MTV and io9 Also Visit The Last Airbender Set
Posted to Filming News on June 23, 2009 5:28 PM by
NightBender
So apparently Paramount Pictures invited a bunch of online reporters (none of which were from one of the several large avatar fansites *cough*) to visit
The Last Airbender set in Philadelphia last tuesday. We reported earlier about SuperHeroHype and IGN being on set, well now we've learned of
MTV and
io9's set visits as well.
The lavish ice palace had gone silent. The Fire and Water nations were no longer waging acrobatic battle between its frosty walls, and from the snow covered steps to the blown-glass chandeliers hanging above the balconies, a beautiful tranquility had descended. Meanwhile, the production was in full, hectic swing across town, where another massive hangar housed another set for M. Night Shyamalan's gargantuan, fantastical adventure story. Packs of extras wearing Samurai-like battle gear wandered here and there. Workers drilled and sawed and hammered. And Shyamalan and his star, Dev Patel of "Slumdog Millionaire" fame, were in the middle of it all, filming a pivotal fight scene. [via MTV]
And concerning one of everyone's favorite mythical creatures:
But I know you all want to know, what of Appa the giant white Sky Bison who flies? You've been asking ever since the film was announced. How will is it even possible to bring such a mythical creature to life? While we got to glimpse the enormous white furry top half of the magical six-legged creature (who will be part mechanical and part CG, the top half being mecha for the actors). Production Designer, Philip Messina, answered our Appa questions, reassuring us all that "I think once you see him on screen, you will see the Appa from the cartoon realm brought to life, but [that] still has the essence of his character. He has a character and a personality, he's an actor in the film to some extent." [via io9]
[read the complete articles @
MTV and
io9]
Comment by: firegirl @ 05:33 pm June 23, 2009
yay!!!! Appa !!!!! Man I can't wait ! But that's no fair how they didn't allowany avatar online reporters to be on the set !!
Comment by: Firegirl @ 05:35 pm June 23, 2009
it all sounds good and the fight scene as well!
Oh yeah I was the FIRST( to comment) finally hahaha
Comment by: nelson @ 05:47 pm June 23, 2009
should make him like falco from never ending story
Comment by: sachianna @ 05:48 pm June 23, 2009
I am estatic for appa. Shoot, after all that work that will be done to bring him to life they BETTER treat him as an actor...shoot gollum and yoda are considered a part of the cast in their respective movies...appa should be too ^,^
Comment by: Dresden @ 05:55 pm June 23, 2009
Alright...
I have been supportive of this movie sense it's inception.. sense we first started hearing rumblines about it I've defended it, geeked out on it and have all but worshipped it.
Until now.
M. Night says he has Grounded..GROUNDED Sokka.. the comedy relief.. the dork.. HE F'NG GROUNDED SOKKA! HOW IS THAT STICKING TO THE SHOW?
It actually turns my stomach to think that Sokka will no longer be the dorky guy he is.. i am so upset that i'm tearing up.
Comment by: sachianna @ 05:58 pm June 23, 2009
@dresden
I dont think M.Night is totally flooring sokka to oblivion. I think that his jokes will be lessened and toned down not totally squashed. He may have a different style of joke telling. Sokka doesent HAVE to be all slapstick! I don't know anything until I see that movie.
Comment by: firegirl @ 06:18 pm June 23, 2009
I'm pretty sure M. Night won't make sokka into a serious lifeless zombie lol , we have to remember M. Is a big fan of the show along with his daughter, I don't think he would make sokka completely serious or completely funny , I'm sure he'll crack a couple of jokes but he won't do it throughout the WHOLE film
Comment by: firegirl @ 06:20 pm June 23, 2009
oh and is it me or has anybody else wondered LOL if Dev Patel will have his original accent (which is British) or not ? I know it's a stupid question but YOU never know
Comment by: Diaigma @ 06:36 pm June 23, 2009
WE WANT APPA! WE WANT APPA~!
Comment by: Nelson64 @ 06:47 pm June 23, 2009
theres always a random dude that calls himself nelson...well its not me unless it has 64 at the end and the first N is capitalized...just clarifying that...
Comment by: Nelson64 @ 06:50 pm June 23, 2009
Sokka'll probably be more of a sozins comet sokka than a...puppet master sokka...if u get wut im saying...like he wont be so goofy...he'll still be goofy just not like really idiotically stupid like he is sometimes you know?
Comment by: Hahn Spirit @ 07:51 pm June 23, 2009
Comment by: NightBender @ 08:35 pm June 23, 2009
tell me about it. i've been so busy just keeping up with stuff and updating everything.
but its been very exciting and totally worth it.
Comment by:
Johna @ 10:03 pm June 23, 2009
Appa! Huzzah! I can't wait to see the results when the movie comes out!! ^_^
Comment by: NightBender @ 10:06 pm June 23, 2009
"Each set we walked on was more expansive and detailed than the last. The ice cave that holds the Moon Spirit was completely transformed into a strange and ethereal space, with a towering cherry tree looming over a reflecting pond. Every single blossom on the twisted branches was hand painted individually, with three different shades of pink. It truly felt like a mysterious oasis where brilliant green mold grows over ice.
But that wasn't even the kicker. Night has constructed a life size representation of the Fire Nation battleships, that can unleash furious fire power and where Dev Patel told us he'd spar with his crew. Dusty crumbling temples were erected, with gold statues of past Avatars, and even those can't compare to Airbender's pi�ce de r�sistance world-building moment, which just so happens to be the largest set ever built on the East Coast... which we're saving to tell you more about later. "
amazing!! can't wait to see it all
Comment by: firegirl @ 10:11 pm June 23, 2009
@NightBender , Oh man that's sounds beautiful !!! Almost poetic
man oh man this is gonna be EPIC!!! I can NOT wait anylonger lol
Comment by: Winning444 @ 10:15 pm June 23, 2009
So glad they're making Appa apart of the movie like an actor. :D
Less than an hour until Transformers 2 is out, but I guess that doesn't matter much to most people since the trailer was released early. :P
Comment by:
Caleb @ 10:48 pm June 23, 2009
@NightBenders last comment: Did you go on set? You said you didn't and now you're talking like you did. I hope you did!
Firegirl, it does sound poetic.
Comment by:
Caleb @ 10:58 pm June 23, 2009
BTW, at LAFilm, they quoted someone(either Marshall or Night):
"We grounded Katara’s brother, who’s the comic relief in the show. We grounded him, and that really did wonderful things for the whole theme of the movie"
Somone give me different wording for this...
Please tell me it's not what I'm thinking...
Comment by: Madame_Butterfly @ 10:59 pm June 23, 2009
@caleb Nightbender is quoting one of the articles. (The io9 one i think)
I can't wait to see the Moon Spirit set, it sounds amazing!
Comment by: Satandonkey @ 12:51 am June 24, 2009
Not to ruin the momentum of the Avatar fan community, But "Avatar and the Firelord" has been the episode of the week for like....3 weeks. I understand NB, this was a hugely busy week for the movie, so no rush updating it (can next episode be "the puppetmaster" i love that one)
Anywho, those are great articles. Im concerned that Shamalayn basically said he is in over his head. But, I have confidence in him.
Comment by: Flip @ 01:51 am June 24, 2009
I'm getting really excited when I read those articles! I've watched the teaser trailer like 30 times or someting
Comment by: Benjecho @ 03:18 am June 24, 2009
The lavish ice palace had gone silent. The Fire and Water nations were no longer waging acrobatic battle between its frosty walls, and from the snow covered steps to the blown-glass chandeliers hanging above the balconies, a beautiful tranquility had descended. Meanwhile, the production was in full, hectic swing across town, where another massive hangar housed another set for M. Night Shyamalan's gargantuan, fantastical adventure story. Packs of extras wearing Samurai-like battle gear wandered here and there. Workers drilled and sawed and hammered. And Shyamalan and his star, Dev Patel of "Slumdog Millionaire" fame, were in the middle of it all, filming a pivotal fight scene.
So their filming the SIEGE OF THE NORTH am I right? haha good then! that means M. Night is really sticking to the Plot and story of season 1! haha
Comment by: Benjecho @ 03:32 am June 24, 2009
GUYS VISIT M. NIGHT's site! its freaking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by:
wa6a6a @ 07:49 am June 24, 2009
THATS SOME MAD SHYT RIGHT THUR
Comment by: firegirl @ 11:27 am June 24, 2009
@benjecho
what's on it that we haven't already seen on this site??
Comment by: Dresden @ 12:14 pm June 24, 2009
Interestingly enough the interviews state that the footage in the teaser was shot FOR the teaser trailer only.
"an "Airbender" teaser trailer that Shyamalan conceived and shot himself, in which Aang shows off his martial arts skills and we get a glimpse of the epic scale of the film."
that to me says, not in the film.
Comment by: NightBender @ 12:46 pm June 24, 2009
yea, that seems to be the case. however, i bet that location is in the film.
Comment by: ReSpekt88 @ 02:14 pm June 24, 2009
there is not enough action in this trailer to be in the movie. Like someone said in a quote, the beginning part is just Noah showing off his moves and the last part is just to show the fire nation and how powerful they are and how much they want he Avatar
Comment by: Michael @ 05:11 pm June 24, 2009
"
Somone give me different wording for this... crying Please tell me it's not what I'm thinking... "
Grounded <> Dull
Instead of a Silly Sokka we will probably see some of the Witty/Sarcastic perhaps a bit edgier and a bit more of his cynical side. In Other words he's more complex and more serious than the Sokka in the Cartoon.
IMHO, we already have the cartoon. No one could do Sokka like in the cartoon without turning the movie into something like Jar Jar in Star Wars I. I think fans want to see a new Han Solo, not a new Jar Jar.
Comment by:
Caleb @ 05:21 pm June 24, 2009
^I was afraid of that.^ Oh well, I hope he knows what he's getting into.
Comment by: Hahn Spirit @ 05:55 pm June 24, 2009
@Michael
New Han Solo to new Jar Jar is a good comparison. kudos.
Comment by: firegirl @ 06:39 pm June 24, 2009
omg lol "live feed from iPhone" I'm sitting here bout to watch Transformers A.K.A. The Last Airbender teaser trailer
Comment by: Sara @ 07:42 pm June 24, 2009
I know that this is probably off topic, but does anyone know if the style of martial arts that Noah Ringer is using in the teaser trailer is Ba Gua? (please excuse me if it is misspelled)
I'm just curious.
Comment by: Avatar_Fan @ 09:48 pm June 24, 2009
hey, does anyone know if the trailer is attached to the imax copy of transfomers? and also is it 100% that shaymalan may not produce the next 2 movies of the avatar show?
Comment by: NightBender @ 09:49 pm June 24, 2009
I haven't heard of any instances were the TLA trailer was attached to the IMAX TF2.
Shyamalan is signed for all 3 films, if they decide to make 3.
Comment by:
Caleb @ 11:59 pm June 24, 2009
I sure hope it's all three. Cramming it into two would be very difficult. Even worse would be to leave it unfinished after one(or two at that!).
Comment by: Vahl @ 12:14 am June 25, 2009
is momo in the movie? just asking.
Comment by: Vahl @ 12:15 am June 25, 2009
is momo in the movie? just asking.
Comment by: Jans @ 01:01 am June 25, 2009
"...Shyamalan said the only significant change he made to the original story was to strip away the cartoon's more slapstick humor..." (mtv)
Strip away? Does that mean remove? But being a comic relief is Sokka's trademark...
Comment by:
Caleb @ 09:35 am June 25, 2009
Jans, that's a good thing. All the idiotic and stupid stuff they did in the series won't be there.
Comment by: ReSpekt88 @ 10:51 am June 25, 2009
Momo is not important to the story at all. If you think about it, he does not further the plot or anything. It would not change a thing if he was "stripped away". Although we all loved him in the cartoon, i think it would be best if he wasnt in the movie (its just another mechanical animal). Now Appa on the other hand IS important. From what is said in the article, he sounds pretty cool
Comment by: Dresden @ 11:09 am June 25, 2009
I find Momo to be important, whether he furthers the story or not.
I don't recall how 3P0 and R2D2 furthered the star wars films (aside from the first one where R2 was carrying the plans)
Momo reminds Aang that he's not completely alone from the Southern Air Temple.
"You, me and Appa are all that's left of this place."
I find that important.
Comment by: Pathik @ 12:40 pm June 25, 2009
@Dresden
excellent point of keeping Momo, as he is also a reminder of the Air Nomads, even if he is not as strong as a reference as Aang or Appa.
Comment by: T to the Core @ 05:54 pm June 25, 2009
I hope they keep Momo, even if he isn't even explained or mentioned by name. Just have a small, flying, big eared mammal just randomly appears everywhere the gaang goes. First time through, all the new people to the series won't even see him, but we will and us fans will smile. Second time seeing it, all the new people to the series will see him, and they'll be like "what the s***?!" and us fans will laugh at the little piece of fan service only we recognize.
Comment by: Dresden @ 07:18 pm June 25, 2009
I could live with that.
Hey guys, I just had an interesting idea of how to deal with the anxiety one might experience with the anime they love being translated to the big screen. Here goes.
1. Look at it this way: Remember the old Batman serials? Goofy, fun loving, but also sort of dark and mysterious. And look at that old campy version and compare it with The Dark Knight. Incredibly dark, moving, but incredibly funny and a good morality story.
I'm not saying the anime is weaker or anything, but if you look at The Last Airbender as where the myth started and the Anime as the byproduct of the worlds understanding of the first one, it makes it easier to deal with.
That's why I'm no longer pessimistic about the "no more fart-joke's and gag" thing. Now we'll have a more cynical, sarcastic story. M. Night has really subtle sarcasm in his movies, and I trust him with Sokka. HIS version of Sokka anyway.
Comment by:
dodo @ 08:57 pm June 25, 2009
I know this is completely off topic but it has to be said...
one writer over at latinoreview.com keeps calling The Last Airbender, get this, The Last Goofybender. On all the news about the movie, he just says that instead of the real title. It would be fine if he saw the movie and it sucked, but he's only doing it because of M. Night. So everyone here should go to that website, find the articles mentioning the last goofybender *shudders* and politely comment on how the writer should be fair to all movies before they have been shown, even if its director has made some bad movies before.
Thanks!
Comment by: Firefirl @ 11:58 pm June 25, 2009
Comment by: Firefirl @ 11:58 pm June 25, 2009
Comment by: fireGirl @ 11:59 pm June 25, 2009
oops! I mispelled my name...
Comment by: firegirl @ 12:21 am June 26, 2009
@dodo ok you can go back and read the comments LOL I gave him a pretty big piece of my mind! My name is under hahaha!!!! It's like the longest comment on there
Comment by: dodo @ 02:16 pm June 26, 2009
Awesome! but I couldn't find it, what article did you write it under?
Comment by: dodo @ 02:21 pm June 26, 2009
Awesome! but I couldn't find it, what article did you write it under?
Comment by: firegirl @ 08:37 pm June 26, 2009
it's called First Pics released of avatar: the goofybender
Comment by: dodo @ 10:13 pm June 26, 2009
whoa, no need for the mean face
Comment by: Firegirl @ 10:55 pm June 26, 2009
hahahahah! No! I did it bc I HATE the title if the article :P .... Have you read it??
Comment by:
Annards @ 01:12 am June 27, 2009
It astounds me how well some people write...I mean these few paragraphs I read about the set just about launched me through the roof. In my head...the spirit oasis just seems like the most gorgeous place. I just find it incredible that people can write like that...Sure wish I could LOL.
I had totally forgotten about Appa until now... I was so wrapped up trying to find out what Sokka and Katara looked like (Still disappointed we didn't get to see them in the trailer). I hope Appa looks realistic. Imagine how badly it would kill the film if Appa looked super fake.
But judging from the teaser trailer and how good the special effects were in that. Appa will look sweet!
I really really hope they try an follow the tv script!
Comment by: tidus @ 08:24 am July 08, 2009
Trailer doesn't make it out to look good...actors look nothing like the characters in the cartoon...got a feeling this one is going to suck....
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