The Last Airbender

ElfManDan · July 15, 2010, 07:28:30 PM

I went to see the film today and my review of the film is...I hated it.
The story didn't flow at all. They weren't even saying Aang or Sokka's names right the whole time. It felt really disjointed to me and there was no real character moments. Sokka was so serious and not goofy in the least. The acting or script was horrible as well, I'm not really sure which, maybe both.
I am so angry that this is the live action we get for book 1. Especially knowing how good it could be from the show that this just drives me nuts. The crazy thing is I went in with bad expectations and it was worse then my bad expectations. I don't want to see a sequel if this is what we're going to get and I don't really want to see anything M. Night Shyamalan ever again.
My one real question now if how long is it till we can have a roboot? Cause I don't want this to be Avatar. This is not the show I watched and loved.

X · July 15, 2010, 08:12:35 PM

Quote from: Sheppard on July 15, 2010, 07:28:30 PM
I went to see the film today and my review of the film is...I hated it.
The story didn't flow at all. They weren't even saying Aang or Sokka's names right the whole time. It felt really disjointed to me and there was no real character moments. Sokka was so serious and not goofy in the least. The acting or script was horrible as well, I'm not really sure which, maybe both.
I am so angry that this is the live action we get for book 1. Especially knowing how good it could be from the show that this just drives me nuts. The crazy thing is I went in with bad expectations and it was worse then my bad expectations. I don't want to see a sequel if this is what we're going to get and I don't really want to see anything M. Night Shyamalan ever again.
My one real question now if how long is it till we can have a roboot? Cause I don't want this to be Avatar. This is not the show I watched and loved.

Yeah, I can relate. It was the choppiest movie that I have ever seen. I'm hard pressed to find anything to like about it.

ElfManDan · July 15, 2010, 10:06:04 PM

The one good thing about it was the effects. They looked fantastic, but that's definitely not enough to hold it together for me.

Geekyfanboy · July 16, 2010, 04:55:00 PM

Wow.. I really don't understand where all this negative reviews and thoughts are coming from.

Harry and I just finished seeing it.. when it was over I turned to him and said.. "Well what did you think?" He said "I don't know why everyone is hating on this movie.. I loved it." and I said "OMG.. I know.. I love it too"

It was fun, entertaining, awesome fx, cool story and all around great movie.

And you were right on Rico.. LOVED IT...

Now I have to say I have never seen the cartoon but plan too.. but I am one of those rare people who can actually separate two different medias of the same story. ie Harry Potter.. Love the movies, Love the books.. doesn't bother me if they are different. I think if I would have seen the TV series and then the movie I would have still loved it, as they are totally two different takes on the same story.

I saw it in 2D as I have a rule that I won't see a 3D movie that was not shoot originally in 3D.. but when I take my Dad to see this (yes I'm seeing it a second time and buying it when it comes out on Blu-Ray) I might see it 3D as this looks like it would be fun in 3D.

Rico · July 16, 2010, 05:47:04 PM

Really glad you liked it Kenny and that I didn't steer you wrong. We do have very similar likes as far as movies and other things. Like I said, I don't know the cartoon either so maybe that's some of the issues for some people. For me, it was just a fun time at the movies.

Geekyfanboy · July 16, 2010, 05:50:26 PM

Quote from: Rico on July 16, 2010, 05:47:04 PM
Really glad you liked it Kenny and that I didn't steer you wrong. We do have very similar likes as far as movies and other things. Like I said, I don't know the cartoon either so maybe that's some of the issues for some people. For me, it was just a fun time at the movies.

yeah I knew when you said you like it.. that I would too.. as you said we do tend to see movies the same way. You were the only person to encourage me to see it.. 20 others told me to run for the hills.. glad I took your advice.

ElfManDan · July 16, 2010, 08:09:37 PM

I'm glad you guys liked it, but I just can't cause I love the animation to much and I want my favorite goofy Sokka. And I wanted them to say his name right in the movie at least once.

X · July 16, 2010, 10:12:52 PM

Quote from: Sheppard on July 16, 2010, 08:09:37 PM
I'm glad you guys liked it, but I just can't cause I love the animation to much and I want my favorite goofy Sokka. And I wanted them to say his name right in the movie at least once.

Amen! I think if you know anything about the animation, you notice the glaring flaws with the movie. How can you get the name wrong when they say them in every episode? I think that because I saw the show, I saw how they tried to compress the entire first season into the movie and didn't keep the spirit of the characters.

I know movies are different media, but this movie is actually a collection of outtake from the show, at time in an almost frame for frame fashion.

They just missed the best parts of the show doing it. Even the lines were reflective of that. Line were pulled from the show and then placed into the movie with no real context of the rest of the events regarding those lines.

KingIsaacLinksr · July 16, 2010, 10:55:14 PM

Well, I, as a fan of the Airbender, will not be seeing this flick. I might rent it from Redbox, but that's about it. The fact that both X and Sheppard are not liking this movie at all makes me think I will not like it period.

King

Bromptonboy · July 17, 2010, 03:30:11 AM

I'll probably check it out. I have liked most of M. Knight's films - and he is a local boy after all..

Rico · July 17, 2010, 06:07:55 AM

Yeah, I think this is one of those cases where being a fan of the source material certainly impacts your view of the film. One of the issues I think is taking a long running series and distilling it into a short movie. Pretty hard to do. But, this also made me want to check out the anime series now.

ElfManDan · July 17, 2010, 02:27:56 PM

Quote from: Rico on July 17, 2010, 06:07:55 AM
Yeah, I think this is one of those cases where being a fan of the source material certainly impacts your view of the film. One of the issues I think is taking a long running series and distilling it into a short movie. Pretty hard to do. But, this also made me want to check out the anime series now.

You really should, the TV series is fantastic and also I found yesterday that they have the whole series on Netflix Instant watch.

Geekyfanboy · July 20, 2010, 10:19:53 AM

Quote from: Rico on July 17, 2010, 06:07:55 AM
Yeah, I think this is one of those cases where being a fan of the source material certainly impacts your view of the film. One of the issues I think is taking a long running series and distilling it into a short movie. Pretty hard to do. But, this also made me want to check out the anime series now.

Yep I'm with you Rico.. now I want to see the TV series.. I plan on buying it on DVD.. just by peoples recommendation.

cosmonaut · July 27, 2010, 01:24:22 PM

The cartoon has a spirit, it's fun, it has good characters, good stories, good acting and good animation.
It has character development and a story arc that allows foreshadowing, I wish I had something like this as a kid.

Nothing of that made it to the movie.

The film is a stupid clip show of "best of" moments totally bereft of the essence of the cartoon, clumsily put together. It really would have needed a major rewrite, by someone who actually knows how to write a script. I wished they started with something like "There are many legends about the avatar, this is how it was told to me" and then took some liberties with the story to recreate the feel of the cartoon and let the characters do more then just exchange exposition.

I'm really looking forward to the sequel. No, not the movie, the cartoon, of course! :)
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644158/20100721/story.jhtml

Geekyfanboy · July 27, 2010, 04:39:51 PM

I think the movie gives you a taste of that world and makes you want to watch the TV series.. I for one would have never known about the TV series if it wasn't for the movie.