Comments on: The First Airbender: Shyamalan Talks Trilogies, Operatic Action and the Casting Controversy

By: michaelkottler

michaelkottler — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:19:39 +0000

To the person who wrote that Shyamalan was “true to the story”, your statement is at best mistaken and at worst an intentionally misleading ploy apparently meant to steer the unwary towards this steaming pile of cinematic crap. As already well-stated by Mariam27 and others here, Shyamalan’s Avatar is a tragically flawed film in which he shows absolutely no respect whatsoever for the original material. To say that this movie is terrible would be putting it mildly. It would be more accurate to say that Shyamalan’s Avatar is an abomination which clearly demonstrates the director’s laziness, conceit, and total lack of regard for the source material. In short, it sucks, and fans of the epic Avatar TV series would be well advised to avoid this horrible adaptation.

On a lesser note, to the person who claimed that Kitara never became a master water-bender, I believe that she did, in fact, gain mastery along with the title of “master” after training with a water master in the second book.

By: katnemo7

katnemo7 — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:26:00 +0000

ACTUALLY, mrbangtastic, Aang was controlled by the Ocean spirit. That’s why he turned into the creature and destroyed the Fire Nation ships. It is ,after all, another purpose of an Avatar, he can also be a medium for spirits (an example of that would be Avatar Kyoshi in the episode “Avatar Day”). And the Avatar State is the combination of Aang’s of the previous Avatars, his past lives.

By: gaylegoh

gaylegoh — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:43:57 +0000

P.S. I was in the cinema the other week and a trailer of Devil appeared on the screens. It was a promising trailer and the audience seemed quietly interested. Then “From the mind of M Night Shyamalan” flashed on screen… and a ripple of laughter erupted into the packed theatre guffawing.

That should say something about how much work this man has in front of him to salvage his tattered reputation… if Hollywood even gives him the chance.

By: gaylegoh

gaylegoh — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:40:38 +0000

I don’t care how superb the graphics and action sequences were — with elemental havoc, martial arts and incredible technology available in the moviemaking business, Shyamalan had no excuse NOT to deliver.

Where the movies fails is in everything else: dialogue, character development, audience engagement and just plain FUN. He sucked all the fun out of a series that was fun to watch. I did not give a hoot about any of what was going on. It felt like the film was plodding on half-assedly to deliver plot, plot, plot. What do I care about the plot for, if I don’t care about any of the characters, or the outcome of events? Iroh was supposed to be a sage, mischievous, pot-bellied old man with hidden and surprising depths– not some grizzled macho veteran with pecs. The script was excruciating, and it all felt like Shyamalan sleepwalked through the process relying on his tech team.

Is this even the same guy who made Sixth Sense and Unbreakable? Even The Village was a decent movie. Why this steep hurtle into neck-high crap?

By: buzz2000mille

buzz2000mille — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:13:15 +0000

I always wonder if the Last Air Bender team has ever consulted any Chinese people in regards to the setting of the movie. I know how to read Chinese characters but there are cases when I couldn’t even figure out what the word actually represents.
The Chinese writings in the movie are like graphics to me–somebody attempting to copy the writings in a graphic or drawing form. I do understand that the Chinese writings are unique since it actually originated from drawings in its actual form and eventually blended and evolved into more complicated writings. I am really confused whether the events actually happen before or after that time period when the writings are firmly set as part of its culture. I think the writings should have firm strokes as you would see in most Chinese movies.
The racial origins of the characters are so mixed up so I tried my best not to look at them through their own skins.
I still like the actual animation features more than anything which basically funny and more entertaining.

By: goocko

goocko — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:00:37 +0000

I think it’s funny the people complaining they don’t like the look of the caucasian actors, also complain they don’t like the sound of the asian pronunciation of the names. It’s also funny they don’t seem to realize it’s an American show, and that Shamaylan has watched the show, and that’s why he wanted to make it. I’m not saying it’s a great film – just pointing out the critics’ ignorance.

By: scarshi

scarshi — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:23:31 +0000

Woah, too many in here with lists of “What was wrong with this film and what others stated comments”.

In the next fifty years we will all be regurgitating all these fantasy stories with remakes yet again, so why so fast to dismiss what you experience right now? Your great-grandkids will be arguing this same story to you many years from now with remakes of “Astroboy”, “Dragonball”, “TNMT”, and “Airbender”. On holgraphic screens probably too. Sigh. Relax people.

PS: Ever notice those that love something never say anything about it to people they don’t know while those that hate always have something to say to anyone listening?

By: mrbangtastic

mrbangtastic — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:11:41 +0000

reasons why Greg is an idiot?

1) It was originally an american show written by an american so why would they have a problem with the pronunciation

2)Why did Aang call her Katara seifu she mastered not only healing and blood bending but her skills put all other water benders to shame Katara isn’t just a master she’s the best

3)The fire nation is modeled after China not Japan you can tell by Zuko’s hair and their architecture

4)Aang wasn’t controlled by any spirit he went into the Avatar state he is the “Avatar” the link between the physical world and the spirit world a spirit wouldn’t take him over (Duhh!)

What do directors have against great animation anyway
they rapped my childhood with Dragonball now they go after one of the few good and original american series

(P.s) I’m not american and I think their animation is largely crap at first I couldn’t believe Avatar wasn’t anime it is brilliant in all aspects. What does Shyamalan know about Avatar anyway I bet he never even watched one episode?

I hope he doesn’t make any more because my favourite character hasn’t appeared yet and hopefully will never be soiled by another money hungry directors attempt to make money of other people’s ideas.

By: katnemo7

katnemo7 — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:54:16 +0000

This movie, by far, is the worst I have ever seen. I have so many negative reviews about it but didn’t take the popular advice of “don’t watch it” because of my “benefit of the doubt” attitude. Yes Shyamalan, I agree with you, it is the most diverse movie so far. The most upsetting part is the races were so mixed up. In the series, Katara and Sokka were not white, they even look darker than Aang.
I HATE how firebending was done in the movie. Changing and taking out a few chunks from the story is one thing, but changing how firebending is done is a whole different story. It’s as bad as changing the size of Zuko’s scar! It’s like changing his whole identity, it symbolizes his past, why he became the person he is. In the show, firebenders didn’t carry around torches, set it down, and move chunks of fire from the torch! Ridiculous!
The only thing that was good about the movie were the settings and the special effects, it was very well done and really beautiful. Other than that, everything was just an embarrassment and an insult to the TV show.

By: ajax4

ajax4 — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 05:54:54 +0000

Actually Gregtestagent Zuko and the Fire nation is predominately fashioned after Chinese culture. The Fire nation is very similar to the Chinese Qin /Han dynasty Empire from fashion, court clothing, and political environment. Their campaign against the Earth/Air/Water nations in the show is very similar to the Chinese warring states period in which Qin came out victorious and started the era of Imperial China. Qin was a smaller state territorily, but technologically advanced, aggressive, and very disciplined in warfare. The firelord, fire soldiers, and common folk in the firenation are dressed in Qin/Han dynasty attire and fashions. Their style is definately not Japanese.