Setting the record straight: The director is Jonathan Liebesman, NOT Michael Bay.

[TerranigmaFreak]

Ok, it's true that this company (Platinum Dunes) is actually Michael Bay's company, but Bay is just a producer for TMNT 2014. He just forks over the money. Now, I don't know how much, if any, input Bay has in this movie, but it's directed by Jonathan Liebesman. I think Jonathan Liebesman really doesn't get enough credit on these forums, so I figured it would be great to take this chance to let everyone get to know the director of his movies.

So I present you Jonathan Liebesman's fine selection of films and their Rotten Tomatoes scores.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jonathan_liebesman/

Darkness Falls - 10%
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning - 12%
Wrath of the Titans - 25%
Battle: Los Angeles - 35%
The Killing Room - 67%

This is how he compares to Michael "Explosion" Bay.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - 20%
Bad Boys II - 23%
Pearl Harbor - 25%
Transformers - Dark of the Moon - 36%
Armageddon - 40%
Bad Boys - 43%
Pain & Gain - 49%
Transformers - 57%
The Rock - 67%

You wish this was directed by Michael Bay.

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

I would say they are equally horrible. You are right about Bay being nothing but an explosion guy though.

[electric_sheep]

thank you, I've been saying the same but they didn't listen, they didn't listen!

[TerranigmaFreak]

I would say they are equally horrible. You are right about Bay being nothing but an explosion guy though.

Bay's worst is still 10% better, and we're setting these standards LOW. TMNT might break single digits in the reviews.

[TrickOrTreater]

Yes we're all aware Bay isn't directing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but if you think for one second Bay has less say on this movie than the guy who directed Wrath of the Titans and Battle Colon Los Angeles, I've got some bridges to sell you.

He's been the face of the thing the ENTIRE time. Making power point presentations and such. Haven't heard a damn peep out of Liebesman.

And no I do NOT wish Bay was directing this movie. I wish neither one of them had anything to do with this movie.

The only difference between Bay and Liebesman is Bay's movies inexplicably make money. Their movies are equally ****.

[electric_sheep]

Yes we're all aware Bay isn't directing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but if you think for one second Bay has less say on this movie than the guy who directed Wrath of the Titans and Battle Colon Los Angeles, I've got some bridges to sell you.

He's been the face of the thing the ENTIRE time. Making power point presentations and such. Haven't heard a damn peep out of Liebesman.

And no I do NOT wish Bay was directing this movie. I wish neither one of them had anything to do with this movie.

The only difference between Bay and Liebesman is Bay's movies inexplicably make money. Their movies are equally ****.
come down, we're all Michael Bay haters over here, no need to stroke out...

[Shark_Blade]

Everyone (i.e. well informed individuals) knows that.

And I enjoy Wrath of the Titans very much so I don't have to worry about anything.

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

Yes we're all aware Bay isn't directing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but if you think for one second Bay has less say on this movie than the guy who directed Wrath of the Titans and Battle Colon Los Angeles, I've got some bridges to sell you.

He's been the face of the thing the ENTIRE time. Making power point presentations and such. Haven't heard a damn peep out of Liebesman.

And no I do NOT wish Bay was directing this movie. I wish neither one of them had anything to do with this movie.

The only difference between Bay and Liebesman is Bay's movies inexplicably make money. Their movies are equally ****.
All we can hope is that Bay's teleprompter messes up and he storms of the set to stay! LOL!

[TrickOrTreater]

come down, we're all Michael Bay haters over here, no need to stroke out...

...who's not calm?

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

Bay's worst is still 10% better, and we're setting these standards LOW. TMNT might break single digits in the reviews.

I wouldn't be surprised if the critics turned out to love it which will then infuriate most of us even MORE! HA! They didn't like the first movie and I'd say it's universally loved among TMNT fans. So we might actually WANT this movie to get a low score!

[electric_sheep]

Everyone (well informed individuals) knows that.

And I enjoy Wrath of the Titans very much so I don't have to worry about anything.

that's like saying, yeah, he raped me, but at least gave me a kiss after.
and Wrath was a ****ing boring mess, just a cliche dull Hollywood crap..

[TigerClaw]

I never seen his other films since they aren't the type of movies I watch, But I did enjoyed Battle LA cause I love me some big budget alien invasion movies, and own the Blu-Ray of it.

[snake]

What's the difference? Both are terrible directors.

[Vulkanthekrusader]

Why couldn't we get Sofia Coppola to direct this!!!

[Shark_Blade]

that's like saying, yeah, he raped me, but at least gave me a kiss after.
and Wrath was a ****ing boring mess, just a cliche dull Hollywood crap..
Poor/unrelated example.

And about Wrath, just because you think so doesn't make it fact for everyone else. ;):tcool:

[T-U-R-T-L-E POWA!]

Why couldn't we get Sofia Coppola to direct this!!!

Or her dad for that matter?! It could be like Apocalypse Now meets The Godfather. LOL. Maybe Mikey could say "I love the smell of pizza in the morning..."

[snake]

Why couldn't we get Sofia Coppola to direct this!!!

Why couldn't we get J.J "Lens Flare" Abrams to direct this?

[Refractive Reflections]

With so much talk about Michael Bay's infamous filming style, I had to post this. :P
The video is so reflective of Hollywood's pitiful attempts in making classic franchises "cooler" :lol:
dJxj1mou03M

[Candy Kappa]

Ok, it's true that this company (Platinum Dunes) is actually Michael Bay's company, but Bay is just a producer for TMNT 2014. He just forks over the money. Now, I don't know how much, if any, input Bay has in this movie, but it's directed by Jonathan Liebesman. I think Jonathan Liebesman really doesn't get enough credit on these forums, so I figured it would be great to take this chance to let everyone get to know the director of his movies.

So I present you Jonathan Liebesman's fine selection of films and their Rotten Tomatoes scores.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jonathan_liebesman/

Darkness Falls - 10%
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning - 12%
Wrath of the Titans - 25%
Battle: Los Angeles - 35%
The Killing Room - 67%

This is how he compares to Michael "Explosion" Bay.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - 20%
Bad Boys II - 23%
Pearl Harbor - 25%
Transformers - Dark of the Moon - 36%
Armageddon - 40%
Bad Boys - 43%
Pain & Gain - 49%
Transformers - 57%
The Rock - 67%

You wish this was directed by Michael Bay.

Welcome to early 2012.

[CyberCubed]

Both suck, who cares?

[turtlefanforever]

But it has micheal bays darling and media darling Megan fox in it. He most crtsinky had a say in thAt. And I would prefer if he was actually directing it cAuse I think the other guy is worse. It's just easy to pick on bay cause he's known for explosions and ruining franchises like Michael Chang,Alan Wan, and
Juan Meza-Leon

[Jester]

This record needed setting straight? Good to know.

[plastroncafe]

As if facts have ever stopped people from arguing on the internet before...

[Galactus]

Every actor that's been interviewed about their role in the upcoming TMNT movie has made a point to say how this is Michael Bay's movie, his unique vision, his style, his turtles.

Michael Bay himself publicaly talks about it as if it's his picture bar one time when addressing the stigma the movie has picked up when he was quick to point out it's Jonathan Liebesman directing - I guess if it ends up being loved it's his picture and if not then it's Jonathan Liebesman's movie lol

[Kurai]

I am aware of this. Still doesn't raise my hopes for this movie.

Also, this video is about a year old, but it pretty much sums up my views on this movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ms4-NWlOzU

[DarkLightDragon]

I've always known he was the producer. But regardless of his position and role with this film, his name is still attached to this movie in more ways than one and they're all showing.

It's like M. Night Shaymaylan. Once you see his name flash on a movie poster or trailer, it's gonna alienate people who are already aware of his previous work.

[Walkabout]

It has the stench of Michael Bay all over it, regardless.

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

I wouldn't be surprised if the critics turned out to love it which will then infuriate most of us even MORE! HA! They didn't like the first movie and I'd say it's universally loved among TMNT fans. So we might actually WANT this movie to get a low score!

Hooray for logic that doesn't make sense!:lol:

[Cipher]

Does it matter?

Directors on many large studio productions like this are basically just project-managers for the producers. They're there to coordinate shooting on the day-to-day, in a way in line with the producer and studio's vision, and often aren't even hired until well into pre-production when many of the creative decisions have been made.

Whatever this movie is, Bay will be at least as, if not more, responsible for it than Liebesman. He's the actual decision-maker. Liebesman's his employee.

[Master Splinter]

Why couldn't we get Sofia Coppola to direct this!!!

Because the Bling Ring was a horrible piece of garbage. Lost in Translation is her only claim to fame, and a TMNT movie in that style would be boring.

And I might be in the minority here but I like Michael Bay's work. Bad Boys is an awesome series, I thought Armageddon and The Rock were great. He's not Scorese or Speilberg but he makes blockbusters that are action packed and in my opinion good summer movies.

But of course he is not directing it, so that argument is neither here nor there.

-ms

[plastroncafe]

Because the Bling Ring was a horrible piece of garbage. Lost in Translation is her only claim to fame, and a TMNT movie in that style would be boring.

And I might be in the minority here but I like Michael Bay's work. Bad Boys is an awesome series, I thought Armageddon and The Rock were great. He's not Scorese or Speilberg but he makes blockbusters that are action packed and in my opinion good summer movies.

But of course he is not directing it, so that argument is neither here nor there.

-ms

So long as your enjoy your summer movies laden with tired tropes, borderline racism, and over the line sexism. Sure!
Who doesn't love the lowest common denominator?

I quite liked the Bling Ring, but found Lost in Translation to be a bore of a movie.
Oh no! How sad! Let's watch these white people experience what it's like to be a minority. How tragic.

But Bay's stuff? Is a trick pony whose novelty has worn off.

[Bob]

The only film of his I’ve liked is Wrath of the Titans. I actually thought that was better than Clash. I enjoy the look of his films. They have cinematography a lot like Neill Blomkamp’s films (although nothing else in common, don't worry cinephils). However, Bay has clearly had input in this film. The designs of the Turtles and Shredder have his finger prints all over them. And yes, I would actually (much) rather Bay was directing.

[Master Splinter]

So long as your enjoy your summer movies laden with tired tropes, borderline racism, and over the line sexism. Sure!
Who doesn't love the lowest common denominator?

I quite liked the Bling Ring, but found Lost in Translation to be a bore of a movie.
Oh no! How sad! Let's watch these white people experience what it's like to be a minority. How tragic.

But Bay's stuff? Is a trick pony whose novelty has worn off.

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/ff/ff75e4dd9078230f1f70d128cf02089e2ed42349960c42fb31 58d5faf9acb6c1.jpg

[turtlefanforever]

Just better when they are backed by facts.

[Raven]

Does it matter?

Directors on many large studio productions like this are basically just project-managers for the producers. They're there to coordinate shooting on the day-to-day, in a way in line with the producer and studio's vision, and often aren't even hired until well into pre-production when many of the creative decisions have been made.

Whatever this movie is, Bay will be at least as, if not more, responsible for it than Liebesman. He's the actual decision-maker. Liebesman's his employee.

This is exactly the case here, bay has more push and pull then Lieberman currently and is know for bring in people to the theaters. The people funding this are going pto be looking to bay to make their money back and hopefully more.

[hitmonkey]

The thing is, with Bay being producer of a film with a such a small-time director, it raises chances that he's got a lot more say than a producer on a Spielberg film. He may not be on set every day calling the action, but don't think for one second that he hasn't had any input on this thing.

[Dirty Blond]

Does it matter?

Directors on many large studio productions like this are basically just project-managers for the producers. They're there to coordinate shooting on the day-to-day, in a way in line with the producer and studio's vision, and often aren't even hired until well into pre-production when many of the creative decisions have been made.

Whatever this movie is, Bay will be at least as, if not more, responsible for it than Liebesman. He's the actual decision-maker. Liebesman's his employee.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Warhorse]

Ok, it's true that this company (Platinum Dunes) is actually Michael Bay's company, but Bay is just a producer for TMNT 2014. He just forks over the money. Now, I don't know how much, if any, input Bay has in this movie, but it's directed by Jonathan Liebesman. I think Jonathan Liebesman really doesn't get enough credit on these forums, so I figured it would be great to take this chance to let everyone get to know the director of his movies.

So I present you Jonathan Liebesman's fine selection of films and their Rotten Tomatoes scores.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jonathan_liebesman/

Darkness Falls - 10%
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning - 12%
Wrath of the Titans - 25%
Battle: Los Angeles - 35%
The Killing Room - 67%

This is how he compares to Michael "Explosion" Bay.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - 20%
Bad Boys II - 23%
Pearl Harbor - 25%
Transformers - Dark of the Moon - 36%
Armageddon - 40%
Bad Boys - 43%
Pain & Gain - 49%
Transformers - 57%
The Rock - 67%

You wish this was directed by Michael Bay.

And, then we have the Turtle movies that have already been made.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-44%
TMNT Secret of the Ooze-36%
TMNT 3-27%
TMNT 2007-34%

So, even if Christopher Nolan or Bryan Singer were directing the movie, I still think it would get a rotten.

[Jester]

I have a question that has been boggling the mind for a while:

People claim Bay has ALL the say and Liebesman is just his puppet, right? That as producer Bay is pulling Liebesman's strings, yes?

So....who's responsible for the crime against the Transformers? Everyone is quick to shout. "BAY!" but he was just the director...and as we've already postulated above he's just the puppet. So who was his puppet master? Hmm...I wonder....
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Steven_Spielberg_Masterclass_Cin%C3%A9math%C3%A8qu e_Fran%C3%A7aise_2_cropped.jpg

What....that can't be right. That guy's one of the "good ones." The ones that always come up when people say, "Michael Bay's no BETTER DIRECTOR HERE."

So, which is it? Is Michael Bay to blame for EVERYTHING or does the director indeed have more say than some are giving him credit?

[turtlefanforever]

The thing is, with Bay being producer of a film with a such a small-time director, it raises chances that he's got a lot more say than a producer on a Spielberg film. He may not be on set every day calling the action, but don't think for one second that he hasn't had any input on this thing.

Imagine if Spielberg was directing this thing.

[Dirty Blond]

I have a question that has been boggling the mind for a while:

People claim Bay has ALL the say and Liebesman is just his puppet, right? That as producer Bay is pulling Liebesman's strings, yes?

So....who's responsible for the crime against the Transformers? Everyone is quick to shout. "BAY!" but he was just the director...and as we've already postulated above he's just the puppet. So who was his puppet master? Hmm...I wonder....
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Steven_Spielberg_Masterclass_Cin%C3%A9math%C3%A8qu e_Fran%C3%A7aise_2_cropped.jpg

What....that can't be right. That guy's one of the "good ones." The ones that always come up when people say, "Michael Bay's no BETTER DIRECTOR HERE."

So, which is it? Is Michael Bay to blame for EVERYTHING or does the director indeed have more say than some are giving him credit?

Michael Bay both exec-produced and directed Transformers.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418279/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ql_1

[Jester]

Michael Bay both exec-produced and directed Transformers.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418279/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ql_1
Thanks...now I kind of wonder if Spielberg just has his name in the credits. :P

[Dirty Blond]

Thanks...now I kind of wonder if Spielberg just has his name in the credits. :P

Kind of like Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs?

[Jester]

Kind of like Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs?
To hear Paulsen tell it, Spielberg had quite a bit of behind the scenes interaction on those shows.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Imagine if Spielberg was directing this thing.

I would definitely get on board with that. Or Lucas, for that matter. Heck, how about Del Toro? Imagine the TMNT movie we'd have gotten from the producers/director of the Hellboy movies.....

[Kurai]

I would definitely get on board with that. Or Lucas, for that matter. Heck, how about Del Toro? Imagine the TMNT movie we'd have gotten from the producers/director of the Hellboy movies.....

You mean George Lucas there, right?

Don't get me wrong, I love Star Wars. Heck, the original 3 Star Wars films are my favorite films of all time. But the Star Wars prequels, while they had some good ideas, were poorly executed because George Lucas had way too much control and there wasn't anyone on board to tell him 'No George, that's a bad idea'. Those films relied too heavily on CGI, with pretty much everything being CG. While a bit of CG is okay, with the Star Wars prequels you can tell that they aren't really there, so it affects your suspension of disbelief.

So yeah, I don't think that letting George Lucas direct a TMNT film is a good idea unless he wasn't in control of every little detail (i.e. the Star Wars prequels)

[turtlefanforever]

I would definitely get on board with that. Or Lucas, for that matter. Heck, how about Del Toro? Imagine the TMNT movie we'd have gotten from the producers/director of the Hellboy movies.....

I loved the hell boy films. I think they'd put a good product out there.

[MiBs]

I would definitely get on board with that. Or Lucas, for that matter. Heck, how about Del Toro? Imagine the TMNT movie we'd have gotten from the producers/director of the Hellboy movies.....

I'm a big fan of Guillermo del Toro. Think he could make a great TMNT movie

[TigerClaw]

What about Gareth Evans? The director of The Raid Redemption and its sequel Raid 2? What TMNT needs is a director who makes martial arts films. Considering that the fight scenes in this movie we heard are inspired by The Raid Redemption.

[turtlefanforever]

What about Gareth Evans? The director of The Raid Redemption and its sequel Raid 2? What TMNT needs is a director who makes martial arts films. Considering that the fight scenes in this movie we heard are inspired by The Raid Redemption.
We're a del toro family now. :tlol: just joshin but I wouldn't really be on board with that. I feel that it'd be the same as this one coming out. And those movies weren't much of a hit internationally. I'd like big names but good big names. Or a bunch of little products but very good.

[ObiWanFan4life]

We're a del toro family now. :tlol: just joshin but I wouldn't really be on board with that. I feel that it'd be the same as this one coming out. And those movies weren't much of a hit internationally. I'd like big names but good big names. Or a bunch of little products but very good.

Why not? Guillermo Del Toro has experience with comic book characters (Blade II, Hellboy, Hellboy II).

[turtlefanforever]

Why not? Guillermo Del Toro has experience with comic book characters (Blade II, Hellboy, Hellboy II).

I love del toro! I was completely on board with a del toro tmnt film. I was saying not the one he suggested. I loved hell boy, I picture the movie would be a lot like the golden army.

[ObiWanFan4life]

I love del toro! I was completely on board with a del toro tmnt film. I was saying not the one he suggested. I loved hell boy, I picture the movie would be a lot like the golden army.

Still, Gareth Edwards is a decent director, Godzilla ( A movie which I'm looking forward to MUCH MORE) might be proof of this.

[TerranigmaFreak]

Still, Gareth Edwards is a decent director, Godzilla ( A movie which I'm looking forward to MUCH MORE) might be proof of this.

I'm a fan at both the TMNT and Godzilla community and the reactions to their perspective movies is like night and day. Everybody appreciates what's being done with the Godzilla movies even if not everyone agrees with everything. And then there's TMNT...

[ObiWanFan4life]

I'm a fan at both the TMNT and Godzilla community and the reactions to their perspective movies is like night and day. Everybody appreciates what's being done with the Godzilla movies even if not everyone agrees with everything. And then there's TMNT...

Well Godzilla has Bryan Cranston In the cast, and Frank Darabont writing it, so there's that.

[turtlefanforever]

Still, Gareth Edwards is a decent director, Godzilla ( A movie which I'm looking forward to MUCH MORE) might be proof of this.

But that's a movie that's kinda hard to screw up, ya know? Not saying it can't be done. With tmnt you stick to the basics you normally come out with a great product which isn't what they are doing with this. The last Godzilla film is proof you can screw it up though. There are few markee franchises where it is so incredibly easy to make a film from, Godzilla being one of them basically writes itself But at the same time gotta have the right people behind them.