The Last Airbender.

[Mattpfeil]

I never watched the show, but the new trailer looks as if this movie may be worth at the least renting when it comes out.

Superbowl ad

[Jurgy]

I think it is going to be pretty good. I'm a big fan of Mr. Night, plust it's got kung-fu and magic. I really can't wait for the DVD release to watch on my tv.

[Azsnas]

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wow, i watched every episode of this show, now a movie!!!! oh, yeah !

[AkuTheGreat]

Comes out this Thursday, July 1st. As a fan of the show, I'm cautiously optimistic that the movie will at least capture some of what made the show great.

[Guirec730]

I love kung fu, hate M. Night (except for Unbreakable), and know nothing of the series.

Sounds like a maybe-I'll-netflix-it sorta thing.

[AkuTheGreat]

The show is a blend of anime and US cartoons. It's incredibly well done and balances humor and lightheartedness with much darker themes. The characters are incredibly well done. Over the course of the three seasons they develop in meaningful and significant ways. I highly recommend it.

[Guirec730]

The show is a blend of anime and US cartoons. It's incredibly well done and balances humor and lightheartedness with much darker themes. The characters are incredibly well done. Over the course of the three seasons they develop in meaningful and significant ways. I highly recommend it.

I hate anime, know very little about modern US cartoons, and love great characters.

Yep, still right where I was.

Could you describe the humor versus the drama? Are we talking slapstick DBZ humor? That wouldn't appeal to me.

[AkuTheGreat]

Definitely wouldn't describe it as DBZ humor. Much more charming. There is some slapstick, but it doesn't feel abrasive or forced.

Amazon actually lets you purchase individual episodes. If you don't mind spending $2.00 you could buy the pilot episode. I'm sure there are other, cheaper methods of watching it but that's what I would do.

[Guirec730]

Would it be age-appropriate for a seven year old boy? It would be easier for me to justify investing time in a Nick show if I was doing it with the wee lad.

He's into the 90's Spiderman cartoon and Sonic X and that vein of show. I don't think he's quite ready for Batman the Animated Series (just to give you an idea of what content I find okay for him).

[AkuTheGreat]

Absolutely. Despite some of the show's darker moments, it never oversteps the line of age appropriateness designated by its TV Y7 rating.

[Guirec730]

Absolutely. Despite some of the show's darker moments, it never oversteps the line of age appropriateness designated by its TV Y7 rating.

Fair enough, but I think a lot of Y7 shows aren't appropriate for a well-adjusted seven year old (Spongebob comes to mind). Still, thanks for the input.

[AkuTheGreat]

Agreed. Worry not though, the care taken by the creators and writers of the show is evident. The themes present throughout the show are delivered in such a way as to encourage well developed thought. It is entertainment yes, but it also has some great life lessons presented in a respectful manner.

[hitemhigh]

Fair enough, but I think a lot of Y7 shows aren't appropriate for a well-adjusted seven year old (Spongebob comes to mind). Still, thanks for the input.

you could watch an episode or two online to get a better feel for it.
http://www.animefreak.tv/avatar/book-one-water

[prodigy1998]

I love kung fu, hate M. Night (except for Unbreakable)

gotta agree with this entirely

I hate anime, know very little about modern US cartoons, and love great characters.

hate anime??? some or all??? there are some very well written ones out there bud...
my fave...
try watching " S-Cry-Ed " , it's a very well written anime...and full of action
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-CRY-ed

or " full metal alchemist " , great story that builds for the whole series, and comes to a close with a movie that ties up everything...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Metal_Alchemist

or " Trigun " , it does have some odd comedy at parts, but has a awesome story & action that builds as you go through the episodes...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigun

also just my opinion , but i felt DBZ was a awesome show, kinda had hit and miss comedy, but i loved the detail to the fights...

and i haven't watched all of the airbender shows but from what i've seen its real good with a progressive story....
from what i've heard the movie kinda sums up the whole first season of the show...

[Guirec730]

I hate anime in general. Giant robots and floaty magic battles don't generally do it for me.

Ghost in the Shell is one of the best shows I've ever seen, though. I feel like we will look back on it in the future in awe of how accurate certain elements of it turned out to be.

I also enjoyed Cowboy Bebop and Berserk, and a few movies (Jin-Roh is probably the most emotional piece of film I've ever seen, and who doesn't like Akira? It's brilliant).

But, yes, most anime has a huge uphill battle to win with me.

[FoxbaT]

Based on the traillers I´m seeing on TV this movie looks pretty cool.

I totally want to see it!

[Sw0ll_MC25]

I agree 100% with everything Guirec has said. Ghost in the shell is good.

As far as airbender goes, I might see it at the theater. Theaters in Vegas are different. I get nice and buzzed at the bar, drop some money on video poker, then go to the movie. Or get buzzed chuck a bowling ball at some pins then watch the movie... followed by a hooker or two...

[Redenbacher09]

Glad to see your priorities in order

[Sw0ll_MC25]

of course they are. You get the hookers first, its not good, sometimes they leave a rash. And no one wants to sit a movie when they have an itch...

[Maawdawg]

Pretty sure this is hitting in 3D as well, which may push me over the edge to go see it in the next couple weeks. 3D can make movies better for sure and this one looks to have enough effects to have that be the case. I certainly enjoyed Avatar more in 3d than I did watching it at home last month.

[CannabisPrime]

Love the show, can't wait for the movie. Though, I'm sure there will be things I don't like about it. M. Night has a tendency of annoying me in every one of his movies, and even though Avatar: The Last Airbender already has a story written, I am sure he'll completely Shyamalan it up and make me hate him once again.

Regardless, I will likely be seeing this as soon as possible, cause unless it's a complete and total destruction of the series (Which it already can't be, from the trailers I've seen) it will be well worth the cost of the ticket.

[AkuTheGreat]

This was awesome, for me.

I was very impressed by how faithful of an adaption it was. Condensing 20 episodes worth of content is no easy task, but the movie did a fantastic job of it. So many scenarios from the episodes replicated. There are many differences of course, but none are unforgivable. I expected that adapting an animated television show into a live action movie would inevitably lead to differences. The humor is toned down, but I felt that the essence of the Avatar world was still there.

That being said however, I cannot accurately relay the quality of the film for someone who knows nothing of the series. Reviews seem to rating it as abysmal.

I look forward to Book Two: Earth and Book Three: Fire, naysayers be damned.

[CannabisPrime]

So, if you're a fan of the series you'll enjoy the movie?

[AkuTheGreat]

That's a tough call. Like you said though, it's far from a complete and total destruction of the series. I can see fans with irrational expectations being upset about certain changes, but as long as you go into it with realistic expectations you should definitely enjoy yourself.

Edit: MovieBob from the Escapist sums up my thoughts quite well: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/vide...Last-Airbender

[kouper]

This was awesome, for me.

I was very impressed by how faithful of an adaption it was. Condensing 20 episodes worth of content is no easy task, but the movie did a fantastic job of it. So many scenarios from the episodes replicated. There are many differences of course, but none are unforgivable. I expected that adapting an animated television show into a live action movie would inevitably lead to differences. The humor is toned down, but I felt that the essence of the Avatar world was still there.

That being said however, I cannot accurately relay the quality of the film for someone who knows nothing of the series. Reviews seem to rating it as abysmal.

I look forward to Book Two: Earth and Book Three: Fire, naysayers be damned.

See I disagree, they made massive changes to characters plot devices omitted major characters and killed one off who was in all 3 seasons. The humor is removed almost entirely. The action is.... Well it was super super slow. The bending was anyways, which is sad because there was great potential there.

As far as casting goes... there are some places I take issue with, but they changed the characters enough that it doesn't matter as much

The cinematography seemed to have been done by a college student, take a few good angles and reuse them every single scene of the movie.

I think it'd be quite a bit easier for someone not super familiar with the series to enjoy it then someone who was.... We actually just watched the whole Series last week in anticipation of this....

I may sound super harsh, but I did enjoy it I just disagree with a lot of the choices made, and I have seen one movie that covered an entire season in one movie quite well, death note.... Oh well. Hopefully Book 2 is better and shamalamadingdong is kept away from writing the script....

Oh, and changing characters names because you feel like they sound more authentic is just lame. Especially because the cultures don't exist in our universe there's no reason to apply the pronunciation rules of a non english language in our universe in them.

Again just bein a tad harsher then I should be, but.... it didn't quite fulfill my expectations... we'll see how the next one is....