The Like/Hate Thread

[Ashe]

Like: Last Airbender

I know there's a lot of people that are really upset about the movie. Some people are annoyed at the races, some are annoyed at the pronunciation, some are annoyed because it's not exactly the same as the show.

My philosophy is, if you just wanted to see the show again, watch the show again. I personally love the show, and I felt that this did a fairly good job of entertaining me...which is what movies are supposed to do. Yes, I wish Sokka had been more funny, and I wish there had been some Kyoshi Warrior action. But I liked the movie.

And the waterbending was fucking AMAZING looking.

I can't wait for the sequel. Azula is such a great villain, and Toph is awesome.

That's kinda my stance. I think here's what I'd say... Graphics - A, Fight Choreography - B, Story - B (Great story, but the "hidden vision" bullshit was overdone), Pacing - D (It was entirely too jumpy and just tried to rush from scene to scene), Acting - ...D, and that's being nice.

I was happy with the Fire Nation son and uncle's acting. They were probably the best actors in the movie when it came to their characters, the uncle being the top tier. I didn't think Katara was that bad, though her lines were kinda shit. I think Sokka did kinda eh, ok, given that he didn't exactly get to say all that much. The Fire Nation ruler was crappy for an actor. The Princess did a pretty good job in my opinion. And then we get to Aang. Poor, poor goddamn terrible acting Aang. The kid has the look, he has the voice... But I'm sorry, he can't act for shit.

I went with friends, but ended up in a different room than all of them, so these opinions were made independently between my wife, myself, and one other friend. My wife was the only one that's seen the entire series. We were overall fairly happy with it, and will definitely see the next movies. We definitely felt it was worth our money (although I agree that it wasn't worth 3D, as the movie was clearly not filmed in 3D and merely touched up after the fact to get an effect). I was entertained and that's all I ask, to be honest. It was enjoyable. Azula looks like she really is going to be badass and from the glimpses we got of her, she seems like she'll really fit the part, according to my wife. Spoiler for anyone who doesn't know much about the show.

[spoiler]She seems like she's hyper anxious to try to kill her brother, to the point of nearly being a nutcase all Harry Potter movie psychobitch style (Bella La'strange or however it is spelled).[/spoiler]

I can forgive the pacing as well. I understand that it has to be difficult to compact ten hours of anime story into two hours. So I'll accept it and hope the DVD has some extended footage.

I can't forgive Aang's acting, or lack thereof. Seriously, make him take some classes. I am certain they picked him off the voice and looks and had been looking through martial arts students for this guy. He fits all that. Now teach your actor to act. Examples?

The moment you see him, he just kinda opens his eyes all calmly and turns to look at the group. They kinda think he's awake, and then he just turns his head back and closes his eyes again, as if cued to do so. They explain that he looks weak, but the thing is, he didn't convey being weak and unable to keep his eyes open. No, he looks like he flat out turned his head, opened his eyes, waited for the cue to shut them, then did so.

70% of the time when he's talking to someone, its nearly emotionless and not "in character". You have him and the Fire Nation kid talking, and Aang is like "Who are you?" in the calmest 'reading my lines for the tenth time in a row' voice ever. Fire Nation kid snaps back in full rage, completely in his character, "You are my prisoner! Don't even try to escape!" Aang just waits for him to finish, then, as if cued again, goes "What do you want with me?" again in that 'reading off an index card' voice. There's no character in it, he's just talking like he's placing an order at a drive through.

Pretty much all my friends hated the movie and stick that anime should never be made into anything non-animated with original Japanese voices (aside from a few exceptions like this series). I personally enjoyed the hell out of it, those major problems aside, and point back at Teemer's comments regarding the small changes. From what my wife and I concluded, the changes they did make to the story were for the better (manipulating elements vs creating it from chi, the final battle's climatic ending, the peacebringer thing, etc). She wasn't a fan of the pronunciation of names, but I didn't mind given that to me, Aa sounds like AHHHHH rather than AYYY. I'd probably feel different if I'd seen the series first.

I will be buying it when its on DVD/Blu-Ray. I'll also be hoping they make enough money to finish the series. I'll also be hoping they send Aang to acting school and replace Shyamalon.

According to my wife, as long as they show the Hama story, all is forgiven, and she really wants to see Azula in action.