the little little kids, the fart jokes and things like that...We grounded Katara's brother...and that really did wonderful things for the whole theme of the movie." Now, I will admit, there are some lame kiddy jokes especially in the first season that made me roll my eyes or think that if this wasn't aimed at kids, that joke wouldn't be there (like jokes about Appa's boogers and stuff). However, there is one exchange during the first season that I think is very important to keep in mind with the series. I can't find the exact quote, but I believe it is in the episode "Jet" and it goes something like this.
Sokka: ...and I'm the leader.
Katara: You're the leader? But your voice still cracks!
Sokka: I'm the oldest, so I'm the leader!
Katara: If anyone's the leader, it's Aang. I mean, he is the Avatar.
Sokka: Aang? But he's just a goofy kid!
Aang: (hanging upside down on Appa) He's right Katara.
Yes, Aang is the Avatar, the strongest being in the Four Nations, but he IS just a kid. Despite all the hardships he has been through, he still likes to fool around. The first thing he wants to do after coming out of the iceberg is go penguin sledding! He still likes to joke around and have fun (something the Ember Island play seemed to understand more than the movie). Yes, there is plenty of drama and seriousness in the story--probably more than most cartoons aimed at children--but part of what makes those parts so heart wrenching and sad or shocking, is the fact that they still do act their age when they have the chance. They have silly fights, and do ridiculous things, and are immature at times. This makes those serious parts that much more serious, because even though they are in the middle of a horrible war, they and the audience never forget that these are not adults--these are teenagers and kids.
And also, if M. Knight Shyamalan was so intent on taking out the childish things of the series and making it more serious, it's insulting then that he was so determined to make it nowhere near PG-13.
Okay, let me start with this: Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of my favorite series, for so many reasons. One: the characters, especially for an American cartoon, are just so complex. They all have their fairly obvious faults, but they deal with them and keep fairly realistic even though there are in a fictional world. They deal with serious problems--death of parents, death of children, abandoment/over-protectiveness of parents, adjusting to different countries and their customs, parental abuse, disfigurements (aka: Zuko's blatant and permanent facial scar), physical disabilities (Toph's blindness, Teo's need to be in a wheelchair), and the fact that despite it being a "children's show" and a cartoon the story gives a fairly realistic depiction of being in a war (they won a peabody award because of that for crying out loud!), including genocide, failed major battles, and major sudden losses.
One of the most shocking parts of the series though, that gets me every time I watch it, is the fact that they show teenagers with serious problems--not romance or having problems being themselves, but legitmate mental problems. I'm referring chiefly of course, to Jet--probably one of the only times you will see a teenage terrorist on a children's show, and one that truely believes he's doing the right thing (usually, bad guys in cartoons are (for one, adults, and two) just doing things to be bad or just increase thier own power and make things better for themselves--which is more like Firelord Ozai, not because they really think killing innocent people is for the greater good which is what Jet thinks he's doing). Especially not one so charismatic that they charm the main characters. Much less, one that ends up DYING on screen (or as close to on screen as Nickelodeon would allow them. And of course, also Azula, who is probably the only time you will see a teenager have a legitimate mental breakdown on screen. One who not only is sadistic and twisted, but also begins to hallucinate and become so parinoid she banishes all her gaurds, until she finally looses it and begins crying after trying to kill people. Even if you hate her, her breakdown scene is still so uncomfortable because you know that she isn't really evil--she's just incredibly messed up.
Now, when I discovered they were making a film, I admit, the way I found out gave me a biased view. I found out while on the Avatar: The Last Airbender wikipedia, on the page about the "Ember Island Players" episode. I found out because in the production notes section of this page, they mentioned the episode may have been in response to the fact that during the season before, the movie had been annouced. What it currently says is similar to that:
"Sokka's statement about the special effects echoes a common "silver lining" statement made by people who have just been subjected to a lousy movie: the film itself may have stunk, but "at least the special effects were decent." In that light, Sokka's statement could be considered to cast the play itself-a derivative work created at second-hand, distorting the events it seeks to retell-as a reference to the M. Night Shyamalan movie adaptation The Last Airbender that had been announced after the show's second season. "
So already I was nervous about this adaption, which the makers of the original series may have already been nervous about (now I fully am aware this could've just been a fan add-in, and creation of the episode might have been completely unrelated to the fact that the movie was being made). Then I heard about the casting, and found the Racebending website. It only got worse from there. Zuko's lack of scar pisses me off. Yes, I know it IS there, but the fact that it is so small and barely noticable infuriates me. The scar is supposed to be large, bright red against pale skin so at first glance at Zuko, it is impossible not to notice. It makes him a frightening character to even look at, and gives him a more "evil" appearance (which is why when you find out how he got it, you suddenly feel sympathy for him). And although Dev Patel's dark skin contributes to the fact that the scar is harder to see, it is more the make-up department and director's fault for not making the scar more visable. But even the casting aside, the fact that the trailers for the movie show this serious bald kid just using his various bending powers to attack the evil Fire Nation people angered me more. The movie could've just made an insulting cast choice, but then have a great film otherwise, but no. As I have been getting more and more angry about--THAT IS NOT AANG.
Another part of what makes Avatar such a great series is the fact that despite all these serious and horrifying things going on, and awful events that are treated seriously and with the proper respect--the show never lets you forget that these are just kids. Now, M. Knight Shymalan stated when making the film that "I took away a little bit of the slapsticky stuff that was there for the little little kids, the fart jokes and things like that...We grounded Katara's brother...and that really did wonderful things for the whole theme of the movie." Now, I will admit, there are some lame kiddy jokes especially in the first season that made me roll my eyes or think that if this wasn't aimed at kids, that joke wouldn't be there (like jokes about Appa's boogers and stuff). However, there is one exchange during the first season that I think is very important to keep in mind with the series. I can't find the exact quote, but I believe it is in the episode "Jet" and it goes something like this.
Sokka: ...and I'm the leader.
Katara: You're the leader? But your voice still cracks!
Sokka: I'm the oldest, so I'm the leader!
Katara: If anyone's the leader, it's Aang. I mean, he is the Avatar.
Sokka: Aang? But he's just a goofy kid!
Aang: (hanging upside down on Appa) He's right Katara.
Yes, Aang is the Avatar, the strongest being in the Four Nations, but he IS just a kid. Despite all the hardships he has been through, he still likes to fool around. The first thing he wants to do after coming out of the iceberg is go penguin sledding! He still likes to joke around and have fun (something the Ember Island play seemed to understand more than the movie). Yes, there is plenty of drama and seriousness in the story--probably more than most cartoons aimed at children--but part of what makes those parts so heart wrenching and sad or shocking, is the fact that they still do act their age when they have the chance. They have silly fights, and do ridiculous things, and are immature at times. This makes those serious parts that much more serious, because even though they are in the middle of a horrible war, they and the audience never forget that these are not adults--these are teenagers and kids.
And also, if M. Knight Shyamalan was so intent on taking out the childish things of the series and making it more serious, it's insulting then that he was so determined to make it nowhere near PG-13.