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[Part Two] On Netflix’s Avatar The Last Airbender, What’s Missing and the Why The Spirit World Matters

Not even a live-action adaptation of Avatar The Last Airbender can escape the scrutiny of being compared to Star Wars when a prodigy is concerned.

By now, most viewers have seen Netflix’s Avatar The Last Airbender. It’s not completely perfect when considering the high expectations many fans of the cartoon have. Whether that’s in a passing similiarity with Star Wars or something else, there’s plenty to notice.

One scene that I couldn’t help shake concerns how Brother Gyatso is defending Aang. He dotes upon him like a father, arguing he’s not ready much like how Qui-Gon Jinn argued against the council regarding young Anakin. Both aren’t ready for the heavy responsibility that’s expected for a prodigy.

There’s also in getting the characterizations right or hoping that favourite episode gets realised. In regards to the latter, this series is rather sneaky in referring to those “deleted episodes.” When rewatching the series, the references to them without having to tell that tale are rather smart. Not everyone will see it, as a fan would need to know the series by heart to catch them. For example, those canyon crawlers from “The Great Divide” made an appearance, and there’s a vague reference to “The Fortuneteller” to show that the writers of the series is not above inserting Easter Eggs into the series.

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Transformers Earthspark, A Brand New Era and Next Season News

Anyone enjoying Transformers Earthspark will be glad to hear more episodes are being made, and in the meantime, we offer a full series review now that the entire series is available on home video.

Spoiler Alert

Transformers Earthspark is like Rescue Bots at times, because of how everyone treats each other like a tight family. Just when I thought the home release might offer material to explain the similarity, this bare-bones release doesn’t delve into the development. I’m curious about why Quintus Prime finds it vital to seed other planets with Emberstone. This artifact can create new life, and while this Primus allowed this planet to run its natural course, why would this artfact remain? Since it was placed on a pedestal, there’s a lingering question of who worshipped it?

Maybe one day, I can meet the creators and ask about this new direction for the franchise. Aside from seeing Nicole Dubuc‘s name–who has helped produce the series for a long time–the others involved in the development are not as familiar. As long as she’s leading the charge, I’m okay with this update.

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The Quest in Netflix’s Avatar The Last Airbender Means Appeasing All the Fans Than Just Bring in New Ones

There’s lots to like and not like in this live-action adaptation of Avatar The Last Airbender. For the most part, the essentials elements are laid out to make this story work.

Light spoiler alert

Although franchise creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino departed the Netflix project to bring Avatar The Last Airbender to a live-action format early during development, I’m sure not every fan will care. What’s presented has everything one expects and wants to go yip-yip on. The humour is downplayed and the world looks fantastic. Most of the special effects work and the wuxia elements added in are enough to get fans excited whenever Aang (Gordon Cormier) goes full on Avatar mode!

The great thing about this version is that it’s not a carbon copy of the original. It takes enough from the cartoon and just how it all begins is unexpected! By offering more backstory helps frame what’s to come, and for those who memorised the series, the added elements give this take a lot more weight. Fire Lord Ozai’s (Daniel Dae Kim) motivations were never made fully clear, and what’s offered here sets him up as that cruel warlord who feels uniting the world under his vision is the future.

Overall, the performances are excellent. Although Gordon Cormier is not as spunky as his cartoon counterpart, to translate that aspect of Aang’s personality would’ve been overkill. Kiawentiio really nails it as Kitara, a soon-to-be waterbender who wants to protect her village. I get the feeling she’ll be the next Zendaya. And Ian Ousley presents us his take on who Sokka is. As for how much of a ladies’ man he’ll become, what’s teased at here needs more development!

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At Foggy Mountain, All Roads Lead to Martial Arts Mayhem

@wellgousa release of Foggy Mountain #FoggyMountain might go unnoticed by some, but if you’re looking for a #martialarts film from Vietnam, this one has some good action. One just has to wait for the end.

Available to stream on Hi-Yah

In the ring, Phi (Peter Pham) is a tough as nails MMA fighter, and he needs money. There’s a procedure that can correct his wife’s vision (she’s going blind) and it doesn’t come cheap. At first I thought Foggy Mountain might be a metaphor for her problems, but instead, it’s something else. In this film’s case, it means that this fighter must either making a deal with the devil, Ba Rau (Kim Long Thach), a rather nasty crime lord, or seek help elsewhere. Thankfully he’s smart in not to accept, but it comes at a price, and thus begins a story of revenge as he searches for his lair located out in the boondoggles.

The concept is fairly standard, and after the setup to motivate Pham to search the rural countryside of Vietnam to hunt down this piece of work and his minions. The bits of action fans want to see are good. However, to get to that point means wading through a story that suffers from pacing issues.

I was not all that invested until the hero finds that this criminal is also running a slave trafficking operation. I wasn’t quite as initially invested at first, but once when directors Phan Anh and Ken Dinh up the ante, by involving the loss of innocence with the kids getting run over, shot at, and et cetera, the viewer in me wants to see these bad guys go down.

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A Creature Was Stirring Arrives on Home Video This Week to Scare Up Love

When considering a tiny part of A Creature Was Stirring takes inspiration from Judy Collin’s holiday poem, I’m guessing there are more elements in play that neither friend and foe realise.

A Creature Was Stirring Blu-ray — Available to stream or purchase on Amazon USA

Well GO USA
Spoiler Alert

Although the creature feature A Creature Was Stirring had limited theatrical screenings last month, I had my plate full on what to enjoy over the holiday season. This eerie variation of a trapped in a cabin in the woods’ scenario would eventually get viewed, and I’m hoping the coming home video release will offer a behind-the-scenes featurette to explain the finer points.

This tale about a mighty morphing porcupine has the vibe of a Stuart Gordon film. And when the focus is not about two teens claiming to be Jehovah’s witnesses entering into a situation they are totally unprepared for, what’s presented is more familial.

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When Hundreds of Beavers Leave Their Nest, The Road Show Can Only Go So Far, but the Chase Will Be Country-Wide!

Not only do we have dates for when Hundreds of Beavers will hit Digital and Home Video, but it’ll continue to screen at theatres!

Ryland B. Cole Tews and Mike Cheslik‘s Hundreds of Beavers is continuing to invade North America! After a successful film festival run back in 2023 at Fantasia (movie review link), this slapstick maverick film is spreading nation-wide and across two countries. This tour started its run at Minneapolis, MN back on January 26 with a Great Lakes Roadshow, and although newcomers won’t see that outside of the region, my hope is that it was recorded!