Director FINALLY Comments On TMNT Aliens Issue

[Bob]

As I said, I think this deserves its own thread, because this is the first time the actual director, Jonathan Liebesman, has commented. I think a lot of people will calm down, sort of:

http://collider.com/jonathan-liebesman-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-interview/154499/

Hinting at motion-capture? I would be very pleased with that.

EDIT: You can merge or get rid of this thread. Sorry.

[ToTheNines]

Can't say I'm shocked, I figured Bay was either not fully informed or just taken totally out of context.

Good find though man.

[CyberCubed]

So we have confirmation that the Utroms will likely be the alien race the turtles are from. If this is the case then I guess everything is fine.

Although I bet Krang will be in the movie now.

[ToTheNines]

It was kinda weird how he was talking like the script isn't even done yet.

[DarkLightDragon]

Slighty more reassuring. Never really gave too much thought in what Bay said. Though I doubt this bit of news will get noticed and quell the fan rage.

[ToTheNines]

Though I doubt this bit of news will go unnoticed and quell the fan rage.

Nothing will stop people hating on Bay. This alien talk will likely continue right up until Christmas 2013.

Other interesting notes: Filming in September possibly (hopefully they start sooner), and the movie could be shot in Canada.

[DarkLightDragon]

Nothing will stop people hating on Bay. This alien talk will likely continue right up until Christmas 2013.

Other interesting notes: Filming in September possibly (hopefully they start sooner), and the movie could be shot in Canada.


Whoops, meant to say this will not get noticed and people will still rage because Micheal Bay is still attached to the project.

I hate being a newbie.

[FearlessLeader]

Now I am curious what characters will be involved and who will be cast as April and Casey... if both characters are used. I am just glad we can move on to people complaining about something else in this section. I am less concerned with the rest of the internet :tlol:

[Candy Kappa]

as expected

[1984TMNT]

FYI - sounds like this is the route they will be going for realizing the Turtles on screen. Wow....just can't wait! This is going to be a MONSTER of a movie, if they do it right. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM9Pvfq1KhE

[TMNT is cooler than MOTU]

His comments put my mind at ease way more than anyone else talking about the movie. He seems to be pretty knowledgeable and passionate so let's hope he has the directing skills and a solid script to back everything up.

[Oculus Orbus]

It feels really good to know. They've got my full attention now.

[Andrew NDB]

I wonder if people are seeing what they want to see in this interview. He isn't saying anything different than Bay at all, he's just saying it a lot more diplomatically. He's not even saying they're not aliens, he's basically just going, "There is SOME PRECEDENT for alien stuff with Turtle origins" and then goes on to... you know... not say that they're not aliens. If anything, what he's saying could be an attempt at a rationalization for making them such.

The good news is that he seems to confirm that things are still early enough along that their origin in the film could be changed. So yeah, you can bet all the scuttlebutt going on online will probably give them pause about alien plans, and apparently it's not too late for them to change gears on it.

[Leonardo_Warrior_Turtle]

Okay, I feel better now. The ooze is alien, which leads me to believe the Utroms may at least be referenced in the film. They will be pet turtles who get mutated. That's more like it! And if WETA gets on boards along with Andy Serkis, then we're in for a treat. If they use them and the story is good along with the action, then we will probably get a sequel, maybe in spawn into a new trilogy.

[Cure]

This is certainly a "no f*cking duh" kinda moment.

[Andrew NDB]

The ooze is alien

He doesn't say that anywhere in the interview. Not even the existance of any ooze. He's only pointing out the Mirage origin as a rationalization for the "the Turtles are from an alien race" comment while not addressing it directly. In fact, in the next breath he pretty much says they don't even know what the origin is yet.

[FearlessLeader]

To me:

"the expansion will be true to the mythology"

Means something, somehow I don't think turning the guys into aliens is very true to the mythos of what the Turtles is in pretty much any fashion.

[BubblyShell22]

I had a feeling it had to do with the Utroms and nothing else. He may not have said out and out that they aren't aliens, but his comments lead me to believe that it involves the Utroms and that it references the ooze that mutates the Turtles.

[Oculus Orbus]

I had a feeling it had to do with the Utroms and nothing else. He may not have said out and out that they aren't aliens, but his comments lead me to believe that it involves the Utroms and that it references the ooze that mutates the Turtles.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I understood.

[Galactus]

Nothing will stop people hating on Bay. This alien talk will likely continue right up until Christmas 2013.

As I've said before Bay's words were very deliberate that if the turtles are not aliens in the script he clearly meant to give off that impression to cause controversy, so in that respect he got exactly what he wanted.

His vague reaction to the controversy his comment caused and Liebsman's slighttly reassuring but still not confirming anything bares this out for me.

If however it really was a mistake on Bay's part then I'd say it's troubling that the guy producing and has so far been the public face of the movie doesn't know the very basics of the franchise and thus probably deserved the reaction.

Either way it's not like the guy was liked even before this.

[Bmaga123]

Nice find I feel much better about the movie now and especially since Kevin Eastman is working along side the Director it should be incredible. December 25th 2013 couldnt arrive any faster :tmad:

[twopinacoladas]

That was my first thought I am glad I didn't get to excited over it and my first instincts were correct :)

[TurtleTitan97]

Well, this is cool. I feel more comfertable about the movie now.

[Donnie]

This is good news indeed. At least the director has knowledge of or has read some Mirage books. Plus, the way he talked about Kevin Eastman made me more comfortable...could be premature, but I think we're going to get an awesome film...

I think Andrew's right that the way he sounded was like the script wasn't even done yet - I think this alien origin, if there was one, is going to be going through some changes because of the outrage it caused. If it's true, I'm proud!

[azrael]

Anything we expand will tie right into the mythology, so I think fans will go apes*** when they see it (http://movies.ign.com/articles/122/1221503p1.html)

[MikeandRaph87]

Yeah, it even made my local paper with his comment about it. I guess this really has caused a firestorm. I am not worried about this though. Bay is but one person in a whole mess of people invovled in TMNT now. It would be nice if we can learn who exactly makes decisions Ninja Turtles-wise or who exactly is assigned to oversee the property.

[Jephael]

Interesting article, but it really doesn't shed any light on the alien controversey. Though as long as they don't do or say anything to add more fuel to the fire, hopefully things will turn out okay.

[azrael]

looks like Eastman is working close with this. I wonder how much involvement they had when the 1st movie (and sequals) were being released.

[MikeandRaph87]

looks like Eastman is working close with this. I wonder how much involvement they had when the 1st movie (and sequals) were being released.

The article said one of the original creators is working close on the project. That told me without saying it that the person in question was Kevin Eastman. I wonder why he decided to associate himself with it again after he went to all the trouble of selling Peter his half of the franchise? I do recall Kevin being the one to green light Venus so I don't know if he learned his lesson with that or will embrace and try to sell the alien angle.

Take a look at Peter's blog. It should have the answers. Quite a bit I would say on TMNT I and while not as much on II and III that determined the direction amd some plot points. TMNT of course Peter had a heck of a lot of say.

[Jester]

I love how the first sentence is attacking the fans' outrage by saying, "Any idiot knows the ooze is of alien origin..." True, but just because the ooze is of alien origin doesn't mean that hearing the words "These Turtles are from an alien race" won't give fans pause. There's a difference between the ooze being from an alien race and the Turtles themselves being from an alien race.

Andrew's right, I think as much is being read into this as was read into the Bay comment. He didn't come out and say Bay misspoke, he just said, "Well the ooze was alien so..."

This does take the edge off, a little, and hopefully it'll quail some of the Anit-Bay anger this whole fiasco has generated, but I'm still very cautiously optimistic. I mean, we Turtle fans have been bitten before.

EDIT: Oh and one more thing, is the whole "We've got Kevin Eastman involved so..." rationale starting to get less and less comforting?

[azrael]

I dont think anything will ever replace TMNT movie 1.

[Jester]

http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=36982

[MikeandRaph87]

I dont think anything will ever replace TMNT movie 1.

Well,I liked TMNT II a little better personally. While it had Shredder as well I liked seeing the mutants. I would like to have confirmation that Shredder will appear. Any TMNT movie has potential of being great but Shredder being involved makes it all the better!

[shezcrafti]

I dont think anything will ever replace TMNT movie 1.

Sad but true. At least we'll always have that.

[azrael]

2 was my favorite growing up but I burnt myself out on that.

1 as I grew up so did my love for that movie.

[Bmaga123]

I dont think anything will ever replace TMNT movie 1.

I agree TMNT 1 is a masterpiece IMO and will always be my favorite but I welcome as many new movies with the Turtles as they can give us :-)

[MikeandRaph87]

2 was my favorite growing up but I burnt myself out on that.

1 as I grew up so did my love for that movie.

I think that is what makes me different from Michelangelo and you. I have the same favorite order of favorites of the turtles a,favorite version, favorite episodes and such and it has never changed since I was really little. I guess I know what I like and stick with it. :tgrin:

[marcelangelo]

He doesn't say that anywhere in the interview. Not even the existance of any ooze. He's only pointing out the Mirage origin as a rationalization for the "the Turtles are from an alien race" comment while not addressing it directly. In fact, in the next breath he pretty much says they don't even know what the origin is yet.

actually, no he doesn't talk specifically that they don't know yet what the ORIGIN is but what the completed picture of the movie will look like..at least that's what his words aresaying to me...AND what he says about michael bay in that little sentence is:we shouldn't take for granted that what michael bay/any one person is saying right now about this film is giving a clear picture about what the film will be in the end because this is filmmaking and they don'T know it a hundered procent yet either at this stage of the process...
sorry, don't want to piss on all your comments here but just read some of them here, then checked out the interview myself and found this thing where Ithink your missinterpreting his words a little...

[shezcrafti]

I love how the first sentence is attacking the fans' outrage by saying, "Any idiot knows the ooze is of alien origin..." True, but just because the ooze is of alien origin doesn't mean that hearing the words "These Turtles are from an alien race" won't give fans pause. There's a difference between the ooze being from an alien race and the Turtles themselves being from an alien race.

Andrew's right, I think as much is being read into this as was read into the Bay comment. He didn't come out and say Bay misspoke, he just said, "Well the ooze was alien so..."

This does take the edge off, a little, and hopefully it'll quail some of the Anit-Bay anger this whole fiasco has generated, but I'm still very cautiously optimistic. I mean, we Turtle fans have been bitten before.

EDIT: Oh and one more thing, is the whole "We've got Kevin Eastman involved so..." rationale starting to get less and less comforting?

I was all prepared to type up a response but can't find words that say it any better than you do. 100% agree.

(Also: I'm kinda drunk, so there's that.)

[Andrew NDB]

actually, no he doesn't talk specifically that they don't know yet what the ORIGIN is but what the completed picture of the movie will look like..at least that's what his words aresaying to me...AND what he says about michael bay in that little sentence is:we shouldn't take for granted that what michael bay/any one person is saying right now about this film is giving a clear picture about what the film will be in the end because this is filmmaking and they don'T know it a hundered procent yet either at this stage of the process...
sorry, don't want to piss on all your comments here but just read some of them here, then checked out the interview myself and found this thing where Ithink your missinterpreting his words a little...

I guess that's not untrue. He's basically saying exactly this:

"Look, Turtle fans, we don't know for sure if the Turtles are going to be aliens in the movie yet or not but even if they do end up being aliens, fans should know that it wouldn't be too much of a jump since the ooze that mutated them in the Mirage comics was of alien origin. Oh, and Kevin's here."

That's all he's saying. If there is any "hope" to be read in what he's written it's simply that things aren't quite as cemented as we might have thought by this point and things can change... but he isn't saying that they necessarily will, either.

[ryukenden]

Well that's a sigh of relief for now. The ooze has always been of alien in origin in most installments. Even if utroms or even Krang appear in this movie, let it all stay earthbound.

[Kendamu]

You mean I might not get my Racist Alien Big Boobied Explosions afterall?

Boo. :P

[shezcrafti]

At this point, I don't understand how they could NOT know what the origin will be. After the backlash hit, didn't Bay essentially throw it in everyone's face all like, "You haven't read the script and I have so STFU about it!" (Or something along those lines.) And now we're told they're still ironing these types of details out?

You know what, I'm glad I nerdraged over it and glad so many others did too. The more I think about it, Liebesman's comments sound like damage control.

[Machias Banshee]

http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=36982

My thoughts exactly...

[Baxter Stockmen]

what a relief. thanks for posting.

[ctt4lfecw]

Great news. Bay should have just kept quiet if he didn't know what he was talking about.

[Master of the Foot Clan]

I'm so happy Kevin Eastman is onboard with Bay's 2013 TMNT. They NEED Kevin and you know it's going to be badass if they're using his ideas and letting him do stuff he's always wanted and now has the backing by studio giants to do. Kevin Eastman is the man.

[Baxter Stockmen]

If this goes to prove anything. It's that there is definitely a market for a tmnt movie. That comment has spread like wildfire.

[Powder]

This is certainly a "no f*cking duh" kinda moment.

My thoughts exactly.


EDIT: Oh and one more thing, is the whole "We've got Kevin Eastman involved so..." rationale starting to get less and less comforting?

Yes, at least in the case of IDW. We'll see how this goes. I'm not really worried, though.

[Bob]

Again, he alludes to motion-capture: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Ninja-Turtles-Reboot-Director-Compares-Effects-Rise-Planet-Apes-30119.html

And, we kind of knew this already, but another website say "sources" have told them that the working title is "Ninja Turtles" and that the turtles won't be teenagers anymore: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/03/24/scoop-michael-bays-alien-turtles-apparently-arent-teenagers-either/

[Oculus Orbus]

sources are not 100% clear on whether or not the Turtles will indeed be adolescents

Basically, "we might be making it up, but it does for a cool title".

Also, this quote by Liebesman makes me a bit worried:

Leonardo’s very serious, Michelangelo’s very goofy, Donatello’s a geek. Raphael, very serious young turtle.

I hope we see some more development in their personalities than just that.

[ToTheNines]

And, we kind of knew this already, but another website say "sources" have told them that the working title is "Ninja Turtles" and that the turtles won't be teenagers anymore: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/03/24/scoop-michael-bays-alien-turtles-apparently-arent-teenagers-either/

That is the dumbest article ever. Everyone's been calling them Ninja Turtles for years now, it's nothing new really.

[Xav]

I'm so happy Kevin Eastman is onboard with Bay's 2013 TMNT. They NEED Kevin and you know it's going to be badass if they're using his ideas and letting him do stuff he's always wanted and now has the backing by studio giants to do. Kevin Eastman is the man. Yeah, but Kevin Eastman was also on board The Next Mutation.

[ctt4lfecw]

I really love the new IDW comics. So I really like what Kevin has done with that so far. I'd be happy if we got something like that for the movie.

[Spitfire]

I love it when someone who isn't a fan says crap like "fans will love it!". Really and you know how? I also love it when they hide behind Kevin Eastman because he offers consulting advice.

[Jester]

I also love it when they hide behind Kevin Eastman because he offers consulting advice.
Yeah, what a wonderful abuse of the good will Eastman has with the fans.

[Xav]

I love it when someone who isn't a fan says crap like "fans will love it!". Really and you know how? I also love it when they hide behind Kevin Eastman because he offers consulting advice. How do you know Jonathan Liebesman isn't a fan? He said he grew up with the Turtles and loved them. He said the TMNT were a major part of his life, and he seems to have some knowledge of the Mirage comics. Are you saying he is lying?

[Powder]

Liking the characters is a lot different than actively seeking out media and such.

[Xav]

And how do you know he doesn't do that? He also said. Whatever mythology we’re building on or expanding is coming from that guy, Kevin Eastman’s head and A lot of it is stuff he’s wanted to do for a long time, but just hasn’t had the opportunity because now we have the budget and things on this film to expand it in the right way It sounds like Kevin is doing more than offering consulting advice.

[Powder]

Is this really an arguement? If I had a dollar for every person who passed themselves off as a real fan of something I could buy a home and car.

[Galactus]

I'm so happy Kevin Eastman is onboard with Bay's 2013 TMNT. They NEED Kevin and you know it's going to be badass if they're using his ideas and letting him do stuff he's always wanted and now has the backing by studio giants to do. Kevin Eastman is the man.

I think your post pretty much sums up the exact reason they want Kevin involved. Basicaly so they can point and say "SEE WE'VE GOT ONE OF THEIR CREATORS APPROVING OUR IDEAS".

We don't know if they're using any ideas from Kevin or to what extent he's involved. Historicaly speaking I'm not sure him being a part of this particularly means anything, I don't think he's the type to be the "bad guy" and go against the grain. Even if he was, he's not in charge so even if he stated he disagreed with a certain plot point or characterisation he needn't be listened to.

I really love the new IDW comics. So I really like what Kevin has done with that so far. I'd be happy if we got something like that for the movie.

I could go along with the mutations being part of genetic experiments carried out by Stockgen or some other corporation, though I prefer it was it was done via flashbacks 15 years ago than use insta-mutagen.

I don't mind the reincarnation angle but I'm not sure I want it in a movie since we then have to deal with the reincarnation of Shredder too. But if they ignore this it the question how did Yoshi's pet end up as part of an experiment aaaand brain freeze.

This to me is why trying to make the origin more "realistic" or "badass" or whatever doesn't work for me. You can end up poking too many holes into these new twists that in the end it's best to just to the original.

[Xav]

Is this really an arguement? If I had a dollar for every person who passed themselves off as a real fan of something I could buy a home and car. And how exactly do you prove yourself to be a "real fan"? I'm not sure what you would've wanted him to say. He said he loved the characters and is working closely with Eastman. I don't get how you can see that as a bad thing. It's good to hear Jonathan Liebesman is aware of the comic origin. Whenever he actually read the comics or someone told him about it, doesn't matter. He doesn't sound likes he wants to crap on the source material.

[Jester]

Do you expect him to say "All I know about the TMNT I read on Wikipedia and I only just heard of Kevin when he was introduced to me when he came in to tell me ideas he had that we probably won't use."?

That's bad PR. You have to take everything with a grain of salt you can't just jump from one thing to the other and believe it completely.

"Michael Bay said aliens! RARAW!!! Oh, it's all ok now Jonathan Liebesman says he's a fan and he's working with Kevin Eastman. YEA!" comes off as a bit ridiculous and naive.

[Xav]

Look he's saying all the right things. I don't think we should be condemning a film we know next to nothing about. Chill, he said nothing in the film is final at this point.

[Andrew NDB]

I love it when someone who isn't a fan says crap like "fans will love it!". Really and you know how? I also love it when they hide behind Kevin Eastman because he offers consulting advice.

IDW did a bit of the same thing with Kevin Eastman and the rainbow bandannas. "We ran it by Kevin!" The thing is, he's never going to be a guy that's going to stand in front of the train. Now, he may jump on the train, or assist it, or suggest new tracks to go on, but he's never going to be the guy to tell people "No." And he's not even in any position to do that anyway.

Look, Jonathan Liebesman could have taken the opportunity to do any one of these things:

1) Say "Still early, but no, absolutely wrong, the Turtles aren't aliens in the movie." Bam, done. Crisis abated.
2) Tell us, "They're mutants in the movie. Period." Alien mutants? Maybe, but at least we know they'd be mutants. Crisis mostly abated.
3) Share with us his own passion for the TMNT, his history with them, love of the material (specifics would be nice, not Wiki notes) and what aspects, what this project means to him, and the rough idea of his vision for at least some aspects of the movie. That would make a ton of people feel a lot better.

But he didn't do any of those things.

[Jester]

Look he's saying all the right things. I don't think we should be condemning a film we know next to nothing about. Chill, he said nothing in the film is final at this point.
That's just it he's just saying all the right things.

I do agree that it's too early to get too bent out of shape, but everyone is really quickly shifting gears from "The end of the world" to "Oh Kevin's involved...we really dodged a bullet." Both reactions are very silly.

[lKevlKev]

They might be working with Eastman, but the other creator of the turtles, Peter Laid, is not too happy with some of the ideas Liebesman and company are coming up with. He wants it to be good, but thinks that it is highly unlikely that it will be.

[Xav]

But if Eastman says it's awesome it's gotta be right?

[ctt4lfecw]

I guess there's no pleasing some people.

[Jester]

I guess there's no pleasing some people.
No, we've just been burned quite a bit in the past, so we're a little sensitive.

[ctt4lfecw]

Im positive because I think with the new Nick show, figures, and comics everything is coming together for the fans. It seems that way.

[Spitfire]

IDW did a bit of the same thing with Kevin Eastman and the rainbow bandannas. "We ran it by Kevin!" The thing is, he's never going to be a guy that's going to stand in front of the train. Now, he may jump on the train, or assist it, or suggest new tracks to go on, but he's never going to be the guy to tell people "No." And he's not even in any position to do that anyway.

Look, Jonathan Liebesman could have taken the opportunity to do any one of these things:

1) Say "Still early, but no, absolutely wrong, the Turtles aren't aliens in the movies." Bam, done. Crisis abated.
2) Tell us, "They're mutants in the movie. Period." Alien mutants? Maybe, but at least we know they'd be mutants. Crisis mostly abated.
3) Share with us his own passion for the TMNT, his history with them, love of the material (specifics would be nice, not Wiki notes) and what aspects, what this project means to him, and the rough idea of his vision for at least some aspects of the movie. That would make a ton of people feel a lot better.

But he didn't do any of those things.

This pretty much sums up exactly what I was getting at. The IDW thing was the first hint for me that Eastman is just really having fun with this. It's not like they have to listen to him if he says no. He could think an idea completely sucks but in the end it really isn't going to stop anyone from doing it anyway. In the film world it's really up to the producers. If they think it's gold Jesus Christ himself could tell them it sucks and they'd do it anyways. They have no obligations to Eastman he's an easy person to hide behind so hardcore fans don't rip them apart.

But honestly even if Eastman does think all these ideas are great that holds little weight to me. He's been very out of touch with TMNT for around half it's lifespan. Him getting involved now is cool and all but his vision for turtles was never really anything beyond drawing something he thought was awesome. The IDW comics are, in my personal opinion, nothing to get excited about and saying he's heavily involved is nothing more then an excuse to try and shut up the fans who don't like it. "Oh you can't dislike it a co-creator had something to do with it!" Sorry that logic doesn't work on me. People gave Laird crap for his decisions during TMNT volume 4. I'm allowed to give whoever crap for their decisions with the comics and the movie.

[Jester]

^ lots of what he said! Though I'm still OK with the IDW series...for now.

[CyberCubed]

Eastman has never been as emotionally attached to the Turtles as PL. That's why after Bodycount in 1996 he had nothing to do with the franchise till 2011's IDW comics.

That was an entire decade

[Baxter Stockmen]

Am I the only one getting Transformers Autobot Stronghold ads at the top right of the page?

It must be a sign!! of DOOOOOOM!:tgrumble:

[Xav]

Him getting involved now is cool and all but his vision for turtles was never really anything beyond drawing something he thought was awesome. He did co-write the comics it, wasn't just Laird doing everything himself.

[Jester]

He did co-write the comics it, wasn't just Laird doing everything himself.
The past decade he was (pretty much)...and I'm pretty sure that's what Spitfire's talking about.

[TerranigmaFreak]

Well I'm reassured by those incredibly vague words that mean nothing.

[redlotusfire]

Eastman has never been as emotionally attached to the Turtles as PL. That's why after Bodycount in 1996 he had nothing to do with the franchise till 2011's IDW comics.

That was an entire decade

Eastman's the one who wrote for heavy metal right? that pist me off when i read that on wiki, it felt wrong, not wrong like the info was bad, wrong like dirty.

[Oculus Orbus]

it felt wrong, not wrong like the info was bad, wrong like dirty.

What are you talking about?

[marcelangelo]

Eastman's the one who wrote for heavy metal right? that pist me off when i read that on wiki, it felt wrong, not wrong like the info was bad, wrong like dirty.
(actually commenting on cybercubes comment, but redlotusfire kevin is the owner of heavy metal magazin, which is an important and fantastic birthplace for many comic book creations in history, so what's the problem at all here?)

man, guys please..you making fools of yourselfs for saying such things...only someone who has never worked on something like this, that is CREATING a comic book and it's characters and whole world, can utter such nonsene...
how in the world isn't kevin as attached to the turtles as peter?haven't you read his annotations in the ultimate at the very least??
and I know that he sold his ownership to peter in 2002..tat has nothing to do with it, that is just business and in my oppinion good will and common sense...if you keep in mind that at that time the franchise had been slowly dying(in sales figures speaking) and I guess he didn't want to stand in the way to be asked to approve on everything that his partners at mirage wanted to do...also he had more than enough to do with steering heavy metal's flasgship...all these things have nothing to do with how much kevin is attached to his co-creations....

[Xav]

I think it has to do with the fact that Kevin has outright said. I think he has much more of an attachment to the Turtles than I do
http://www.tcj.com/the-kevin-eastman-interview-part-i/2/

[Andrew NDB]

The IDW comics are, in my personal opinion, nothing to get excited about and saying he's heavily involved is nothing more then an excuse to try and shut up the fans who don't like it. "Oh you can't dislike it a co-creator had something to do with it!"

Exactly. If I were IDW or I were Paramount... automatic fan cred like that, that I can buy for a nominal price? I'd be remiss not to. It's like a trump card that can be played in any interview, anytime by either Paramount or IDW.

"Well, Mr. Liebesman, what's your comment on news that the Turtles in your movie all use NERF weapons only?" "We're all very excited about the designs we're going over, and it's so great to have Kevin aboard, working closely with us to look them over. *cough* You know, Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Turtles. Ahem."

Which isn't to say that Kevin Eastman adds nothing to either project or shouldn't be involved -- not at all. That he's involved with either one is a huge saving grace and it's fantastic to see him excited about working on the TMNT again (and he is, he really is). I love his TMNT "look," he's a master storyboarder, and tonally and storytelling-wise -- if actually left to his own devices -- his vision of TMNT is that which is most definitive to me. He is a major asset.

But now for anyone to sit here and expect him to do anything in the way of hard-and-fast quality control on the bigger picture ideas at play or play sentinel to what we do or don't consider the TMNT to be... that's lunacy. I mean there's some creators in movie-caliber projects that might become involved as consultants and really try to throw themselves around to protect their vision, even if it's like ass-end opposite of the studio's and they're the only one saying "No," but that's just not Kevin. Never really has been. God bless him, but I remember just before NT:TNM came out he was giving interviews talking about how amazing and badass Venus DeMilo would be, and how the Turtles in that are so much older and grittier than in the first three movies... and that couldn't have been further from the truth. I also remember him getting excited about some truly awful-sounding ideas for the fourth movie when it was still supposed to be live action.

[Xav]

It’s not fair to just take some comments out of context and go crazy, but I totally understand and really appreciate the passion, and I can’t wait for those exact people to see what we’re doing,” he said. “Because the stuff I see that Kevin’s coming up with, the ideas… As someone who grew up with the Turtles and loved them, I think it’s awesome. So Bay's comments were taken out of context, and he makes it sounds like any new ideas are coming from Kevin.
What was important to me was to ask, ‘Kevin, when you created these characters and did these things, why did you make these decisions?’” he explained. “So any expansion on that universe comes from that exact same place. I don’t want to put anything in the movie that’s not coming from the exact same sentiment that created the Turtles or created any mythology around them. That is why anything we do is going to tie back into the mythology people love. It’s all coming from that same place. So everything is going to tie into the mythology? I guess we have to wait and see.
http://www.ifc.com/fix/2012/03/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-michael-bay-jonathan-liebesman

[ctt4lfecw]

Quote:
What was important to me was to ask, ‘Kevin, when you created these characters and did these things, why did you make these decisions?’” he explained. “So any expansion on that universe comes from that exact same place. I don’t want to put anything in the movie that’s not coming from the exact same sentiment that created the Turtles or created any mythology around them. That is why anything we do is going to tie back into the mythology people love. It’s all coming from that same place.

^
I think it's cool how they at least care about what they've said, so that they don't **** off the fans. I mean they haven't even started shooting yet. Everything now is just talk, so I can only think that as long as they aren't lying then everything will be cool. I know Im excited. I hope wish Kevin gets them to use Krang. I've wanted him since the second film.:tgrin:

[Andrew NDB]

I hope wish Kevin gets them to use Krang. I've wanted him since the second film.:tgrin:

Don't be absurd. If anything, it'd be him trying to talk them out of using Krang... and that's not happening.

In fact, Kevin just posted this to his Facebook:

Hey Guys, Thanks for all the notes, and I do look forward to sharing more with you on the upcoming film as the work pace picks up--but I have a funny idea I love you all to try for me--I was over at the official Ninja Turtle website eight months ago doing some research on what kinds of stories have been explored in the 300 (plus) cartoon shows we did and most of you grew up on--why don't you cruise around the show synopsis' and let me know if you see anything there you'd like included in the film. Looking forward to your thoughts! K

That pretty much cinches it -- Turtles Part 5: Fred Wolf Cartoon Bonanza (AKA: Worst Case Scenario, IMO).

[Bob]

Don't be absurd. If anything, it'd be him trying to talk them out of using Krang... and that's not happening.

In fact, Kevin just posted this to his Facebook:

Hey Guys, Thanks for all the notes, and I do look forward to sharing more with you on the upcoming film as the work pace picks up--but I have a funny idea I love you all to try for me--I was over at the official Ninja Turtle website eight months ago doing some research on what kinds of stories have been explored in the 300 (plus) cartoon shows we did and most of you grew up on--why don't you cruise around the show synopsis' and let me know if you see anything there you'd like included in the film. Looking forward to your thoughts! K

That pretty much cinches it -- Turtles Part 5: Fred Wolf Cartoon Bonanza (AKA: Worst Case Scenario, IMO).

That's pretty strong confirmation that we're going to get something(s) from the original toon.

[The Stryker]

Sounds awesome to me.

What doesn't sound awesome is the inevitable and endless crying from mirage pure bloods......Oh well! Woo woo wooooooooooo.

[Baxter Stockmen]

Would love to see some Beebop/Rocksteady as well as krang

[VaughnMichael]

Sounds awesome to me.

What doesn't sound awesome is the inevitable and endless crying from mirage pure bloods......Oh well! Woo woo wooooooooooo.
I think we've only got one of those around here.

[Donnie]

That's pretty sh*tty. Officially don't feel comfortable w/ Kevin. Oh how I wish Peter was still at the helm...(and actually cared..)

[The Stryker]

Yeah. Laird never let other people ruin his creation. Mostly because he was too busy ruining it himself BUT STILL!

[Powder]

I only care about keeping things "pure" (as in Mirage toned) in the comic department, mostly. I don't mind if the film is a free-for-all because all the special effects and everything could make any of it spectacular. Granted I wouldn't want the film to feel super OT but as far as characters go, have at it. Just keep Mr. Ogg out of it and we've got a deal.

[Donnie]

I only care about keeping things "pure" (as in Mirage toned) in the comic department, mostly. I don't mind if the film is a free-for-all because all the special effects and everything could make any of it spectacular. Granted I wouldn't want the film to feel super OT but as far as characters go, have at it. Just keep Mr. Ogg out of it and we've got a deal.

I think a mash-up would be cool, like the IDW book is doing, but when you have KE blatantly asking fans to say what elements of the OT (singled out, not like he asked "what elements from the past movies or both toons?") should be included...it's just a tad worrisome to me. Then again, I shouldn't really complain too much, it's all speculation and the director seems to be on the right path with the movie. He's a pretty reassuring type of guy, it seems.

[AquaParade]

Perhaps the key to the movies success will be using the rich tone set forth by the Mirage comics, covered in a can of "OT Paint",

"Bebop" and "Rocksteady" will be fun to see for the casual crowd, and I'm betting most people won't be upset if they are written in a way that is more true to the spirit of the comics.

[Jester]

Actually Mikey, 300+ episodes of TV would include both shows. The FW series has about 200. 4kids has 156. That's over 300, together.

[prophecy718]

lol@ Mr ogg

[ToTheNines]

Is this script anywhere near done?

[SherlockJr]

Is this script anywhere near done?

Highly doubtful from the looks of it... :(

[The Stryker]

Is this script anywhere near done?

Well if you listen to some people around here, the movie's release date is next week.

[Donnie]

Actually Mikey, 300+ episodes of TV would include both shows. The FW series has about 200. 4kids has 156. That's over 300, together.

AH, well then I stand corrected. Thanks dude!

And in that case...bring on the BATTLE NEXUS! Perfect for an intergalactic story arc.

[CyberCubed]

The bizarre thing is people upset about that Eastman quote then like the IDW comics which is exactly what he was saying.

Nobody says it's going to be the old toon, but an updated more mature take on its characters like IDW is doing.

Either way if Krang isn't in this movie I'll be shocked. Almost seems like a shoe in this time.

[Donnie]

Either way if Krang isn't in this movie I'll be shocked. Almost seems like a shoe in this time.

I get the same feeling, I think we'll be seeing Krang. Which is fine with me, as long as he's reworked.

[Bob]

I hope we do see Krang. I still think we won't, at least not in the first movie.

[Xav]

I if do use Krang I hope they make him an Utrom.

[Master of the Foot Clan]

Again, he alludes to motion-capture: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Ninja-Turtles-Reboot-Director-Compares-Effects-Rise-Planet-Apes-30119.html

And, we kind of knew this already, but another website say "sources" have told them that the working title is "Ninja Turtles" and that the turtles won't be teenagers anymore: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/03/24/scoop-michael-bays-alien-turtles-apparently-arent-teenagers-either/

Yeah! Teenage Mutant College Turtles. lol
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2661&d=1332723614
‎"This is where I come to do Whip-Its and think about what would happen if the Ninja Turtles had to go to college.... so I'll just tell you. The dean closes down the campus pizza shop and the Ninja Turtles DO NOT take it well" - Roger as Mr. Vanderhill in American Dad

[Zany Orange Dude]

This article did not ease my feelings, but it didn't make anything worse either. I'm just going to wait and see how this thing turns out. It is still to early on to say anything about the film.

I was intrigued by the fact that they want this not to be entirely an action film though.

[ctt4lfecw]

Don't be absurd. If anything, it'd be him trying to talk them out of using Krang... and that's not happening.

In fact, Kevin just posted this to his Facebook:

Hey Guys, Thanks for all the notes, and I do look forward to sharing more with you on the upcoming film as the work pace picks up--but I have a funny idea I love you all to try for me--I was over at the official Ninja Turtle website eight months ago doing some research on what kinds of stories have been explored in the 300 (plus) cartoon shows we did and most of you grew up on--why don't you cruise around the show synopsis' and let me know if you see anything there you'd like included in the film. Looking forward to your thoughts! K

That pretty much cinches it -- Turtles Part 5: Fred Wolf Cartoon Bonanza (AKA: Worst Case Scenario, IMO).

^
Nice. Can't wait lol

[Andrew NDB]

I hope we do see Krang. I still think we won't, at least not in the first movie.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/BatFreak/news/?a=56627

[Jester]

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/BatFreak/news/?a=56627
Until I know who those "sources" are I'm still holding out hope we won't see Krang. I know some people think that he can be redone more dark, but I think what made Krang great in the FW series is how goofy he was. The "old married couple" dynamic is what made Shredder and Krang so fun to me...

The jury's still out on IDW's new Krang.

[FearlessLeader]

Until I know who those "sources" are I'm still holding out hope we won't see Krang. I know some people think that he can be redone more dark, but I think what made Krang great in the FW series is how goofy he was. The "old married couple" dynamic is what made Shredder and Krang so fun to me...

The jury's still out on IDW's new Krang.

I personally wouldn't mind a Krang like character done more like Ch'rell only less one note and more complex in his villainy.

[oldmanwinters]

Technodrome on Big Screen = BIG 'Splosions!

:tcool:

[Jester]

I personally wouldn't mind a Krang like character done more like Ch'rell only less one note and more complex in his villainy.
Just as long as we don't get Utrom Shredder, I might be able to get behind a rogue Utrom.

[CyberCubed]

Most likely Krang would be part of "The Kraang" if they want some brand value with the Nick show.

Krang should never be an Utrom. He should simply be the leader of, "The Kraang."

[Jester]

Most likely Krang would be part of "The Kraang" if they want some brand value with the Nick show.

Krang should never be an Utrom. He should simply be the leader of, "The Kraang."
That's as bad as a king, the crowned prince, and the planet they live on all having the same name...

[CyberCubed]

That's as bad as a king, the crowned prince, and the planet they live on all having the same name...

Throughout history its not uncommon for people to have the same names as what they rule.

Anyway Krang isn't spelled with two "a's" so he is clearly above the hive mind. If we see Krang himself in the Nick show I expect him to be the leader of those Kraang aliens.

[Xav]

Wouldn't having the Kraang take away the chance of having real Utroms though?

[Jester]

Wouldn't having the Kraang take away the chance of having real Utroms though?
People have pulled the Romulan/Vulcan card out on this several times. 2 races that share a common ancestry.

[CyberCubed]

Wouldn't having the Kraang take away the chance of having real Utroms though?

Nobody even knows if we'll even see the Utroms in any of these new series.

Hell even IDW might not even use them.

[Jester]

Nobody even knows if we'll even see the Utroms in any of these new series.

Hell even IDW might not even use them.
I'll miss them. Those little blobs kinda grew on me. :P

[ctt4lfecw]

I prefer Shredder to be human. And Krang should be Krang by himself. And if there are other brain creatures like Utroms, Krang should be master.

[Xav]

No way, Ch'rell should be.

[Donnie]

No way, Ch'rell should be.

I don't think they would tie in Ch'rell because he's an original 2k3 concept. I do prefer Saki human, but IF they did use Ch'rell...I'm almost certain that would be badass.

[MikeandRaph87]

I am not sure if it has been posted yet or referenced to on one of the TMAT threads but Peter Laird gave an extensive response to the alien angle. He said while they can do as they please with the property he said he doubts Nick or anyone would change it to remove any part of the name Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I guess he means stay tuned and see if they really changed it to what we fear.

http://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/more-musings-related-to-turtles-as.html

http://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/question.html

[ctt4lfecw]

No way, Ch'rell should be.


^
Woops, I mean that Krang should be leader of Dimension X.

[shezcrafti]

I am not sure if it has been posted yet or referenced to on one of the TMAT threads but Peter Laird gave an extensive response to the alien angle. He said while they can do as they please with the property he said he doubts Nick or anyone would change it to remove any part of the name Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I guess he means stay tuned and see if they really changed it to what we fear.

http://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/more-musings-related-to-turtles-as.html

http://peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/question.html

Thanks for posting, that was a really interesting read.

[k_lala]

I really wish Peter was involved with this.

[Bob]

I really wish Peter was involved with this.

I'm glad he's not.

[Spitfire]

I love and respect Peter but I'm glad he not either. He's a little too picky and that's part of the reason TMNT turned out the way it did. I just wish there was someone who had some kind of power, and intelligence, to stop some of these horrible ideas.

[Bob]

I love and respect Peter but I'm glad he not either. He's a little too picky and that's part of the reason TMNT turned out the way it did. I just wish there was someone who had some kind of power, and intelligence, to stop some of these horrible ideas.

I respect the man completely for what he has given us, and I will always be grateful to him, but I do think his head is just too far up his own backside. His interview that was posted on comicbookmovie.com yesterday only strengthens that opinion, and makes me even more thankful that he is not involved. I think he decided to call it a day at just the right time, because that interview really makes me think that he would have eventually become TMNT’s own worst enemy, not unlike George Lucas. He just doesn’t seem to be open to any ideas unless they’re born from his own mind. I have a hard time with artists like that.

[ctt4lfecw]

I respect the man completely for what he has given us, and I will always be grateful to him, but I do think his head is just too far up his own backside. His interview that was posted on comicbookmovie.com yesterday only strengthens that opinion, and makes me even more thankful that he is not involved. I think he decided to call it a day at just the right time, because that interview really makes me think that he would have eventually become TMNT’s own worst enemy, not unlike George Lucas. He just doesn’t seem to be open to any ideas unless they’re born from his own mind. I have a hard time with artists like that.

^
I agree. Im an art student and I know how it is. Sometimes it's tough to be open to new ideas, especially if it's your own creation. You say to yourself, " what do they know they didn't create it."

[FearlessLeader]

I respect the man completely for what he has given us, and I will always be grateful to him, but I do think his head is just too far up his own backside. His interview that was posted on comicbookmovie.com yesterday only strengthens that opinion, and makes me even more thankful that he is not involved. I think he decided to call it a day at just the right time, because that interview really makes me think that he would have eventually become TMNT’s own worst enemy, not unlike George Lucas. He just doesn’t seem to be open to any ideas unless they’re born from his own mind. I have a hard time with artists like that.

Watch the Next Mutation and then let's talk about Laird's poor choices. TMNT was brilliant compared to that.

[Xav]

He just doesn’t seem to be open to any ideas unless they’re born from his own mind. I don't know how you can say that. Just look at the 4Kids series it has tons of stuff that wasn't in the Mirage comics, and if you look a Peter's notes on the series, you can see that it wouldn't have been as good if Peter wasn't involved.

[Andrew NDB]

I don't know how you can say that. Just look at the 4Kids series it has tons of stuff that wasn't in the Mirage comics, and if you look a Peter's notes on the series, you can see that it wouldn't have been as good if Peter wasn't involved.

No matter how much people like to talk about the 2 or 3 episodes that are vaguely based on Mirage comics and tell you the whole series was like that, the 4Kids series on the whole is like 99.9% non-Mirage material. Only difference is that there's not much Fred Wolf crap (which automatically puts Fred Wolf fans' panties in a bind) and Peter pretty actively sculpted and/or vetoed stuff this time around.

[Xav]

Oh come on it's a lot more than 2 or 3 episodes. The first four seasons had a number of episodes based off of Mirage comics.

[Andrew NDB]

Oh come on it's a lot more than 2 or 3 episodes. The first four seasons had a number of episodes based off of Mirage comics.

Very loosely. The only one I've seen that's both tonally and story-wise pretty faithful is the Kirby episode.

I soldiered through a bunch of it and was really looking forward to the 4Kids "Return to New York," too. I finally arrived at it and found it to be horribly unwatchable to me... like some kind of toy cavalcade of utter nonsense. I wasn't expecting any kind of bloody mayhem or anything like that, but at least something tonally similar, but there's just nothing of the sort there (despite people loving to overstate the "ZOMG, but can you believe they let Leo decapitate an android, even though we see it pick up its own head like 5 seconds later? that was totally Mirage gritty!").

[Candy Kappa]

adaptations will never be completely correct to the original. just look at movies like V for Vendetta, Watchmen... All of the Alan Moore comic movie adaptations. The DC animated movies based off specific stories like Under the Hood and so on, and so on.

[TMNTdude87]

Jumping into this a little late but I was on vacation.... in the woods.... with no electric power..... or a wifi connection.

Having gone over the news about the whole TANT fiassco. All I have to say is Bay needs to better choose his words during his next interview. If controversy is what he wanted he got it, on a GLOBAL SCALE! Are the turtles aliens? His quote I seem to think they are, but with all the news surrounding Krang and inter-dimensional alien beings I don't know I see what many of you have already pointed out, Fred Wolf finally adapted to the big screen. Honestly it's way too early to tell. We have five or so guys in a room discussing what this movie will be, at this very moment. It could go anywhere.

Though as Jester pointed out without names or confirmations from the actual sources this could just be someone blowing smoke up our butts. I also have to agree on Andrew's comments as well. There's nothing in his speeches or words that state which direction this film is headed into. They could very well be aliens, or they could revert back to just mutations.

On my personal thoughts on Kevin Eastman involved. He's only hired as a consultant, and consultants are just there hired by studio brass to trick fans into thinking some quality control is in place here. When Bob Kane was on the set of Batman and he did not like something (I'm pretty sure he was against Michael Keaton's casting) and confronted Burton or Schumacher about it, I'm sure Tim or Joel would say I'll think about it, though they most likely blew him off. After all Kane doesn't own Batman anymore so we legally don't have to listen to him.

[1984TMNT]

I think it's more than obvious that the following occurred when Bay spoke his now infamous lines:

1) Bay doesn't know a ton about the mythology, and he made a comment that he "thought" was generally "correct", however he didn't realize just how incorrect his phrasing of his statement was

2) Bay's comments were taken directly out of context because he knows damn well that by them being "alien", he was referring to the ooze coming from the Utroms, and therefore ultimately, the Turtles existence is directly tied to Aliens.

Either way - I'm 99% sure and confident (based on comments made by the director since), that they will not be CHANGING anything about the origin. Instead, they will add additional backstory/details to flesh out the origin and the story they are going to tell.

I think everyone can relax on this now....

Is it possible they screw everything up - sure....but like I said....I think there is roughly a 1% chance of that happening.

[strugler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=onHtoKkGaoE

I think this is pretty damn funny! It might be a bit NSFW though

[Candy Kappa]

I love Jolly jack's video

http://youtu.be/cbhL1uGQARw

[pferreira]

I know I'm a bit late on commenting but having heard this news about Michael Bay turning the Turtles into aliens I just have to say it's a bit late for April Fools, isn't it? :lol:

Seriously, Bay thinks the fans are overreacting to these decisions (not mutants?) but what if he decided to make Batman an alien from another planet. Would the fans allow that? Hmm....

[TMNTdude87]

I know I'm a bit late on commenting but having heard this news about Michael Bay turning the Turtles into aliens I just have to say it's a bit late for April Fools, isn't it? :lol:

I'd say it's an early joke. Anyway you look at it, if this turns out to be an April Fools joke Paramount better be willing to grant our every wish, because that would be the worst F**K You to the fans.

[herugrim]

Guess I'm the only one who likes to wait until the film comes out to pass judgement.

Also, the original mirage comics are highly overrated. Deviating from them is more likely to be an improvement, though it could easily go either way. Just because it may be different doesn't mean it's bad. That's prejudice.

And the Fox tune was as damn close to an adaption of the Mirage comics as network TV will allow. Much of the dialog is taken directly from the comics, and all the major story arcs for the first few seasons (battle nexus, triceratons, return of the shredder, return to new york, etc...). Wasn't all the doing of Peter Laird (I've read his notes, he was a positive influence without trying to force his original designs in). There are minor differences (Shredder's the biggest, the last few seasons went in a very different direction) but it has far more in common with the comics then it doesn't.

[Galactus]

No matter how much people like to talk about the 2 or 3 episodes that are vaguely based on Mirage comics and tell you the whole series was like that, the 4Kids series on the whole is like 99.9% non-Mirage material.

I think you're selling 4kids show a bit short here. There's a number of episodes that I'd say are very faithful to the Mirage comic counterpart. Granted it's stuff like "Kirby and the Warp Crystal", "The People's Choice", "Return of Savanti" and the like which wouldn't have much of a problem portraying on a Saturday Morning level but I'd say quite a few were faithful enough.

Even "I Monster" was done faithfuly but stretched out to fill an entire episode. You could argue so was "Sons of the Silent Age" which again probably needed something to pad the ep out, sadly robbing it of it's orignal meaning but then Murphy also did the same in followups to that story in comic form.

Surely you don't begrudge them coming up with original content and twists?

I soldiered through a bunch of it and was really looking forward to the 4Kids "Return to New York," too. I finally arrived at it and found it to be horribly unwatchable to me... like some kind of toy cavalcade of utter nonsense. I wasn't expecting any kind of bloody mayhem or anything like that, but at least something tonally similar, but there's just nothing of the sort there (despite people loving to overstate the "ZOMG, but can you believe they let Leo decapitate an android, even though we see it pick up its own head like 5 seconds later? that was totally Mirage gritty!").

The first two seasons arn't necessarily the best to judge. I appreciate the first season in particular but it's very hamfisted in it's tone with the one liners and it's sad but necessary product placement.

The better and more "gritty" (as far as the show can go) elements generaly do occur in the original stories that dominate the third and fourth seasons.

That being said I do find season 1's "Shredder Strikes Back" to be arguebly better the comic version. Part 2 is par with #10 and at Leo is seen to actualy struggle in 4kids version whereas Leonardo #1 unrealisticaly makes it seem Leo is dispatching an army of Foot Ninja with ease until he spots Shredder and his defeat happens completely off panel.

I think it's more than obvious that the following occurred when Bay spoke his now infamous lines:

1) Bay doesn't know a ton about the mythology, and he made a comment that he "thought" was generally "correct", however he didn't realize just how incorrect his phrasing of his statement was

2) Bay's comments were taken directly out of context because he knows damn well that by them being "alien", he was referring to the ooze coming from the Utroms, and therefore ultimately, the Turtles existence is directly tied to Aliens.

Either way - I'm 99% sure and confident (based on comments made by the director since), that they will not be CHANGING anything about the origin. Instead, they will add additional backstory/details to flesh out the origin and the story they are going to tell.

I think everyone can relax on this now....

Is it possible they screw everything up - sure....but like I said....I think there is roughly a 1% chance of that happening.

or...

3) He wanted to get people in an unroar to draw fan and press attention to the film by saying something deliberately provactive.

While the directors statement did put people at he still hasn't actualy confirmed or denied the whole thing invited more speculation.

I'd say there's more than a 1% chance of them screwing everything up. It'd say there's a good chance of screwing up everything up even if they get origin right.

Guess I'm the only one who likes to wait until the film comes out to pass judgement.

Also, the original mirage comics are highly overrated. Deviating from them is more likely to be an improvement, though it could easily go either way. Just because it may be different doesn't mean it's bad. That's prejudice.

I think waiting to pass any judgement is impossible. It's natural if we hear news about the movie it's going to inspire some feeling in fans. Sure we could wait to make final judgement untill after we've seen it but as I've said before I think it's important to make our feelings known now when there's still a slim chance we can influence the powers that be.

I wouldn't say deviating from the Mirage books always leads to improvements, "City at War" anyone? The people behind this movie don't exactly engender a lot of faith that any deviation they make from pre-established turtle lore will be an improvement.

[mikey22]

well done! hitler's thoughts on the turtles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBFJIiLfyks&feature=context&context=G2557e10RVAAAAAAAAAA

[Jester]

well done! hitler's thoughts on the turtles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBFJIiLfyks&feature=context&context=G2557e10RVAAAAAAAAAA
As they say, "3rd time's the charm"... oye.

[marcelangelo]

Guess I'm the only one who likes to wait until the film comes out to pass judgement.

Also, the original mirage comics are highly overrated. Deviating from them is more likely to be an improvement, though it could easily go either way. Just because it may be different doesn't mean it's bad. That's prejudice.

And the Fox tune was as damn close to an adaption of the Mirage comics as network TV will allow. Much of the dialog is taken directly from the comics, and all the major story arcs for the first few seasons (battle nexus, triceratons, return of the shredder, return to new york, etc...). Wasn't all the doing of Peter Laird (I've read his notes, he was a positive influence without trying to force his original designs in). There are minor differences (Shredder's the biggest, the last few seasons went in a very different direction) but it has far more in common with the comics then it doesn't.

oh man, here it goes....why are the original comics from mirage 'highly overrated'?...can you be a bit more precisely in your point or do you just want to post something that is really against the odds with most people here just to sound interesting?....I think saying the mirage books are highly overrated is like these people who cannot appreceate modern art for example...saying dadaists or surrealistic artists are not doing 'as much of art as traditional painters'....revealing to connesseurs with such statements to everyone that they themselves just don't know what they're talking about...just because you may not see the whole beauty in them doesn't mean that others overrate them...I mean they're classics..and without them NONE of anything turtles would be existing...

[Jester]

Part of me wonders if he means the non-canon (in Laird's eyes anyway) guest artist/writers issues, stuff like this:
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSd3w0KpN5s0SMNAh63XWxe0NCFIIcFl mrlsuzjgUaJ68j9UGyei-iMhq3C
Than again, the core Mirage mythos is sound, and it did give us one good Turtle movie that borrowed quite a bit from it(despite what Andrew thinks).

[Xav]

Much of the dialog is taken directly from the comics, and all the major story arcs for the first few seasons (battle nexus, triceratons, return of the shredder, return to new york, etc...). Wasn't all the doing of Peter Laird (I've read his notes, he was a positive influence without trying to force his original designs in). The Battle Nexus happened in the cartoon first. Also more thoughts from Hitler.
Z5W325FTCQ4

[Jester]

Oh, joy another one...

[Xav]

Hey, you can never get enough Hitler.

[Jester]

Actually...yes, yes you can.

[Donnie]

I think you're selling 4kids show a bit short here. There's a number of episodes that I'd say are very faithful to the Mirage comic counterpart. Granted it's stuff like "Kirby and the Warp Crystal", "The People's Choice", "Return of Savanti" and the like which wouldn't have much of a problem portraying on a Saturday Morning level but I'd say quite a few were faithful enough.

Even "I Monster" was done faithfuly but stretched out to fill an entire episode. You could argue so was "Sons of the Silent Age" which again probably needed something to pad the ep out, sadly robbing it of it's orignal meaning but then Murphy also did the same in followups to that story in comic form.

Surely you don't begrudge them coming up with original content and twists?


Agreed. The 4Kids show was heavily based on the comics, and as was said, a lot of lines were taken directly from the books. They made some creative decisions to not only make it different from the comics (which it should be, it's a cartoon) but also have it fit into its own mythos. Saying that the 4Kids series had been "loosely" based on a few issues of the comics is just...not correct.

[gobo]

What's a hitler? :-?

[Spitfire]

Agreed. The 4Kids show was heavily based on the comics, and as was said, a lot of lines were taken directly from the books. They made some creative decisions to not only make it different from the comics (which it should be, it's a cartoon) but also have it fit into its own mythos. Saying that the 4Kids series had been "loosely" based on a few issues of the comics is just...not correct.

I think you're mistaking Andrew a bit. A huge part of the comic is it's tone and the 4Kids toon never came close to it even on it's "darkest" episode. All the comic adaptation episodes turned out to be pretty watered down versions of a story that was otherwise a lot grittier and more flushed out. I mean obviously it's a kids series and there can't be decapitations and impalings but it more pulled small story elements. CAW for example couldn't have been a more watered down version of the actual story and honestly there's no reason they couldn't have done it proper. The turtles never really got through the same character growth they did in the comic in large part due to them removing a lot of the major challenges they faced.

[Leogeddon]

That's it, I'm making my own damn movie.

[Donnie]

I think you're mistaking Andrew a bit. A huge part of the comic is it's tone and the 4Kids toon never came close to it even on it's "darkest" episode. All the comic adaptation episodes turned out to be pretty watered down versions of a story that was otherwise a lot grittier and more flushed out. I mean obviously it's a kids series and there can't be decapitations and impalings but it more pulled small story elements. CAW for example couldn't have been a more watered down version of the actual story and honestly there's no reason they couldn't have done it proper. The turtles never really got through the same character growth they did in the comic in large part due to them removing a lot of the major challenges they faced.

Well I'd agree that the overall tone was not the same, but I did think 4Kids got considerably dark, especially for a cartoon.

About CAW in specific, totally agree that it was a watered down shadow of its comic self. The whole arc of Shredder Strikes Back Part One, Shredder Strikes Back Part Two, Tales of Leo, Monster Hunter was executed pretty maturely for a cartoon in my opinion, and definitely oozed (pun intended) the Mirage vibe. CAW, on the other hand, was poorly executed...it could have been done better...that's for sure.

[CyberCubed]

The problem with City at War is they couldn't adapt the whole Casey impregnates Gabriel story, or Rat King with Splinter since he wasn't introduced yet.

[Roseangelo]

The problem with City at War is they couldn't adapt the whole Casey impregnates Gabriel story, or Rat King with Splinter since he wasn't introduced yet.

Gabriel was already pregnant when she met Casey. :p

[Xav]

What's a hitler? :-? It's something you call someone when you disagree with them.

The problem with City at War is they couldn't adapt the whole Casey impregnates Gabriel story, or Rat King with Splinter since he wasn't introduced yet. Wasn't she already pregnant when they met?

[CyberCubed]

Ah yeah I forgot about that. But yeah, the City at War issues centering around April and Casey were far too adult for the 4kids writers to adapt.

If Rat King had gotten an episode in either Season 5 or 7 they might have adapted the Splinter story from City at War. I find it bizarre they wanted to make a third Garbageman episode during Season 5 instead of a Rat King episode, which would have made more sense.

[pferreira]

I'd say it's an early joke. Anyway you look at it, if this turns out to be an April Fools joke Paramount better be willing to grant our every wish, because that would be the worst F**K You to the fans.I wish I was joking :teek:

[ToTheNines]

Ah yeah I forgot about that. But yeah, the City at War issues centering around April and Casey were far too adult for the 4kids writers to adapt.

April, Casey and Splinter stuff aside, they bastardized the holy sh*t out of the main storyline of City at War. I can't even watch it any more.

[Shredder_Fan]

So we have confirmation that the Utroms will likely be the alien race the turtles are from. If this is the case then I guess everything is fine.

Although I bet Krang will be in the movie now.


I hope for Krang to now in the new movie and The Technodrome
That must be in the movie now, Technodrome in a movie will be 100% cool and loved by all the fans. If Transformers can in a movie, then they can make a Technodrome to

[TurtleTitan97]

That must be in the movie now, Technodrome in a movie will be 100% cool and loved by all the fans.

If Transformers can in a movie, then they can make a Technodrome to

I don't know if the Technodrome would be loved by all fans if it appeared. I mean, when ever I read an article about the OT, usually there are comments by people who say that they are fans of the original comics who complain that they hated the show because they claim "This ruined the Turtles! No more Cowabunga!" and a whole lot of other stuff. Now if the Technodrome was retooled into something cool and modern I can live with it. But I would like a movie based more on Mirage with some characters returning from the show and references to the OT.

They were in the movie because it was their movie. Making a Transformers movie without the Transformers would be pretty lame.

[Raphael86]

I hope for Krang to now in the new movie and The Technodrome
That must be in the movie now, Technodrome in a movie will be 100% cool and loved by all the fans. If Transformers can in a movie, then they can make a Technodrome to

Eh, I'm all for introducing the Technodrome eventually (maybe Ninja Turtles 2 or 3, if it gets that far), but not right away.

[Powder]

I hope for Krang to now in the new movie and The Technodrome
That must be in the movie now, Technodrome in a movie will be 100% cool and loved by all the fans. If Transformers can in a movie, then they can make a Technodrome to

So glad there are people like you who can speak on behalf of the entire fanbase.

No, wait. Don't do that ever again.

[Donnie]

I don't know if the Technodrome would be loved by all fans if it appeared. I mean, when ever I read an article about the OT, usually there are comments by people who say that they are fans of the original comics who complain that they hated the show because they claim "This ruined the Turtles! No more Cowabunga!" and a whole lot of other stuff. Now if the Technodrome was retooled into something cool and modern I can live with it. But I would like a movie based more on Mirage with some characters returning from the show and references to the OT.

They were in the movie because it was their movie. Making a Transformers movie without the Transformers would be pretty lame.

Gotta agree with this.

The Technodrome should not be in the movie. Although I have a bad feeling it will be.

[Jephael]

How can you not want to see the freaking Technodrome in live action? That would be so bad@$$!!!

[BubblyShell22]

I'm all for The Technodrome being shown. And why do you say it wouldn't be loved by all the fans? Sure, not everyone may like it, but I have a feeling that if it was shown, a lot of fans would love it.

[Jester]

A lot, but not all. Those kind of sweeping generalizations can lead to some really crapy movies.
"All fans love Bebop, Rocksteady, and Krang so they should be in the movie." But there are quite a few people who don't care for those characters, and even those of us who do don't always think that they'll work outside the media they come from. Bebop and Rocksteady worked in the FW toon, because it was comedy with a little bit of action. In a more serious piece of Turtle media, they may seem...well...off.

[TurtleTitan97]

And why do you say it wouldn't be loved by all the fans? Sure, not everyone may like it, but I have a feeling that if it was shown, a lot of fans would love it.

Maybe. I know a lot of fans of OT would love it, the rest, not so much. It's kinda the same with the Sonic fans. On one side, you got fans who loved the Sonic Satam cartoon with the Freedom Fighters, on the other, you got fans who hate it and love only the games. Then you got fans who are in the middle and like both. I could live with the Technodrome if it appeared updated and modern, but I'd want a movie based more on Mirage source material than OT. Or better yet, maybe make it like the IDW series, I like how Krang is portrayed there.

[Donnie]

An IDW inspired Krang would be sick, I could see that working. As long as it's not an OT spit-out I'm cool. I would be okay with the revisioning of the Technodrome, I just hope it's done tastefully.

[Galactus]

Is there really a point to having the Technodrome in a movie? Either it would be fully powered and crushing buildings which would take the movie into ultra sci fi territory and far away from the "real world" feeling that I feel made the other movies successful.

The other option is that it's low on power like it was for 98% of the Fred Wolf show and rendered an utterly useless ableit cool looking hideout for the villains.

Yes, I am aware of saying this on a site called thetechnodrome.com

[sdp]

So I've changed a lot my opinion on this, I was very bummed to think that it wasn't going to be the turtle movie I expected or close to the source material. But after I saw that sketch that looked nothing like Ninja Turtles I thought of how we already have a somewhat mirage based movie, yes a new one can easily be made, but I wouldn't mind a kick ass technodrome fighting, laser touting, ninja action filled, villains galore, ninja turtles movie. Sure it might be nothing like what we think the TMNT are but so is the OT and I quite enjoy it. As long as it's entertaining, I'll enjoy it and try to see it with an open mind. This might be our chance to see some things from the turtles universe that we wouldn't in any other type of movie because it wouldn't be "realistic". I'll gladly take that over a more true to the source material that ends up lacking in many fronts like TMNT 2007.

In fact that is exactly what I hope with this movie, if they aren't going to be faithful to the source material, they might as well go crazy with it and show their take on as much TMNT mythos as they can into the movie and make it a fun ride.

[Zany Orange Dude]

So I've changed a lot my opinion on this, I was very bummed to think that it wasn't going to be the turtle movie I expected or close to the source material. But after I saw that sketch that looked nothing like Ninja Turtles I thought of how we already have a somewhat mirage based movie, yes a new one can easily be made, but I wouldn't mind a kick ass technodrome fighting, laser touting, ninja action filled, villains galore, ninja turtles movie. Sure it might be nothing like what we think the TMNT are but so is the OT and I quite enjoy it. As long as it's entertaining, I'll enjoy it and try to see it with an open mind. This might be our chance to see some things from the turtles universe that we wouldn't in any other type of movie because it wouldn't be "realistic". I'll gladly take that over a more true to the source material that ends up lacking in many fronts like TMNT 2007.

In fact that is exactly what I hope with this movie, if they aren't going to be faithful to the source material, they might as well go crazy with it and show their take on as much TMNT mythos as they can into the movie and make it a fun ride.

Hm...that is a very optimistic way to look at things. And for that dear sir, I tip my hat to you.

[TheCanadiandrome]

I'm all for The Technodrome being shown.

as am i, if it's done correctly of course. i'd feel like i'd died and gone to heaven if it's shown. i'd love to see how it'd be done along with Krang

[Ravenxl7]

I have to admit, I was definitely a bit outraged when Bay made his statement. It was really nice to get the clarification from the director (who I hear is apparently a bit TMNT fan). With Bay as just one of five or so producers, I'm not as worried as I once was. I'll definitely be giving the new movie a chance, and if I actually end-up liking it, will probably see it at least twice in theaters.

[USArmyParatrooper]

He doesn't say that anywhere in the interview. Not even the existance of any ooze. He's only pointing out the Mirage origin as a rationalization for the "the Turtles are from an alien race" comment while not addressing it directly. In fact, in the next breath he pretty much says they don't even know what the origin is yet.

You must have just missed it.

“Look, it’s so funny—if everyone was such a die-hard fan, they would know that the TCRI canisters where the ooze comes from. That is alien ooze."

[USArmyParatrooper]

Looks like I'll have to stop calling them Teenage Alien Intergalactic Ninja Turtles.

[gobo]

Looks like I'll have to stop calling them Teenage Alien Intergalactic Ninja Turtles.
Call 'em Teenage Alien Interdimensional Ninja Turtles. ;)

[Candy Kappa]

Call 'em Teenage Alien Interdimensional Ninja Turtles. ;)

I see what you did there

[TheCanadiandrome]

Looks like I'll have to stop calling them Teenage Alien Intergalactic Ninja Turtles.

I prefer TMNT to TAINT

[Powder]

I prefer TMNT to TAINT

Pfffft, I lol'd.

[ToTheNines]

I prefer GOOCH to TAINT.

[Archon_Turtle]

Whoops. Meant this to be a new thread...

[TheCanadiandrome]

I prefer GOOCH to TAINT.

lol! yes :lol:

[Fugitoid Jones]

I have to admit, I was definitely a bit outraged when Bay made his statement. It was really nice to get the clarification from the director (who I hear is apparently a bit TMNT fan). With Bay as just one of five or so producers, I'm not as worried as I once was. I'll definitely be giving the new movie a chance, and if I actually end-up liking it, will probably see it at least twice in theaters.


Didn't Kevin Munroe claim to be a big TMNT fan too? And look what we got from him!

Of course a director is going to say they're a big fan of whatever they're working on, they want the fans on their side so they'll go watch their movie and line their pockets with $$.

[ZariusTwo]

Didn't Kevin Munroe claim to be a big TMNT fan too? And look what we got from him! .

An underrated and quite enjoyable movie?

[Ravenxl7]

Didn't Kevin Munroe claim to be a big TMNT fan too? And look what we got from him!
I honestly don't know (I wasn't really paying any attention to TMNT stuff then), but if he did say he was a big fan, it might explain why the movie was actually good. I'm still not a huge fan of the frogs-in-turtle-shells design, but the movie itself is actually quite enjoyable, imho.

[Bob]

Didn't Kevin Munroe claim to be a big TMNT fan too? And look what we got from him!

What, you mean the best versions of the Turtles characters? The film itself wasn’t ideal, but the characterisation of each of the Turtles was pretty spot on.

[Candy Kappa]

What, you mean the best versions of the Turtles characters? The film itself wasn’t ideal, but the characterisation of each of the Turtles was pretty spot on.

yes the incredible characterization of keeping them basically in their stereotypes

[Donnie]

What, you mean the best versions of the Turtles characters? The film itself wasn’t ideal, but the characterisation of each of the Turtles was pretty spot on.

Seriously? This is pure opinion dude, Mikey wasn't done right. I would agree that the other 3 were pretty fine, though.

[Andrew NDB]

Didn't Kevin Munroe claim to be a big TMNT fan too? And look what we got from him!

Can't blame Munroe. If the studio wasn't tying his hands on almost every front, Kevin Munroe's ultimate TMNT movie would be drastically different than the... thing... we got.

[CyberCubed]

I liked the personalities of the Turtles in the 4th movie except for Mikey. Leo/Raph/Don were pretty much spot on.

Too bad Mikey couldn't have been more like Movie 1-3 Mike, which is a great version of the character.

[Drose18]

OMFG I just found out my dad grew up with Jonathan Liebesman in South Africa and they watched TMNT together. My dad it was on thursday afternoons on channel 5! My dad fb chatted Jonathan and asked for something from the new movie! And I dont have the exact words but he said they havent started filming it yet. BEST DAY EVER!

[Drose18]

I liked the personalities of the Turtles in the 4th movie except for Mikey. Leo/Raph/Don were pretty much spot on.

Too bad Mikey couldn't have been more like Movie 1-3 Mike, which is a great version of the character.

Are you kidding?!?!?!? Don was a boring nerd. Raph got so angry you could say he became beserk! April was like a b#$@% wife always nagging casey. Splinter was really good.

[Nintendophile]

OMFG I just found out my dad grew up with Jonathan Liebesman in South Africa and they watched TMNT together. My dad it was on thursday afternoons on channel 5! My dad fb chatted Jonathan and asked for something from the new movie! And I dont have the exact words but he said they havent started filming it yet. BEST DAY EVER!

I just found out my Uncle works for Nickelodeon. He says they've already finished animating five full seasons of the new cartoon, and he's going to burn them onto DVD and send them to me next week! I'm going to watch it on my XBOX 720, which my other Uncle, (who works at Microsoft), already sent me. BEST DAY EVER! :twink::twink::twink:

(I'm sorry, I'm just teasing ya. It just sounded like the kind of thing we used to make up in elementary school at the lunch table. "My Uncle works here", "My Dad grew up with a guy". Hehe. If it's true, that's really cool, dude. Just giving ya a hard time. :twink:)

[ZariusTwo]

Can't blame Munroe. If the studio wasn't tying his hands on almost every front, Kevin Munroe's ultimate TMNT movie would be drastically different than the... thing... we got.

The "thing" we got was perfectly fine. Stop speaking as if everyone hated it just because you didnt like it.

TMNT was still better than all the generic comics you idolize.

[Jester]

I dunna, TMNT could have replaced the Turtles with any other characters and you would hardly know it was a Ninja Turtles movie. I'd say THAT was more generic than the Mirage canon.

[Xav]

I liked the personalities of the Turtles in the 4th movie except for Mikey. Leo/Raph/Don were pretty much spot on.

Too bad Mikey couldn't have been more like Movie 1-3 Mike, which is a great version of the character. Was his personality really that much different?

[Candy Kappa]

besides the CGI and the fan-wankery Leo vs Raph, the movie was very generic and unimpressive.

They didn't even show off the various things the models had going on, like pulsing veins

[Drose18]

I just found out my Uncle works for Nickelodeon. He says they've already finished animating five full seasons of the new cartoon, and he's going to burn them onto DVD and send them to me next week! I'm going to watch it on my XBOX 720, which my other Uncle, (who works at Microsoft), already sent me. BEST DAY EVER! :twink::twink::twink:

(I'm sorry, I'm just teasing ya. It just sounded like the kind of thing we used to make up in elementary school at the lunch table. "My Uncle works here", "My Dad grew up with a guy". Hehe. If it's true, that's really cool, dude. Just giving ya a hard time. :twink:)

Okay? But It wasnt a lie.

[Venom]

Was his personality really that much different?

Yes. TMNT Mike was extremely childish and immature, acting almost borderline ADD. Film Mike, especially the first movie, felt most like his Mirage counterpart, and throughout the original trilogy didn't stray too far into the "ZOMG GUIZ LETS RAWK, COWABUNGA DEWDZ!" hyperactive Mike he later became associated with toward the mid-00's.