Avatar: The Last Airbender Girls Kick Ass.

[stillthere4me]

Okay, this was going to be part of the previous post, but ended up becoming so detailed it's basically become an entry of its own, so I'm making it one. After hearing some (what I assume to be since I have seen pictures disproving it) false information about the Kyoshi Warriors not being in the movie (or were they initially in and cut?), I began to

Comments

[musogato]

I'm baffled by the Kyoshi Warriors being cut from the movie as well, considering there were promotional pictures of them and Shyamalan pimping Suki's actress as proof of diverse casting. But fans who have seen the prescreenings of the film confirmed that they've been completely cut out. Only Avatar Kyoshi's statue is shown while briefly mentioning that "she liked games." o_O

From what I've read, it seems that Katara's strong, independent, feminist nature is down the drain as well. I won't spoil things, but it's very disappointing.

Anyway, nice write-up on all the great female characters! It's really amazing how many strong girls are on the show, and how they each have their own personalities and goals. It's like they're their own people, or something! 9_6 I have trouble watching other shows because ATLA has spoiled me so, haha.

[stillthere4me]

Yes, I was guessing that from the trailers that Katara had suddenly become a lot less strong willed. She seems to do in the trailers little else other than look shocked and scared at Aang. And waterbend a little bit.

It's so infuriating that the Kyoshi warriors got cut though! Does that mean Suki is just a random girl that Sokka falls for? Or is she totally gone too?

Thank you! And yes, ATLA is very spoiling with its wonderful stories and characters...

[musogato]

Yeah, it really doesn't get much better for her aside from what those trailers have shown.

And yes, Suki is completely gone. There was an interview with Shyamalan somewhere posted today or yesterday where he mentions that he cut out the Kyoshi Warriors along with two other Earth Kingdom village scenes because "that's what the next movie is for" or something like that. I was really surprised by that.

[stretch]

They've been completely cut?! But...I saw that clip of them in the French trailer?!

Argh!

[paperclipchains]

Why is fighting and not needing to be rescued the be-all end-all? What about how well developed they are as people, whether or not they're written consistently, given meaningful emotional stories and character arcs? I wouldn't criticize ATLA on any of these points, but I abhor how the discussion of whether or not a woman is worthwhile in fiction always boils down to whether or not they are "stereotypically female." There is nothing wrong with being feminine, and you undermine the entire feminist point when you insist on having this discussion in terms of masculine = good and feminine = bad.

[stillthere4me]

I have nothing against girls being feminine, as I mention in my description of Ty Lee and Suki (and the Kyoshi warriors). I was trying to demonstrate how diverse the different strong girls in the series are. I'm sorry if it came off different.

And on the note of girls needing to be rescued--it happens so often in cartoon and even live action, that having a story where girls can save themselves easily is refreshing.

[paperclipchains]

Yeah, but that's pretty much all you say - Do you really think that if it were a post on the boys of Avatar it would be all "aang and zuko can beat up muscled men with ease!"?

[stillthere4me]

Well, traditionally boys are the ones beating up the muscled men in cartoons and television, so it isn't as much of a surprise. Female characters in cartoons and television are usually left either as being the damsel in distress, or if they are fighting, they are fighting the weaker enemy while the boys are fighting the muscled men.

I guess that was the point that I was trying to make, that the girls are just as strong as the boys on this show, and don't really fall into any female cartoon cliches.

[stretch]

Yue is...interesting to me. By my very nature, I'm more interested in the physically strong female personalities in the show (and the great thing about A:TLA is that there's plenty to choose from). That being said, despite Yue's propensity to cry at the drop of a hat, I think the Season 1 finale demonstrated that beneath her sensitive personality she had amazing willpower. The fact that she was willing to sacrifice herself on the spot, without fear or melodrama or question, really made me appreciate her character. That being said, I still find Suki's character more interesting comparatively, but I have to give credit where credit is due, because Mike and Bryan really made me appreciate a character that I ordinarily wouldn't have liked.

[stillthere4me]

Exactly. I wasn't that fond of Yue either, but it's hard not to like her after she sacrifices herself to save everyone with barely a thought.

But yes, Suki is still much more fun to watch! XD

[sifukatara]

Everything you've said about Katara/Toph/Suki was right on! I agree with all of it. I'm not just saying that because those three are my fave characters and I can relate to Katara and Toph the most. I'm saying it because it's true. I pray they don't water down Katara or Suki or Toph. I also pray they don't remove Katara's necklace altogether. That will totally make me furious if they do that. I'm already upset that they're cutting Bato out of the movie! Bato was my first favorite water tribe warrior! I just have a bad feeling about this entire thing. If the first movie doesn't do it for me, I'm definitely not going to see the other two.

[stillthere4me]

Thank you! ♥

Oh yes, Katara's necklace. Unfortunately, that's probably a subplot that's going to go. If they cut out the Kyoshi warriors, they probably will Katara's necklace too. As for what they're going to keep in... I have no idea. :(