A Painfully Honest Review of Netflix Avatar
Summary
TLDRThis script offers an in-depth, witty, and insightful analysis of Netflix's live-action adaptation of the beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The narrator delves into the show's strengths and weaknesses, praising the impressive casting choices and performances, particularly for Zuko and Iroh, while critiquing the unnecessary changes made to core characters and storylines that dilute the essence of the original series. The script navigates the broader debate surrounding live-action anime/cartoon adaptations, questioning their necessity and ability to capture the magic of the source material. Ultimately, the narrator acknowledges the adaptation's redeeming qualities while challenging its overall raison d'être, leaving viewers to decide for themselves whether it's worth watching.
Takeaways
- 😫 The Netflix adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender received a mixed response, with some praising aspects like the casting and production values, while others heavily criticized changes made to the source material.
- 🔥 The show attempts to depict a more mature and grounded take on the Avatar world, but this often comes at the cost of stripping away the charm and heart of the original series.
- 👴 The performances of Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh and Dallas Liu as Zuko are highlights, capturing the spirit of the beloved characters.
- 👎 Controversial changes, like portraying Aang as less playful and goofier, altering key character arcs, and condensing storylines, drew criticism from fans.
- 🤔 While the adaptation has some redeeming qualities, the overall consensus is that it struggles to justify its existence beyond capitalizing on nostalgia for the animated series.
- 💰 The high production costs and limitations of live-action often result in compromises that dilute the magic of the original Avatar world.
- 🎬 The script acknowledges that while the show has flaws, it's ultimately up to individual viewers to decide whether to give it a chance or stick to the superior animated version.
- ✨ Suggestions are made for alternative live-action projects set in the Avatar universe that could better utilize the medium while respecting the source material.
- 😕 The adaptation highlights the challenges of translating beloved animated works to live-action without losing their essence and appeal.
- 💭 Overall, the script presents a nuanced and balanced critique of the Netflix series, recognizing its efforts while questioning the necessity and effectiveness of the adaptation.
Q & A
What is the video script about?
-The script is a review and analysis of the Netflix live-action adaptation of the popular animated series 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.
What are the main criticisms of the Netflix adaptation?
-Some of the main criticisms include the gratuitous depiction of violence, the removal of Aang's goofy and childish personality, the watering down of Sokka's character arc, and the compression of the vast Avatar world into a limited number of CGI sets.
What aspects of the adaptation are praised?
-The casting choices for Aang, Zuko, and Iroh are highly praised, as well as the Fire Nation storyline, some of the fight choreography, and the musical score.
How does the reviewer compare the Netflix adaptation to the original animated series?
-The reviewer acknowledges that while the adaptation tries to capture the essence of the original series, it ultimately falls short, stripping away many of the memorable moments and compromising the core characters and themes in an attempt to create a more "adult" version.
What is the overall rating given to the Netflix adaptation?
-The reviewer gives the adaptation a rating of around 6 or 6.5 out of 10, acknowledging that it's not a great adaptation but has enough redeeming qualities for Avatar fans to find something to enjoy.
How does the reviewer feel about live-action adaptations of animated works in general?
-The reviewer expresses a general dislike for live-action remakes of beloved animated classics, stating that they are often artistically bankrupt and a waste of time, as the original animated versions are invariably better.
What alternative approach does the reviewer suggest for future Avatar projects?
-Instead of a live-action remake, the reviewer suggests exploring new stories within the Avatar world that better fit the limitations of live-action filmmaking, such as a series focused on Iroh's life or the siege of Ba Sing Se.
How does the reviewer compare the Netflix adaptation to other live-action anime adaptations?
-The reviewer places the Netflix adaptation in the 8th position on a list of Hollywood anime adaptations, ahead of Netflix's Cowboy Bebop adaptation but behind others like Speed Racer and Alita: Battle Angel.
What is the reviewer's opinion on the portrayal of violence in the adaptation?
-The reviewer criticizes the gratuitous depiction of violence, particularly the graphic portrayal of the Air Nomad genocide, stating that it undermines the emotional impact of these moments in the original series.
How does the reviewer feel about the changes made to Katara's character?
-The reviewer notes that by removing Sokka's initial sexist attitudes, the adaptation also removes Katara's motivation for many of her emotional outbursts and her role as a surrogate mother figure, reducing her character's depth.
Outlines
🎮 Introduction to Avatar's Live-Action Adaptation by Netflix
This paragraph introduces the context of the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender by Netflix. It discusses how fans used to get hyped when their beloved franchises were adapted into movies, but things changed after the disastrous M. Night Shyamalan film. The adaptation is described as an attempt to create a more adult, brutal version of Avatar, exploring the horrors of war and the power of bending. However, it also sets up the criticism that the adaptation fails to capture the essence of the original series.
😬 Critiquing the Portrayal of the Airbender Genocide and Characters
This paragraph critiques the adaptation's portrayal of the Airbender genocide and its impact on Aang. It argues that the gruesome depiction of the genocide fails to capture the emotional weight of the original series and instead comes across as tasteless and tacky. The changes made to Sokka's character, removing his initial sexism, are also criticized for stripping away an essential part of his character development. Additionally, the paragraph points out that Katara's role is diminished due to the changes made to Sokka and Aang's characters.
⚔️ Exploring the Depiction of Violence and Bending
This paragraph delves into the adaptation's portrayal of violence and the depiction of bending. While acknowledging the vision of a more brutal version of Avatar, the paragraph argues that the constant presence of horrific violence diminishes the impact of such moments. It also criticizes the portrayal of airbending and the lack of realism in the bending effects, pointing out that the adaptation often resembles a video game. However, it praises the fight choreography and the stylized visual elements used in certain scenes.
😕 Critiquing Character Changes and Storytelling
This paragraph examines the changes made to the characters of Sokka and Katara, criticizing the removal of Sokka's initial sexism and Katara's role as a surrogate mother figure. It argues that these changes fundamentally alter their dynamic and the inciting incident of the story. The paragraph also critiques the adaptation's storytelling, pointing out the need for excessive exposition due to the failure to show certain character traits and motivations effectively. Additionally, it highlights the compression of the world of Avatar into a limited number of CGI sets and locations.
🧔 Analyzing Aang's Character Changes and the Loss of Childlike Wonder
This paragraph examines the changes made to Aang's character, specifically the removal of his childlike goofiness and reluctance to embrace his responsibilities. It argues that this change strips away an essential aspect of Aang's character arc and the balance between serious anime action and goofy cartoon diversions that defined the original series. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of Aang's journey from a carefree kid to a responsible young man and how the adaptation fails to capture this growth effectively.
🔥 Appreciating the Omashu Episodes and Exploration of Adult Themes
This paragraph praises the adaptation's handling of the Omashu episodes, where multiple plot threads are blended together effectively. It highlights the successful depiction of King Bumi's bitterness after a century of war and the exploration of Iroh's past regrets. The paragraph suggests that this is how the adaptation should approach adult themes – by contrasting the innocence of Team Avatar with the darkness of the war and its toll on the adults around them.
🌊 Appreciating the Fire Nation Storyline and Zuko's Character
This paragraph commends the adaptation's portrayal of the Fire Nation storyline, particularly the added layer of understanding regarding Ozai's abusive parenting style and its reflection on his control over the entire country. It also praises the performances of Dallas Liu and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Zuko and Iroh, respectively, describing them as the single greatest saving grace of the entire adaptation. The paragraph highlights the depth and warmth in their relationship and the actors' understanding of their characters' eccentricities.
🧱 Critiquing Live-Action Adaptations and the Creative Vision
This paragraph critiques the trend of live-action adaptations of beloved animated properties, arguing that they often represent a massive waste of time and resources. It suggests that the perception of animation as a lesser art form for children is the driving force behind these adaptations. While acknowledging the passion and love for the source material, the paragraph questions the necessity of compromising so many elements to make the story work as a streaming show. It proposes alternative creative visions that could have been explored within the limitations of live-action filmmaking.
💰 Discussing the Motivation Behind the Adaptation
This paragraph examines the motivation behind the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. It argues that the adaptation exists primarily due to perceived demand and the potential for profit, rather than a genuine creative spark or vision from the creators. The paragraph contrasts this adaptation with other live-action adaptations that were born from a real creative impulse and had something new to add or say about the original material.
🎥 Final Thoughts and Recommendation
In this final paragraph, the author shares their overall thoughts on the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. While acknowledging that the adaptation has some redeeming qualities, such as impressive costumes, props, and musical score, the author ultimately concludes that they will never watch it again because the original cartoon is readily available. However, the author recommends that Avatar fans give the adaptation a chance, as some may find things to love about it, even if they end up disliking it overall. The paragraph ends with a lighthearted personal ranking of Hollywood anime adaptations.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Adaptation
💡Source Material
💡Character Arcs
💡Bending Effects
💡Nostalgia
💡Fidelity
💡Artistic Vision
💡Budget Constraints
💡Authenticity
💡Creative Spark
Highlights
The Netflix adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender received a mixed reception, with some praising the casting and costuming, while others criticized the changes made to the source material.
The show attempts to depict the Airbender genocide in a more mature and graphic manner, but this approach often feels gratuitous and undermines the emotional impact of the original scene.
Several key character arcs, such as Sokka's initial sexism and Aang's reluctance to accept his Avatar responsibilities, are significantly altered or downplayed.
The show struggles to capture the balance between serious storytelling and lighthearted humor that defined the original series.
The casting of Gordon Cormier as Aang and Dallas Liu as Zuko is praised as exceptional, with both actors capturing the essence of their characters despite the script's limitations.
The adaptation excels in portraying the Fire Nation storyline, with compelling performances from Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh and Ken Leung as Admiral Zhao.
Several episodes blend multiple storylines from the original series, resulting in a more streamlined narrative but often at the cost of sacrificing important character moments.
The show's visual effects are a mixed bag, with impressive bending choreography but inconsistent CGI environments that often clash with the live-action elements.
While the adaptation has its strengths, it ultimately falls short of capturing the magic and depth of the original series, leading to the question of whether a live-action remake was truly necessary.
The review praises the show's ability to entertain and acknowledges that some fans may find elements to appreciate, but ultimately questions the value of remaking an already beloved animated series.
The review suggests that the resources and talent involved could have been better utilized in exploring new stories within the Avatar universe, rather than attempting a live-action retelling.
The review acknowledges the passion and respect for the source material that the production team brought to the project.
The musical score and costume design are highlighted as notable strengths of the adaptation.
The review encourages viewers to form their own opinions by watching the show, acknowledging that individual experiences may vary.
The review ultimately places the Netflix adaptation among the better Hollywood anime adaptations, while still expressing reservations about the overall necessity and execution of the project.
Transcripts
gaming
anime
Comics some fourth thing long ago the
fandoms would get hyped when a thing
they loved became a movie but everything
changed when Dragon Ball Evolution
attacked only the Avatar master of
cartoon comedy and Anime storytelling
could save us but when the world needed
him most we got M Night Shyamalan my
name is an and I'm the Avatar bring me
all your elderly that child was being
arrested for what he was bending tiny
stones at us from behind a tree it
really
hurt he's making fire out of nothing
Well actually what we got was a whole
lot of Studio meddling that ight got
blamed for he's honestly the biggest
victim of the whole debacle having his
name irrevocably attached to this barely
watchable lump of garbage that barely
resembles his original Vision to be fair
that original Vision probably still
would have pissed a lot of Avatar
addicts off but more in the quirky fun
8s Super Mario movie way you know where
the film is clearly doing something just
not the something most people wanted to
see which is still infinitely better
than doing nothing anyone would want to
see but that's a story for another
YouTube video which several other people
have made already I'm sure as a jumping
off point for today's story all you
really need to know is there was a Last
Airbender movie once and it has a
legitimate claim on being not just the
worst adaptation but the worst Hollywood
film of all
time ultimately that had two lasting
effects on the legacy of Avatar firstly
the whole brand kind of collapsed in on
itself for a while and every time its
creators tried to build it back up the
Nick exec who actually caused the
problem would lose their nerve at the
last second and now suddenly the last
season of Kora gets to Premiere in a a
crappy web player just for example but
second the film's honestly miraculous
complete lack of any redeeming qualities
left us all with one burning question
what if not even what if we did it right
this time just what if we tried it again
it can't possibly be worse right like
the eternally hypothetical Final Fantasy
7 remake the dream that there could one
day be a good liveaction Avatar became
so fixed in the imagination of the fans
and creators alike that its
manifestation as some kind of consumable
product was inevitable as was the
absolute [ __ ] storm of discourse that
proceeded and followed its release on
Netflix last week you've probably heard
a lot of passionate takes on this show
since then ranging from it killed my
entire family in front of me too it
sucked my and gave me free cake but
today we're going to try to cut through
all that noise to find honest answers to
three key questions is this new series
worth watching for fans of the original
does it work as a standalone adaptation
and most importantly was this whole
thing just a fundamentally bad idea
before I tell you the answer to all
three questions is yes mostly I really
ought to tell you about today's sponsor
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any time to instantly gain its focus and
energy related benefits plus essential
antioxidants which is kind of like the
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delicious too and that's why you should
go to Gamers subs. g/ basement to buy
some at a discount now plus also maybe
some of the sexy firefighter merch while
supplies last future Jeff here supplies
did not last cups already sold out they
got a few t-shirts and uh trays I
believe left so get those while the
getting's good or instant Ramen they
make instant Ramen these days and tea do
you have calming Jasmine nah but they do
got sleepy time hey where'd everyone go
oh my nephew is burning them all to
death right now huh how about that oh no
so how many can I put you down for the
pain let's get the obvious questions out
of the way up front is Netflix's avatar
the Last air bender as good as
Nickelodeon's avatar the Last air
bender okay yeah expected that but is it
as bad as Nickelodeon movies The Last
Airbender an M Night Shyamalan film that
depends on who you ask and how much of a
liar they are notable Twitter blue
engagement Farm discussing film said at
worst the Netflix show makes M Night
Aman's 2010 The Last Airbender film feel
like a mercy because at least that poor
effort was only 2 hours long and the
only way I can square that statement
with any sane view of reality is if the
writer has never seen the
movie cuz even if you only watch the
last flick spinger [ __ ] garbage pilot
episode and never actually get to any of
the good parts the difference in quality
is still night and
day the show's dialogue can be a little
cringy and overe explaining sure but the
movie's dialogue is literally almost
100% Exposition it is uniquely
excruciating to sit through a
singularity of bad filmmaking unlikely
to be rivaled in our life times if this
crew had made anything even half that
bad the second time round it would force
me as an atheist to concede that the
devil is real also that he's one and God
is dead luckily God is still only dead
for all the nche reasons and everything
that's bad about this Netflix show can
be explained by natural means which is
not everything about the show to be
clear the praise this version of Avatar
is getting definitely ain't coming from
nowhere but the hate definitely isn't
either and I think a lot of that
ultimately boils down to the incredibly
bad first impression that the first two
episodes leave especially that
aforementioned [ __ ] garbage pilot which
absolutely butchers some of the series
most sensitive moments in a misguided
attempt to be more adult that ends up
feeling less mature than the way the
cartoon for babies did it I am talking
of course about the show's much public
ized Capital C choice to open on the
Airbender genocide depicted in the most
gruesome detail a tv14 rating will allow
so got to cover up the blood mostly but
there are dead bodies that Ang can poke
with his big stick now and when the fire
lord gets mad he can go all Darth Vader
on their asses but with
fire yeah kid this ain't your little
brother's after school Avatar this one's
all hardcore and junk this fire lord
wouldn't just sit back and manage a
genocide he's going to get in there on
the front lines himself to make sure
there are no survivors
remember no survivors see now clumsy as
they are these scenes do at least
attempt to expand the series lore and
history a little bit the idea of
disinform Earth Kingdom spies to draw
troops to bosing se and away from the
air temples in preparation for San's
comet is kind of strategically
interesting and it sets up a call back
later on where xiao's assault on the
water tribe is revealed to merely be a
diversion enabling azula's taking of
omashu because obviously a bunch of
enemy boats going to the North Pole
would pull Earth Kingdom Ground Forces
away from one of the only two cities
they have left you know one of the
advantages of the original Avatar's age
rating required reluctance to directly
depict the more direct aspects of
warfare is its writers didn't really
have to account for all this strategic
logistical crap they could simply say
for example that the Fire Nation managed
to eradicate all of the flying Nomads on
the entire planet off screen without
having to Grapple with the tricky
tactical question of how exact L anyone
could pull that off and inevitably
coming up with some laughably stupid
answer like the entire race just
happened to be in the same town for the
big Centennial Comet Festival better go
help set up for the great Comet Festival
before the aads from the other temples
AR how many are coming all of them we
have to kill them all don't get me wrong
part of me definitely sees the vision in
a more brutal version of Avatar that
gets to fully explore all the horrible
things things one could do to other
humans with its power system when Zahir
assassinated the Earth Queen by
airbending a vacuum around her head and
Kora 20-year-old me thought that [ __ ]
was metal as his words not mine I I
prefer to swear sparingly for maximum
effect these days and that same
principle is exactly why that moment
hits as hard as it does it's a truly
Savage act of violence far worse than
anything shown in the Avatar univ
to that point though not for
[Music]
long and even more shockingly Zahir uses
the most peaceful defensive of the
bending Arts to do it in so many ways it
feels like a taboo was just broken like
the world of Avatar has been
fundamentally and irrevocably Changed by
this one crime you know like that
Community episode where Jeff commits the
first murder in GI Joe history and that
gives the moment the gravits a regicide
leading up to attempted Demi deide
really should have but moments like that
can't have that kind of impact in a show
where horrific violence is just you know
part of the general Vibe the kind of
impact that facing the aftermath at the
southern air Temple had on Ang and the
audience in the original series after
three straight episodes spent goofing
off and trying not to think about it
this version reduces that masterfully
wound up gut punch to a pathetic slap in
the face an afterthought of an epilogue
awkwardly tacked on to the end of its
clumsy overly expositional retelling of
the boy in the iceberg like and so Ang
made a daring break from Prince Zuko's
Brig riding off into the new world with
his Newfound friends and his oldest
friend apaa then he went to a room full
of skeletons to scream and glow at them
the end what's happening what is he
doing this one quiet shot from the
original anime of gatso the kindly old
goofball we only got to know from Ang's
funny cartoon flashbacks lying dead in
the snow surrounded by the countless
firebenders who fell trying to take him
says more about the tragedy of this war
CRI crime and the ferocity with which it
was opposed then all the CGI Sound and
Fury $15 million an episode can muster
which is still a lot better than what
the movie mustered with 10 times that
many dollars to be fair but let's be
real that bar is underground a few of
the show's fights do feature some
seriously impressive stunt work and
choreography and the big final battle
scene where everything goes all black
and white except for a few splashes of
color after the the moon gets dead
that's legitimately breathtaking I wish
they did more stylish stylized stuff
like that because while the CGI here
does look by and large better than the
movie it's just not up to the level of
realism the rest of the shows shooting
for Earth and firebending do look fairly
believable years of Hollywood Research
into perfecting fake explosions and
Rubble really works in the show's favor
there but fluid simulations are still
very tricky and EXP expensive so water
bending mostly looks like wet slimy [ __ ]
except when they're using ice and to
complement that air bending looks like
Dusty
[Applause]
farts though to be fair it is basically
impossible to make realistic airbending
look like anything else because
realistically speaking wind's supposed
to be invisible but that's obviously not
very cinematic so they had to add some
kind of visual component even though it
was basically guaranteed to look silly
and when you throw those silly looking
effects over the Unreal Engine ass
environments on the big Mandalorian LED
wall behind the actors the whole thing
kind of just looks like a video game
especially when the Benders start flying
around and they got to swap in 3D stunt
doubles at which point this live action
remake just becomes an uglier cartoon
with extra more expensive steps that's
his real power connection Building
Bridges that's how he's going to be the
Avatar even if the bending effects had
been perfect though the attack on the
southern air Temple still would have
sucked [ __ ] cuz they made monk gatso go
down like a little [ __ ] without killing
anyone the one thing this scene could
have done to justify its tasteless tacky
take on Ang's tragic backstory was show
us how the heck that room got like that
and they completely [ __ ] it up I was
so mad after watching this prologue I
could have sat down and started roasting
right there but I'm glad I kept going
because it did get quite a bit better
eventually not now to be clear cuz now
is when we're introduced to Saka and
qara and with them another much
publicized Capital C Choice Saka is not
a sexist pig anymore what again I do see
the vision here this one more of the
prophecy of Doom type Vision in which
many many tweets are made by people who
don't know what a character Arc is about
how Saka is all problematic and poorly
aged now I'd be wary of that too if I
just dropped a Scott Pilgrim anime but
by taking the coward's way out on this
Netflix has fundamentally changed where
Saka comes from and what his whole
character Arc means he's supposed to be
a y a crude rude kid with tud who's
never seen the world Beyond his very
small town and says a lot of dumb crap
but only because he legitimately doesn't
know any better his regressive attitude
toward women is the most obvious
expression of that and when Suki knocks
it out of him in episode 4 that's his
first step on a very long journey to
becoming a real man of the world also
toward a genuinely compelling Romance
especially for a Nick show where the
fact that these two characters fall for
each other really says something about
both of them I'm so glad to see you Saka
I knew you'd
[Music]
come anime Saka is a real good guy deep
down but cocky and very rough around the
edges stupid with a Grace and confidence
that makes competent driven women like
Suki and UA think I could fix him and
freaks like Tye think I want to make
mistakes with him sand those edges down
and what you're left with is a mostly
together fella with some confidence and
daddy issues a great sense of humor and
an impressively Progressive worldview
for a dude who's only ever met like 70
total people all with that jawline no
mystery why he's pulling princess he
still got a lot of the important Saka
stuff you know the meat and sarcasm bet
you taste like
chicken what are you doing here we're
doing what we're doing right but why are
you doing it
here Ian olley definitely gets the
character but take away his key flaw
that confident ignorance and Kyoshi
Island suddenly just a story about a hot
guy who meets a hot girl and he likes
martial arts and she likes martial arts
and he's got daddy issues and she's got
mommy issues so they kiss this is barely
CW tier ship bait i'llbe it better
directed than most CW