Avatar: The Last Airbender Movie Review
Where to begin in this review? I have to admit, even going in knowing that M. Night Shyamalan was behind this film, I still had an optimistic attitude.
However, any optimism or hopes I had were quickly snuffed out.
I admit, I am a fan of the series. I loved the show and the characters, the story it told, everything about it. And, as any fan of something, if a movie is made from it, you expect it to be at least well done, right?
Let me start with the names. If you are making a movie based on something that already exists, you simply cannot alter the pronunciation of names. If anything, that is the one thing you should adhere to. Aang, not "ONG." And its Sokka, not "SOAKAH." Call me picky, but that is ridiculous.
And, even name pronunciation aside, at LEAST maintain a character's personality. Aang was stripped of all his carefree and adventurous spirit. Where is the laughing 12-year-old monk we all grew to love? Why is he all of a sudden so serious? And Sokka, oh poor Sokka. The reason Sokka is Sokka. His wit, his goofy humor. His bad jokes. That was nowhere to be found. Instead, we get a serious, quiet guy whose only real purpose in the movie is defined by his relationship with Princess Yue. Way to cheapen one of the main characters, Shyamalan, by reducing him to nothing but a lovesick afterthought. As for Uncle Iroh? I don't think I have to say anything about that.
Casting? Do I NEED to say anything about the casting? That has been the main subject of controversy surrounding this film, so I am going to let it speak for itself here.
The events were completely twisted up. Things happening in the wrong place, at the wrong time, just so that Shyamalan could throw it in there and save a few minutes. The only thing that accomplished was making the film seem rushed, and confusing to someone who is well versed in the original story. I can only imagine what newcomers to the story were thinking. The reference to Haru was so poorly done, it shouldn't have even been in the film. There was no explanation of it.
And where was Suki? I mean, thanks for randomly throwing Kyoshi Island in there at the wrong time, but if you are going to do that, at least bring the Kyoshi warriors in. You know, if the second and third movies are made (let's pray not), Suki and company play a rather large role.....
The dialogue, what existed of it, was WEAK, if anything. "Do you have a really spiritual place where I can meditate?"
"Yes, we have a really spiritual place." Where is the depth? The backbone? Where is the STORY of The Last Airbender? Lost in a choppy, poorly written, cast, and depicted adaptation that hopefully will fade into obscurity. If anything, let this abomination of a film make us appreciate the series and story that Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko gave us.
All in all, I was completely and utterly disappointed. I don't think it could have been done worse. The story was ruined, terribly explained, and many of the aspects that MADE the Avatar series so lovable were either completely omitted or covered up by choppy editing, poor dialogue, and rushed plot lines. Shame on you, M. Night Shyamalan. And shame on Nickelodeon for putting their name on this joke of an adaptation.
Off to watch the REAL show now before work.
However, any optimism or hopes I had were quickly snuffed out.
I admit, I am a fan of the series. I loved the show and the characters, the story it told, everything about it. And, as any fan of something, if a movie is made from it, you expect it to be at least well done, right?
Let me start with the names. If you are making a movie based on something that already exists, you simply cannot alter the pronunciation of names. If anything, that is the one thing you should adhere to. Aang, not "ONG." And its Sokka, not "SOAKAH." Call me picky, but that is ridiculous.
And, even name pronunciation aside, at LEAST maintain a character's personality. Aang was stripped of all his carefree and adventurous spirit. Where is the laughing 12-year-old monk we all grew to love? Why is he all of a sudden so serious? And Sokka, oh poor Sokka. The reason Sokka is Sokka. His wit, his goofy humor. His bad jokes. That was nowhere to be found. Instead, we get a serious, quiet guy whose only real purpose in the movie is defined by his relationship with Princess Yue. Way to cheapen one of the main characters, Shyamalan, by reducing him to nothing but a lovesick afterthought. As for Uncle Iroh? I don't think I have to say anything about that.
Casting? Do I NEED to say anything about the casting? That has been the main subject of controversy surrounding this film, so I am going to let it speak for itself here.
The events were completely twisted up. Things happening in the wrong place, at the wrong time, just so that Shyamalan could throw it in there and save a few minutes. The only thing that accomplished was making the film seem rushed, and confusing to someone who is well versed in the original story. I can only imagine what newcomers to the story were thinking. The reference to Haru was so poorly done, it shouldn't have even been in the film. There was no explanation of it.
And where was Suki? I mean, thanks for randomly throwing Kyoshi Island in there at the wrong time, but if you are going to do that, at least bring the Kyoshi warriors in. You know, if the second and third movies are made (let's pray not), Suki and company play a rather large role.....
The dialogue, what existed of it, was WEAK, if anything. "Do you have a really spiritual place where I can meditate?"
"Yes, we have a really spiritual place." Where is the depth? The backbone? Where is the STORY of The Last Airbender? Lost in a choppy, poorly written, cast, and depicted adaptation that hopefully will fade into obscurity. If anything, let this abomination of a film make us appreciate the series and story that Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko gave us.
All in all, I was completely and utterly disappointed. I don't think it could have been done worse. The story was ruined, terribly explained, and many of the aspects that MADE the Avatar series so lovable were either completely omitted or covered up by choppy editing, poor dialogue, and rushed plot lines. Shame on you, M. Night Shyamalan. And shame on Nickelodeon for putting their name on this joke of an adaptation.
Off to watch the REAL show now before work.