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Welcome to the Special Feature about Avatar: The Last Airbender! This collection of opening posts should give you a quick overview of the series (and upcoming film) and serve as an introduction to those who are not fans.
Please remember, though, to use spoiler boxes when discussing anything spoilerish concerning either the television show or the film. There will be those who watch the film without seeing the series and we would like them to remain unspoiled as to the progression of the story. There will also be those who are fans of the film, but who have not been able to view the film---we would like them to remain unspoiled as well. Please clearly mark your spoiler boxes with what they contain spoilers for (i.e. "TLA spoilers", "Film spoilers", "Season 2 spoilers", "The Boiling Rock spoilers", etc.) and remember to place all potential spoilers in those boxes. If you're unsure as to what constitutes a spoiler, it's better to put something non-spoilerish in a spoiler box than to leave something spoilerish in the post without boxes. Alternatively, you can always pm one of the four opening moderators (Rising_Star, shastastwin, stargazer or myself) and ask them if it needs to be in spoiler boxes. 
Side effects of not making proper use of the spoiler boxes may include, but certainly are not limited to, Mod notes, guilt, frustration on the part of others, and imprisonment on the Boiling Rock.
Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything.
Amongst the Water Tribes, there are certain people who have the ability to move and shape water. They are known as Waterbenders and can be quite powerful, controlling water in all its forms.
There are two Water Tribes---one resides on the South Pole, the other on the North Pole. While the Northern Tribe has remained largely untouched by the war, the Southern Tribe has suffered many raids from the Fire Nation. Their life has been hard, but they have survived. The village is mostly made up of women and children, with a few older men, as most of the village's warriors have gone to fight against the Fire Nation. Chief Hakoda has left his village mostly in the charge of his son, Sokka.
Sokka longs to be a warrior, but has been denied the opportunity by his responsibilities to the village, which he tries to defend with the help of the village children. Life is not always kind to him and his skepticism, sarcasm, and stubbornness often leave him an easy target to irony, fate and laughter. He is a natural leader and warrior, though, and willing to do whatever needs to be done, no matter how hard it may be. It was Sokka, along with his sister, Katara, who rediscovered the Avatar one day, while out fishing.
Katara has the distinction of being the only Waterbender on the South Pole. Being the only Waterbender there, though, she has been taught by no one and is only able to perform the most basic waterbending actions, with her control of the element being rather limited at times as well. It is she who, inadvertently, releases the Avatar from his hiding place in an iceberg. Katara has complete confidence in the Avatar and is full of hope for the future. Though she may occasionally be prone to trusting people too much, she has a heart for helping people. She and her brother do not always see eye to eye, but it is she (along with her grandmother, Gran Gran) who has held the family together ever since their mother's death many years before.
With their grandmother's blessing and urging, both Katara and Sokka travel with Aang when he leaves the South Pole. Katara wants to be able to find a Waterbending Master (which Aang has offered to help her do) and teach Aang the little bending she knows. Sokka goes along, as he knows that is where his place is right now, both to help the Avatar and to protect his sister.
The Northern Water Tribe is much more magnificent than its sister tribe, but it has not suffered nearly as much. Fire Nation attacks were defeated by them early on in the war and the Fire Nation since left them pretty much alone as they stay hidden behind their ice walls. They live in relative peace and comfort in their seclusion from the rest of the world. They are ruled over by their chief, Arnook, who's daughter is Princess Yue.
Yue is pretty much everything a princess should be---she is beautiful, kind, helpful, and dutiful to her family and country. The only thing out of place about her is her brilliant white hair. Though not as forward or strong as some of the other young women in the story, she is a complete heroine in her own right.
Some days you battle yourself and other monsters. Some days you just make soup.
Topic starter
Posted : June 26, 2010 6:15 am
Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humor!
In the TV show and film, there is a race of people who can bend the air around them. They are known as air nomads. As the title implies, at the time of the show there is only one Airbender left in the world: Aang, the Avatar. Aang is not only the Avatar, but a fun-loving twelve-year-old who's been gone for a hundred years! Imagine the mess in his room! 
Aang is joined in his travels by Appa, his flying bison, and Momo, a flying lemur. They are the last of their kinds as well (as far as we know).
Aang's journey over the course of the show and films will be to master all four of the elements in order to save the world from the Fire Nation's armies bent on destruction and enslavement. But first, he has to go penguin-sledding.
"All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you..."
Inexhaustible Inspiration
6689 posts from forum 1.0
Posted : June 27, 2010 4:25 am
Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. – Uncle Iroh
Earth is the second element that Aang must learn to master before his final encounter with Fire Lord Ozai, and lends its name to the second season of the series. The color palette of this season favors earth tones like greens and browns, unlike the blues and whites (symbolizing the Water Tribes) of season 1.
Each of the bending forms in Avatar: The Last Airbender is derived from real-life martial arts disciplines; since earth “is a stubborn element,” its practitioners use the low, strong moves of Hung Gar, a southern style of kung fu. A notable exception is Toph Beifong; due to her blindness, and because she’s essentially self-taught, she uses Southern Praying Mantis instead (more here).
The sprawling Earth Kingdom occupies the largest landmass in the Avatar’s world, and most of its residents are ‘ordinary’ people: farmers, merchants and so on. It’s a land of mountains, deserts, lakes, farms, small towns, and big cities – the most prominent of which is the capital of Ba Sing Se, which is protected by huge walls which, as the series opens, have defied all the Fire Nation’s previous attempts to conquer the capital.
Yet some of those able to manipulate (“bend”) Earth make their homes elsewhere, and our heroes encounter them early in their travels.
One of the first is Suki, who, by all appearances, is not a bender but a member of the elite Kyoshi Warriors – fearless female warriors who use metal fans and katana-like swords as their primary weapons.
Ready for action
In the upcoming live-action film, Suki is portrayed by Jessica Andres.
In the very next episode, 1.05, “The King of Omashu,” the travelers encounter King Bumi. He’s just a little goofy in the head, it seems, but he’s still an impressive earthbender. Bumi encourages the young Avatar to seek out an earthbending teacher who “waits and listens before striking."
Just a little crazy…or a mad genius!
The earthbender we see most is Toph. Because she is young, small, and blind, her parents are extremely protective of her. To their chagrin, she has been sneaking out of the house to participate in events like Earth Rumble VI (a fun spoof of the professional wrestling in our world). It is there that “The Blind Bandit” (as she calls herself) encounters Aang and his friends, in the season 2 episode of the same name.
Earthbending, just like the other bending forms, was originally inspired by something in nature – in this case, the blind badgermoles who use this ability to interact with and manipulate their environment.
Childhood pals
Despite being blind she senses vibrations in the ground – allowing her to ‘see’ things sighted people often miss. She uses this technique in her earthbending contests with others – thus allowing her to wait and listen before striking, just as Bumi described:
TophVision™
But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes.
Posted : June 27, 2010 5:22 am
Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want.
To say the Firebenders are hot-headed and passionate would be like saying the Earth is round, or Iroh's tea is good. They know what they want and they're not afraid to get it by any means necessary.
Unlike the other forms of bending, the Firebenders do not need the element to control it. They create it, using the energy of the sun and the fire in their hearts. (In the upcoming movie, however, this is not the case. They do need already existing fire in order to bend it.)
This is probably why they have become so powerful. Powerful enough to believe they can take control of the entire world. Fire Lord Ozai has put himself up as an emperor of sorts, and he is striving to wipe out all other benders that might pose a threat to him, especially the Avatar.
Iroh: So this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat? Disgraceful. Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you. Thanks again for the tea. It was delicious. [Iroh and Zuko leave]
Zuko: Did you really mean that, uncle?
Iroh: Of course. I told you ginseng tea is my favorite.
Iroh (also known as General Iroh, or simply Uncle Iroh) is Fire Lord Ozai's older brother. He holds the title of Dragon of the West and led the siege at Ba Sing Se. Unfortunately he retreated before the great Earth Kingdom city fell. In the movie it appears as though he's the only Firebender able to bend without already existing fire. He takes care of his nephew, Prince Zuko, during the prince's banishment. He appears lighthearted and jovial, though not all is what it seems with Iroh.
Oh, and he is especially fond of tea (though it must be well made or he tosses it out the window).
Zuko [to Aang]: I've spent years preparing for this encounter. Training, meditating...you're just a child!
Aang: Well, you're just a teenager.
Prince Zuko, son of Fire Lord Ozai, was banished from his home as a punishment for dishonoring his family name. He strives to regain that honor by capturing the Avatar and so begins his wild goose chase. The Avatar seems to elude him at every turn, which makes him understandably irritable and grumpy. As the series go on, however, we see a different side of Zuko; one that has made him extremely popular with fans.
In the TV show he starts out with a bald head with a single ponytail, which he then cuts off at the end of season 1. His hair grows back throughout the rest of the series. Many people were relieved to see Dev Patel as Zuko with a full head of hair.
Toph: And stick to the truth. I'll be able to tell if you're lying.
Azula: Are you sure? I'm a pretty good liar. I am a 400 foot tall purple platypus-bear with pink horns and silver wings.
(pause)
Toph: Okay, you're good, I admit it.
Princess Azula is Prince Zuko's sister and daughter to Fire Lord Ozai. She is so cold and ruthless that her firebending comes in the form of blue fire. Although she doesn't appear until the second season, she becomes one of the main villains, fighting against the Avatar. She is a prodigy in many skills and is favored by Fire Lord Ozai more than Zuko. She loves to hold this over her brother.
She is also an excellent liar, as seen in the episode "The Day of Black Sun Part 2: The Eclipse."
P.S."Brooklyn!"
Posted : June 27, 2010 8:19 am
I must say I never did watch the cartoon episodes, but a lot of that is due to not watching the Cartoon Network hardly at all. But the previews to the movie look impressive. And though I have next to no access/time to a theater while at home this summer (living 30 miles away and not having a driver's license will do that), I will have a chance a week from Saturday to see it. I will be in Atlanta for the US Fencing Summer Nationals for a week, and I have that day off. A little research has identified a movie theater just a couple miles from my hotel. That is walking distance for me. So I plan to see that unless something comes up. I'll report my thoughts upon my return from Atlanta.
Be watching for the release of my spiritual warfare novel under a new title: "Call to Arms" by OakTara Publishing. A sequel (title TBD) will shortly follow.
Posted : June 27, 2010 10:43 am
This is but a minor nitpick, but the show actually aired on The Spongebob Network (aka Nickelodeon) - though whether or not you're a fan of the talking sponge, you'll find the two shows are quite different.
Hopefully you'll get a chance to see the movie, Fencer, and let us know what you think about it.
Earlier today ValiantArcher and I were discussing how the first season's content might be abbreviated to fit into a roughly 2-hour movie. There were 20 half-hour episodes in season 1 (perhaps 20 minutes each after commercials and credits), which is about 400 minutes. So here's my list, by episode, of what might make the cut.
Disclaimers: I haven't watched this season through recently, so this is a very high-level overview. An episode I dismiss may indeed have something in it that advances the overarching plot line and thus might include vital elements. Also, dismissing an episode doesn't mean I'm 'dissing' it. A TV series can have a more leisurely pace, allowing them to explore backstories and characters in depth, while a movie may not have this luxury. Any spoiler boxes apply to significant plot points in the episode. Lastly, while ValiantArcher and I agreed in many respects, her list may be different.
1.01 "The Boy in the Iceberg" - Already seen in the trailer. This sets everything up. Also, each episode begins with a voiceover from Katara summarizing the series premise. The one before this pilot episode is longer, offering more background information. I wonder if the movie might not begin in a similar fashion.
1.02 "The Avatar Returns" - also important.
Spoiler
Zuko is introduced.
1.03 "The Southern Air Temple" - Important background information, but it could be shortened.
Spoiler
Aang returns to his childhood home to find things have changed.
1.04 "The Warriors of Kyoshi" - Present in some form:
Spoiler
Suki (who appears in the movie) is introduced here.
1.05 "The King of Omashu" - Possibly omitted:
Spoiler
King Bumi appears for the first time. In the absence of casting information for this character, it's possible his storyline may be delayed until the second movie in the series.
1.06 "Imprisoned" - Might be omitted, though several important things happen in this one:
Spoiler
The gang meets the earthbender Haru and his father, and Zuko obtains Katara's mother's necklace. Incidentally, the prison warden is voiced by Star Trek's George Takei.
1.07 and 1.08 "Winter Solstice parts 1 and 2" - A lot of essential information is given here:
Spoiler
the avatar's connection to the spirit world, and his connection to past avatars via the Avatar State. Aang meets Avatar Roku who reveals the main premise of the series.
1.09 "The Waterbending Scroll" - Might be omitted, though
Spoiler
"pirates are good" to paraphrase The Princess Bride
1.10 "Jet" - introduces a recurring character, but in the absence of movie info about him, his storyline may disappear.
1.11 "The Great Divide" - likely omitted
1.12 "The Storm" - lots of backstory revealed through dreams and storytelling.
Spoiler
Zuko's motivations become clearer.
1.13 "The Blue Spirit" - the title character has been seen in trailers.
1.14 "The Fortuneteller" - likely omitted, though it has some fun lines:
Aang: That cloud looks like a fluffy bunny.
Calm Man: You better hope that's not a bunny. The fluffy bunny cloud forecasts doom and destruction.
Sokka: Do you even hear yourself?
edit: ValiantArcher tells me there's an imdb credit for the fortune teller, so maybe these lines will be included. 
1.15 "Bato of the Water Tribe" - May be included in abbreviated form.
1.16 "The Deserter" - Important events that may be included:
Spoiler
Aang begins learning firebending from an old master but burns Katara; she learns she has healing powers
1.17 "The Northern Air Temple" - It would be fun to see
Spoiler
the Mechanist (voiced by Rene Auberjonois - Odo of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fame) - especially since he appears in several future episodes
1.18 "The Waterbending Master" - The calm before the climactic battle. Seen in the trailers.
1.19 and 1.20 "Siege of the North parts 1 and 2" - Epic battles. Things blowing up or flying through the air. Lots of bending action. Need I say more?
If you've read through all that, congrats! What are your thoughts on what might be in the movie or left out? (Remember to use appropriate spoilers!)
Or perhaps you'd like to share other comments about the series: favorite characters, plots, etc. Or, tell us what you want to see in the movie.
But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes.
Posted : June 27, 2010 2:38 pm
I gotta say that the movie interested me so I decided to catch the animated series first, well... just the first year, I won't begin with the second until after I've seen the movie.
I definitely can't wait for this weekend to see the movie! I started with the series and hit it hard at first, but seeing I would have been finished too soon I slowed down. I saw two episodes today and have just 3 more to go on the first year.
I've seen A LOT of things that I want to remain for the movie 
I won't talk more now but I will return after I've finished the first year, which I hope is tomorrow. Second year and third will wait until after the movie though.
Posted : June 27, 2010 3:17 pm
I hope you get to see the film, FencerforJesus, and that you enjoy it.
Nice list, gazer. I pretty much agree with you---it will really depend on what recurring characters and/or storylines they decide to keep. For example, Or, I do think that "The Avatar State" can be somewhat condensed---the basic premise of the first part, though interesting and with good moments, does only a little to further the whole plot. I could easily see them only briefly touching on that episode or, even, finding another way to lead into the events of the second part.
narnian1, glad to hear that you're enjoying the series! Slowing down while watching it can be extremely hard as I'm sure you've figured out. I hope you'll enjoy the movie, too.
What are some of the expectations you all have for the film?
Of course, I'd love for it to stick to almost every single detail in the series, but I know that's not going to happen. Actually, going through the series mentally a bit and seeing how much I can expect to be cut, has been rather helpful. Though, I'm sure some of the things I think need to be in there won't be there, and possibly some things I thought extraneous will be included. I'm trying to keep my expectations low, though I am rather hoping that the characterization will be mostly faithful, and hopefully I'll just be able to enjoy it as a movie if I need to.
Some days you battle yourself and other monsters. Some days you just make soup.
Topic starter
Posted : June 27, 2010 3:48 pm
Well, I just finished Season 1, what an amazing ending to the first year
There is a lot I want, but I wouldn't mind some things being cut- they work for animation but might not for live action.
One thing though that might/might not work that I want to see, and I don't think I've seen in the trailers is . If by any chance I just missed it in the trailer and it IS in the movie, please don't anyone tell me, I'd rather have it as a surprise if it is in there.
I'm all ready for the movie, will be seeing it on Friday, can't Thursday.
Posted : June 28, 2010 2:45 pm
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've given in and begun reviewing season 1. I've watched the first 8 episodes, and must say I've enjoyed them. There were details I'd forgotten. I was also watching them with an eye to what sorts of things might be left out of a movie, and there was quite a bit - though this 'extra' content did work well in developing the story or characters in the more 'relaxed' context of a TV series (as opposed to a movie).
Regarding the changes in pronunciation of some character names in the upcoming movie, I noticed that in one of the commercials preceding the disc 2 episodes, the announcer does say "Soak-a" instead of "Sock-a" - and when listening to the French audio track, the 'new' pronunciation is heard as well.
But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes.
Posted : June 29, 2010 6:12 pm
Haven't watch the film but am really so excited to watch this soon! I like to see how Sokka does here and what Aang/Ang might do to save the world..
What was season 1 again?? Was it Fire? or Water?
"Two sides of the same coin"
Posted : June 29, 2010 11:23 pm
Gotta get in here and post my pre-movie thoughts.
I'm a pretty big fan of this series, but a relative latecomer. My sister Aravanna watched them religiously as they were released and desperately tried to get me to join in. I informed her to forget it until all of the DVDs were released so I could watch them all at once. So as soon as the third season came out, my sister sent them my way and my husband and I made a marathon weekend of watching Avatar episodes. 
My favorite character is Toph (who won't be in this movie sadly) followed very closely by Uncle Iroh (who will be. Yay!). Don't ask me my favorite episode because I couldn't tell you.
As far as my feelings about this movie go, I'm really excited. I know a lot will be cut... like if you look on IMDb, there's no casting for Bumi, or June (to name a few)... but as Gazer said above, how to you fit a whole series into one movie? So I can give the production a little slack on that.
My biggest concern is that the humor will be cut out of it. I mean, this series was FUNNY. And I haven't been watching snippets at all because I don't want to be too spoiled, but I have seen next to no humor thus far.
So yeah, here's to the movie's release tomorrow!!!! May it be worlds better than Eclipse!!! (Well, it probably will be easily, but don't tell the Twilight fans that. )
Posted : June 30, 2010 5:41 am
Something the last airbender shares with Narnia or Harry Potter is that they're all regarded as evil by some, as a quick google search just showed 
On a more serious note: I only got hooked to the show after I found out I there was going to be a movie. I do have to say it's easily one of my favourite TV shows now. Haven't finished all yet, but after I got over the first episode (which I disliked) I pretty much watched the first two seasons as soon as I could.
Now I have my high hopes for the movie. The scope and themes in the show literally screamed for an "epic fantasy" adaptation, my only concern is that M. Night is pretty much inexperienced with films in that scope and action scenes.
However, the visuals released so far look beautiful. The bending CG in the trailers look stunning (unlike some special effects in the dawn treader trailer ), as do the sets. I have yet to see an M. Night film that disappoints me (although I haven't seen "The Village" and "Signs" is one of my favourite movies ever) and I hope this won't be the first.
First reviews haven't been so kind so far though, most often critisizing "wooden acting" on part of the main cast (Ringer, "my own movies compete with each other" Rathbone and Peltz). Luckily, that's one thing I could easily overlook
Posted : June 30, 2010 6:12 am
I've been looking forward to this movie since I heard it was announced. I got hooked on the show almost two years ago (after much encouragement from stargazer and Aravanna) and watched the whole series with a friend a bit at a time over the course of a month.
That said, I've been a little hesitant with some of the casting lacunas -- Bumi, Jet, June, and especially Koh.
I was also a bit concerned at first about Iroh's body shape...it's not as um, big as in the show, and part of the fun of his character is that people underestimate him because of that.
The time is also a quandary for me. The film is less than 2 hours long, and I've been figuring Shyamalan to need at least 2 if not 2.5 hours for it. I'd love a 3 hour extended version but 1 hr 43 minutes has me worried he's cut too much.
However, I'm still excited about this film and looking forward to seeing it on Friday.
"All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you..."
Inexhaustible Inspiration
6689 posts from forum 1.0
Posted : June 30, 2010 11:45 am
Glad you enjoyed the first season, narnian1!
Huh, very interesting about the pronunciation, gazer. We didn't watch any of the special features when we borrowed the DVDs, I'm afraid.
The first season was Water, sandyentersnarnia, with the second being Earth and the third Fire. And I hope you enjoy the film.
Mmhmm, my biggest concern is probably the humour as well, FK. The show was hysterical without resorting (well, very much) to stupid or gross humour (I guess the humour was more character-driven and plays on words and such?). I don't expect (or even hope!) the film to be near as funny, but I would like them to keep in some of it.
The visuals do look lovely, Reepi. I love all the detail in the pictures I've seen.
*sighs* Well, reviews have been known to be wrong, so here's hoping...
stwin, interesting thoughts about Koh. Ah, well. We can't expect too much.
I'd forgotten how short it was! 
*sighs* Well, I'm still looking forward to it, just trying to keep my expectations as low as possible.
I suppose I should say that I'm a fairly recent fan of the series (I only started watching it last fall, but I did manage to get all my sisters hooked on it and my mom at least interested in the show. 
), having had my interest piqued by NWebbers (mainly Starsy and Ryan, though gazer's and stwin's graphics sparked an early awareness/curiosity as well). I was carefully steered clear of pretty much anything related to the film (I only saw the teaser trailer after I'd started/maybe even was a good way through the first season) so as to avoid any sorts of spoilers (and to make sure I was a good and dedicated show fan ) and as we only finished the series a couple of months ago (maybe? If even that...), I've avoided much of the excitement/concern/controversy/expectations/following/whatever else can be added here/etc related to the film.
Favourite characters? Well, I don't hate any of them but Iroh, Toph, Sokka and Zuko easily take the top four (don't ask me to narrow it down any further, I don't think I could ).
I'm hoping to see the film on Thursday with several of my sisters, and I'm rather looking forward to it, despite my attempts for low expectations.
Some days you battle yourself and other monsters. Some days you just make soup.
Topic starter
Posted : June 30, 2010 5:00 pm
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