Comments on: M. Night Shyamalan Paints ‘The Last Airbender’ White http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php The latest movie news, movie trailers, interviews, rumors, celebrity news, photos and attitude from Film School Rejects the essential online movie magazine. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:13:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Avatar http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-157153 Avatar Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:43:09 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-157153 Heard of blackface and yellowface. Look it up, educate yourself about the history of asian and other minorities in Hollywood cinema. What you are suggesting is...supposedly obsolete, but I suppose, if some people still support it then it still gets into movies. Sigh. Heard of blackface and yellowface. Look it up, educate yourself about the history of asian and other minorities in Hollywood cinema. What you are suggesting is…supposedly obsolete, but I suppose, if some people still support it then it still gets into movies. Sigh.

]]> By: Adam_Sweeney http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-126117 Adam_Sweeney Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-126117 Great point. It is sad that those roles are typecast, but it is worse that even those roles are now being taken by marginally talented white actors. I don't want it to be misunderstood that I am saying an Asian person should play the role because it deals with martial arts. I am saying that an a white person should not play it because the characters in Avatar were not white. Great point. It is sad that those roles are typecast, but it is worse that even those roles are now being taken by marginally talented white actors. I don't want it to be misunderstood that I am saying an Asian person should play the role because it deals with martial arts. I am saying that an a white person should not play it because the characters in Avatar were not white.

]]> By: Adam_Sweeney http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-126124 Adam_Sweeney Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-126124 Nice site. You're right, this is an issue that needs more attention drawn to it. Nice site. You're right, this is an issue that needs more attention drawn to it.

]]> By: Adam_Sweeney http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-126125 Adam_Sweeney Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-126125 In response to the mistake, I cited the source from EW. Here's the original print from EW.Com. "After an open casting call in Texas, Shyamalan discovered karate star Noah Ringer and offered him the part of Airbender's 12-year old hero, Aang, an Avatar with superpowers who must stop the Fire Nation from destroying the world. Twilight's Jackson Rathbone has been asked to play Aang's pal Sokka, while Nicola Peltz (Deck the Halls) will star as his sister Katara." Wanna hop on them and tell them they got it wrong? Sorry about the mistake. No, I have not watched all of the Avatar series, so I can't claim to be a fan. Sometimes the writers on this site have to cover something they're unfamiliar with. So be gentle. ;) And on the bright side, I am less likely to be pissed when M. Night ruins this series for everyone. So I've got that going for me, which is nice. In response to the mistake, I cited the source from EW. Here's the original print from EW.Com.

"After an open casting call in Texas, Shyamalan discovered karate star Noah Ringer and offered him the part of Airbender's 12-year old hero, Aang, an Avatar with superpowers who must stop the Fire Nation from destroying the world. Twilight's Jackson Rathbone has been asked to play Aang's pal Sokka, while Nicola Peltz (Deck the Halls) will star as his sister Katara."

Wanna hop on them and tell them they got it wrong? Sorry about the mistake.

No, I have not watched all of the Avatar series, so I can't claim to be a fan. Sometimes the writers on this site have to cover something they're unfamiliar with. So be gentle. ;) And on the bright side, I am less likely to be pissed when M. Night ruins this series for everyone. So I've got that going for me, which is nice.

]]> By: Adam_Sweeney http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-126129 Adam_Sweeney Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-126129 I quoted EW.Com and they got it wrong. So I, in turn, got it wrong. Either way this film may very well be awful due to this casting. I quoted EW.Com and they got it wrong. So I, in turn, got it wrong. Either way this film may very well be awful due to this casting.

]]> By: BMB http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-126131 BMB Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-126131 I just finished re-watching the last season of avatar, and I can honestly say I've never been so emotionally moved by a series for the second time, when I heard there was a movie in production, I was actually quite excited...until I read who was directing it. To me, this casting choice is just the first nail in the coffin in this movie, and I wholeheartedly agree, this looks like another "Dragonball Evolution" movie, wikipedia says Shyamalan would stay true to the material but this casting choice is already denying that. I'm actually starting to worry that this 3-part movie series might destroy one of the best animated series of all time. .... I mean COME ON! JESSE MCCARTNEY?!?! I just finished re-watching the last season of avatar, and I can honestly say I've never been so emotionally moved by a series for the second time, when I heard there was a movie in production, I was actually quite excited…until I read who was directing it. To me, this casting choice is just the first nail in the coffin in this movie, and I wholeheartedly agree, this looks like another "Dragonball Evolution" movie, wikipedia says Shyamalan would stay true to the material but this casting choice is already denying that. I'm actually starting to worry that this 3-part movie series might destroy one of the best animated series of all time.
…. I mean COME ON! JESSE MCCARTNEY?!?!

]]> By: Adam_Sweeney http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-126132 Adam_Sweeney Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:08 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-126132 Or maybe she is going to be his sister and then M. Night will really piss people off. Or maybe she is going to be his sister and then M. Night will really piss people off.

]]> By: Hammy http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-125952 Hammy Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:07 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-125952 Are they gonna use Karate in place for Baguazhang?This is an Asian cultred flim. Are they gonna use Karate in place for Baguazhang?This is an Asian cultred flim.

]]> By: /facepalm http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-125969 /facepalm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:07 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-125969 <a href="http://aang-aint-white.livejournal.com/646.html" target="_blank">http://aang-aint-white.livejournal.com/646.html</a> help change the cast! before its too late! http://aang-aint-white.livejournal.com/646.html

help change the cast! before its too late!

]]> By: KBATES http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-125433 KBATES Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-125433 Hahahahahahahahahahaha... Arou101 and DaveBaxter1989 are F-ing HILARIOUS!! You guys almost made me for get why I was mad!!! I feel like people are missing something major, or maybe I'm reading the article wrong... they're casting Katara as Aangs sister??????? Can someone e-mail me and please tell me I'm mistaken... lol DaveBaxter1989 you crack me up... Hahahahahahahahahahaha…
Arou101 and DaveBaxter1989 are F-ing HILARIOUS!! You guys almost made me for get why I was mad!!! I feel like people are missing something major, or maybe I'm reading the article wrong… they're casting Katara as Aangs sister??????? Can someone e-mail me and please tell me I'm mistaken…

lol DaveBaxter1989 you crack me up…

]]> By: Rose http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-125495 Rose Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-125495 I think M. Night will destroy the beauty of the Avatar story. The most horrifying new concept of this film, is the fact that Aang and Katara (the young lovers) are now brother and sister!!?? That will basically change the whole basis of the story; the power of Aang's love of Katara, conflicting with his love of people and saving the world. And what happens to Sokka, who is possibly the greatest character in the whole series? Katara and Sokka's relationship resembles yin and yang (another key Asian theme that has been removed) - They are polar opposites and keep each other balanced. If Aang and katara are now brother and sister, the whole 'Last Airbender' thing will be ruined. And if Aang is Katara's sister, then will she now be an Air Bender too? It's all just f****** stupid! I think M. Night will destroy the beauty of the Avatar story. The most horrifying new concept of this film, is the fact that Aang and Katara (the young lovers) are now brother and sister!!?? That will basically change the whole basis of the story; the power of Aang's love of Katara, conflicting with his love of people and saving the world. And what happens to Sokka, who is possibly the greatest character in the whole series? Katara and Sokka's relationship resembles yin and yang (another key Asian theme that has been removed) – They are polar opposites and keep each other balanced. If Aang and katara are now brother and sister, the whole 'Last Airbender' thing will be ruined. And if Aang is Katara's sister, then will she now be an Air Bender too? It's all just f****** stupid!

]]> By: NativeFanGurl http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-125501 NativeFanGurl Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-125501 why? why couldn't they pick some other people that were more fitting to the original "ethnic"/"asiatic" descriptions portrayed culturally in the cartoon series?! i'm sorry, but until i actually see this film and its quality, I feel disappointed in the director's choice for the cast. (no offense 2 anyone! personally, I love all the actors/actresses (supposedly) casted already...in the other movies they have been in!) :( people, fans of the shows cultural beauty, DO SOMETHING! if we have to watch this thing, it has to be accurate. otherwise.....just don't bother..leave everything be, and watch the movie that n. shymalan badly recreates w/ a horrible cast! why? why couldn't they pick some other people that were more
fitting to the original "ethnic"/"asiatic" descriptions portrayed culturally in the cartoon series?! i'm sorry, but until i actually see this film and its quality, I feel disappointed in the director's choice for the cast. (no offense 2 anyone! personally, I love all the actors/actresses (supposedly) casted already…in the other movies they have been in!) :(
people, fans of the shows cultural beauty, DO SOMETHING! if we have to watch this thing, it has to be accurate. otherwise…..just don't bother..leave everything be, and watch the movie that n. shymalan badly recreates w/ a horrible cast!

]]> By: JKDDan http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-125505 JKDDan Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-125505 M. Night Shyamalan has yet to put out a movie that is even half decent. He will kill the beauty of the avatar story. AND he is contracted for 3 MOVIES!! one for each elemental book. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! He needs to be thrown off this movie!!! this movie should be directed by an Asian director preferably one that has done a martial arts based movie. as a martial arts myself and HUGE fan of the show, i am hurt by what i hear. and this kid they chose as Aang is a karate student.... THE BENDERS ARE DOING CLASSIC KUNG FU STYLES!!!!!!!!! styles i might add that take years to master, hell even fake. the only hope i hold is that the two creators of avatar will not let M. Night Shyamalan ruin what they have created. and as you all pretty much know (everyone that has commented seems like a true fan) the creators are both white americans so.... i know hope.... ;'( M. Night Shyamalan has yet to put out a movie that is even half decent. He will kill the beauty of the avatar story. AND he is contracted for 3 MOVIES!! one for each elemental book. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
He needs to be thrown off this movie!!! this movie should be directed by an Asian director preferably one that has done a martial arts based movie. as a martial arts myself and HUGE fan of the show, i am hurt by what i hear. and this kid they chose as Aang is a karate student…. THE BENDERS ARE DOING CLASSIC KUNG FU STYLES!!!!!!!!! styles i might add that take years to master, hell even fake. the only hope i hold is that the two creators of avatar will not let M. Night Shyamalan ruin what they have created. and as you all pretty much know (everyone that has commented seems like a true fan) the creators are both white americans so…. i know hope…. ;'(

]]> By: WarrenG http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-125539 WarrenG Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-125539 I'm not sure that all of the characters in the world of "Avatar" are supposed to be Asian; I mean, we are talking about the entire world here, with different cultures and ethnicity. Aang very well may be white. Maybe all airbenders are white. But regardless, Sokka and Katara are obviously Inuit; even their culture was modeled on the Inuits'. And Zuko and Iroh (and from the looks of it, most of the fire nation) are obviously Asian. I think it's an extremely poor choice on the part of the producers, director and casting agent to white-wash the entire cast to make it more "mainstream". And Jesse McCartney as Zuko??? Give me a f***ing break. I think everyone making this film should be fired. I'm not sure that all of the characters in the world of "Avatar" are supposed to be Asian; I mean, we are talking about the entire world here, with different cultures and ethnicity. Aang very well may be white. Maybe all airbenders are white. But regardless, Sokka and Katara are obviously Inuit; even their culture was modeled on the Inuits'. And Zuko and Iroh (and from the looks of it, most of the fire nation) are obviously Asian. I think it's an extremely poor choice on the part of the producers, director and casting agent to white-wash the entire cast to make it more "mainstream". And Jesse McCartney as Zuko??? Give me a f***ing break. I think everyone making this film should be fired.

]]> By: STWWP http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/m-night-paints-the-last-airbender-white.php/comment-page-1#comment-125546 STWWP Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=25619#comment-125546 Hey! Just wanted to thank you for drawing attention to this issue -- it's been a little disheartening that so few media blogs have, so far, and your post was very cheering despite the sad sad subject matter. I'll be linking to it on our blog, just so you know. :) We're trying to bring fans and non-fans alike together to speak out on this issue, as well as educating interested outsiders as to the nature of the show and why we're offended by the film's casting. Keep an eye on the blog if you're interested! Any help you can offer in getting the word out would be HUGELY appreciated. - Saving The World With Postage Hey! Just wanted to thank you for drawing attention to this issue — it's been a little disheartening that so few media blogs have, so far, and your post was very cheering despite the sad sad subject matter. I'll be linking to it on our blog, just so you know. :)

We're trying to bring fans and non-fans alike together to speak out on this issue, as well as educating interested outsiders as to the nature of the show and why we're offended by the film's casting. Keep an eye on the blog if you're interested!

Any help you can offer in getting the word out would be HUGELY appreciated.

- Saving The World With Postage

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