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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
So in light of the size of the franchise, the fact that this forum is largely populated by geeks that grew up in the 80s and early 90s, I thought the TMNT deserved its own thread. So here it is to discuss all about it, including the announcement about the new Michael Bay produced film.
Speaking of which:
Generally, I don't have great hopes for it, but I'm open to surprised. If it even comes close to the 2007 animated film (which was actually pretty good), let alone the original live action film, I'd be very, very surprised.
What I'd really like is a really dark and gritty film, such as were the comics at the very beginning. Unfortunately, the only time we've really come close to this on any cinematic scale is the black and white universe at the very end of the Turtles Forever TV film.
At least the promo picture looks nice, though I'm not sure if it is directly associated with this film or if it is from a different property:
There is also a new animated TV series forthcoming this year, which I may watch. Considering the decent show that 4 Kids put together between 2003 and 2009, this could be pretty good.
Speaking of which:
Generally, I don't have great hopes for it, but I'm open to surprised. If it even comes close to the 2007 animated film (which was actually pretty good), let alone the original live action film, I'd be very, very surprised.
What I'd really like is a really dark and gritty film, such as were the comics at the very beginning. Unfortunately, the only time we've really come close to this on any cinematic scale is the black and white universe at the very end of the Turtles Forever TV film.
At least the promo picture looks nice, though I'm not sure if it is directly associated with this film or if it is from a different property:
There is also a new animated TV series forthcoming this year, which I may watch. Considering the decent show that 4 Kids put together between 2003 and 2009, this could be pretty good.
Post edited by chaosof99 on
Comments
But please, don't derail the thread.
I think the Decepticons deserved to inherit Cybertron. After all, it was Megatron's cunning that killed Optimus.
http://www.awopodcast.com/2008/08/anime-world-order-show-71-depression.html is the episode of Anime World Order that reviews a TNMT anime.
Generally, it's a series that I liked as a kid and want to like, but the old TV show just does not hold up from the couple of DVDs I've watched.
Just get a good writer, not Ehren Fuck Krueger.
They also cut the scene where Michelangelo has the show-off fight with one of the foot soliders about their prowess in handling a nunchuk:
That's probably because nunchuks were banned in the UK or something and I believe they were working off the UK print. They also cut scenes from the 80s cartoon for that reason.
2) The cartoon you love already changed a whole bunch from the comics.
3) The 80s movies changed a bunch on top of that. And the creators gave Vanilla Ice the go-ahead for "Ninja Rap."
4) The ooze that mutated the turtles was brought to Earth from space by Krang, so there's already a "Turtles From Space" element to the story.
5) I can't believe we're debating whether introducing an arbitrary change (to a franchise that, frankly, Salvador Dali would have found implausible) will "ruin" it. That's just a hilarious thing to think about.
Also, Bay didn't ruin the Transformers franchise. He made one mediocre movie and two bad ones. That didn't make the pre-existing Transformers media worse.
Honestly, there is so much new TMNT stuff, including cartoons, since the old comics and TV show I used to watch that I have no care about "canon." I just want an entertaining movie that doesn't suck. If it sucks, I'll just not watch it again. That's not going to stop me from pointing out why it sucks, but I'm also not going to whine about how it needs to be undone and reversed for the sake of canon. Sort of like the Sherlock Holmes movie. I hated the shit out of it, but I'm not demanding reparations.
So, sometimes, there's really nothing to ruin. In the case of TMNT, we had a ridiculous premise and various media of various quality. Like Nuri said - there's so much turtle stuff out there that you'll always have something to enjoy.
And the original TMNT movie will forever have points deducted because of that line from "T-U-R-T-L-E Power" about Raphael being the leader.
The original TMNT movie is the greatest and is perfect in anyway. No points deducted for anything whatsoever. It's probably the best turtle thing there is, period.
You never know - maybe Michael Bay will choose this moment to be good.
I MADE A FUNNY
It is definitely aimed at kids with some crude humor, but the Turtles do get to use their weapons. It is also has its fair share of funny moments and the visual aesthetic sets it apart from other properties based on the Turtles. The series is animated in 3D, though there are certain 2D scenes (in flashbacks) and it makes use of 2D effects and "additions", such as for example manga-like mood indicators or overlying teary, pleading eyes in one scene. The 3D in itself is also good enough, though maybe it needs a little time to get used to and could be better in some places. The very rectangular body shapes for some characters remind more of the 2003 animated series than for example the 2007 animated feature film, and not just for budget reasons.
The characterization of the Turtles in their character design also takes a step in the right direction in my opinion. In addition to the different colored masks and the difference in skin tones of the main characters, mainstays of the property by now, they also get some little traits that showcase their personality. For example, Raphael has a little, lightning shaped piece missing from his breast and back plates, making him look more reckless, while Michelangelo has freckles and a much shorter "tails" on his mask knot making him look more immature. The Turtles also regain pupils to their eyes (as distinguished from the 2003 animated series) and the four of them all have distinct eye colors.
I also like the design of the other characters, such as Splinters regal appearance, though I think the human characters could use a little work. I also find it weird that April O'Neill is a teenager in this series, and that the antagonists for the first episode are the Utrom, or at least a subgroup of them called "Krang". Would not have guessed we would see alien brains in robot bodies to start out with. I also think they turned up the stupidity on Michelangelo a bit too much. On the other hand, I do like that they made Donatello much more active and purpose driven, rather than being the passive guy who overthinks everything.
In summary, the episode was pretty good and the show appears to be headed in a good direction.