Avatar 2 & 3 Release Dates Announced

That's right lovers of Pandora. You can currently expect to return to Pandora and the world of Avatar on Christmas 2014 and then again on Christmas 2015. Let's hope the journey is a little more original this time.

 

Wilder's Picks - The Best of '09

Hey internet,

Seeing that 2009 is coming to a close, and I write for a movie blog, there seemed only one thing appropriate to do.

Here are, in my opinion, the top ten best films of 2009. Keep in mind that I HAVE NOT SEEN Inglourious Basterds, Moon, or The Hurt Locker. I imagine all of those belong somewhere on this list in place of some, but I simply have not seen them.

Ehem.


10) Avatar

Read Jose's review here.

Review: AVATAR

Coming out of the theater after watching Avatar, I found nothing to complain about. It is not just Cameron’s mastery over technology that makes Avatar great; it is his ability to use technology as a vehicle for great storytelling. Avatar could not have been told without the technology employed and the technology could not have found a better story to makes its debut. Here is why:

James Cameron's: AVATAR Sneek Peek Review

The footage was incredible. Too bad its not online to post. Also, if it was, I wouldn't post it because the small screen would do it no justice.

There was a 15 minute IMAX preview today of the film, which included seamlessly amazing CGI backgrounds and Rendered animation. The first few minutes were a little awkward looking, but as soon as your brain accepts the CGI as 'real' it becomes the most stunning realistic animation you have ever seen in your life.

So far, the story seems to be about a man who has no use of his legs, getting an Avatar - thus- getting a second chance at walking life. Then a war happens at some point and I assume he has to pick sides.

It will be very interesting to see how the film is when it opens on December 18th, but as of now, it's looking pretty damn good.

First Trailer for James Cameron's Avatar

Wow.

Sorry I can't embed.

Teaser Trailer: The Last Airbender

HAHA! The teaser for M. Night Shyamalan's take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, is here. Tell me this movie doesn't look awesome.




Can it be Summer 2010 yet?

The Last Airbender: Cast Revealed! Is Zuko a No Go?

Slashfilm.com was the first to break the news that the main four characters of M. Night Shamalamadingdong's adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender were cast! That's about where the excitement stops.

Older fans of the series can easily tell on which civilizations the tribes were based. The Water Tribe has an Inuit influence, yet both the kids cast as Sokka and Katara aren't, one of them was even in Twilight. It did make me happy to see that they found Aang at an open call in Texas, but that was tampered at the casting choice of the antagonist, Prince Zuko. I am not saying that he is a bad actor, I rather enjoy his work, but Jesse McCartney does not seem to exude the, for lack of a better word, "dickness" of Zuko.

Was this the BEST picture to show Jesse's Zuko-ness?

For those of you that don't know, I'm a video game fanatic *coughshamelesspromotioncough*. My favorite RPG franchise is Kingdom Hearts, a co-production of Disney and Square-Enix. Jesse portrayed Roxas, a character linked to the main protagonist, Sora. This character is meant to provide the player with a new character to sympathize with and give more depth to the "Nobody" storyline. This character and storyline will be expanded upon more in the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, but my point is that for all of the roles in which he doesn't play himself, they are mostly characters that are on the side of good. So in the big picture, Zuko doesn't seem like a stretch, but in this first "book" of the series, Zuko is quite the evil guy.

I have hope for this movie, but I will not pass my next judgement until the announcement of Iroh is made. As a fanboy of this series, there is no reason for you to listen to me, but if you are unfamiliar with the Avatar series, I hope that these films can do the series justice.

For more info on this story, visit SlashFilm.com

Avatar: The Last Airbender

By guest contributor Patrick Lundberg

In the new emerging trend of animated series to full length films, Nickelodeon has informed its legions of fans that Avatar Aang is coming to the big screen. Yes, they are making a live action film of the animated series. In fact, they are making a trilogy of films. Production begins in May of next year (2009) between Philadelphia and, of all places, Greenland. Of course, Greenland is a logical choice for the film set as the first movie will be based off of Season 1 (also known as Book One: Water) of the animated show, which took place largely at the North Pole fortress of the Northern Water Tribe.

For those of you not familiar with Avatar (HOW DARE YOU), I would like to take this opportunity to further ruin your social life by addicting you to this show. To truly describe and explain the depth and bredth of the series and its background would take far too much space on this blog, so allow me to direct your attentions here. In true Wikipedian style, the article tries to describe far too much in far too little space, but the extensive linking pages will give you a much better understanding of the universe itself. But in order to really appreciate (and become addicted) to the Avatar phenomena that is Aang, Sokka, Katara, Zuko, Toph, Suki, Appa and Momo, you MUST WATCH THE SHOW.

Go here to watch episodes online for free, or watch the various re-runs on Nick (usually on Friday evenings). Try to start from episode one if you can. I guarantee that you will not only become addicted to the characters and the storyline, but you will so immerse yourself that by episode 6 you will have the entire opening sequence memorized. And then you will buy Season 1, 2 and 3. As the count down to the films wears on I will try to sell you more on this amazing series, so I will leave it at that for now.

In regards to the title strikeout, James Cameron is currently wrapping up a project similalry titled "Avatar" and has (for lack of a better phrase) thrown a temper tantrum about what he percieves as title infringement. Thusly, the films will be titled The Last Airbender, which most likely will be followed in a Star Wars-esc chronology such as "Book One: Water".

For real fans, if the concept of a live action version of our favorite animated show doesn't sound appealing, take consolation in the knowledge that a trilogy of animated movies following the Avatar universe (possibly following the Season 3/Series Finale) will also be made in the next year and a half (for TV) and will be under the guidance of the show creators Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Now here is the make or break factor: the films are going to be directed by M. Night Shyamalan, infamous hit or miss director of such brilliant films as Signs, Unbreakable and the Sixth Sense. He also was responsible for such grandiose garbage as The Happening, The Village and Lady in the Water. I am terrified (and am joined by literally millions of other fans) that M. Night is going to kill the franchise for Nickolodeon and destroy a film trilogy with enormous potential. The man has told the fans and writers that he is totally dedicated to the story and will transform the animated show into faithful live action. He reassurance isn't so reassuring to me; M. Night has a reputation in Hollywood for being far too full of himself on occasion and making catastrophic decisions based entirely off of pride and ego. If he messes this up I will break him like Toph breaks rocks. For now though, I will believe in him.


sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417299/faq#.2.1.6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0938283/
http://www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml
http://www.flickscribe.com/2008/07/20/the-last-airbender-news-and-rumors/

Patrick Lundberg is a crime fighter AND a drug smuggler tycoon. Occasionally he is called upon to stop himself, making for some rather paradoxical and eventful evenings.