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haroldcrane
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Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024)
Better than the movie but still massively flawed.
The Netflix series is definitely better than the absolute failure of a movie. But that does not mean it's good.
Some of its strong points are the visual effects and the set designs. Some of the acting is decent especially for what they have been given to work with, in particular Iroh and I quite liked Bumi. The good points sadly end there for me.
The condensing of the season has had a massively negative impact on the show... For returning viewers like myself it makes it confused and things feel out of place as well as moments happening in odd orders. Even from a fresh perspective the moments are not given much time to breath and have an impact. For example, the intro to the first episode has an explanation and expansion (from my knowledge anyway) of what happened to the Air nomads. In principal I don't disagree with this addition, but what I do have a problem with is it being show to us and only us. Meaning that the characters themselves do not experience the events. With us being shown what happens when it is later shown to us again through the eyes of the gang, it has no impact as we have already been shown what happened.
Another example of weird placement thanks to the condensation of the show is having the mechanist and his son show up in Omashu. This removes Aang finding out that the other temples as well as his were hot in the initial attack. It also puts that story as well as the story of Omashu together giving nether of them the time that they deserve. It also removes the begining of Aang and Kataras relationship from the cave of two lovers, though this might be a good choice as it was a little rough in the original.
One of the worst things to have been done to the show is the removal of all the fun elements and goofiness. The removal of this just guts the soul of the show and makes it seem all to harsh and unfriendly. The trip to Kyoshi island seems almost pointless and getting guidance from her at such an early point is not right for Aang when he should have been getting guidance from Roku. The trip was and should have been to ride the elephants koi.
Although we only have season 1 so far, I am also concerned with the characterisation of Iroh. While it might just be a bad feeling if it does get more seasons I hope things play out as they should.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
not trek
One is generous. This is as far from Trek as CBS could manage. The characters are wooden, and have no charisma with each other, and the attempts to make the crew feel like they have been together for 7 years fell so flat. Most notably the air traffic control when the first officer was in her more advanced than TNG and V and DS9, and she is being told the heat. Which she could get through her HUD. The use of "Number 1" is nether cute, nor does it work. Having just the Captain say it works but when the crew are saying it, it does not work, using it at all is nothing nostalgic.
The style of the show is so wrong if it is trying to be in the Prime time line, it is more of the crap "Kelvin "time line which is a horrendous as it is. The uniforms and the set of the bridge are terrible they have no place in the cannon and are never used again. The ship designs are as bad as they could be, making this in the past means that the ships designs must be a precursor to what is coming. Which these ships are so not, they are more along the lines of the "Kelvin" time line.
The holographic technology is far to advanced, as is the medical technology. Which continues to add to the fact that continuity is non-existent in the minds of the writers. The decloaking effect is cool along with the other graphics in the show, showing that a lot of money was thrown into the show. Having the cloak appear now when it should be seen in around 13 years.
The second episode I would give 0 stars for violating the body of a dead person. Which under any circumstances is unacceptable, just showing how much ST has been given into the hands of people who know nothing about the morals and ethics of the people who inhabit this universe.
Computer is too interactive vocally. Being able to debate with it to activate an emergency evacuation of the bring. Although it would be able to do so, in an emergency, having to debate that the force field is going to fall and the area around you has been completely destroyed and the air is only being kept in because of external emergency force fields then the computer needs its ethics checked. The computer should have beamed her out into the corridor and put a force field around her so that she is still confined but is safe. There is a decisive lack of most technobabble, although it is just the start. But there still needs to be that there to make it still feel like it is in a technological world.
This show should be canceled as fast as possible.
The White Helmets (2016)
Where to begin....
So propaganda much. The white helmet's are a PR companies dream (if you are looking to start war that is) they are saving the innocent civilians from the nasty bad guys. But in reality most of it is staged or they are operating in terrorist controled areas, not that there would be anything wrong with that if they where not actual linked to them.
Like there friends Jabad fatal AL sham, (i may have spelled there name wrong... they need easier names) they would appear at there beheading and be actively supporting them. This is no Syrian civil defense force this is the result of British funding trying to drum up war support.
thankfully it is a failure as it should be.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)
The best family show ever!!!!!!
Avatar the last Airbender is the best family show by far, it teaches morals to kids, good morals too. The story very rairly panders to there nickelodeon demographic. The character work is superb, not just showing an enemy to be defeted but also showing the families of the enemy and making sure that the human side of the conflict is known.
Iroh is the uncle that everyone needs. He is balanced and centerd, and is just a loving caring man. Mako's performance was spectacular, getting the balance and colected atatude of the character shows the calabar of the actor. His preformace in "the tales of ba sing se" was such that you would be hard pressed to find a dry eye after that performance.
In the 4 part finale the show reaches its absolute peak. All aspects fit so well, the music, the scenery.... compete perfection. The analogies in this episode abound, from the battle with Kora,Zuko and Azula the contrast of Zuko and Azula's respective firebending colours is the reverse of that used when Aang is fighting Ozai and taking away his bending the colors are blue for Aang (the good guy) and red for Ozai.
Every child should watch this.
The Last Airbender (2010)
On that other show you seam to be such a fan of
This is a disgrace to the memory of Avatar. This missed every aspect of the original show, the child actors where monotone and looked like they where receving no direction, the story moved slower than bosko with a stomach ach. The adult actors where not much better, the only slight exceptions where the portraials of Iroh and Zhao. Although still not good they where the best of the worst, i have seen better of the actor who played Zhao.
The show has more exposition than story or emotion. Although this is meant to be an adaption but they should make sense. Like when Haru and his dad where imprisoned in the Show they where on a completely metal structure in the ocean with nothing to bend. In this "adaption" they are in what looks like a quarry which makes no sense since they are surrounded by the elements needed to fight back with no way of being beaten down as they where in the show.
The most glaring problems with the show are with the firebending. Which in this version must be done with a source to be able to bend, which in the original was able to be made from internal heat and amplified by the sun, in this version Zhao is surprised that Iroh can do it with out a source.
A failure in all respects.
Assassin's Creed (2016)
No words can describe this catastrophe
Viuals 7/10 story 4/10 continuity -10000/10
This film couldn't hit the braud side of the Monteriggioni gates. It misses the mark every time it tries with continuity. The way they talk it's like the apple in the film is the only one in existence when it's not.
Also the Templars going to take away funding for Abstergo, that's wise when abstergo is the public and main funding arm of the modern Templar order. Also at the end the Templar meeting has far far to many people there, the order has many public employees who work for them but only the ones who are in the inner circle would know about a meeting. And calling the leaders of the order elders??? What the **** they are called grand masters. And after the Renaissance there is an inner council who have overall control no elders. I could go on but.. I expected better of Ubisoft.
People stop making game films. They don't work.
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Dumbed down Trek
The trek that has lasted 50 years has always had a point and got it across so well. This "reboot" is a pathetic attempt to make a film that is worthy to be shown on the 50th anniversary.
The humour is bad and forced, apart from one example at the end with Checkov. Problems are evident right from the start, a lovely race that is never seen before, and continue throughout. one that particularly irritates me is when Kirk orders Sulu to go to warp, when seconds before the deflector dish has just been destroyed, nothing is said about that fact just continue to try as the nacelles are ripped off.
Also, this miraculous new starbase that they have, the Yorktown which has been built to the design of a current day video game, not at all like normal federation or Starfleet's design.
The best parts of this film are the dedicated parts to Leonard Nimoy.
Person of Interest (2011)
Can't be summarised
This show is the best thing on TV since the early 2000s. The plot is solid and the acting is exceptional, for the main cast anyway.
The idea of the "Machine" enables a complex story to be formed,around a person needing saved and when needed, a connection to the larger aspects in play. Miss Thornhil evolves over the 5 seasons and by the end is a character with emotions, evidenced by the episode If- Then-Else when we think Shaw is getting killed by Martine and the machine is scrolling through options to try and save Shaw. Also in the last episode of season 4 when Harold and Samantha are caught by Greer, the machine rattles through options to try and save them then she gives up her location to save them.
The loss of Carter was grate, but it added a new dynamic to John. Where he no longer fights like he did and loses faith in the job, which takes till the end of season 4 to remedy.
Season 5 although far too short, is amazing and leaves the show open for a spin off with the DC team. The ending for all characters although maybe sad are satisfying.