ROTTEN TOMATOES: M. Night Shyamalan Talks The Last Airbender Comments

M. Night Shyamalan Talks The Last Airbender

by | July 03, 2009

Summary

Curious about M. Night Shyamalan's plans for his "The Last Airbender" trilogy? You'll want to read up on the latest comments from the writer/director, as well as producer Frank Marshall. Back to Article

(1-20 of 36 posts) | Reply

De4ective Detectiv3 writes:
on Jul 03 2009 05:40 AM

Is it just me or is there something laughably bad about this movie? Its just funny to see these little kids striking kung fu poses as if they actually think they look intimidating. I could easily see how this could backfire, kinda like how in The Happening we were all supposed to be afraid of the plants, but you couldn't help but laugh at the stupid situations that entailed(i.e. Mark Whalberg talking to a fake houseplant, the main characters running from the wind).

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Matanuki writes:
on Jul 03 2009 06:44 AM

(sigh) This writer, man. This George Roush character. The guy's a cartoon. The way he wrote this article, the tired riffs on Shyamalan's name, the tour tour of failed atttempts at wittiness, it all just makes him look as immature, primitate, and tactless as some of the people on here. The chia pet of journalists; just pour on some shortsightedness and watch him write.

And by the way, CtrlAltDestroy. Yes, it is just you.

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Patt B. writes:
on Jul 03 2009 08:25 AM

I can't get over that people think The Happening was bad. Did it ever cross your mind that when Mark Wahlberg is talking to the plant or running from WIND that it's SUPPOSED to be funny? M Night is very aware of what he's making, i don't think he accidentally made a bad horror film, i think he very purposely made a B-movie that is fun and at times fun to laugh at.

And Matanuki, i agree, the author of this article was just pathetic trying to make fun of M. Night. I don't get why people can't just grow up. His movies are really quite amazing, with the exception (in some people's opinion) of Lady in the Water and The Happening, even though I personally was able to enjoy both of those films.

...ugh..

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The Cunning Linguist writes:
on Jul 03 2009 08:26 AM

Patt B. - If this is true, the sad part that it wasn't funny, it was an embarrassment.

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Patt B. writes:
on Jul 03 2009 08:37 AM

Even so, if Lady in the Water and The Happening are Shayamalan's only 2 flops then there's really nothing to discredit The Last Airbender. Also considering he finally has a writing partner for this one, i think it has a good chance at being...well...good. Not to mention Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, and The Sixth Sense are all really really good movies. Just because you didn't like The Happening doesn't mean Shayamalan is a bad film maker.

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harrismonkey writes:
on Jul 03 2009 10:05 AM

i had high hopes for him finally doing a film based off a good story he didn't make up (the cartoon was surprisingly good and sophisticated for a us kids cartoon). the man is gifted, but he hasn't managed to put together a cohesively good movie in a while. i think he gets in his own way.

i have to say that teaser trailer doesn't encourage me though (not that it was awful- it was fine, i guess- but it was a little hokey and makes me wonder if he actually found the right kid, and if he has any idea how to shoot battles).

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Matanuki writes:
on Jul 03 2009 10:21 AM

In reply to this comment (#2520886)
You wonder if he found the right kid? Dude's nearly a spitting image of Aang AND he is already a black belt in real life. If he isn't the right kid, then the right kid probably doesn't exist.

Really? Has our faith in movies really gotten this bad, that a teaser that PERFECTLY captures the essence and intrigue of the story being told suddenly, seemingly because of these things, is considered suspect?

This is the case for more films produced with the Bay technique, vacuous and stupid. Any attempt at ambitious storytelling is ridiculed and ostracized. There are even people ready to crucify Cameron for his upcoming film. Guess it doesn't look stupid enough for their taste. Maybe not enough explosions.

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harrismonkey writes:
on Jul 03 2009 12:14 PM

I know the kid is as qualified a martial artist as they're likely to find at that age.

I also know that his spark of personality and acting abilities are far more important than his actual ability to perform martial arts well. Stunt men, choreography/camera work and visual effects can do wonders to mask that. If we aren't totally onboard with that kid emotionally the film will not work.

In both the stills I've seen and his appearance in the trailer I have yet to see any kind of screen presence. I haven't seen enough yet to really know how he'll be- but I've seen enough to wonder if there will be a problem.

I certainly hope they found the right kid. I want this movie to be good, and I want Shayamalan to succeed here. I miss being excited about his films.

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De4ective Detectiv3 writes:
on Jul 03 2009 01:10 PM

@ Patt B.

Sorry to break to you, but those scenes in The Happening were meant to be taken seriously(People running from the wind/Branches falling on people). And to date, he has had 3 flops, The Village, Lady in the Water, and The Happening(not including the cheesy Wide Awake, one of his early films). He is pretty much about just 2 films, 6th sense and Unbreakable(irony alert).

That is my concern w/ Airbender. I know we are supposed to take this seriously, but it is just coming off as, how somebody else put it, 'hokey'. You have this epic story/setting that is anchored by this funny looking bald kid in a karate gi. Sure, I get its more geared towards little kids, but when you see how serious the movie is taking itself, it kinda makes you question it.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jul 03 2009 01:23 PM

This might be as funny as THE HAPPENING, but I doubt it.

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Bigbrother writes:
on Jul 03 2009 03:19 PM

In reply to this comment (#2520856)
I want M. Night to be good with this as much as anybody, but he's brought the ridicule on himself. He's been in a downward spiral since The Sixth Sense with each successive film getting worse and worse. That said there's reason to hope this might be good, someone else writing, not original material and really there's nothing in the teaser trailer to indicate that this will be good or bad. There's just not enough there to judge the film by. It was really just a cherry for the fans of the cartoon to show 1. We got a kid who looks the part and we're keeping at least basic elements of the story. To me this is either going to be the beginning of a comeback for M. Night or the nail in the coffin of his career in Hollywood.

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Matanuki writes:
on Jul 03 2009 03:37 PM

In reply to this comment (#2520940)
I suggest you get caught up on this mythology. It works and is far from silly. And I gotta tell ya, the phrase "the story is taking itself too seriously" really has no meaning and falls flat under any standard of aesthetic scrutiny.

Yikes. It may appear that I'm trying to pick a fight with you. I'm not. Just turns out I've been sharply disagreeing with you all day today. lol.

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bamb0o-stick writes:
on Jul 03 2009 03:41 PM

This article can hardly be taken seriously. This person writing the article is obviously already biased towards hating this next unseen project of Shyamalan's. Does he/she have to bash the Avatar series too? "Goofy Bender"? Has this writer even watched the series? Maybe he/she should do something about their glaring ignorance before doing anymore of this BS they call writing. This kind of crap belongs on a kiddy blog, not an actual website.

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Bigbrother writes:
on Jul 03 2009 04:29 PM

In reply to this comment (#2520997)
I do it all the time Mat. Ctrl is a negative nancy.

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McChipmunk writes:
on Jul 03 2009 05:43 PM

What a ****ty interview and attitude from the writer. If you didn't like the Happening then great for you. But immediately dismissing the film because of that is just ridiculous. Get over yourself, there's other directors who have gone through bad streaks and have made comebacks. Night gets the harshest treatment since people actually know who he is.

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Paints Hz Shirt Red writes:
on Jul 03 2009 06:48 PM

the happening was just ok. i think m. nights a little too self centered to make a good movie. it just seems he cant do a movie without writing, producing and directing the whole thing. its all about him, and it seems he dont care about what the audience thinks about the film as long as hes happy with it.

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Mike_Nelson82 writes:
on Jul 03 2009 07:17 PM

Pat B are you a plant? Perhaps a lonely daffodil?

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jodiodie writes:
on Jul 04 2009 12:44 AM

well i loved the 6th sense and the village so i'm rooting for him, but he has slowly went down hill each movie there is no denying that! I was so unbelievably PISSED when i watched the happening wth?! what? why? WHY?! I understand the writers urge to throw in a lot of punches. I'm sure there are a lot of angry Night fans out there waiting for him to step it up again and not give us such a heap of crap again.

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Matanuki writes:
on Jul 04 2009 04:33 AM

In reply to this comment (#2521094)
At last someone defends this idiot. (sigh) My friend, jodiodie, not only does this article display an alarming dearth of tact. But it's also bad writing.

And by the way, I'm still waiting for Shyamalan's first "heap of crap".

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Matanuki writes:
on Jul 04 2009 06:52 AM

In reply to this comment (#2521008)
lol

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