Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Entertainment
A New Live Action Adaptation
"Let go of the past or you will never have a future," one of the central lessons in Avatar, The Last Airbender, probably well describes the arduous path of its live action version. Debuting in 2005 on Nickelodeon, the original animated series instantly became a cultural phenomenon after reaping several awards and critical acclaim for its complex storytelling and deep themes. Nonetheless, the first live action attempt by M. Shyamalan's 2010 adaptation was panned because it was poorly done, and instead of an adaptation, really, it was more of a picking and choosing of what Shyamalan liked from the original material. This failure led to abandoning a planned trilogy. Netflix's most recent adaptation, over a decade later, has been better received but still fails to capture that same sort of magic and depth that made the animated original so incredible.
A World Divided by Elements
"Avatar, The Last Airbender" is set in a world with four elemental kingdoms, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. This would be a world wherein the capacity to bend these elements that is, controlling them defines each nation. The series follows Aang, a 12 year old airbender who learns he is the Avatar, the only person capable of bending all four elements. This is quite a shock, considering that most of the airbenders have become extinct after the attack by the Fire Nation. While the balance of yin and yang was expertly interwoven in the cartoon series, much of this Netflix adaptation, despite the attempt, often feels more like an overview of the deep lore of the franchise. The series follows the tropes of the book to the letter but has failed to deliver the complex storyline and the depth of emotions that made the original so provocative.
Casting Choices and Performance
Another strong point about this adaptation from Netflix is in its casting. One could say that the 2010 film did not represent or portray one of the very sensitive topics involved with its cultural appropriation, and this new series gave more effort to it. Aang by Gordon Cormier, Katara by Kiawentiio, and Sokka by Ian Ousley give it more authenticity. Cormier brings in the exuberance of youth to Aang and the weight of his destiny, while Dallas Liu makes the inner turmoil of Prince Zuko deep and intriguing. Such casting makes the series more heavy bottomed with much needed depth in the characterizations. Still, though the performance is laudable, there is a lack of chemistry amongst the lead performers that brings down the emotional impact of the series at times.
Visuals and Storytelling Challenges
The Netflix series is full of ups and downs where the visual effects are concerned. The action in this series is dynamic, and several scenes from the series have really breathed life into the visual with some shots looking just as great as many of those from the original. However, at times, visual inconsistencies pop up and distract one from the immersive experience. The series tries to toe a line between action and much deeper themes such as war, imperialism, and personal growth but mostly results in heavy exposition and predictable plot lines. Even with seven hours in hand, the show's pace is unable to dive deeper into more complicated elements of the story that it is running, leaving audiences questioning lore and motivations of characters.
A Mixed Revival
Twenty years later, "Avatar, The Last Airbender" returns with a live action adaptation that is both true to and different from the original. Filled with Easter eggs, faithful adaptations, and new renditions that will go over well with long time and new viewers alike, the series has its own fair share of missteps in visual effects and lost storytelling opportunities, it does manage to revive interest in this franchise. It reminds the readers that the world of Avatar will always be remembered in the audiences' hearts and opens the doorway for more journeys into a wonderfully diverse and imaginary realm. Not fully capturing the magic of the original, this adaptation gives a new twist to a well liked story and re introduces the Avatar to an entirely different generation of fans.
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