Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, MLB all-star snubs, the best fireworks you saw last night, or Alton Brown’s grilling secrets, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
I am thoroughly enjoying the reviews for The Last Airbender. I love that M. Night Shyamalan is getting called out for some shoddy and expensive work. I’ve always resented him a bit (I’ll explain shortly). At best, I thought he was a one-trick pony with good directing skills and poor writing skills (which makes him Bizarro Kevin Smith). At worst, I thought he was an overrated hack. So yeah, I’m enjoying the skewering he’s getting for ruining Avatar.
You see, I had to like Shyamalan. One of my best friends and former roommates, Steve, is Indian-American. I championed famous Indian-American celebs on his behalf (all three of them) and he championed famous Filipino-Americans on mine (all four of them). For a while, Shyamalan was a press darling — not liking him would’ve broken this sacred covenant Steve and I had. Besides, I enjoyed Unbreakable.
The good news is that the rise of Aziz Ansari has made it okay to dislike Shyamalan. I’m pretty sure that an up-and-coming comedian that’s cool and edgy allows me to knock off a hack film writer. I’ll have to check with Steve. Anyway, let me know what you think of M. Night Shyamalan’s work. Are you fan? Do you think he’s overrated? Are you pissed that he’s butchered Avatar: The Last Airbender?
M night. has lost me after the village. I've given his other movies lady in the water, the happening a try but they bore me and can't keep my attention after 30 mins. Maybe he should just focus on directing other people's screenplays. I wonder how his kids feel about him messing up their cartoon. I've never watched the avatar series so i cant comment on whether he f*%@ed or not.
@mlb all star
i haven't been keeping up with it but from the headlines i've seen it looks like the NL will lose again.
@the best fireworks
i didnt go anywhere to see them. Even though fireworks are illegal in illinois, people manage to get them so there not set to music or choreographed but the block puts on a good show.
@alton brown
I can't watch his show on the food network. I find it kind of annoying.
@m night
hmm, im convinced he sold his soul to make the sixth sense…i agree with you ray, i think hes a fantastic director, horrible writer
I don't really know much about Avatar: The Last Airbender past the two minutes it took me to get up to a 50 kill streak in the game. I thought that the commercials for the movie made it look a little interesting, but I haven't liked Shyamalan's movies too much except for Unbreakable which I really liked. The 6th Sense was good, I just liked the concept behind Unbreakable better. It's his only movie I own, which I just might have to watch again soon!
@Tokz
I also find Alton Brown to be rather annoying as well. Never liked his shows at all.
One of my biggest annoyances with the film is that he made almost all of the Asian characters white. My people have a hard enough time getting jobs in Hollywood.
@rpad
i dont really think that's an m night issue. It could be the studio that was backing the movie had to have a big part in selecting the cast.
@ray
He could argue back that the nations were almost like continents, So while there should be some Asian people, there would also be other races and stuff included. Personally, I vowed to never watch the movie once I saw it was covering the entire story in one movie. Doing that is equal to cramming all three LOTR books into one movie. If I were ever to direct an Avatar movie, the fights would be choreographed by none other than Jackie Chan.
@tokz_21 He's the director and a powerful figure in Hollywood. If it was a studio decision then he could have pushed back.
@Arguello The LotR movies were long. Airbender is 90 minutes and a lot of footage was cut. He could have went with an extra 30.
@ M. Night Shyamalamadingdong:
This video reflects on how I think of this guy and two other directors:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155700
@ Alton Brown;
Aww, I'm beginning to think that I'm constantly the odd man out on this site since I love Alton Brown. He's the only reason I watch Food Network. I love Good Eats since it's quirky, educational and awesomely goofy. I've actually done a few of his recipies and they are really good. I'm trying to find out how to get the entire seasons of Good Eats on DVD, becase I'd totally buy them all.
@ Mr. Padilla:
Four famous Philipino-Americans? Are you one of them? Because aside from that boxer guy, I can't think of any.
By the way, The Happening would have been awesome if the movie would have been a comedy by Simon Pegg.
-M
@Ray
Yeah that is one thing I do hate about a lot of entertainment. It is very white oriented. I understand some reasons why that can happen, but from a director who is not white to do that is just something I wouldn't think would happen as much. One would think that his mindset would be to actually change that problem instead of help be a part of it.
I would also clarify, it's not just about getting jobs in Hollywood, it is about getting a job based on your merit as an actor/actress. Not just to fill a role that is there in a negative way which in my opinion mocks the actor/actress. The example I always think of most recently for that type of role is Ken Jeong in The Hangover. Every time I watch that movie or see him make an appearance recently, I always feel like he is there to be laughed at, not with. Maybe other people feel differently about that specific example, but I think the heart of the issue is still there.
@ray
The Avatar series had close to 60 episodes. Each was about 20-25 minutes long. Thats over 20 hours of story. Even with an extra 30 minutes many things would have still been skipped over. If anything I was most upset that Rufio didn't play Zuko.
@Iceman I would apl.de.ap from Black Eyed Peas is the most famous Filipino-American. Paciquiao doesn't count since he didn't grow up or live in America.
@Arguello I agree that it was challenging to fit one season into the first movie, but maintain than an extra 30 minutes would have helped a great deal.
Once I saw his name attached to this movie I was gonna pass it on it anyway. The Sixth Sense wasn't even that damn good, and everything else has been just not good.
@casting
They made Kingpin black. I think they just fill in whoever. Then again, I would never have noticed if you hadn't said anything about it.
@rpad
he couldve pushed back but maybe he didnt want to end up like sam raimi or guillermo del toro
Ah crap. Airbender put up some killer numbers. Looks like Shyamalame will be working for a while longer.
@arguello Also, I forgot to mention that It's not the whole series in one movie. This movie is just season one, which is like 20 episodes, no?
I like anime, my user name is proof, and have no desire to see live action versions of any of them. (Highly episodic serieses (SP?) are all right at best for live action, and anything else spells disaster IMO)
@Shamsomething
Unbreakable was good, but when every single movie you make has some twist in it AND you put your name in HUGE LETTERS in front of every title, people stop getting surprised by the "twist" because they know it is coming and you lose any benefactor the "twist'" would have had on the audience.
I strongly dislike his movies, borderline hate them. He just doesn't do it for me, not even one of his better movies, "I See Dead People". BTW while Mr. Willis was living vicariously through a little boy, Kevin Bacon was kicking ass in Stir Of Echoes, a much, much better movie dealing with the same issues and executed better than EmNite could ever dream of. Of course this is kind of biased, but we all know that Shamalamadingdong sucks, period (that wasn't biased at all).
I guarantee that if you watch Stir Of Echoes you will say to yourself, I can't believe I bought the hype and watched " Boy Whimpers And Have Cold Breath" over it. I did lol.
@Alton Brown
WE LOVE ALTON in my house…..GOOD EATS and IRON CHEF all day. No one can touch Morimoto-San. Chopped is awesome as well.
@Big Blak
Stif of Echoes was awesome but they're both kind of eh after you seen them once. I hate good eats! All of his bits are soooooo cheesy, there's only so much i can take. I like Iron Chef and Chopped but Chopped more because Alton is not on it.
Dude's last few movies didn't have a twist at all. He's also considering the sequel to Unbreakable.
http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=1817…
@n8r
i've never seen Unbreakable. Is it worth seeing?
Did I mention that this guy sucks?