The Last Airbender - what went wrong?

So, I just watched the live action movie of the animated Nickelodeon show, "Avatar: The Last Airbender", which I still believe to be up there the greatest cartoons, if not TV shows, of all time. For anyone who isn't familiar with the animated series, it is based on a child who can control all four elements, where people master Earth, Wind, Air and Fire. Each of these are modeled against different styles of martial arts.

So essentially you've got the basics for what should have been a good movie - martial arts, well choreographed fight scenes, top notch effects for the bending, a great storyline and tonnes of mythology. Yet it failed miserably, receiving a lowly 6% on rottentomatoes.com.

Why?

I think one of the first problems is that they changed too much - while this may seem quite unintentionally racist, the actors used were too white, whereas in the original show, they were all of ethnic minorities. It's strange, because only the three main characters - Sokka, Katara and Aang were made this way, with the rest being kept as the way they were originally. Why did they do this? Were they worried that it wouldn't sell to the Americans if they weren't white?

The children actors used were terrible - it seemed they went with martial arts prowess over acting ability. If I remember correctly, they child playing Aang had a black belt in some form of martial arts.

So, does anyone have anything else to add to this?

chin_grin

Deleted User wrote: »

So, does anyone have anything else to add to this?

Having only watched a few episodes (still getting in to it) and not bothering at all with the film maybe it's because it looks like (even from the trailer) that the studio read the synopsis and didn't take anything at all from the anime (is it technically an anime?).

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that series' like this shouldn't be made in to feature length films that aren't animated.

chin_grin

chin_grin wrote: »

Having only watched a few episodes (still getting in to it) and not bothering at all with the film maybe it's because it looks like (even from the trailer) that the studio read the synopsis and didn't take anything at all from the anime (is it technically an anime?).

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that series' like this shouldn't be made in to feature length films that aren't animated.

Keep going, the first few episodes of Season One are fairly light, but it delves much much deeper into darker things as the show goes on. Believe me.

See, I somewhat agree, but it almost worked. It seems like it was the main children actors that let it fall flat on it's face.

Mr E

Also another case of a movie where 3D didn't suit it at all (many scenes were too dark). Plus Shyamalan hasn't made a good movie for more than 10 years.

johnny_ultimate

M. Night Shyamalan

Simple as.

Turtyturd

It's been a while since I seen the movie but I remember posting here shortly after I did that it seemed like when they were deciding which bits to cut they cut out everything that made the series fun and all the humor got lost.

I think what puzzles me most about the fact it failed so miserably, is that the people who created the Nickelodeon series were seemingly so heavily involved in the movie.

Wonder if they had much of an input at all. I remember seeing an interview with M. N. Shymaladingdong before and he said how his kids were massive fans of the show, which is why he took on the project.

Mickeroo

Turtyturd wrote: »

It's been a while since I seen the movie but I remember posting here shortly after I did that it seemed like when they were deciding which bits to cut they cut out everything that made the series fun and all the humor got lost.

My cabbages!

funky penguin

How does Shyamalan have any credit left?

hidinginthebush

I've only seen about half the movie (couldn't for the life of me finish it), but the main problem I saw with it was that they completely simplified it. The premise was really interesting, and I really wanted to get into it, but it was so mind numbingly simple, the viewers were left to figure nothing out for themselves and were spoonfed every little bit of information. I'm pretty interested in the series though, might give it a bash in 2012 sometime.

Mickeroo

Mickeroo wrote: »

My cabbages!

Thank you for reminding me of that!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnnj0gS0O2I

It's true though, Sokka had a great comedic role in the TV show itself, but in the movie he was made far far far too serious.

hidinginthebush wrote: »

I've only seen about half the movie (couldn't for the life of me finish it), but the main problem I saw with it was that they completely simplified it. The premise was really interesting, and I really wanted to get into it, but it was so mind numbingly simple, the viewers were left to figure nothing out for themselves and were spoonfed every little bit of information. I'm pretty interested in the series though, might give it a bash in 2012 sometime.

You should start watching it too, especially because there's supposed to be a new series, the Legend of Korra being released then, which is based 70 years after the previous incarnation.

Mickeroo

No worries

I've actually steered clear of the film due to the bad rep, its a shame it turned out so bad, such potential wasted. The show is brilliant though, my particular favourite is the Sergio Leone/Akira Kurosawa inspired episode from season 2! Think it might be episode 7.

My personal favourite would be Tales of Ba Sing Sa, especially this glorious moment - remember watching it with shivers going down my spine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6a5OHvhQTs

But back to the movie - I really hope they give this a second chance and release Book Two: Earth, but with a different director. This will unlikely happen though.

Galvasean

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

M. Night Shyamalan

Simple as.

CONSPIRATOR!!!! :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hksKLHt9Kzg

Marty McFly

I think im on my own here but I enjoyed the film and found it entertaining, now i had never heard of the cartoon or anything at all about the film before seeing it which might have helped since I just stumbled across the film on tv one day.

But yes it was simple, a popcorn movie as the saying goes, but sometimes that just what you want something you can sit back relax not work the brain to much and ust enjoy something that put on the screen in front of you.