32 votes

Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ live-action series: First look at Aang, Katara, Sokka and Zuko

18 comments

  1. [4]
    Ecrapsnud
    Link
    Not sure how people feel about the prospect of another live action adaptation, but at the very least I think it's nice to see things heading in a different direction from the movie.

    Not sure how people feel about the prospect of another live action adaptation, but at the very least I think it's nice to see things heading in a different direction from the movie.

    11 votes
    1. [3]
      Interesting
      Link Parent
      There is no movie in Ba Sing Se... In all seriousness, my concern is that Avatar isn't necessarily a show that will translate well to live action -- I can imagine the necessary choreography has to...

      There is no movie in Ba Sing Se...

      In all seriousness, my concern is that Avatar isn't necessarily a show that will translate well to live action -- I can imagine the necessary choreography has to be incredibly complex for a child actor. I just don't see what a live action version could do that the original series couldn't. Unless they're intending to go "grittier"? But I suspect that would make the fandom pretty angry, though that would explain the creators having left this project years ago.

      19 votes
      1. cokedragon
        Link Parent
        This right here. I think about how even Disney felt the need to make The Little Mermaid more serious because there's this stigma about live action having to be serious, and then I think about how...

        This right here. I think about how even Disney felt the need to make The Little Mermaid more serious because there's this stigma about live action having to be serious, and then I think about how this show is going to be presented in 8 hour-long episodes. It's nauseating, and there's definitely no space to execute new stuff, build better relationships among the characters, etc. It has to just be a more serious/gritty presentation. And that's not gonna go well.

        2 votes
      2. Darthvadercake
        Link Parent
        Even if it's decent I probably won't be watching. There seems to be a trend to remake old popular items instead of just writing new ones. Harry Potter is getting remade, ghost busters, hours of...

        Even if it's decent I probably won't be watching.

        There seems to be a trend to remake old popular items instead of just writing new ones. Harry Potter is getting remade, ghost busters, hours of disney movies that can't hold a candle to the originals...

        That cast line-up looks great. And it's diverse. How much better would it be to just make a brand new fantasy movie with that cast? That I would go and see.

  2. [3]
    moocow1452
    (edited )
    Link
    You can say a lot of bad things about Shamalan's The Last Airbender, but I think costume and makeup were on point in that they don't look necessarily like people from the Water Tribe or the Air...

    You can say a lot of bad things about Shamalan's The Last Airbender, but I think costume and makeup were on point in that they don't look necessarily like people from the Water Tribe or the Air Nomads, but they do look enough like indigenous people in the Artic or nomadic monks who have mountain temples. The costumes here look like they're color balanced directly from the show, and in the context of a live action photo shoot, they're a little off-putting.

    10 votes
    1. owyn_merrilin
      Link Parent
      I don't know, I kind of like it. It avoids that problem pre-Iron Man super hero movies had with the characters wearing toned down costumes and the whole thing coming off like everyone involved in...

      I don't know, I kind of like it. It avoids that problem pre-Iron Man super hero movies had with the characters wearing toned down costumes and the whole thing coming off like everyone involved in the production was embarrassed by the source material as a result.

      Besides, the past was a lot more colorful than we tend to believe. I don't know about Asia, but In the European middle ages and on back to antiquity, people wore the brightest colors they could afford. The idea that it was all brown and poop smeared was more something that came from movies in the 70s trying to do something more realistic than old Hollywood technicolor pieces like the Errol Flynn Robin Hood. But the truth is for all of the Hollywood softening of the historical middle ages, when it comes to the colors of the clothing, those garish technicolor rainbows were closer to reality than the sea of brown we expect today.

      10 votes
    2. virtualbub
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      That was my impression as well...the level of detail in matching the cartoon here is remarkable. But it's just that...excellent cosplay. Live action will not necessarily afford the same suspension...

      That was my impression as well...the level of detail in matching the cartoon here is remarkable. But it's just that...excellent cosplay. Live action will not necessarily afford the same suspension of disbelief. If the goal is to be as close to a 1:1 recreation as possible...what exactly is the point in all this?

      3 votes
  3. [2]
    xothist
    Link
    Not really thrilled that the original creators have left the project since I last checked in. I'm also not sure that having child actors perform intricate choreography is going to be an easy sell...

    Not really thrilled that the original creators have left the project since I last checked in. I'm also not sure that having child actors perform intricate choreography is going to be an easy sell on screen either. I do hope the series is well received but I think I'll just rewatch the animated series and its phenomenal sequel again.

    8 votes
    1. 0x29A
      Link Parent
      Yeah without the original creators involved I am not interested in this at all anymore.

      Yeah without the original creators involved I am not interested in this at all anymore.

  4. [3]
    burntcookie90
    Link
    Man, the arrow tattoo does not translate well j to real life…

    Man, the arrow tattoo does not translate well j to real life…

    7 votes
    1. [2]
      teruma
      Link Parent
      That was one thing I liked about the last... attempt.

      That was one thing I liked about the last... attempt.

      4 votes
      1. cduff77
        Link Parent
        100% the intricate, ornate style of that attempt fit much better in line action.

        100% the intricate, ornate style of that attempt fit much better in line action.

        3 votes
  5. [2]
    selib
    Link
    I am convinced these live action adaptations are a money laundering scheme

    I am convinced these live action adaptations are a money laundering scheme

    3 votes
    1. zerounodos
      Link Parent
      Most streaming services are money laundering schemes. Damn, half of Sillicon Valley at this point, too.

      Most streaming services are money laundering schemes.
      Damn, half of Sillicon Valley at this point, too.

  6. Good_Apollo
    Link
    Honestly I don’t see the point in adapting everything. Forcing live action remakes or animation is just a symptom of the battle over animation being considered something more than empty children’s...

    Honestly I don’t see the point in adapting everything. Forcing live action remakes or animation is just a symptom of the battle over animation being considered something more than empty children’s entertainment.

    ATLA is unlikely to be improved by making it live action.

    2 votes
  7. [2]
    mayonuki
    Link
    Ang looks a little young and Sokka looks a little old to me.

    Ang looks a little young and Sokka looks a little old to me.

    1 vote
    1. teruma
      Link Parent
      Aang is 12, Sokka 15? Aang might look a bit lower but Sokka I think is ok.

      Aang is 12, Sokka 15? Aang might look a bit lower but Sokka I think is ok.

      4 votes
  8. Gunther
    Link
    I know I shouldn't get excited about this adaptation because all past experience has taught me that I shouldn't, but gosh darn it, this is a little exciting.

    I know I shouldn't get excited about this adaptation because all past experience has taught me that I shouldn't, but gosh darn it, this is a little exciting.

    1 vote