I'm just a traveller.

[rogueslayer452]

++ Since my previous post, now that Namie Amuro has officially retired from her career, I've been really feeling the heartache. I was obviously heartbroken since the announcement was made a year ago but I was still in some kind of denial, but once her final day arrived and I saw so many people dedicating their posts to her, wishing her well, posting videos in celebration of her career and everything, I just got so emotional. Like, in a sad but proud sort of way? It's hard to describe. And her final performance ever, which was in the 16th, was in her hometown of Okinawa, and seeing videos of that just got me really, really emotional, way more than I already was. Never mind seeing her emotional message to fans during her last tour just got to me. I just love her so much. ❤

++ There's a brand new trailer for Doctor Who, and it just keeps getting better and better. Now, just give me the new season please. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

++ Telltale Games Studios is officially shutting down, with any future games that were planned immediately being cancelled, including continuations of any ongoing game series, and many employees being abruptly laid off. I haven't played anything from Telltale, but I know many loved their games, most notably The Walking Dead, Tales from the Borderlands and The Wolf Among Us. Unfortunately, despite the massive popularity of some of their games and them hitting their stride recently, this tough decision was due to poor sales, which is quite shocking to be honest. I know that there's probably more behind the scenes issues than the initial statement suggests, but even though I didn't play the games I knew of them and how some were quite beloved so it's upsetting knowing that games will be unfinished or won't ever get their sequels.

++ It's been recently announced that there's going to be a live-action adaptation series of Avatar: The Last Airbender for Netflix, with the original creators behind the show and promising that the series will be casting culturally appropriate actors, no whitewashing of any kind. There's been varying opinions about this from the fandom, from excitement of finally being a faithful live-action adaptation to being apprehensive and skeptical, even outright not liking the idea at all. After reading many of these thoughts and opinions, I honestly see both sides. For some, I think the idea of a live-action A:TLA was appealing years ago, but after the catastrophe and insult that was the M. Night Shyamalan movie, many felt like a live-action is just unnecessary and if it's not done correctly it'll just reopen old wounds. I also think, considering the climate the entertainment industry is in now, many are just tired of remakes in general, especially live-action remakes when the animation itself is already perfect as is. However, on the other hand, it could be a fantastic opportunity for POC actors to play these characters appropriately and giving them more exposure, which is definitely the biggest upside to this news.

Now, I haven't seen Avatar: The Last Airbender (or Legend of Korra) but I certainly know of it from various people, and I most definitely remember when the whole movie nonsense was happening. I read racebending constantly and it was the beginning of the racefail discussions not just on LJ, but in various locations all across the Internet. It sparked a conversation that is still going today about whitewashing roles, cultural appropriation, having authentic casting, etc. I do think the original creators are going to do right by fixing what the M. Night version did wrong and creating the live-action version that they've been wanting, but I also understand the concerns fans have.

So, I'm curious as to what y'all's thoughts are on this. Do you think this live-action series is going to work? Are you worried about the outcome? Any personal casting ideas for the characters?

Comments

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

Avatar and The Legend of Korra are great and definitely worth checking out (as seen by my putting them with Buffy, Gargoyles and Battlestar under "Crème de la crème" in my recent "TV Rankings" post: https://noybusiness.livejournal.com/118166.html). With the showrunners involved, this live action version will definitely be much better than that awful "movie". I'm just not entirely sure why they feel it necessary to make one when the series is still out there. Perhaps to expand on certain things about the world, add more R-rated themes, or wash away the memory of the previous live action attempt/prove they can do better.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Perhaps to expand on certain things about the world, add more R-rated themes, or wash away the memory of the previous live action attempt/prove they can do better.

That's what I'm thinking, as well. Doing a direct remake wouldn't make much sense, not only would it placing much more pressure on themselves to try and reach the high expectations from the fans, it would be rather redundant since the animated series is right there. I think telling another story but still within that world would be much better, allowing them to explore different places that they didn't in the animated series, focusing on different characters, etc. There can be a lot of potential with that kind of direction instead of doing a direct remake.

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

The Netflix press release uses the word "re-imagined" and the showrunner says "retelling", though. So it sounds like it is a direct remake. I meant they might want to expand some parts of the world (he says something like that) in this remake and add R-rated themes they couldn't in the cartoon version.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Even so, it kind of begs the question of how the response from the fans will be with this being a retelling of the series. It would be interesting to expand further than the animated version was allowed to do, but I've seen a lot of mixed reactions to this news regardless. IDK, again I haven't seen the series but I do know of it and how passionate the fanbase is, so reading up on the varying opinions from the fandom overall is giving me an interesting perspective.

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

I've seen a lot of mixed reactions, too. I'm waiting for more information. At the worst, it will be something to just ignore as unnecessary.