Damsel in Distress or Laura Croft [Archive]

oldmanwinters

05-10-2010, 02:24 PM

plastroncafe

05-10-2010, 02:29 PM

Yeah, I'm with CyberCubed.
I prefer Middle of the Road April.

I've no problem with them saving her when they first meet her in the comic. They save her, then they all work together, followed by her saving them by taking them in.

Her learning martial arts, sure! Love the idea. Think it only makes sense, seeing as she's on the run from a hoard of ninjas. But her suddenly knowing enough martial arts to defend against a foot army after a single training montage? Yeah, not so much.

Leonardo Mystic

05-10-2010, 02:30 PM

I liked how they depicted her in the 2k3 series. She's no damsel in distress, but she isn't Rambo either. She has enough skills to defend herself, taught by Master Splinter later in the series, but she isn't invincible.

Even before being taught some ninjitsu, she was already a smart and capable woman. 4Kids' April is a good medium and I like that.

Teddy

05-10-2010, 03:43 PM

^ I agree with all that. The 2k3 April was just perfect. Not a helpless liability like she was in the OT, but a reasonably capable woman who gradually developed the ability to defend herself (and others) when necessary. I didn't like how she was like a master ninja in the 2007 movie, though. That was a bit much.

Lynn

05-10-2010, 07:28 PM

I prefer a mix of the two. More of a woman who needs help from time to time but cantake care of herself if the need arose.

Powder

05-10-2010, 08:14 PM

I'm also on the 2k3 bandwagon. If I were forced between the title choices though, I'd go with the damsel in distress... I guess my preferance is based on my liking OT April better then TMNT April. In TMNT she wasn't believable at all... in archie she was though.

Koi

05-10-2010, 08:28 PM

She can have some skills, but frankly I don't want her to be beating up on characters who spend their entire life in those skills that she developed withing a few months...

I prefer a DID to Laura Croft any day.

Cure

05-10-2010, 10:01 PM

Lara Croft, people. LARA.

Spacebabie

05-10-2010, 10:55 PM

I like the idea of the medium, especially 2k3. She was at a good mix of both.

BentonGrey

05-11-2010, 08:59 AM

Frankly, I thought that the new movie picked April up after the storyline in the old comics where she was trained. That made her skills much more understandable. Either way, on the whole I prefer just such a progression. She should start out as a smart, capable woman (although, the OT works, where she is always in over her head because she's after a story), but eventually is trained to be more combat capable.

Nelson

05-11-2010, 10:42 AM

Having a medium sounds like the best option of the ones already mentioned, but in that case we still end up with the same problem we always have with the April character: she begins as a link of the turtles with the human world, but then we meet Casey, who does that too but is also a powerful fighter in his own style. If she learns self defense we still end up with a second Casey Jones.

We would need a fourth option, to have her with her own ability to aid the group, and it doesn't have to be fighting. How about having April being the expert of the paranormal in the group? With so many portal and time traveling going on, she could be of use. And we could make Don a technology expert only.

Something like that was done in 2K3, where she worked best as a communications expert and provider of information, like Oracle in the Batman universe. Wich is something I personaly don't like much as it is a passive role.

Also: LaUra Croft is actually a Playboy model.

http://www.1800-sports.com/images/laura-croft-miss-april-2007.jpg

Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

05-11-2010, 11:49 AM

I prefer Archie April, who begun just like the 1987 cartoon April, before Splinter taught her martial arts. But 1987 cartoon April at least had some driving skills...

oldmanwinters

05-11-2010, 12:00 PM

But 1987 cartoon April at least had some driving skills...

So true! Those pilot episodes were especially good at portraying her competency with the wheel! I was inspired to make this a while back:

[URL LINK OBSOLETE]
(It's Download only since I haven't been able to host it anywhere because of music restrictions.)

Archon_Turtle

05-11-2010, 12:03 PM

Lara Croft, people. LARA.

Thank You!

Candy Kappa

05-11-2010, 12:06 PM

A "Laura Croft" April would have a interesting twist...

thought I'd prefer a middle way between a damsel in distress and Lara Croft

The Stryker

05-11-2010, 04:54 PM

IN THE KITCHEN.

How about neither? Just an average girl with nothing going on until the turtles show up.

ToTheNines

05-11-2010, 07:25 PM

Normal, like in the first movie.

Cipher

05-12-2010, 01:45 AM

Ditto CyberCubed. Can't she just be a normal person like in Mirage, the first three movies, and the 4Kids cartoon?

You know, where she's not exceptionally helpless or an action hero?

We would need a fourth option, to have her with her own ability to aid the group, and it doesn't have to be fighting. How about having April being the expert of the paranormal in the group? With so many portal and time traveling going on, she could be of use. And we could make Don a technology expert only.If you write the character well enough, you shouldn't have to shoehorn her into the group's action though. She should be interesting enough sans any kind of role in their actual adventures. Mirage, I think, did a great job with this up until Volume 4. And it's easily avoided when she has the reporter gig (although I don't prefer it). Hell, her feeling like she's losing the connection could even be part of her character. I'm just not down with the whole "She needs to help out with missions" thing.

Come to think of it, even the 4Kids version got a little over-the-top in that regard.

shuriken

05-12-2010, 02:07 AM

I liked how she was portrayed in the first two seasons of the 2K3 toon. She wasn't a fighter in the least, but she was no pushover and was very handy with a computer. OT april always getting caught kind of bothered me as if she liked getting tied up by the Shredder on a weekly basis. 2K7 or movie April was just too over the top, kinda cool to see her fight but that takes away from the TMNT's originality I think.
I hate both those archetypes to be frank.

Luzmagica

05-12-2010, 02:23 AM

What about to make a Poll with the four options???? This seems to me an intersting thread for checking all the opinions!!

Jelly Bean

05-14-2010, 12:54 PM

oldmanwinters

05-14-2010, 04:16 PM

not that I like the damsel in distress version, but I like my April spunky like 80's April and capable with practical things, but with out the kidnapping and needing saving crap. I don't care for super fighter April. Even in the new toon where it was more down to earth about her fighting skills I found it a bit unbelievable to have her as good as she was at fighting as she became.

Yeah, I think the worst part was her uncanny level of stealth and gymnastic competence displayed in Worlds Collide, whereas Casey was pretty much an incompetent. Fortunately, after that it seems they depowered April a bit and returned Casey to semi-edgy in some Season 4 episodes.

NameGoesHere1066

05-20-2010, 03:31 PM

April wasn't all that helpless in the Original Toon, she just got in over her head far too often. Any human being wouldn't be much of a match against an army of androids, two muscle bound mutant punks, and a well armed ninja crimelord packing Dimension X technology.

I think the Archie Comics have done the best job with April so far, making her a capable physical thread but doing it gradually. Given the choice, though, I'd prefer the Old Toon version over the "Laura Croft" portrayal of the new movie.

I agree with this, but she was also not able to defend herself well. Damsel in Distress doesn't have to mean "failure at life" just not able to fight.

2k3 April started out well but i think her athletic skills got a little outragious as time went on, even before she was formally trained by Splinter. That whole "Jungle Girl" bit was annoying to be honest and kinda forced. I prefere April to be realistically skilled and competent, like in her technology skills and stuff. Not suddely turning into a cave girl as soon she's in the wilderness. :ohwell: I'm not against, just build up to it.

Candy Kappa

05-20-2010, 03:42 PM

She's more Oracle then Batgirl

NameGoesHere1066

12-09-2010, 01:03 PM

http://www.megavideo.com/?d=5UTKGDPY

oldmanwinters this was just awsome. Thanks so much for making this clip. It shows exactly what OT April was all about. People who bash her should watch this and then STFU! I loved OT April driving prowess. On a side note you should though in a scene April driving the news van on a roller coaster with Leonardo that one episode.

Candy Kappa

12-09-2010, 01:21 PM

as long as she did not get out of the car, she's immune to being reporter-napped

Avatar Yuffie

12-09-2010, 04:42 PM

My only beef with 2k3 April is how she'd easily beat Casey when it comes with martial arts, when her boyfriend was implied to be a streets smarts fighter for years (even earlier if a flashback turtle tot episode is factored). And I know Casey sucked ever since Season 2... but that's really just sad. My only wish for her character is that she'd be more of a constant presence for the Turtles (she feels ... I can't explain this... absent?), though there is that cute Donatello hinting he has a crush on her angle, I don't feel the usual dynamics she should have with them. Maybe because Casey took the "human friend" role or something.

I mean she didn't even join them in Fast Forward!

80's April I can see why she'd had a disregard of her safety and lack of foresight. As early as the pilot the men she works with treats her with little respect. I mean really? April was mugged and they are aware of that fact and the most they can say is that she's their third best reporter? :/ I DO like 80's April though. I like the fact how she acts like the mom of the group, and drives like crazy in the action scenes with the Turtle Van, and drops everything on whatever important she might be doing like a group meeting with her boss whenever Splinter personally calls her for help. It did gave the vibe she sees them as her family. Finally, I kinda like career oriented April, despite the fact that she is a very pretty 28 years old woman, she didn't seem to mind or angst the lack of a love interest or having a family of her own.

I wish that would have happened to NT Karai. But noooo... they had to give her Chaplin because an Action Girl with an Evil Job as a Ninja needs a boyfriend to take care of her. *rolls eyes* Dude's not even in the comics.

Future Aprils? I want them to be badass normals. Sometimes, if portrayed well, normal human girls can be awesome.

oldmanwinters

12-09-2010, 04:52 PM

oldmanwinters this was just awsome. Thanks so much for making this clip. It shows exactly what OT April was all about. People who bash her should watch this and then STFU! I loved OT April driving prowess. On a side note you should though in a scene April driving the news van on a roller coaster with Leonardo that one episode.

Thanks! I'm surprised you've just now seen this. I really think OT April gets an undeserved bad rap as being helpless and cowardly. She may have often become a damsel-in-distress, but it was just because she always threw caution to the wind and got in over her head trying to get a story. The fact that the turtles always bailed her out probably gave her more confidence. She really was a Lois Lane clone in that regard.

And, yeah, OT April had better driving skills than Danica Patrick, lol. It seemed the perfect opportunity to do a Speed Racer music vid.

Candy Kappa

12-09-2010, 05:09 PM

I wouldn't see her as a coward, she's just a villain magnet

oldmanwinters

12-09-2010, 05:15 PM

I wouldn't see her as a coward, she's just a villain magnet

Yeah, that's a good point too. Once she became close with the turtles, bad guys started to target her directly just to get at the TMNT. Again, she's pretty similar to Lois Lane in that regard.

cryan

12-09-2010, 07:04 PM

I would like April not to be so much a damsel.I would like her to be similar to Leia in Star Wars for example.Feisty but no over the top fighting style.

raphfan84

12-09-2010, 07:06 PM

I think a mixture of both. One who can handle herself if need be, but also not some super women that can kick every bit of a** that comes her way.

Newton Gimmick

12-09-2010, 07:34 PM

She's definitely a mix. Once she's in with the turtles, you just figure she's going to be in way over her head. Conversely, as a result, she's going to get a lot tougher. She's got Spolinter, Casey and the Fab Four to teach her.

BoggleKng

12-09-2010, 07:56 PM

I like a competant April but not over powered. The TMNT movie April was a big over the top especially for the viewer who was new to Turtles. I liked when characters have a development and progression...

Oniri

12-10-2010, 12:12 AM

I always preferred the April from the first volume or so of the comics. She wasn't completely useless, but at the same she wasn't a superhero. I think the comics keep her as a sensible "normal citizen" character pretty well (till her whole supernatural background thing started of course). She didn't have any extreme skills, but she did help the turtles by having common sense, street sense and maturity.

She was also their link to the human world, so that was her main job. I agree that it would have been a great character development moment if they play with a plot involving April losing her place in the group once the turtles became more open in society...

shuriken

12-10-2010, 03:05 AM

^^ pretty good assesment.
I always hated that whole magic crystal bit with April's origin.

Koi

12-16-2010, 11:25 PM

As long as April doesn't develop any fighting abilities within a short time in her life, and is not on par with people who have been fighting there entire life. I am just fine with whatev.

Candy Kappa

12-17-2010, 07:54 AM

I wonder if she needed saving before he met the turtles in the OT, I can't see Vernon do it...

oldmanwinters

12-17-2010, 01:45 PM

I wonder if she needed saving before he met the turtles in the OT, I can't see Vernon do it...

It's a really good question how April managed to survive 28-years or so without the TMNT's help, but I would wager that before meeting the TMNT: (1) April didn't take quite so many life-threatening risks, and (2) there weren't hordes of super-villains and crimelords (like Shredder) specifically targeting her to get at the turtles. Anyway, that's my best guess.

oldmanwinters

04-28-2011, 12:07 AM

Jester

04-28-2011, 12:10 AM

Ha! The Nostalgia Critic gives some respect to OT April in his latest roast of Distressed Dummies. (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/30723-top-11-dumbasses-in-distress)
Yeah...When I head the category for the top 11 I expected April to be on it...then he removed her from contention in the intro, and when he discussed Ms. Lane, who April is supposed to be based on. Guess Wise and company did her right....:D

oldmanwinters

04-28-2011, 12:22 AM

Yeah...When I head the category for the top 11 I expected April to be on it...then he removed her from contention in the intro, and when he discussed Ms. Lane, who April is supposed to be based on. Guess Wise and company did her right....:D

Yeah, there certainly is a disconnect between the content of the actual show and people's recollections of it. Fortunately, I think the more people go back and watch the cartoon at length, the more those inaccurate stereotypes are broken down.

I really thought Princess Allura from Voltron should have been on that the Nostalgia Critic's list though. Man, that girl created so many problems in that show...

I guess Peach was the only princess on the NC list. I thought she was done well in the Super Mario Bros. DiC cartoons. Too bad Nintendo hasn't bothered to give her a personality in 25 years.

Jester

04-28-2011, 12:31 AM

Yeah, there certainly is a disconnect between the content of the actual show and people's recollections of it. Fortunately, I think the more people go back and watch the cartoon at length, the more those inaccurate stereotypes are broken down..
Which is why I'm kinda irked by Turtles Forever, it's NOT the FW Turtles, it's what everyone assumes the FW Turtles were like....:roll:

oldmanwinters

04-28-2011, 12:47 AM

Which is why I'm kinda irked by Turtles Forever, it's NOT the FW Turtles, it's what everyone assumes the FW Turtles were like....:roll:

Blame it on Peter Laird?:sweatdro:

Honestly though, I didn't think it was that bad; the only things that really bothered me about their portrayal were: (1) the suggestion that the FW Turtles had never actually faced genuine threats and were so terrified at almost being killed by Utrom Shredder that they had to clinch onto the 2k3 turtles while whimpering, and (B) the suggestion that they really couldn't focus on a single task at hand without getting distracted by pizza or the giggles or a noogie-fest. I loved the scene with the mutant pizzas/bananas/bowling balls/etc.:lol:

Jester

04-28-2011, 12:52 AM

I loved the scene with the mutant pizzas/bananas/bowling balls/etc.:lol:
Oddly enough that is one of my problems...I mean there were weird mutants, but not THAT weird.

oldmanwinters

04-28-2011, 12:59 AM

Oddly enough that is one of my problems...I mean there were weird mutants, but not THAT weird.

Don't you remember? They were all set to appear in episode #76!

Jester

04-28-2011, 01:00 AM

Don't you remember? They were all set to appear in episode #76!
OHHHH!!! Now it becomes clear!

Closest we got to some of those mutants was in Unidentified Flying Leonardo.

oldmanwinters

04-28-2011, 01:03 AM

Closest we got to some of those mutants was in Unidentified Flying Leonardo.

Yeah, that's exactly where I'm coming from too. If you've established the possibility of mutant vegetables (Unidentified Flying Leonardo) and self-animate electronics (Mean Machines and Casey Jones: Outlaw Hero) then it isn't too much of a stretch to think that mutant food could have fit reasonably well into the show's one-off rogues gallery. My theory is that those leprechauns were really evil wizards who used their magic to bring the other objects to life!

Jester

04-28-2011, 01:06 AM

My theory is that those leprechauns were really evil wizards who used their magic to bring the other objects to life!
Or they were residents of Dimension Z....*shutter*

Sage Ninja

04-28-2011, 02:25 AM

oh my goodness I watch this and I totally agree with his list, and his sentiments on his number one dumbass in distress choice.

I am glad that April O'Neil didn't make it on the list.

sdp

04-28-2011, 11:20 AM

Someone theorized in the discussion thread that they didn't meet the OT turtles but a different universe that is way sillier, and while that would explain away all inconsistancies with the OT turtles, its just not the same epic movie if its not the meet up between the two versions you know and love.

I've tried to enjoy Turtles Forever and while I do like it I am constantly cringing at how the OT turtles are portrayed.

oldmanwinters

04-28-2011, 11:46 AM

Or they were residents of Dimension Z....*shutter*

Hmm... the wheels in my head are turning now...:idea:

oh my goodness I watch this and I totally agree with his list, and his sentiments on his number one dumbass in distress choice.

I am glad that April O'Neil didn't make it on the list.

Yeah, I thought the only one that may have been unfair was the inclusion of Lois Lane, and even the NC had to justify her inclusion in light of her more recent portrayals. I always think of Lois as essential to most Superman storylines on account of her role in uncovering villainous plots. But given that Clark Kent is also a reporter who gets just as many bylines as Lois, it really does force her into the role of unnecessary character who exists primarily for the hero to save. And yes, Margot Kidder was ridiculous in Superman 2 (both versions), throwing herself out skyscrapers or Niagara Falls simply to force Superman's hand in saving her.

And all things Twilight should be banished from the face of the earth.