# Avatar: The Last Airbender **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777 "2008-07-17T01:27:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/61 "2009-06-26T06:55:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m not reading the whole thread, since I’m still in season 2 and it looks like there are spoilers mixed in there, but what is the relation of this world to ours? The Netflix summary of season two says it’s a “far future world”, but there hasn’t been any indication of that so far in the show. On the other hand, though, the world seems to match ours astronomically: They’ve got a moon (with the same pattern of craters as ours) with the same apparent size as the Sun, and the stars are the same (though grouped into constellations a bit differently). It’s a good question. I hope I’m not spoiling, but the similar moon does make a difference in the story. Having said that, I don’t think it would have been difficult to create another mechanism to do the same thing inside the series. > [@](#): > > If it is a future world, though, it would have to be extremely far future. The Avatar cycle has continued for what, thousands of generations? When you make it to the finale, you’ll find its even worse than that. Before the Avatar cycle there was another mechanism that lasted through “beginningless time”. So, yeah, extremely far future. I don’t see why the Avatar world needs to be our world in any sense; I vote that its another universe of its own, and let’s just ignore any similarities. EDIT: One thing I would miss is all the mutant animals that are juxtapositions of animals we know – hog-monkeys, platypus-bears, lion-turtles, spider-flies, etc. There’s no need for this stuff if its not our world in some far time, and the weird animals are a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/62 "2009-06-26T17:03:23Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s a good question. I hope I’m not spoiling, but the similar moon does make a difference in the story. Having said that, I don’t think it would have been difficult to create another mechanism to do the same thing inside the series. You’re referring to the end of Season 1? Yeah, I’ve already seen that. As of a couple of days ago, I’ve just finished Season 2. And the animals are indeed a hoot. In reference to someone’s pet bear: “Wait, don’t you mean platypus-bear?” “Skunk-bear?” “Saber-toothed moose-bear?” “Wolf-bear?” “No, just bear.” “Man, this place is weird.” ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/63 "2010-02-12T01:23:27Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKYyNxQK5-M) …and the first trailer is up for the movie. Doesn’t look as bad as I was fearing, but I am keen to hear your guys thoughts. It looks like they are covering book one. There also a “screener” reviews over at Aint It Cool if anyone is keen to have a look: but they do have spoilers… ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/64 "2010-02-12T06:30:32Z")
Odd things I noticed:[spoiler]- Kitara has no hair loopies! WTF!? I’m not serious of course, but I am surprised I missed this small detail. - No Appa? I guess the CG for flying bisons is not yet done. - I see someone earth bending at 1:18. Toph? - Definitely got Yueh w Sokka and then her transformation. - They just had to spend CG on Poppa Ozai having a conniption? - Avatar State Aang looked pretty cool. [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/65 "2010-02-12T06:53:51Z")
I like the detailed tattoos, rather than just block-outline arrows. And one movie per season would make a lot more sense than one for the whole series, but that does look like it might be Toph doing the Earth-bending. Then, too, if they do a trilogy, what will they call the other two? I, too, am hoping the lack of critters in the trailer is just due to them finishing up the effects for them. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/66 "2010-02-12T07:46:18Z")
**squeegee** , in the other [trailer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeTzlC6mN4E), you can catch a quick glimpse of Appa in the background of a battle. **Chronos** , agreed on the tats, it’s a nice touch. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/67 "2010-02-12T22:10:31Z")
> [@kasuo](#): > > **squeegee** , in the other [trailer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeTzlC6mN4E), you can catch a quick glimpse of Appa in the background of a battle. Where? I’ve watched that trailer like five times (in 720p!) and I’m missing it completely. > [@](#): > > **Chronos** , agreed on the tats, it’s a nice touch. Concur. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/68 "2010-02-12T22:15:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Then, too, if they do a trilogy, what will they call the other two? “The Last Airbender 2 : Earth” “The Last Airbender 3 : Fire” I dunno, there was a lot of padding in all three seasons. I think two films could do the job. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/69 "2010-02-12T23:23:13Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > “The Last Airbender 2 : Earth” > “The Last Airbender 3 : Fire” > > I dunno, there was a lot of padding in all three seasons. I think two films could do the job. I agree about Book 2, but Book 3 had a lot of stuff in it…The Eclipse, the trip to the Dragon Island, Zuko and Katara’s little field trip, The Boiling Rock (my favorite!) the Final Battle, plus all the wrap up? That’s alot for 1 movie… ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/70 "2010-02-12T23:31:20Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > I agree about Book 2, but Book 3 had a lot of stuff in it…The Eclipse, the trip to the Dragon Island, Zuko and Katara’s little field trip, The Boiling Rock (my favorite!) the Final Battle, plus all the wrap up? That’s alot for 1 movie… No, almost everything in there could be cut out. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/71 "2010-02-13T00:00:12Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > No, almost everything in there could be cut out. Sorry, **Skara\_Brae** , I agree: almost all of that is not essential to the larger story. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/72 "2010-02-13T00:35:39Z")
Well, almost anything could be cut ( and probably will be) but I think it would be an extreme detriment to the story and the character development. If they are just going to give us a condensed version of the cartoon - what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/73 "2010-02-13T00:49:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I like the detailed tattoos, rather than just block-outline arrows. And one movie per season would make a lot more sense than one for the whole series, but that does look like it might be Toph doing the Earth-bending. Then, too, if they do a trilogy, what will they call the other two? I didn’t see Toph in the cast list, so I don’t think that’s her. Trailer looks cool, except Iroh is way too young and way too skinny. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/74 "2010-02-13T02:01:19Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I didn’t see Toph in the cast list, so I don’t think that’s her. My thinking was that an earthbender was dropped into a scene just to show what that nation’s peoples are like, since Book 1 includes pretty much zero earthbenders. > [@](#): > > Trailer looks cool, except Iroh is way too young and way too skinny. That was supposed to be Iroh? I thought that was Zuko’s old man. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/75 "2010-02-14T05:56:09Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > Well, almost anything could be cut ( and probably will be) but I think it would be an extreme detriment to the story and the character development. If they are just going to give us a condensed version of the cartoon - what’s the point? I thought about this for a bit, and my answer is a) to share the story with people who would not watch a cartoon, and b) to give someone else a turn at what this story can look and feel like. It won’t be all of the stuff, or even a lot of the stuff in the series. But I think the story could successfully be focused down to essential themes and character development that would fit the format of a feature film. Here’s hoping that M. Night Shyamalan is up to that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/76 "2010-02-14T06:55:22Z")
One other thing I noticed in the trailer is that Zuko’s scar is a lot more subtle. In the cartoon, it was the first thing you noticed when you saw him, even at a glance, but here, you really have to be paying attention. Maybe that’s more realistic for how a burn scar would actually look, but I think it detracts a bit from the presentation of the character. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/77 "2010-02-15T03:42:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > One other thing I noticed in the trailer is that Zuko’s scar is a lot more subtle. In the cartoon, it was the first thing you noticed when you saw him, even at a glance, but here, you really have to be paying attention. Maybe that’s more realistic for how a burn scar would actually look, but I think it detracts a bit from the presentation of the character. Good point, I hadn’t noticed that, or really much about Zuko and the other guy (Uncle? Fatherlord?) beyond, “Oh, I get it: the bad guys are the swarthy ones, huh? :rolleyes:” You’re right, a big part of Zuko’s story was that he was disfigured. He was a tragic figure, doubly tragic because he wore his shame on his face. In the trailer he just looks pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/78 "2010-02-15T03:54:32Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Good point, I hadn’t noticed that, or really much about Zuko and the other guy (Uncle? Fatherlord?) beyond, "Oh, I get it: the bad guys are the swarthy ones, huh? Poor Shyamalan can’t get a break. He cast a white guy for the part and everyone complained that Zuko was supposed to be Asian. He puts an Asian in the part and he gets complaints that he’s making the bad guys “swarthy”. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/79 "2010-02-15T15:05:53Z")
I was just more surprised he made the Fire nation Indian (well, Indian-subcontinental-ethnic-related). I assumed he might go for more of a Japanese style, myself. That is, the Fire nation seemed inspired by Japan, although some of them actually did seem to me to be ethnically Caucasian. The Air Nomads were clearly Tibetan, the Water Tribe polynesian with a bit of far-northern-American-Indian flair, and the Earth Kingdom _somewhat_ Chinese , but far too varied to pigeonhole very well. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777/80 "2010-02-16T05:03:33Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > My thinking was that an earthbender was dropped into a scene just to show what that nation’s peoples are like, since Book 1 includes pretty much zero earthbenders. Hmm, that earth bending scene looks interesting – If you look closely at [that trailer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeTzlC6mN4E), at 00:13 you see Aang and Sokka in the background (held captive?), while a fire bender (not Zuko) lets fly, and is blocked by an earth bender. Is the earth bender rescuing Aang and Sokka? Another speculation: In both trailers, I’m betting the narrator is Avatar Ruko, Aang’s spiritual mentor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-last-airbender/456777.md?page=5)