okay at this point we're gonna have to accept that any attempts of a live action ATLA will always be cursed and will never be a good alternative to just watching (pirating cause fuck nickelodeon) the cartoon because what the fuck do you mean they're taking out gigantic chunks of Sokka, Katara and Aang's arcs/development/characteristics, showing the genocide at the Southern Air air temple and more of the Agni Kai between Zuko and Ozai while simultaneously having the gall to say "I mean, the characters, we had to dimensionalize them-"
The Big Netflix Avatar: The Last Airbender Producer Interview: 'This Is a Remix, Not a Cover'
There are certain scenes that you never saw in the original, whether it's the attack on the Southern Air Temple or the Agni Kai between Ozai and Zuko. And those are things that I knew we needed to see in order to make it feel much more grounded as a live-action show. So it was about feeling your way throughout the process. Where can we take the story into the new directions that still feels true to the spirit of the original? And that's what it all comes down to, making sure it feels like it was Avatar in spirit.
Bending the Rules
And going back to those narrative liberties, was there anything in particular where you were like, “no, this is set in stone. This can’t change”?
AK: There's a lot of things like that, starting with the characters. I mean, the characters, we had to dimensionalize them, but there are certain core ... I would say there's a core DNA to the characters that you don't want to mess with, whether it's Aang, like I said, his childlike goofiness, his sense of humor, the burden of his responsibility, Sokka and his humor and his pragmatic outlook on life, Katara's warmth and her optimism. Those things had to carry through into our version. So you start with the characters, and you say, "What's the essence of the characters that got a big change? And what's the room where we can expand it a little more?" The cartoon, for as great as it was, was 15 years ago. And so, things have changed. There are certain roles I think that Katara did in the cartoon that we didn't necessarily also do here. I mean, I don't want to really get into a lot of that, but some gender issues that didn't quite translate.
My friend just watched it for the first time, and she's like, "Sokka's an asshole." I was like, "Yeah, no, he kind of is."
JR: Yeah, especially in the first season.
AK: Yeah. So we had to guard against that kind of stuff. And so, those are things that aren't really changing a character as so much as updating them a little bit.
I think one of the big questions is, despite all the remixing, is the point A and the point B still the same as the original?
AK: Pretty much. Yeah, I mean, I think the state of the world and the stakes of the world are still the same. So we decided to make Aang's narrative drive a little clearer. In the first season of the animated series, he's kind of going from place to place looking for adventures. He even says, "First, we've got to go and ride the elephant koi." It's a little looser as befits a cartoon. We needed to make sure that he had that drive from the start. And so, that's a change that we made. We essentially give him this vision of what's going to happen and he says, "I have to get to the Northern Water Tribe to stop this from happening." That gives him much more narrative compulsion going forward, as opposed to, "Let's make a detour and go ride the elephant koi," that type of thing. So that's something, again, that's part of the process of going from a Nickelodeon cartoon to a Netflix serialized drama.
And they say in regards to the original creators leaving: "But sure, having them leave was a blow. And we had to think about whether or not the vision that we had set forward really reflects and honors the spirit of what they had created. And we felt like it did, so we went forward with it. " idk y'all should've taken the hint goddamn ...
AK: But sure, having them leave was a blow. And we had to think about whether or not the vision that we had set forward really reflects and honors the spirit of what they had created. And we felt like it did, so we went forward with it.
If you could send fans who are anxious about the live-action show any message, what would it be?
JR: I think, as a fan of the show, they're going to get the live-action version of the show they've always hoped they would get.
Albert, anything to add?
AK: This is the version of Avatar that I would want to see as a fan.
- Netflix ATLA Showrunner Albert Kim & Executive Producer/Director/VFX Supervisor Jabbar Raisani
Source
like this ain't coming across like a remix, this is just empty meaningless noise
19 notes
·
View notes
In love with First Kill because it took years, YEARS, but I can finally not have to worry about team Edward/Jacob (and looking at Alice), team Stefan/Damon, watching Merlin but really watching Morgan le Fay. And literally so many other shows where the situation is copy and pasted.
I'm addicted to First Kill because I can FINALLY lose my mind over Calliope and Julliette in ways I'd never been allowed to before.
I finally understand where all that craze for the men came from back then, turns out I just needed a good show to put me in the same craze years later.
805 notes
·
View notes
I just watched "Damsel," here is my low spoilers* review.
Very fun movie. No idea if it was good, but it's entertained me the whole time and I cared about the main characters.
The end credits song is a somewhat hilarious choice (a mournful cover of "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash)
Robin Wright, best known as Princess Buttercup, is a wonderful evil queen.
Prince Henry's shot at the end, with his eyes closed and accepting his fate, is amazing. He is my new precious little meow meow.
I had assumed "it's a lie" referred to the map, and that Elodie would be led back to the dragon's main lair.
I love all the princesses across generations working to help the next one even when they can't escape themselves. Unclear how real the ghosts are and that is exactly right for a fantasy movie.
A lot of the plot beats were things you could see in advance, but not all of them. I was pleasantly surprised by the identity of the horsemen Elodie saw.
I love you magic glowworms.
Yay for familial love, both by blood and by adoption.
Girl power!
The dragon is slightly smaller than I first thought, but it's still huge. Maybe ten feet tall at the shoulders, eighteen feet at the wingtips?
Don't nitpick the politics or the economics, it's a fantasy movie.
The characters have understandable motivations, the magic is used for low-stakes situations before high-stakes situations, and you get a lot of cool shots of dragons.
Overall, wholeheartedly recommend if "movie where the princess evades the dragon herself" sounds like your thing!
*Low spoilers mean about as many as in the trailer and the marketing
14 notes
·
View notes
the thing is, if byler isnt endgame, i'm not going to be angry about shipbaiting or mike not being confirmed queer or 'losing the ship war' against melvins or whatever. what i'll be angry about is that it would be a shit writing decision that leaves all three characters in the love triangle ultimately miserable, even if they try to cover it up with a no really everyone is perfectly happy! sort of ending.
m*leven does not work at its core. aside from liking to kiss each other, their relationship is regularly in turmoil. they don't communicate well. their relationship is shallow. they make each other insecure. they do not meet each other's needs, despite caring about each other deeply.
comparatively, byler does have a basis for a good relationship. they know each other better than anyone else. they communicate both verbally and nonverbally. they have shared interests and enjoy talking to each other about things beyond kissing or the latest monster/villain. they make each other feel secure and safe and cherished. they are complimentary in basically every way.
if the duffers decide not to go the byler route, then mike & el continue to stay in an unhappy relationship for the sake of... fanservice? convenience? conventionality? and will continues to be another sad gay character who is in unrequited love with a straight boy but it's okay because he's just so selfless. how groundbreaking. definitely what we need more of on tv. /s
27 notes
·
View notes
pre-yr s3 rambles pt 1 🫠🫠🫠
tbh I used to be an abdication truther but season 3 is rlly testing me rn
ok yes irl abdication would be the way to go but in terms of plot and message ??? get that crown girlies ! start a revolution ! fuck the monarchy but like in THAT way yk don’t let august get to the throne
Would also not be shocked if the queen dies but yk it’s not on my bingo card
7 notes
·
View notes