Victoria

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Yeesh! Ugh! Yuck! These are the words which best describe this movie. Let me explain: 1.) The scenes are fractured into so many weakly-connected pieces the original story is almost unrecognizable. The disjointed movement of the movie's plot gives it a rather unpleasant psychotic quality. 2.) The movie often feels like a thinly-veiled lesson in Hinduism. In fact, this element of the movie is the only thing that seems to get any coherent expression in the film. As a result, the movie many times seems rather like religious propaganda. 3.) The actors were all completely unlike their characters in the anime from which they were derived. Sokka, in particular, seriously stunk up the screen. None of the characters were anywhere near as amusing as the ones in the anime series, which quite ruined them, IMO. 4.) Shyamalan should have followed the example of Peter Jackson and made a much longer feature. It takes little intelligence to see that an hour and a half or so is not nearly enough time to properly relate the necessary elements of the story and characters of the cartoon series to the audience. This director hasn't made a good film since "Signs." I was hoping this would have been different... no such luck. Steer clear of this one!

2/10

nwaikikai@ - 41 reviews
3.7.2010 - age: 36-49 - 4 replies

"The movie often feels like a thinly-veiled lesson in Hinduism..." Really? Are you sure about this? It's not based on Hindu, it's thinly based on Taoism. Big difference. And Taoism technically is not a religion. What do you think those moon spirit fish were representative of? Yin and Yang. Most of the martial arts displayed were of Taoist origins, Bagua Zhang, being an example being purely derived therefrom. Tai Chi (Chen Style mostly), is derived from Taoist origins, with some Shaolin roots as well. Please be careful when throwing about religious themology, and make sure your source information is correct, before disparaging remarks, in order to quell, confusion and misdirection that surrounds our 'religious' and ainti-religious (same thing) culture of today. Taoist philosophy is based upon living as part of the Tao, which is the nature of all particular things (you included) This film exemplified beautifully how we are connected to the Earth and the elements. What do you think that body you inhabit is made of? The same thing as everything else. This is what we must learn and embody, in order to change our errant ways. We are a part of everything that is. We are made up of the Earth, and what sustains Her, also sustains us. If we injure her, then we are only hurting ourselves, in the end. Please show me where this movie was acting as a vehicle for Hindu religious indoctrination, because there was none.
firehorse777 - 5.7.2010 - age: 18-25

Perhaps before you take it upon yourself to school others in world religions you should school yourself. Here are just a few of the things the movie borrows from Hinduism :- Avatar - a term common in Hinduism referring to gods who manifest themselves in human (or animal) form usually during a time of great evil in order to restore balance to the world. The word "avatar" is derived from the Sanskrit word "avatara" meaning "descent." - the many incarnations of the Avatar is straight out of Hindu theology. - the many various temples to assorted gods of air, moon, sun, etc. borrows from Hinduism as well. - the brahmanesque view of the world and universe preached in the movie also comes out of Hinduism. The movie does draw on Buddhist and Taoist worldviews as well, but this doesn't really affect my point about the movie feeling like religious propoganda. Your comments seem to suggest you have at least an affinity for Taoism, which I do not. Just as you are free to espouse this particular worldview, I am free not to espouse it. If you think this movie beautifully depicts the truth of things in our world, so be it. But I think the religious ideas it promotes are childish and illogical. I especially don't appreciate a movie promoting such silliness to younger, less discerning viewers. Thus endeth the lesson.
nwaikikai - 5.7.2010 - age: 36-49

Thank you for 'taking me to school' on the origins of the word Avatar. You see what you will, and more power to you, or not. From a myopic viewpoint, yes, I can see how, when one does not know him or herself, that yes, anything that presents a thin veneer of any 'religious' reference would rankle the ego, and bring up a sense of powerlessness, and fear. Sorry. Do you know the direct correlations between what the 'Avatar' is, and say, Christianity? Avatar is a word. Don't get so stuck on it, and then proclaim a film to be 'religious propaganda', based upon the programming you've endured in your own. Life. The jar is not important, but what goes into it that is. Taoism, buddhism, Hinduism, who cares? What does Ang represent? What is an Avatar, or Krishna, Vishnu, Christ, Neo, etc? They are words, and this movie, despite your exhortations of 'propaganda! ', like any other Hollywood (Holy Wood) film, is only ever saying the same thing: 'who are you'? Do you know? Or are you still stuck on words, and your past programming? Why get yourself jammed into semantics? A man cannot know the Divine unless he knows himself first. Don't let the poor acting, directing, 'religious propaganda', writing, or plot, get in the way of the message. It's not promoting religiosity. To someone who has an issue with religion, yes, I can see where the reaction comes from. Who are you? What does this have to do with religion. As well, get over yourself, and you'll go a lot farther in life. Ready for my next 'lesson'.
firehorse777 - 6.7.2010 - age: 18-25

There was more than merely the meaning of the word "avatar" that I pointed to in defense of my view that Hinduism was promoted in this movie. In any case, my perspective on eastern religion is different from yours, but that doesn't make it myopic, nor does it mean my view stems from not "knowing myself." If anything, your inability to let me have my own view about them demonstrates your own "myopia" and suggests a certain insecurity you have with your own beliefs. As to the idea that religious references "bring up a sense of powerlessness and fear" in me, I can only say, "Nonsense." If I feel anything about Hinduism, Buddhism, Taosim, etc, it is bemusement at the self-contradictory, irrational, and childish myths and beliefs that serve as foundations for these spiritual/religious worldviews. I also feel some surprise that these largely silly worldviews actually gain traction with thinking people. In answer to your question about avatars and Christianity I can tell you that the Hindu avatars and the Christian Son of God, Jesus Christ, have only the barest of similarities. There is far more that distinguishes them from each other than there is that they have in common. Except for Christ, who was an actual figure in history, avatars, Krishna, Vishnu, etc, are myths, fictional characters who embody concepts and ideas that have shaped civilizations for millenia! "Just words" is a ridiculous way to describe them. Your statement," The jar is not important, but what goes into it is" seems rather silly to me, as well. If the jar is cracked, or has a hole in it, it's not going to hold well what I put into it, is it? And what if the jar is labeled "sugar," but what is put into it is poison? Obviously, the "jar" is important. Also, I am no more "stuck on past programming" than you are. Nor am I "jammed on semantics" as you assert. I am careful about words and ideas because they have great power to influence/shape people for good or ill. Only the foolish fail to recognize this - usually to their own hurt. As for "getting over myself" I will only respond by saying, "You first."
nwaikikai - 6.7.2010 - age: 36-49

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