[Review] Avatar: The Last Airbender

When I knew this was coming out on the big screens, I had hopes that it would be totallymagnificentbeautifulawesome.

Does this not look like potential?

My hopes were dashed.

I read reviews before it was decided that I would watch it - not in the theatres, but downloaded. Just to see how madly bad it was. The reviews at rottentomatoes made an interesting and amusing read - consistently one starred, some written eloquently, and some spewing putrid hate onto the site. They were written (from what I saw) by fans and normals ranging from age 6-50.

So here is my short review. I managed to watch the first 20 minutes, with a lot of skipping.

Why I Absolutely Love Avatar (the cartoon series)

This is based on a cartoon series. If you have not watched it I HIGHLY recommend you do. In fact, I think it ranks as high as Inception does on my list. Reasons being:

• Beautiful surroundings 

The whole thing is based on Asian cultures and martial arts. All the characters are Asian (YES!), no blond haired chicks/dudes there! Not that I dislike caucasians, but this is refreshing and different.

• Deep plot line 

Characters are understandable. Things come to a head, and they build up - not obviously, but incrementally like life events often happen. Horrible mistakes often never just "happen" they start with a small step to the left, or a decision to stay one minute longer.

• Characters which reflect actual individuals with personal struggles

I hate character stereotypes. In fact, I hate main characters. They are often too preachy.
I also hate the main female characters who go "oh dear, I'm like so motherly and I will annoy you with my motherly naggingness, and then say "I told you so" when you did something that will obviously go wrong".
I save my love for the anti-heros. Yes. They are awesome and misunderstood and so maligned (and obviously more powerful than that preachy hero!)

In Avatar (the cartoon series) I have loved every character that has appeared. Yes, the main female does nag a little. She is motherly. But no, she is does not overdo it. She is powerful, likeable and has her own struggles, therefore she is able to identify with viewers. Her nagging is what I'd do if I was concerned and worried - and I do not nag. The main character is fun, highly likeable, and not all Goku-ish or Kenshin-esque. Even the villians are understandable - by this I do not mean simple. I mean understandable - everyone is explained and has a depth of character. No one is evil/good/naggy/etc just because they are.

• Awesome fight scenes 

For those of you who know me, I absolutely love a good fight scene. If I see something amiss or something that just would NOT work in their reality, I will be annoyed. Examples? Well, think Star Wars (the older series) fight between Darth Vader and Obi Wan. Seriously, what was with above-the-head-lightsaber-flailing? Just someone stab the other dude in the stomach already. Or force lightning him in the gut. Yea. That'll teach him to constantly keep his lightsaber above his head.

In these series I have thoroughly enjoyed the fight scenes. I could watch them over and over and over again -  in fact, that is what I have been doing. They are absolutely kick-arse. Creative fight scenes corresponding to each elemental fighting style, as well as the individual's personality. And oh, did I mention each art corresponds to a different martial art? In creating the show, the directors actually consulted martial artists. Therefore what you see on screen is highly believable (in that universe), and highly creative, as if they were creating from that universe, as opposed to ours (if you get what I mean).

• Soundtrack

I love the soundtrack. Absolutely. Created with Asian instruments, you can hear the Koto (is this right?) coming through very obviously in some scenes. Epicness. Adds a new dimension of aesthetic beauty to the cartoon.

Background (cartoon)

This universe is divided into 4 nations, each corresponding to the type of elementals certain special individuals called "benders" are able to control. These are loosely based on mostly Asian races the Earth Kingdoms (Korean), Water Tribes (Inuits/most natives in most countries), Air Nomads (Tibetians?? Specifically buddhist monks) and the Fire Nation (Chinese). Only the avatar alone can control all four elements - which he/she uses to create and sustain peace. The avatar has a cycle of reincarnation - in this order: fire, air, water, earth, fire etc. One day the avatar, an air bender disappeared. The Fire Nation took advantage of that situation to totally destroy the Air Nomads, in the hope that this would break the reincarnation cycle of the avatar -  thus the avatar would cease to be, and they could continue subjugating the other nations.

The story begins in the Southern Water tribe - much ravaged by war, they have managed to destroy/capture all but one of the water benders, thus effectively subduing this tribe and possible rebellion. The avatar is found by siblings Katara and Sokka, and from then on begin their journey with Avatar Aang.

Movie

Where do I start. = = I will approach it using bullet points, else I'll ramble and rant.

Characters - they did not stick to an already killer combination.

They skipped out parts of the story. Understandable I suppose when you have to squeeze in...like 8 hours into an hour and a half. But some parts I wanted to see (fight scenes!!!) were such a disappointment.

But I do not understand that they chose to butcher the characters names, and their bending ability. Like WTHECK. In the cartoon the elements responded fluidly to the benders - depending on the skill and ability of the bender. Here....benders danced  and twirled around, and a rock the size of a dinner plate floats across the screen. Cool. Not. Firebenders in the cartoon created fire from nothing. Here you have them take fire from a source. Like wtheck? The reason they could create fire just like that was the reason they were universally feared for their destructive ability. Taking it from a source...makes them look like underpowered morons.

Movie "best" fight scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhgSDqqLxTk - this was rubbish. Pretty, but nothing compared to the cartoon. You should have seen the ones that didn't make it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3x9WmjHDEM

Cartoon fight scenes - now these ones aren't even the best of the best. These are standard-ish fight scenes, and note, some of them aren't even executed by masters of that particular element. The music is from the soundtrack, please watch! :D enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB8XHqWTFK4&feature=related.

They were also all Caucasians. Not that I minded....but ok it has already deviated so far from the cartoon, this is another bit of salt rubbed into an already gaping wound. And the Fire Nation were Indians. Like wtheck? The Fire Nation was based on the Chinese/Japanese people - take a look at their clothes and uh...smaller eyes. Heh. And their buildings, and the fact they wear white for funerals.

[Edit: Ok. He said that anime is something which features culturally ambiguous features. Weeeelll. Lets take a look at Katara. Is there any doubt that she is Inuit? Perhaps the blue eyes are caucasian. Hmm. We'll give him that one. Now lets take a look at Zuko. Slanty eyes, fair skin, black hair and sharp features - Chinese/Japanese or Korean. Most likely Chinese. But oh, he chose Dev Patel (whom I have absolutely nothing against personally). Righttt. They took the Fire Nation and made them Indians. HUH? Chinese =/= Indians the last time I checked.

Oh and according to wiki the casting call was looking for "Caucasians and other ethnicities". ...that seems to single out a particular race. HM.
He also stated that the movie would be the "most culturally diverse tent-pole movies ever released, period". Hahahaha. A bunch of Chinese/Korean/Japanese people running around in the background does not count my friend! Else we'd be calling Rush Hour 2 a 'diverse tent-pole movie'. It shows that Asians can have fun, and kick arse! And hang with zee homies yo! Sigh. Sadface. ]

I also do not understand why they changed characters personalities and looks. Example:

Aang Cartoon - fun, bubbly (even in combat!), hyper, embued with a sense of responsibility and some wisdom. A little bit. Also a strong pacifist.
Aang Film - boring. Boringgggg. Absolutely boringgggg. Afraid. Shallow. However he does look a bit like the cartoon character....Oh. And why is he so bothered that he can't have a family? That is NOT what a 12 year old boy thinks about. And it is contrary to the storyline - the previous Avatar managed to a successful family! Oh that's righttttttttttttt. The movie totally didn't introduce and negated the possibility of an avatar guide, just like in the cartoon!! LOL. Yea, problems with not sticking to the original storyline I suppose, yep.

Katara Cartoon - loyal, passionate about waterbending, motherly and brave. Has a lot of common sense. Pretty (well, pretty as in cartoon pretty).
Katara Film - whiny. Sad and angry. Ok, she is pretty when she smiles, but that said her character was flat and boring.

Sokka Cartoon - hillarious. Absolutely hillarious, scientific mind and also sarcastic and witty. They say he is the comic relief, but all characters are funny. He was just...doubly so.
Sokka Film - This actor was plucked off the set of Twilight. I think he took his vampire face with him, and turned Sokka into a soulless, mirthless bully. He looked like a bully, instead of the mediocre fighter he was at the start of the cartoon. BOOOOOO. The only time he was funny was when it was lamely and unintentionally funny. M Night Shamalamadingdong said it was done to ground him, but I think he buried him. Yep, buried him. And took away his soul.

Zuko Cartoon - My anti-hero <3!! Ok, that aside - another beautifully done character which goes through struggles and changes of sorts in the cartoon. Ruthlessly angry at the start of the first book, he is no stranger to failure.
Zuko Film - Ok. Zuko in the cartoon was very obviously CHINESE, and had a huge scar on his left eye - his defining feature. This dude was played by Dev Patel. Seemed overly aggro for absolutely no reason. And oh, the scar was reduced to a pathetic cosmetic scar and looked like slightly darker and wrinkly skin. Oh pity him. Oh pityy.

Iroh Cartoon - large girth, under average height. Lover of tea and women (not lecherous k?), and by far one of the most skilled firebenders alive. Absolutely hillarious. Stately and warm, father figure to Zuko. And due to the above, absolutely lovable as a character. NOT a carebear ok? There is a difference.
Iroh Film - thin and tall. A great firebender...but still = =. Get this, his nephew and bro are Indian looking and he's a tall thin white guy. Same father & mother, go figure. Oh, and he's all apologetic and subservient, like a servant of high bearing. HE IS NOT A SERVANT. He has never apologized in the cartoon - not because he's stuck up, but he is wise and right, and because he has much royal grace in his actions.

Plot

I felt like I was being told what was going on. Yes, dialogue and action reveals what does go on, but here I felt like I was being told. Dialogue was simplistic. Flat. Unemotional, or weepy, angry or too naive. Yes, the cartoon characters were like that sometimes but that was absolutely believable. It was not overly contrived like the movie.

Some things also felt stupid. Example - if you want to imprison earthbenders, don't freaking imprison them in a canyon filled with earth!!! THEY WILL BEND EARTH AT YOU AND CRUSH YOU. BECAUSE THEY ARE ANGRY THAT YOU ENSLAVED THEM.

Also, it lacked depth. They did not explain certain aspects of the movie properly. This is fine for a short project, but I cannot see how they are planning on creating part 2 and 3 (PLEASE OMIGOSH NO T_T) without going more into depth.

Visuals

Stunning. I would be lying if I said no. I would however have preferred if they coloured clothes more appropriately to the corresponding tribes. And no, when they did this in the cartoon is did not look at all contrived.

Summary

Failure. Please, don't make another one. Please oh please. Just...please get another director to remake this one. It had the ability to create a cult following, and the potential to be as epic (or even more so!) than LOTR. Instead, fans that are totally willing to be pleased (like myself, except more hardcore) are disappointed. Yes, we are disappointed. Disappointed may actually not be the word. Apparently some fans want to stone him. It feels like M Night did not read any of the source material, yet he said he was inspired cause his daughter wanted to dress up as Katara during halloween. Then he made it into a Saturday night family thing, watching Avatar. I wonder if his daughter is disappointed?

Apparently it reached the target it needed to create a sequel, but please, just use the money to make a new first chapter. T_T it will appease the fans! And we will forget it never happened.

I give this a 3/10 - purely for the visuals and the unintended comedic effect.

That said, I absolutely recommend the cartoon, I cannot do this highly enough. It will rival and possibly beat any anime you have seen. Cartoon gets a 11/10!