“I did watch it once”: Avatar: The Last Airbender Actress Has Some Interestingly Strong Opinions About M. Night Shyamalan’s Live-Action Adaptation
The latest release of Avatar: The Last Airbender has caused quite a stir in the industry. From the things it got right to the aspects it twisted to do justice to live-action, the crew of the show has had a rollercoaster journey. The beloved animated story has seen numerous adaptations, but the latest one comes close to satisfying fans of live-action shows.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Series Vs Movie
The feature film adaptation of the Avatar universe made by M. Night Shyamalan is considered one of the poorest adaptations so far. Diving into the stories of the four nations which are the four essential elements, the series focuses on the Air nomad Aang who strives to protect his race and become the next Avatar. After the attack by the fire nation, the nomads struggle to survive.
At the Netflix show’s premiere in Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter asked the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender to compare their adaptation to the very first one and how they strived to do better. Out of all the actors who expressed their take, the actress who plays Katara, Kiawentiio, had the strongest opinion as she saw the Shyamalan movie as a fan first. She said,
“I did watch it once and as a fan I think alongside all other fans I was disappointed. But I think it’s a good way to see what we don’t want to do. This cartoon has this amazing storyline, we tried to give it the live-action it deserves.”
Similarly, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee was also a fan of the show and watched the movie to see what all the fuss was about. He pointed out how the casting of the movie was something he did not agree with. Lee clarifies that they were not bad actors, just the casting decision was not right since White actors were cast in Asian roles. The Netflix series, on the other hand, has a predominantly all-Asian cast. “Now knowing more and being in the age that we’re at right now in terms of representation, diversity, and inclusivity, we were able to inhabit the world properly in that sense,” he added.
Also Read: Avatar: Casting of Ozai Might Imply Storyline Changes In The Last Airbender
What is Avatar: The Last Airbender About?
The story is an intricate dance between mass destruction and the hope for a savior. The Fire Nation is set on a path of violence and mass murder as it seeks to consolidate its place in the world. It commits mass genocide without a second thought. On the other hand, the young nomad Aang emerges as a true warrior who wishes to take his place as the last Avatar after his people are brutally murdered.
Daniel Dae Kim is playing Fire Lord Ozai, the central antagonist of the show, guiding the Fire Nation’s army. As the show is a quest against darkness, it exhibits the victory of good over evil. With his friends, Aang ventures into the world with the hope of restoring peace in the world. Gordon Cormier is playing Aang, the hero of the show.
