Well, I have to say I do love the Cartoon, and the Movie was a bit disappointing... Maybe is the fact that I have a very good image of the Cartoon, and wanted it's Movie to stick to the original story, but I have to consider that it's impossible to include ALL the important scenes of EVERY "main" episode from Book One in just one Movie, which represents a short period of time. In a few words, I felt like everything (aka. every important part of the story) happened and moved to the next one too fast.
Now, there were a few details I didn't like, like most of the Fire Benders being able to use their powers only when there's fire in the environment, and not to create it from their own bodies just like in the Cartoon.
What's with the Avatar-is-back poster Katara showed publicly? It was supposed to bring hope to people, but to me, it says: "Hey Fire Nation! Avatar is back and this is how he looks like! Come get him!".
Now... what annoys me the most... It is alright if the story had to be altered a bit just because of being a Movie about a hole season and removed some details many would have loved to see... but I can't believe many of my favorite Characters were totally destroyed in the characterization!!! Ozai, Zhao... they weren't as evil as they are in the Cartoon! Plus Ozai was supposed to look handsome!! Where did Iroh's sense of humor (and stomach!) go? I'm not happy with Zuko's and Azula's looks. And what happened to that happy boy from the Cartoon who, after all he went through, he still showed a gentle smile and a characteristic charm?: Aang definitely looked much more fragile and too shy in the Movie. Hope they introduce Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors in the next Movie...
Zhao's defeat was pathetic compared to his mighty & proud end in the Cartoon, sorry. No complaints about Katara and Sokka.
Yue and the Waterbending Master in the North Pole looked quite similar when compared to their Cartoon versions, good! But I would have loved to at least see Roku's and/or Kyoshi's Spirits and not only their statues.
I loved the special effects! Very well done, I got amazed by all the Bending moves, Appa, Momo, the Fire Nation's Lizards and Battle Ships.
And the Soundtrack, while even better than in the Cartoon, created the same awesome mysterious and battle atmospheres.
So, personally, I'm not satisfied about the way they altered some details and even the main story, and even less with the character's personalities (and looks, when it comes to certain characters like Ozai), but I think it's still good, and I'll be waiting for a Book Two: Earth Movie, hopefully it will be better. (They better don't ruin Toph!!!)
