Posted 05 July 2010 - 10:33 AM
I pretty much anticipated it making a strong weekend. After all, Airbender does have a strong fanbase that would want to check out the adaptation, and like I said, if nothing else, Shamylan did a great job marketing and selling it as a revolutionary movie (it certainly fooled me). However, I really don't think they're going to give the green light the other two movies. Even if it does turn a profit, the reactions from critics and fans from this one were so abysmal that as an executive, I would think that drawing in the same crowd would be impossible. Some may point out the success of Pirates of the Caribbean, Transformers, and the Matrix franchise as examples of movies that did well financially but not with critics and a good portion of the fanbase. However, keep in mind that these franchises first movies started out with generally favorable reviews and created fan bases. And when the hating began, it was mostly against the sequels, not the first movie. If you're first film in a series just pisses everyone off, you're going to have problems. And even those who bash the movies I mentioned above, the general opinion was that they were bad, but not unwatchable, plus many understood why people went to watch those movies (A-list actors and awesome special effects). Not to mention that at least one movie in those series were very memorable to audiences, and the thing that keeps pulling even the most cynical in is the hope that they'll get it right again. The Last Airbender has none of those in my opinion. That first movie was just agonizing, and even if I hear the next two are improvements, I won't be able to make myself watch them; it's hard to get into a story if the begining is terrible.
They shouldn't be thinking sequel, they should reboot it. They'll probably have to wait a while so everyone will forget about this movie, but Nickelodeon can take that time to think about everything they've done wrong with the first and get some good writers to come up with something different. I will admit that picking a good director would be a challenge, but just look into those who have a good track record and see if they're interested in doing fantasy (and get the series). Here are some of my ideas to reboot the franchise:
1) Title it Avatar Aang. From a marketing perspective, it's probably best to avoid putting "The Last Airbender" in the title
2) Split each book in two. Film one but present the two halves as seperate movies that to a degree can stand on their own.
3) Cast ethnically correct as close as possible. Yes, we've been through this before; that it's not the race but the acting skills that matter. While I agree that actors shouldn't be chosen SOLELY because of their ethnicity, you do want to cast correctly. Doing the same casting call Shamylan did would be like getting John Cho to play Superman or Will Smith as Batman; they're not the characters that the masses identified with. Besides, they did make Catwoman a black woman and look how that turned out. And if a studio cast Blade, Storm, or War Machine as white people, there would be outrage. Changing ethnicity of a character works best when there's no specific rule stating the character has to be that race and when their race is irrelevant to their character, especially if they're a minor character; a liberty the Avatar world does not have. Plus, a reboot does NOT need another boycott; it needs all the GOOD press it can get, and as I said before, I've noticed a disturbing pattern where casting what should be an asian character as white does not automatically become the reason the movie sucks, but rather an omen that it WILL on every other important element. Really, the reboot does not need to go through this crap again, and a studio may as well try.
Some ideas on my take on what the "hextilogy" should be (if that's a real word)
Movie 1: The Boy in the Iceberg
Mostly focuses on Aang breaking free from the iceberg and befriending Katara and Sokka, and begining his rivalry with Zuko. Learns his responsibilities, sees what the fire nation is doing to the world. Ends with Aang meeting Roku and realizing what he must accomplish. One new thing to add would be the prison factory from the first season, this time with the Kyoshi Warriors helping out. Cut Zhao and Zuko's Agni Kai, and have Iroh narrate to the crew what happened to Zuko like they did in the animated series. Also, have Aang captured in the fire temple, but incorporate the Blue Spirit here.
Movie 2: Siege of the North
Aang arrives at the North Pole to learn Waterbending. Include Yue's engagement, the Patriarchal customs of the Northern Tribe. Show Aang meeting Koh. After the moon spirit is killed, the ocean spirit posseses Aang and begins to wreek havoc on everything, with Iroh saying unless balance is restored, the ocean spirit will destroy everything (from here Yue becomes the new moon spirit). All in all, probably the most faithful if they do it like I say. Also, incorporate elements from Zuko and Zhao's Angni Kai in their final showdown.
Movie 3: The Blind Bandit
Introduces Toph and Azula & co. Focus on the difficulty of Toph fitting in the group, plus Zuko begins to see what his country is doing to the rest of the world. This one for me is fairly vague to describe, but I think you get the point.
Movie 4: Fall of Ba Sing Se
More or less a faithful retelling of the end of book 2. The only thing I have to add is Toph taking on both Mai and Ty Lee.
Movie 5: The Black Sun
Aang recovers from a coma and prepares to invade during the eclipse. Zuko laments about regaining his right as the crown prince, but comes to the conclusion that he was wrong about what he did. Invasion fails, but team Avatar lives to fight another day. After accepting Zuko, the two meet the Sun Warriors and learn the true form of Firebending (ends here). There should also be a scene of Sokka sparring with Pien Dao to show he's been learning swordsmanship, and also have Aang kiss Katara (of course). During the confrontation with Azula, have Azula take Suki hostage and force them to meet the firelord, where he tries to zap Aang with lightning but Zuko comes in time to redirect it. During the invasion, I'd also include Jet, just as a cameo.
Movie 6: Sozin's comet
Pretty similar to what was already put in cartoon format. Don't have much to add, except maybe Zuko being reunited with his mother, and showing some hope for Azula. Maybe some dialogue between Aang and Katara before they kiss.
I really hope they decide to go with a reboot, because even those who anticipated Night to screw up the franchise didn't think he would do so THIS badly. Hoping that we'll go from the Joel Shumacer of Avatar to our Christopher Nolan...
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