i screened it because i was going to take my nephews to see it. i decided against taking them. AJ is a smart kid, he had it right. here's the skinny:
casting: terrible. nevermind the racebending for a moment, Rathbone wasn't a good choice for Sokka because he's a bad actor. what kind of person can't show emotion? i mean, that's ok if you're playing in those terrible twilight films, but Sokka is the comic relief. Rathbone wasn't even funny. Peltz: she did look like she was going to cry the whole film. i don't know how she managed to make a dynamic character like Katara pathetic, simpering, and unnecessary to the plot, but she did. Patel: scar? i agree. acting . . . i admit biased toward Basco. i am completely loyal to the original Zuko. always will be. Ringer: had the right look. didn't have Aang's proper personality. its like M. Night S. was trying to fuse Aang with his Avatar personality = way too serious. he didn't even do the air scooter. wtf? the Princess: the only character i have absolutely no issue with. she looked the part, she played her role well.
Story: yes. it was borked. followed some events of Book 1, but changed how those events unfolded, i.e.: Haru and the Earth tribe rebellion which didn't include the metal ship floating in the sea, but like you said, White-people-to-the-rescue on native Earth. Katara didn't fight Zuko, so much as get thrown around and knocked out. i was really disappointed in that. Firebenders couldn't make their own fire. Momo was damn near nonexistent. Random water tribe killed the general. There is nothing between Aang and Katara Suki isn't even mentioned. Aang can't get married and have kids because apparently saviors aren't allowed to do that. ever. Aang didn't go water monster -- actually, this was a better alternative (kills me to say this), but raising the water to demonstrate his power . . . more effective. also, how the princess died -- she waded into the pool and her white hair drained to black as her life energy transferred; very nice and subtle effect.
aside from that, movie was crap. and i think what made it worse besides the name pronunciation changing, was the dialogue altogether. listening to it, it sounded like a second grade play, where the kids are given too many lines with too many big words, and the result is a botched telling that isn't cute and forgivable because it takes too long and tries the parents' patience. you're right, i hope there are no sequels because i couldn't stand to see Toph mutilated -- she's my favorite character (followed very closely by Zuko).
i liked that the Airbender tattoos were actual sigils, could have done without them being turned into a cross, hijacked by Jesus (E and i have laughed for a good two hours now on that). All in all i do agree, could have been HUGE, ended up another sad testament to the world we live in.
And, yes, Dante Basco got turned down, i read his interview. it is weird to think of his age. i have had the hugest crush on him since he was a Lost Boy in Hook. between Rufio and Don't Ask (grin) E wondered why i watched that movie constantly.
(points down) i don't deal in Mac products if i can help it. i torrented all three books and burned them to DVD. been marathoning with my father and brother. we're having lots of fun watching.
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casting: terrible. nevermind the racebending for a moment, Rathbone wasn't a good choice for Sokka because he's a bad actor. what kind of person can't show emotion? i mean, that's ok if you're playing in those terrible twilight films, but Sokka is the comic relief. Rathbone wasn't even funny.
Peltz: she did look like she was going to cry the whole film. i don't know how she managed to make a dynamic character like Katara pathetic, simpering, and unnecessary to the plot, but she did.
Patel: scar? i agree. acting . . . i admit biased toward Basco. i am completely loyal to the original Zuko. always will be.
Ringer: had the right look. didn't have Aang's proper personality. its like M. Night S. was trying to fuse Aang with his Avatar personality = way too serious. he didn't even do the air scooter. wtf?
the Princess: the only character i have absolutely no issue with. she looked the part, she played her role well.
Story: yes. it was borked. followed some events of Book 1, but changed how those events unfolded, i.e.:
Haru and the Earth tribe rebellion which didn't include the metal ship floating in the sea, but like you said, White-people-to-the-rescue on native Earth.
Katara didn't fight Zuko, so much as get thrown around and knocked out. i was really disappointed in that.
Firebenders couldn't make their own fire.
Momo was damn near nonexistent.
Random water tribe killed the general.
There is nothing between Aang and Katara
Suki isn't even mentioned.
Aang can't get married and have kids because apparently saviors aren't allowed to do that. ever.
Aang didn't go water monster -- actually, this was a better alternative (kills me to say this), but raising the water to demonstrate his power . . . more effective. also, how the princess died -- she waded into the pool and her white hair drained to black as her life energy transferred; very nice and subtle effect.
aside from that, movie was crap. and i think what made it worse besides the name pronunciation changing, was the dialogue altogether. listening to it, it sounded like a second grade play, where the kids are given too many lines with too many big words, and the result is a botched telling that isn't cute and forgivable because it takes too long and tries the parents' patience. you're right, i hope there are no sequels because i couldn't stand to see Toph mutilated -- she's my favorite character (followed very closely by Zuko).
i liked that the Airbender tattoos were actual sigils, could have done without them being turned into a cross, hijacked by Jesus (E and i have laughed for a good two hours now on that). All in all i do agree, could have been HUGE, ended up another sad testament to the world we live in.
And, yes, Dante Basco got turned down, i read his interview. it is weird to think of his age. i have had the hugest crush on him since he was a Lost Boy in Hook. between Rufio and Don't Ask (grin) E wondered why i watched that movie constantly.
(points down) i don't deal in Mac products if i can help it. i torrented all three books and burned them to DVD. been marathoning with my father and brother. we're having lots of fun watching.