tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035434747786768960.post8043656758521750917..comments2024-03-22T14:44:41.519+00:00Comments on Checking On My Sausages: The Last Airbender - Circles, Globes and PeaceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035434747786768960.post-70342499738567955542011-01-03T11:12:10.622+00:002011-01-03T11:12:10.622+00:00"While UNBREAKABLE is my preferred film from ..."While UNBREAKABLE is my preferred film from M. Night, the moment where Mark Walberg wakes up alone in the isolated country house to the moment where its resident, Mrs. Jones, smashes her head through the window is the most tense, bizarre and enjoyably disturbing sequence in the directors filmography."<br /><br />My favourite of his films is THE VILLAGE. It's awfully moving and the way it portrays the community's grief and their reaction to it rang true. It didn't rely on its twist either (I knew the twist before seeing the film and I enjoyed it a lot nonetheless).<br /><br />As for THE HAPPENING there were moments that stuck in my mind (like the one you mention) but generally I thought it a bit ludicrous (not in plot but in the reactions of the characters and the acting). It felt, to me, like a parody of itself.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07036103762441216161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035434747786768960.post-77793691092172242152011-01-03T11:09:01.483+00:002011-01-03T11:09:01.483+00:00"...but I appreciate M. Night’s choice to hav..."...but I appreciate M. Night’s choice to have his characters speak and behave in a manner that is borderline school play"<br /><br />Some would say in a similar way to the STAR WARS prequels. I don't think the acting was always completely convincing, but it was good enough. It felt very unaffected, which I liked.<br /><br />What I really appreciated was the fact that the children were just that - not precocious or sassy or self-satisfied. <br /><br />"Every scene feels weighted down with importance of getting its characters to the next scene. As a result, the movie is never really as fun as it should be."<br /><br />As far as the narrative goes, I could follow it well though I wasn't as excited by the story as I felt I should have been until the final half hour, which was very well paced I thought (and perhaps the most in keeping tonally with the series). <br /><br />What I liked MOST about the film was the affection it built in me for the characters. The story itself took time to grip me but I was always with the characters who were likeable as people and in terms of the actors' presence.<br /><br />What may have lightened the tone a little - and it does need a bit of lightening - may have been a hint at a romance between Aang and Katara. In the series the idea is introduced very neatly when she is told by a fortune-teller that she will marry a "powerful bender". Later her brother will call Aang a "powerful bender" and the seed is born in her head. She starts to look at him in a different way. Aang in the series is clearly smitten.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07036103762441216161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035434747786768960.post-7522870659044488652011-01-03T11:00:58.534+00:002011-01-03T11:00:58.534+00:00"...not nearly as deep, fully realized or as ..."...not nearly as deep, fully realized or as interwoven as the visual languages from Lucas and Spielberg, but there is a solid conveyance of theme through cognitive imagery."<br /><br />Yes, I agree.<br /><br />"I simply don’t understand the many criticisms against them. Perhaps they were merely part of the slandering bandwagon."<br /><br />The criticism of the 3D and of the film as a whole plays into the narratives of technological gimmickry and the decline of M Night Shyamalan (who is ceaselessly attacked). I'm not saying critics are giving way to prejudice but is easy to go with the flow than try and see the best in something.<br /><br />"It wasn’t peppy or playful like the cartoon series (which I’ve only Youtubed)"<br /><br />No, that's right. I think the very act of condensing the series forces a lot of the digressions and silliness out. Once a danger is established there's little time to go penguin-sledding(!) It may also be the fact that the kind of crazy hijinks the kids got involved in the series wouldn't carry over so well into a more 'real' world, where you can't have outlandish facial expressions or throwaway violence.<br /><br />They could have smiled more, though. It makes a big difference. Between them the series and the film complement each other - one maybe too serious, the other too light.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07036103762441216161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035434747786768960.post-61532656946209100162011-01-03T09:43:34.603+00:002011-01-03T09:43:34.603+00:00Well, the film has its strengths. That can’t be de...Well, the film has its strengths. That can’t be denied. As you’ve pointed out, M. Night has made a fine effort with visual forms and use of space, framing and motion; not nearly as deep, fully realized or as interwoven as the visual languages from Lucas and Spielberg, but there is a solid conveyance of theme through cognitive imagery. I, too, was rather impressed with Aang’s first show of resistance in the Earthbender’s village, circuited with a single panning shot that rendered the action in tapestry form. The locations, production design, cinematography and James Newton Howard’s score were all top notch. The visual effects also rose to the occasion, in my opinion; I simply don’t understand the many criticisms against them. Perhaps they were merely part of the slandering bandwagon. I also had no problem with the acting or the dialogue. It wasn’t peppy or playful like the cartoon series (which I’ve only Youtubed) but I appreciate M. Night’s choice to have his characters speak and behave in a manner that is borderline school play – a kind of universal means of expression, particularly aimed at younger audiences. <br /><br />Having said all of this, I still don’t think the film comes together as a whole. What are your thoughts on the narrative and pacing? For me they were the biggest weakness. Too much of the story is back-story and awkward exposition, the plot unfolds a bit too dryly and the film struggles in maintaining any degree of coherent logistics: where is where, who’s going were and from what point. The overall sense of the fantasy world feels fragmented at best. I dig the sights but am never fully immersed in the places or their inhabitants. Every scene feels weighted down with importance of getting its characters to the next scene. As a result, the movie is never really as fun as it should be. I still don’t think it awful by any means. Everyone is saying it’s the worst film of 2010. That’s bullshit. I predict that in years time it end up a fan fav’ in much the same way as THE DARK CRYSTAL or THE NEVERENDING STORY. <br /><br />While UNBREAKABLE is my preferred film from M. Night, the moment where Mark Walberg wakes up alone in the isolated country house to the moment where its resident, Mrs. Jones, smashes her head through the window is the most tense, bizarre and enjoyably disturbing sequence in the directors filmography.Cadethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09378212224451377855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035434747786768960.post-45390419854417668682011-01-03T07:39:40.455+00:002011-01-03T07:39:40.455+00:00Thank you very much indeed Sam.
I've been a l...Thank you very much indeed Sam.<br /><br />I've been a little dismayed by the critical reaction to the film. I don't mean that they don't see it the same way I do. The fact is that some critics attack films with such force it begins to look personal or prejudiced. <br /><br />Too many reviews of films turn so quickly from addressing the film to admiring themselves and how creative they can be in their dismantling of a film.<br /><br />I thought LADY IN THE WATER and THE VILLAGE very good films.<br /><br />I must say your tireless backing of so many bloggers' writing is fantastic.<br /><br />Happy New Year!Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07036103762441216161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8035434747786768960.post-16904814020698995222011-01-03T03:00:36.625+00:002011-01-03T03:00:36.625+00:00Stephen:
You never cease to amaze me. At one tim...Stephen:<br /><br />You never cease to amaze me. At one time I thought you were a very nice man, but a bit off the deep end. We sparred. We made up. And now I have come to see you as one of the most brilliant (and creative) writers out there. With the heavyweights. With conviction. And a touch of inspiration. The film you praise here has not been seen by Yours Truly, but it has been the subject of exceeding derision in the critical ranks. With vitrol. And some mean-spiritedness to boot! But I have seen M. Night take it on the chin other times and I dare say I have always (like you) been singing his praises. I thought THE HAPPENING and LADY IN THE LAKE weren't nearly as bad as many made claim to. And I was a big fan of THE VILLAGE, my favorite of his films.<br /><br />That suicide comparison to one in Mizoguchi interests me, but the entire arc of this well-argued defense is frankly inspiring.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com