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Well, think of it this way, it is an adaption for the big screen. usually things tend to go a bit more serious on the big screen. And since in essence, ATLA is really kind of one of those epics, they're going to have to focus more on that element for reason of time constraint and keeping the audiences attention on the main plot, andthey'll have to keep it consistent.

Not to say I don't think there will be humor in the movie, I've seen a little more of Jackson in the clips and he does seem to have a bit of a humorous quality to him. I'm by no means telling you that it'll be full-blown like in the cartoon, but...like Zuko's scar, certain things had to be toned down a little.

And I'm expecting the huge wave sequence to of course be part of the finale when Aang goes mental on everyone who's labeled "FIRE NATION MINION".

The answer to the Avatar statue part, or at least my opinion on it is that, while the the scientist and his band of hang-gliders is awesome for the show and for one episode, it would really take up too much time to go through that subplot just to show where the war balloons come from. Again, this is in the context of a movie. Time is a major issue. Some dude capturing aang(or at least trying to, I dunno what happens) goes along a thematic grain for the show, even though it didn't actually happen, but it gives a quickprogression from one point to the other(is he maybe how Aang gets handed over to Zhao before Zuko breaks him out as the blue spirit?)

As for point number four...well, Aang went against Yang-Chen herself and her advice to put his personal needs aside for the good of the world, so I won't be in the LEAST bit surprised if they brought this point up just to defy it in the end. And I think Aang and Katara are gonna end up together anyway, as much I dislike the pairing. (Though, Lily, may I enquire as to your shipping preference? biggrin )

I haven't read the book so if there are any inconsistencies here that might be me not understanding, lol. I have however read the comic prequel all about Zuko, and if that is anything to go by, then YES. Zuko and Iroh are in the bag, and that's super important to me as it's my favorite thread of the story.

Though how the necklace thing is handled doesn't please me. :c That might be a sign that it's just not in the movie at all, because I believe they'd put more into that.

I just wonder things like who wrote the book, do they know the original source, how close is the book to the movie(because I think that even the novelizations probably do have differences from the movie they're based on. If the last movie novelization I read hadn't been Pokemon: The First Movie when I was 11, I could probably make a better guess.)

Me, I'm going to see the movie and judge it for myself. I'm excited and I'm being optimistic. and at the very least and if everything else goes south, I can at least bask in Zuko and Iroh's story.