Fig 1: Netflix’ Live Action Avatar First Image (Netflix)
Collective memory is stained with the failure that was the original live action Avatar remake ten years ago, but now the feat is being attempted once more. This time by Netflix. Netflix began production of a live action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005) in 2018 and the series has been the subject of controversy since.
What Is Avatar?
Avatar: The Last Airbender, was a series released on Nickelodeon in 2005, which has remained popular to this day due to the quality of the series. The show is about a world in which people have the power to control different elements of nature (Water, Earth, Fire and Air) and four nations based on these elements. The main character, Aang, is the avatar and has the ability to control all four. Before the series begins he falls into a coma and only wakes up after 100 years only to find out that a great war(lasting the full 100 years) has been happening in the time he was gone. The story is about Aang’s adventure to end the war.
The series was widely popular and spawned sequels, comics, novels, video games, and in the summer of 2010, its first live-action remake.
Fig 2: Avatar: The Last Airbender Cartoon Cover (Nickelodeon)
The Source of Controversy
The original live-action remake, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, is one of the most widely hated movies in existence with a stunning 5% on Rotten Tomatoes, a major media reviewing site. With one reviewer describing it as: “the worst film [they’ve] seen in years.” This film suffers from a few major flaws, which are: special effects, casting and the movie just being generally boring.
First, the cast, the original tv show was based on ancient Chinese, and Inuit culture. With references to these cultures blatantly shown in some cases and subtly in others. However, for the movie the main characters who were clearly east asian or Inuit were replaced with actors of a different race.
Secondly, the special effects. In a movie with magic powers, special effects are incredibly important, but, as shown, the special effects in the movie are almost an insult to the audience.
Finally, the script and acting make the movie worse, as it is difficult to find good child actors. This movie is the main cause for concern about the Netflix adaptation of Avatar.
Fig 3: The Last Airbender Special Effects (Nickelodeon)
Netflix' Remake
There is very little information currently available about the new Netflix adaptation. However, what is known is that they seem to be taking the criticism that the movie got to heart. In August Netflix revealed the cast for the new show. The actors are from accurate cultural backgrounds for the roles. Which can bring a bit of cautious hope for fans of the show, as at the very least it shows they are paying attention to past failures.
What might make fans of the show apprehensive about the remake is that the original creators, Michael Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko dropped out of production in the summer of last year. Michael Dimartino explained that he left the project to protect his “happiness and creative integrity.”
Fig 4: Cast of Netflix' Avatar Remake(Netflix)
Bibliography
Alexander, Julia. “Avatar: The Last Airbender Creators Quit Netflix Live-Action Adaptation over Creative Differences.” The Verge, 12 Aug. 2020, www.theverge.com/2020/8/12/21365329/avatar-last-airbender-netflix-live-action-michael-dante-dimartino-bryan-konietzko-departure. Accessed 15 Sept. 2021.
Ebert, Roger. “The Last Airbender Movie Review (2010) | Roger Ebert.” Rogerebert.com, RogerEbert.com, 30 June 2010, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-airbender-2010.
“The Last Airbender.” Rotten Tomatoes, 8 Mar. 2009, www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender.
Netflix. “Cast of Netflix’ Avatar Remake,” Netflix.
Netflix. “Netflix’ Live Action Avatar First Image,” Netflix.
Nickelodeon. “Avatar: The Last Airbender Cartoon Cover,” Nickelodeon.
Nickelodeon. “The Last Airbender Special Effects,” Nickelodeon.
Patches, Matt. “Netflix Announces Cast, Creatives for the Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Polygon, 12 Aug. 2021, www.polygon.com/22621432/avatar-the-last-airbender-netflix-cast-creator. Accessed 15 Sept. 2021