The First Teaser for M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Last Airbender'
Filed under: Action, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Paramount, Fandom, Family Films, Movie Marketing, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, Trailers and Clips
One of these days, I'll actually get through Book One of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but probably not before M. Night Shyamalan buries me and my Cinematical cohorts under a slew of trailers and photos. But hey, this is the kind of thing that should appeal to the clueless non-fans as well as the Avatar devoted, so perhaps approaching it from the vantage point of a newbie is a good thing.
But whether you're a newbie or a longtime fan, this teaser trailer for Shyamalan's The Last Airbender (now officially dropping the Avatar preface) doesn't reveal a heck of a lot. The staff wielding is pretty kickass, effects are good, the music makes me want a noodle bowl something fierce, and the voiceover makes me feel like a kid listening to Don LaFontaine. The shot at the end of unknown baddies coming to blast our chosen one to bits is pretty awesome, if a bit evovative of Troy. But if I hadn't been told by friends that this is a series worth watching, I would brush the trailer off as a cheesy ripoff of every Asian movie I'd ever seen, and rap its knuckles for its unrepentant quoting of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. You never, ever want to make a "chosen line" quote in your trailer in a post Phantom Menace world.
However, that's my uneducated take. Let's hear yours, Airbender fans. The trailer is below the jump, and the movie hits theaters on July 2, 2010.
But whether you're a newbie or a longtime fan, this teaser trailer for Shyamalan's The Last Airbender (now officially dropping the Avatar preface) doesn't reveal a heck of a lot. The staff wielding is pretty kickass, effects are good, the music makes me want a noodle bowl something fierce, and the voiceover makes me feel like a kid listening to Don LaFontaine. The shot at the end of unknown baddies coming to blast our chosen one to bits is pretty awesome, if a bit evovative of Troy. But if I hadn't been told by friends that this is a series worth watching, I would brush the trailer off as a cheesy ripoff of every Asian movie I'd ever seen, and rap its knuckles for its unrepentant quoting of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. You never, ever want to make a "chosen line" quote in your trailer in a post Phantom Menace world.
However, that's my uneducated take. Let's hear yours, Airbender fans. The trailer is below the jump, and the movie hits theaters on July 2, 2010.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-23-2009 @ 10:15AM
Stunbunny said...
Avatar: The Last Airbender is indeed a high point in recent animated kids' fare amongst the cavalcade of crap. It's Americanized Anime done very well, with action and humor and a compelling ongoing mythology.
Having said that, I hope M. Knight can do a better job with licensed characters and story than he can with water-weak aliens and killer trees.
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6-23-2009 @ 12:46PM
njsidekick3 said...
...is that not the kid from 300? a young Leonidas?
6-23-2009 @ 10:19AM
Mike said...
I don't know if he was trying to make a martial arts film or not, but he's going to have to do better than that.
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6-23-2009 @ 10:44AM
Alex said...
This makes me cry...cry foul that is. Part of the greatness that was Avatar: The Last Airbender was the brightly animated world that contrasted the dark content. Moving it to live action could have been done, but the color scheme shown here really messes up the mood and tone that made it so great.
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6-23-2009 @ 10:50AM
Ryan Gonzalez said...
I just hope the writing is as witty and interesting, and the plot as exciting, as the original show. With the original creators of the show writing — as apposed to some of Shyamalan's own (bad) work — I think the writing will be great.
The effects look good and the ending scene looks epic. With Shyamalan NOT writing, I think this film will live up to the expectations set by this excellent animated series.
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6-23-2009 @ 11:05AM
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6-23-2009 @ 11:09AM
Sam said...
As a die hard Avatar fan, I was a little disappointed by the first part of the trailer. But once we pulled away from Aang's staff wielding and showed the air temple and the fire navy ships, I can pretty much say this looks (so far) like a great representation of the animated show. The temple looked amazing, and the ships were dead on as far as I could tell. Here's hoping!
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6-23-2009 @ 12:05PM
Jude said...
It does looks like a rip off of every Asian film you've ever seen doesn't it? But this time there are no Asians in the film! Horray! (i'm being sarcastic btw, and am pretty pissed off)
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6-23-2009 @ 1:45PM
TheCritic28 said...
But if you think about it, the show is a rip off of every single Asian anime. Then again, I prefer the word omage.
6-23-2009 @ 12:40PM
Kylie said...
Avatar has been one of my favorites forever, and I am pumped to hear about this movie, but then I hear M. Night Shamalan is making it? He is going to ruin it, The Happening was the stupidest movie of all time, and let's just pray this isn't like that. Also, Jackson Rathbone as Sokka? I mean, really? I won't be able to get his Jasper Hale hair out of my head, and he certainly doesn't look like a Sokka. And also the voices will be off, which will suck, but I guess it's okay if the characters look like them. Aang looks okay, but like I said, JACKSON RATHBONE??? I'm as big a Twilight fan as any, but do we really have to bring Twilight to Avatar?
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6-23-2009 @ 1:48PM
TheCritic28 said...
Yeah, I'm pretty pissed about that too. And the kid is like 20. With that age, they should of just got Jack DeSena. Hey could look like Sokka if he got a tan, which is basically what Rasbourne has to get. But then again, maybe Rasbourne will surprise us and be good as Sokka.
6-23-2009 @ 3:06PM
Ashley said...
The only reason his other movies sucked is because he wrote them. He didn't write this movie, the actual creators of the series did, its been confirmed. Anything he wanted to change he has to go to the creators and they have to allow it, so if the movies plot sucks its their fault. He is only directing this time, that means no crappy writing( unless the creators screw up), and no twist. People really need to understand that he is only directing, this is not his creation so the only way he can mess up is he does a bad job directing, the writing should be solid.
6-23-2009 @ 1:58PM
Rufus said...
Anybody else notice, The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi is in it? Hehe, now that's funny
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6-23-2009 @ 3:11PM
ML said...
I'm not the biggest Avatar fan out there (saw it off & on & was slightly disappointed in the finale). However, given that, I'd say that were I a fan, I'd want a little more control in the kung fu. I've certainly seen it in youngsters in Asian films; is it too much to expect even in a tiny clip?
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6-26-2009 @ 8:35AM
C.A. said...
I'm a fan of the show and I'm willing to give this a shot. So far it looks good. If the kid playing Aang and bring some of his carefree and spastic energy to the movie this could be a winner.
The Fire nation navy looked really good and it also seems like the air bending effects are going to be good.
I've got my fingers crossed.
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