Some truly terrible movies are made based solely on a director’s perceived popularity and box-office appeal. Apparently, certain names can become so leprous and off-putting that a studio will actually suppress the contribution of a particular filmmaker in hopes of distancing themselves from a commercial-killing stink. This is the current situation with Cop Out, where the name of Kevin Smith has been completely excised from the advertising campaign.
With yesterday’s release of the latest The Last Airbender teaser, it seems like M. Night Shyamalan might benefit from a similar treatment. Since The Sixth Sense and initial success, Shyamalan has slowly squandered his goodwill and a devoted fanbase with a hagiographic biography of his time in Hollywood and the ponderous, if unfairly maligned, Lady in the Water.
This teaser — which will run during Sunday’s Super Bowl — looks visually entrancing if dramatically pompous. The convoluted plot is willfully obscured in favor of shock and awe. However, initial response seems to have been focused primarily on reactions to the trumpeting of its name-above-the-title off-camera star. Can he overcome an audience’s associations and deliver the bombastic, unadulterated war-action-violence flick the trailer indicates?
Comments (8)
I think I’ll give this film a chance, the effects look pretty spot on, but I got to see the full trailer, which I heard is coming out next week.
You’d think in the 21st Century America, a movie like this would contain more Asian American actors in the lead roles. This is akin to modern day Black Face. Plus, I am betting that all the bad guys will be played by Asian actors, perpetuating the myth that Asians are somehow mysteriously evil. You’d think Hollywood would know better! BOYCOTT this turkey!
The movie is based on a cartoon that airs on Nickelodeon called “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (I think James Cameron ruined their chances of using of that moniker, at least in the title). In the show, the “Avatar” is a character that is supposed to restore harmony amongst dissenting tribes in an Asian country (most likely based on China, judging from their use of mythology and Chinese characters). But I’d agree that the trailer is definitely purposefully vague in order to pique interest and probably bank on the ‘mysteriously evil’ stereotype of Asian characters in Hollywood in particular.
This looks lame. Another bust, M. Night Shyamalan.
I just saw it in theaters and all I have to say is: I WANT MY MONEY BACK
The cartoon was awesome, the movie….not so much. It was nothing at all like the cartoon. First off, the acting was horrible and the characters were introduced awefully. Not only did he get the pronounciation of Aang and Sokkas name wrong, he got the clothes and hair wrong, too. And Appa and Momo barely made an appearance. I thought the special effects would be good but they were just….ok. over all, the movie sucked. I’m with lola on this one, I want my money and 1 hour 45 mins of my life back.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! This movie suck like eggs. do a rewrite or something. I should barf rite now. “Aang” kicked “Uung’s” tail.
OMG…………… I..want …..my….money…..back…… ur rite lola. i nearly barfed they should call this “The Last Horses***”……
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