[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.

Avatar the Last Airbender Promotional PosterBy 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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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.

Avatar the Last Airbender Promotional PosterLight 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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Avast ye Buckos! When Craig Before the Creek is All About the Age of Discovery

The story that shows how Craig, Kelsey and J.P. met has lots of elements to like, and to see them together, in a story titled Craig Before the Creek has a lot of Speilberg spirit to boot too!

Craig Before the Creek Promotionial PosterNo prior knowledge is required to enjoy Craig Before the Creek, the prequel to the Cartoon Network television series Craig of the Creek. This movie is the perfect jumping in point for newcomers, and for long time fans, what’s presented doesn’t change up what’s previously known. Philip Solomon voices the titular character, and everything we know from the series is given further development in this work! Here, we get to see how he met Kelsey (Michael Croner) and J.P. (Noël Wells).

That also includes revealing why his parents decided to relocate to the small town of Herkleton. Duane Williams (Byron Marc Newsome) is a computer programmer, able to work at home, and Nicole (Kimberly Hebert Gregory) is a school counsellor. She most likely got a job at the school Craig goes to, but little is shown about his time there. Instead, it’s all about those adventures that go on after school, at the creek. What’s revealed in this film is that he generally gets along well with his siblings, Jessica (Lucia Cunningham) and Bernard (Phil LaMarr), and after accidentally knocking his sister’s precious stuffed doll deep into the woods, he “promises” to find it and what he discovers at the creek is wonder and kids of his age having fun.

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Darkwing Duck, Dynamite Comics and Disney. What Can Go Wrong?

The danger that quacks in the night is back! And we look at the first two issues of Dynamite Comic’s Darkwing Duck.

Darkwing Duck #2 comic book coverThe difference between the various releases of Darkwing Duck in comic book form is in what aspect of Drake Mallard’s life should be the focus. The first take from Disney dealt with his heroics, Boom! Studios had longer narrative arcs in the same vein, and when licensing changed hands again to Joe Books (a lesser known company), I lost track. It’s easier to follow the animated series instead. The latest series by Dynamite Comics thankfully doesn’t try to acknowledge those past works as far as I know.

As much as I’d love to keep up with non canonical tales, sometimes all I need is one Duck, and one vision. He worked alone before making friends who becomes his sidekicks. Thankfully this latest honours the early spirit that defines the series. Here, we read about Mallard’s attempt to keep Gosalyn safe, and the only way is to hang up the cape. When he’s not present, she’s a magnet for trouble. Two issues in, to save her than other people are becoming too much.

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LEGO’s Garmadon is Breaking Bad With His Own Solo Adventure!

Ninjago’s greatest villain, Garmadon, now has a comic book! This joint collaboration between Image Comics, Skybound and The Lego Company has everything to satisfy fans of the cartoon.

LEGO® NINJAGO®: GARMADON #1 CoverNinjago’s greatest villain, Garmadon, now has a comic book! This self-titled work is a joint collaboration between Image Comics, Skybound and The Lego Company and the first two issues have everything to satisfy fans of the cartoon. There are linguring questions that needs answering.

The only thing really missing is a mini-fig to go with the release, and I suspect that’s being saved for the eventual trade paperback. This series answers nearly everything you want to know about this villain but are afraid to ask. Thankfully, readers don’t have to recall everything from the animated series to know where this series is headed.

Garmadon walked away from it all in season 10, March of the Oni and I’ve talked about the season in my look of that chapter. He once wanted to conquer all of Ninjago, and after defeating the greatest threat of them all, the Oni, I suspect the desire to control an entire world just isn’t good enough. He learned to be part of a greater whole. Ever since then, he’s uncertain about where his future lays. He’ll have to reevaluate his goals.

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Just Rewriting the Canon in Disney’s Cruella

This character is a devil in disguise when compared to this film’s primary antagonist, the Baroness (no relation to GI Joe here) wickedly played by Emma Thompson.

Cruella (film) - WikipediaBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

On Disney Plus
(additional fees may apply)

Very few origin stories are going to live up to the stylish path that Disney’s Cruella is known for. When trying to deliver the goods, namely in creating an arc we can care for, this film nicely dodges some uneasy truths from past takes. In the animated version, she wore the soft furs of slain Dalmatians. In this live-action film’s case, she won’t touch an ounce of their fur, and it was an accusation made by her rival. The tables are turned as the story is more about who is the the alpha female. The black and white is more suggestive of which of the two personalities define this titular character.

Props go to director Craig Gillespie for having a solid vision in reveling in the punk rock subculture of London. The early 70s focus was a time of uncertainty and change, even though I sensed more of a 60s vibe. This backdrop does a little jump in time since it goes from showing how a very young Estella (Tipper Seifert-Cleveland) loses her mom to that of a young woman (played by Emma Stone).

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