Live action Avatar: The Last Airbender

[ADXC]

Ok, so we've seen the previews for this movie, but I'm still skeptical of whether or not to go. I mean M. Night Shyamalan has made some good films, but still him making a live action Avatar movie makes me unsure of what to expect.


I mean, the live action Dragon Ball Evolution movie went horribly wrong and was completely blasphemous. But let's see how Shyamalan makes a live action movie based off of a somewhat complex American cartoon.


Another question is will he find a way to get the whole show compact enough into one movie. There were 3 different parts(Water, Earth and Fire) to the show so I'm not sure how he's going to do it. Is he going to do just one book, or is he going to put them all together somehow? I don't know.

I personally want to go, but if I brought my family with me and it turned out to be bad, then I don't know if they'd let me choose a movie ever again. Especially with the ticket prices these days.

What do you guys think about it?

[CrimsonRyu17]

Wait until RottenTomatoes gets their views on it? If they're generally positive, go see it. If they say it's trash, then usually it's trash. There are other reviewers and reviewing sites out there to check out. RT is the only one I rely on though.

Or you can wait for someone here to make a thread on it and listen to them after they watched it? S'really all you can do.

[steenajack]

BTW, just a little tidbit of info, apparently Shyamalan is going to do a "trilogy" thing. Each movie covers a different season. The movie coming out soon is based on the 1st season or "Water". Here's a link to the wiki article to prove it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender#Feature_film

[Atria35]

Because, you know, Wiki is the most reliable source for that info. But thankfully, the link to the actual movie website works, and it does say it on there!

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Because, you know, Wiki is the most reliable source for that info. But thankfully, the link to the actual movie website works, and it does say it on there!

Wiki is more reliable than people think. Information on there just doesn't go up arbitrarily. The website requires citation, and if it is not provided wiki itself calls the article into question.

Can you use Wiki for a research paper? No. Can you use wiki as a generally reliable source of info for everyday fluff? Most of the time, yes.

[ShiroiHikari]

I sort of have a problem with this movie because...well, aren't the main characters supposed to be Asian? Why'd they cast a bunch of white kids?

[FllMtl Novelist]

My brother has me believing the worst. Looking at the commercials, it does look kinda dark... And very serious. Not that Avatar (the cartoon) was Phineas and Ferb, but it had fun.

Then again, I generally don't like a lot of live-action films, so...I guess I'm pretty cynical. But then again, I tend to be like that about a lot of things.

So it could be good, but I'm expecting it to be bad.

[Roy Mustang]

I sort of have a problem with this movie because...well, aren't the main characters supposed to be Asian? Why'd they cast a bunch of white kids?

Your not the only one that feels that way.


Angry M. Night Shyamalan denies Airbender racism


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color]
[/font]

[GrubbTheFragger]

The more i see trailers the worse it looks. I saw a clip of Ang escaping a fire nation ship and the qaulity was horrid, i don't know i will still see it i want it to be good

[ADXC]

Well, Airbender isn't anime, so do we have to say that they do have to be Asian?


But yeah, if they are going to be made into a trilogy, then I'm fine with that, as long as they don't SUCK!

@ Novelist- Well there are two things to consider here: First it's Shyamalan, many of his movies are dark. Second, Airbender is not all happy flowers and such, there are issues that are dealt with during the show. But I will agree with you on that the show was lighter(With all the slapstick made by Saka.) than the previews make it to look.


I'm still skeptical so I will wait for the reviews.

[Roy Mustang]

Well, Airbender isn't anime, so do we have to say that they do have to be Asian?

Where it's an American animated television series, but Avatar is set in an Asian influenced world of Chinese martial arts and elemental manipulation. The show drew on elements from traditional Asian culture and Indian religions.

With that said, having a movie done with non Asian people in a series that was set in an Asian influenced world doesn't make a lot of scene and feels out of place.

This is why people are having a problem with the fact with the movie and other reasons as well.

[color="Red"]
[font="Book Antiqua"]Col. Roy Mustang [/font][/color]

[mechana2015]

http://www.racebending.com/v3/news/ebert-takes-on-another-airbender-question/ <<Roger Eberts thoughts, and a well put argument to boot.

http://www.racebending.com/v3/background/the-problem-with-colorblindness/ <<community perspective from the same site.

http://www.racebending.com/v3/faq/#tla <<the site specific arguments on the issue

[ADXC]

Still, it's his movie, he can do what he wants. Albeit, it may suck, he can still cast whomever.


Would I like to see Asians in this movie, of course I would, but either way it doesn't matter too much to me.

[mechana2015]

Still, it's his movie, he can do what he wants. Albeit, it may suck, he can still cast whomever.


Would I like to see Asians in this movie, of course I would, but either way it doesn't matter too much to me.

The part that most concerns me is the attitude that was put out after people started asking questions (it's in the third link I posted) and the casting practices they used. It goes further in the production than just Shamaylan really.

[ADXC]

Ok, I'll take a look at that link then.

[Atria35]

Now I'm worried- friend of a friend went to a press screening of the movie and said she wasn't impressed :/

[Nate]

Still, it's his movie, he can do what he wants. Albeit, it may suck, he can still cast whomever.

So you'd have no problem with a movie where a white person played Martin Luther King, Jr.?

[mechana2015]

Now I'm worried- friend of a friend went to a press screening of the movie and said she wasn't impressed :/

Reviews have started to trickle in... and it's not good. It currently carries a 0% on rotten tomatoes with 8 (now 12) reviews, and Ebert called it "an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented."

:|

An AP reviewer called it a "joyless, soulless, muddled mess".

: |

The Boston globe's reviewer called it "dreadful, an incomprehensible fantasy-action epic that makes the 2007 film “The Golden Compass,’’ a similarly botched adaptation of a beloved property from another medium, look like a four-star classic. "

: /

Unless I hear an outpouring of fan love of Biblical proportions. I am not going to see this. Ever. I'll be saving my money to buy the actual series on DVD instead.

[Atria35]

Reviews have started to trickle in... and it's not good. It currently carries a 0% on rotten tomatoes with 8 reviews, and Ebert called it "an agonizing experience in every category I can think of and others still waiting to be invented."

:|

An AP reviewer called it a "joyless, soulless, muddled mess".

: |

The Boston globe's reviewer called it "dreadful, an incomprehensible fantasy-action epic that makes the 2007 film “The Golden Compass,’’ a similarly botched adaptation of a beloved property from another medium, look like a four-star classic. "

: /

Unless I hear an outpouring of fan love of Biblical proportions. I am not going to see this. Ever. I'll be saving my money to buy the actual series on DVD instead.

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Ella Edric]

To be honest, I don't care what any one else says, I'M SO FREAKIN" EXCITED FOR THIS MOVIE!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxbHooiZRGE
And
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joqQgyMbpAM&NR=1

[mechana2015]

Update... 6% 1 positive review, 17 negative. Rotton Tomatoes.

Variety and the Hollywood Reporter turned in negative reviews as well.

[Cloud500]

I pretty much liked what I saw of the TV series, but never really had an interest in seeing the movie. Now, with all of the negative press, I definitely won't be seeing this.

[Cognitive Gear]

I was expecting this to be bad, given the director, but not this bad. Wow. I am now eagerly awaiting the DVD release so that I can watch it with Riff Tracks.

[Nate]

Movie still holds a 7% on RT with 30 reviews, but the user community seems to be much more forgiving of it, with a 76% based on user reviews. So maybe the verdict is "If you've seen the TV series you'll like it, if you haven't, you won't."

Also checked Metacritic just for fun, it has an average score of 23 there, with the highest review they counted being a 63 (not sure how they arrived at that number, don't most movie reviewers use a 4/5 star system?). Anyway the worst score they got from The Onion AV Club, which gave it a whopping 0 score. Ouch. Oh and before anyone says it, The Onion AV Club, though affiliated with The Onion, is not satirical or fake. Just throwing that out there.

[ich1990]

No. No! NO!

I am going to go see it anyways, as I have already planned to watch it with a friend. Please don't let it be that bad.

[ADXC]

Well this all sounds sad and depressing. Will this movie come out worse than Dragon Ball Evolution? Possibly.

Eh right now, I don't think I'll see it untill a guy, I know from college, buys the DVD and shows it as a Friday night flick.

From the way it sounds, you'd be better off just buying all three seasons of the show and watching that.

@ Nate-Would I be okay with it? No, I wouldn't. That's not what I was saying. I was saying a director has every right to make a complete train wreck of a film if he chooses to do so(It's his lose and maybe a fan's lose of $8 for seeing it. I say maybe because sometimes the movie is so bad, the fans like to watch it just so that they can make fun of it and laugh their butts off. I know this from seeing DB E with a friend, that's what he likes to do with it.). A fan's preferences have nothing to do with the Director's own vision. Just look at DB Evolution, a complete waste of the film it was printed on, from a fan's standpoint.

[mechana2015]

I really wanted to see this movie when the first previews came out. I really did. I'm seriously disappointed that it's carrying a lower rating than Jonah Hex of all things, and seems to be everything I feared it was turning into when I saw the previews. Let us know what it's like when you see it, since tomatoes has been known to be a bit rough on occasion with movies.
Another question is how on earth it's carrying a 76% on user reviews when the movie still won't be released until July 2nd, unless all the users have press passes or something. I'm currently leaning towards ballot stuffing by people who want people to like the movie, but haven't seen it yet. I'll check better when I can get on that page of the site, which currently won't load for me...

[ChristianKitsune]

I really wanted to see this movie when the first previews came out. I really did. I'm seriously disappointed that it's carrying a lower rating than Jonah Hex of all things, and seems to be everything I feared it was turning into when I saw the previews. Let us know what it's like when you see it, since tomatoes has been known to be a bit rough on occasion with movies.
Another question is how on earth it's carrying a 76% on user reviews when the movie still won't be released until July 2nd, unless all the users have press passes or something. I'm currently leaning towards ballot stuffing by people who want people to like the movie, but haven't seen it yet. I'll check better when I can get on that page of the site, which currently won't load for me...

Actually there have been a few pre-edited versions that people could go see, and there are advance screenings as well.

Sometimes Rotten Tomatoes gets it wrong in my book, so I think in all things. Go into this movie with an open mind, make the decision for yourself and ultimately have fun!

If the movie sucks, then it sucks...but it's all just a movie and the world won't explode if it's a disappointment.

At the very least, you can leave the theater laughing about how hysterical the thing was.

[mechana2015]

Actually there have been a few pre-edited versions that people could go see, and there are advance screenings as well.

Unfortunately my suspicions are true. http://beta.rottentomatoes.com/user/831725/reviews/?movie=770805417

Many of the reviews pushing that number are from as long ago as May 2009 or and none are actually from June... the most recent is April 12 of this year, over a month before general release. There just haven't been any pre-screenings that early in the the movie, so we apparently can't really look at the community reviews at all, which is disappointing to say the least. The 70+% community rating is based entirely on blind fandom.

[ChristianKitsune]

Unfortunately my suspicions are true. http://beta.rottentomatoes.com/user/831725/reviews/?movie=770805417

Many of the reviews pushing that number are from as long ago as May 2009 or and none are actually from June... the most recent is April 12 of this year, over a month before general release. There just haven't been any pre-screenings that early in the the movie, so we apparently can't really look at the community reviews at all, which is disappointing to say the least. The 70+% community rating is based entirely on blind fandom.

Hah...
sounds like something another fanbase would do...

For shame... and very much lame!