Movie Review: "The Last Airbender"
Jul. 5th, 2010 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So,
pbray and I went to see The Last Airbender this afternoon. This was not on our "must see" list for the summer (I'm dying to see Inception), but since it was like 100 degree out and neither of us have AC, we decided the movie price might be worth the cost of two hours of air conditioning.
It wasn't.
The movie sucked like you cannot even believe and I'm not even certain I can competently describe it. The acting was bad, starting with the first lines of the movie. The writing was bad, which was not a surprise since, as I discovered at the end of the movie, it was written by M. Night himself. I had gone into the movie thinking that someone ELSE had written this one and so there was hope that M. Night hadn't screwed it up. He did. The plot was horrible and had HUGE GAPING plot holes. And all of this came together in a convergence of sheer stupidity that I nearly walked out of. I only stayed for the AC and the many, many snide comments Patricia and I made to each other throughout the movie.
I think the major problem (besides having M. Night attached to it; why do they keep giving this guy money?) was that it didn't know what it wanted to be. Is it targeted toward the kids? Adults? Somewhere inbetween? I can see some of the horribleness coming from the desire to appeal to the kid market. But then they also seemed to want the adults to take the plot seriously, and in that there was epic fail. NONE of the kids could act. There were brief sparks or moments where I thought we saw the REAL character, the one that was supposed to be on the screen, but they were rare. The only actor who was actually good was the guy who played the uncle. HE was good. And his character should have gotten more screen time, since he became important to the plot AND was attached to the most interesting character out of the entire ensemble: the banished prince.
Aside from those two, everything else sucked, sucked, sucked, sucked, sucked. There are obviously supposed to be two sequels to this movie HOWEVER if there are, if the studio actually decides to fork over more money to this thing, they ABSOLUTELY MUST get someone different to write and direct them. If they don't, there is NO WAY I'll be dragged to the theater to see them.
Not even to escape 100 degree heat.
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It wasn't.
The movie sucked like you cannot even believe and I'm not even certain I can competently describe it. The acting was bad, starting with the first lines of the movie. The writing was bad, which was not a surprise since, as I discovered at the end of the movie, it was written by M. Night himself. I had gone into the movie thinking that someone ELSE had written this one and so there was hope that M. Night hadn't screwed it up. He did. The plot was horrible and had HUGE GAPING plot holes. And all of this came together in a convergence of sheer stupidity that I nearly walked out of. I only stayed for the AC and the many, many snide comments Patricia and I made to each other throughout the movie.
I think the major problem (besides having M. Night attached to it; why do they keep giving this guy money?) was that it didn't know what it wanted to be. Is it targeted toward the kids? Adults? Somewhere inbetween? I can see some of the horribleness coming from the desire to appeal to the kid market. But then they also seemed to want the adults to take the plot seriously, and in that there was epic fail. NONE of the kids could act. There were brief sparks or moments where I thought we saw the REAL character, the one that was supposed to be on the screen, but they were rare. The only actor who was actually good was the guy who played the uncle. HE was good. And his character should have gotten more screen time, since he became important to the plot AND was attached to the most interesting character out of the entire ensemble: the banished prince.
Aside from those two, everything else sucked, sucked, sucked, sucked, sucked. There are obviously supposed to be two sequels to this movie HOWEVER if there are, if the studio actually decides to fork over more money to this thing, they ABSOLUTELY MUST get someone different to write and direct them. If they don't, there is NO WAY I'll be dragged to the theater to see them.
Not even to escape 100 degree heat.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 01:47 am (UTC)That's sad.
Now, as more people on my LJ friends list or my Twitter list see it, the more BAD reviews I see and hear about. Even Ebert bombed the 3d version.
Generally, we go see a movie even if the critics bomb it, because we end up liking it. But after seeing yet another bad review from someone I 'know', I'm inclined to think we need to pass on this one.
In my opinion, M. Night has gone down hill drastically since 'Lady In The Water'. Hubby says it started before that, but, well, we don't agree on everything. Heh. (We made the mistake of seeing 'The Happening' IN the theater. Yeah, that was a big mistake. )
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 04:47 am (UTC)I haven't seen the film yet, but the whitewashing alone makes me want to boycott. I knew it was going to be awful the minute they put M. Night's name on it, and I've got some vindictive pleasure in knowing I was right 8|
If I were you, I wouldn't pay to see it.
Watch the animated series though; that's worth it.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 03:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 11:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 01:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 01:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 01:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 02:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 07:00 am (UTC)You mean they're CONTINUING this travesty? *sigh* Seriously, if you get the chance, watch the actual animated series. It's awesome.
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Date: 2010-07-06 11:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 02:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 02:23 am (UTC)The ending of the series was something of a let-down ... possibly simply because I was sorry it ENDED.
I've been dreading the movie ever since I heard M. Night Shamalama-dingdong was involved. I may ignore its existence completely.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 02:24 am (UTC)The cartoon was as well-done as you describe the movie to be bad. I recommend Netflixing it, or I'd be happy to loan you the DVDs if you're going to New York Comic Con in October.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 02:33 am (UTC)I figured I was never going to see it anyway because of the white-washing, which missed the entire point of the series: harmony from disparate things. I really had high hopes for this and I wanted it to succeed. I enjoyed 'Unbreakable' and "Sixth Sense' so I was hoping that by adapting someone else's work, he'd get his mojo (or something) back. But no, 'twas not to be! Thanks for the review!
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Date: 2010-07-06 02:42 am (UTC)CSH
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Date: 2010-07-06 03:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 06:58 am (UTC)I highly recommend getting your hands on the animated series. And I'm sorry you had to go through such a terrible ordeal...*shudders* There's a reason we decided not to spend our money on that movie.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 08:49 am (UTC)I liked The Sixth Sense. I enjoyed Unbreakable too (although I didn't think it was quite as good). Signs made me roll my eyes. The Village was worse. The Happening was truly, truly awful (the only way I could watch it was with RiffTrax).
EDIT: I forgot Lady in the Water, which was, to be honest, pretty forgettable. It wasn't as bad as The Happening though (*shudder*).
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 03:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 01:57 pm (UTC)From what I've heard of this film, they did touch on all the major notes (specific events) but put the wrong spin on just about all of them (getting rid of all the humor, which wasn't silly in the show, it showed that although these kids were forced to deal with adult responsibilities they were still kids, and so the humor became poignant; giving all of the girl's triumphant moments to boys -- battles, heroic speeches -- and writing her as losing fights that she'd won in the series; letting all the major happenings be covered by voiceover; toning down the impact of the violence.)
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Date: 2010-07-06 09:03 pm (UTC)Once I knew about the whitewashing I knew that I wouldn't be seeing the movie, but this confirms all of my worst expectations for the film.
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Date: 2010-07-06 11:48 pm (UTC)novelists can't get away with doing that kind of "Telling not Showing". How can a movie?
And Katara's awesome.
It's Sokka that has some trouble at the beginning.
Additionally - the humor was what made the more angsty parts (like when Aang finds his mentor's bones) more tear-jerking.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 02:07 pm (UTC)Film option=awesome. M. Night in charge and planning to write screenplay=change your name and move out of the country.
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Date: 2010-07-06 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 03:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 03:16 pm (UTC)I've heard so much bad about this movie, I don't plan to see it. Not even when it's free in the On Demand menu. :P
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Date: 2010-07-06 04:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 10:04 pm (UTC)I hate to cut down kids but- why, oh why would a director pick a kid who can't act?? I read that the kid who played Ang was chosen for his martial arts skills- he'd never acted, and it showed. I didn't know a fight scene could be so drawn out and dull.
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Date: 2010-07-06 11:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 11:42 pm (UTC)the REAL issue was the fact that this movie wasn't written for anyone who hasn't seen the cartoon, nor anyone who HAS! it was just confusing. And stupid.
and Iroh IS frakkin awesome.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-07 02:19 am (UTC)