How do you feel about the voices?

[Radical Raph]

Mostly, how does everyone feel about Knoxville as Leo? I'm sure you've heard me talk about how much I don't think his voice matches the character, but I want to see what the general consensus is so I made a poll.

Also, feel free to share what you think about the other turtle voices, too. I think the rest of them are pitch perfect or at least not bad enough to contradict the character.

[Autbot_Benz]

I think Knoxville is fine for Leo. heck we had Jason Biggs and now Seth Green voicing Leo on the cartoon and they are mostly comedy actors.

They needed another big name to market the film with since the other turtles are voiced by Unknown guys.

[Radical Raph]

I think Knoxville is fine for Leo. heck we had Jason Biggs and now Seth Green voicing Leo on the cartoon and they are mostly comedy actors.

They needed another big name to market the film with since the other turtles are voiced by Unknown guys.
Well, I'm hoping this thread can persuade my opinion. He's definitely not "classic" Leo or how I would imagine Leo to sound. The other turtles all sound pretty much how I'd imagine. So it's going to take a lot of getting used to, but also it's kind of jarring since they modeled Leo based on Pete's face.

[Xiewin]

I love it.

[IndigoErth]

Fine enough with it. Not a Jackass fan, nor of that guy (which does make me feel it's a strange choice), so not too hard for me to separate it and just here it as Leo. I don't really know the other guy enough to have know if he'd have done better either.


Between this and the series, Leo must be a hard one to cast or something... I mean, Mikey of course seems to be cast with people who are rather Mikey-like anyhow. Leo must be a bit of an enigma in terms of what sounds right.

[trikuza]

In his interviews, Knoxville normally sounds all raspy like he has throat cancer or something. I think he sounds surprisingly good as Leo, though. It's still kind of weird that when I hear leo talking, I think of Jackass a little bit...but whatever.

[Radical Raph]

Fine enough with it. Not a Jackass fan, nor of that guy (which does make me feel it's a strange choice), so not too hard for me to separate it and just here it as Leo. I don't really know the other guy enough to have know if he'd have done better either.


Between this and the series, Leo must be a hard one to cast or something... I mean, Mikey of course seems to be cast with people who are rather Mikey-like anyhow. Leo must be a bit of an enigma in terms of what sounds right.
I will say that when he says, "We will find you," it sounds like perfect Leo.

[Candy Kappa]

Not a fan of Knoxville, and I don't like Alan's growling, but when he talks normally it's fine.

[pingclang]

So far Knoxville has sounded good. We'll see once the movie hits.

[HotNunchuckFury]

May change my mind when I see the film, but I voted good as I've really liked most of what I've heard so far. I'm so intrigued to hear what the other guy sounded like though.

[Leolead]

Everyone great except Knoxville, who i'm not quite sure about.

[Donatello19]

The only one that sounds weird to me is Raph's. "He's doing his batman voice..."

[MiBs]

The only one that sounds weird to me is Raph's. "He's doing his batman voice..."

isn't that Mikey talking about Raph?

[METALHEAD]

perfect. i'm surprised at how well it sounded. seems perfect for me.

[LeoRaph]

Pete Ploszek seemed much much better just as himself. In fact, just from his small interviews he seemed like he could have been the perfect Leonardo. The guy was a good enough actor to win the role. So I doubt it's his acting.

After all, it's his face, movements and emotions that we're seeing just not with his voice...apparently... So his replacement seems to be a pure star power thing.

What's really strange is how he doesn't seem to be fighting it like Woodburn. Maybe he's trying not to 'rock the boat' being an unknown in Hollywood but it's still weird nonetheless.

[Glados]

Not a huge fan of Knoxville as Leo... But I'll survive, he's not absolutely terrible, just... not great.

[BlueKatana]

Pretty good, I'm honestly okay with Knoxville's Leo. Noel Fisher is great.

I really wonder what Pete Plosek's sounded like since they recast it.

[Midnight Mutant]

From what I've heard I like it. The only voice I'm not fond of is Raph's voice.

[Slade]

I guess I need to actually watch all these trailers and tv spots and stuff. I'm on here more at work than I am at home, so I don't see half this stuff. I only know what Mikey sounds like. I've heard Leo and Raph, but not to a point where I can make a judgement.

[Warhorse]

Pete Ploszek seemed much much better just as himself. In fact, just from his small interviews he seemed like he could have been the perfect Leonardo. The guy was a good enough actor to win the role. So I doubt it's his acting.

After all, it's his face, movements and emotions that we're seeing just not with his voice...apparently... So his replacement seems to be a pure star power thing.

What's really strange is how he doesn't seem to be fighting it like Woodburn. Maybe he's trying not to 'rock the boat' being an unknown in Hollywood but it's still weird nonetheless.

I'm wondering though. In the first 1990 movie, the actors in the suits had cameos in the movie, so perhaps we're going to be getting the same thing in this? And maybe he was given an ultimatum, that if the movie does well, he will definitely be signed on for the sequel (which in the Ninja Turtle world, different voice actors for the same Turtle is quite common. Hell, even April was changed from the first movie)

[Radical Raph]

I'm wondering though. In the first 1990 movie, the actors in the suits had cameos in the movie, so perhaps we're going to be getting the same thing in this? And maybe he was given an ultimatum, that if the movie does well, he will definitely be signed on for the sequel (which in the Ninja Turtle world, different voice actors for the same Turtle is quite common. Hell, even April was changed from the first movie)
If the movie does well, I think that they'll want to keep the voices all the same.

[Le Glorieux Tortue]

I like Knoxville as Leo but there is a part of me that feels bad for Pete and I keep wondering if it is ever awkward for him around the other turtle guys and Knoxville

[Metropoliskid41]

Sounds fine to me! I'm much more worried about their dialogue and not their voices! I'm worried Mikey is going to be given the same treatment that Jazz got in the first Transformers movie.

[Shark_Blade]

They're all amazingly good. :tcool:

[graphic_content]

I went with okay/not sure on Knoxville - ive been very vocal on other threads about how uneven his performance seems, and how certain lines seem strong and authoritative, and others, high pitched, and ridiculous.

but then again Leo is a teen, and he may be going through 'that time'. :lol:

[The Boston Ninja Turtle]

Honestly out of the 4 voices Raph and Mikey bug me the most

they just sound like the are trying to hard and come off forced


noel is making himself be a surfer instead of just making Mike fun loving natural goof...and Raph is Batman now

then again part of it could be the dialog written


Leo and Donnie sound perfect to me

[Radical Raph]

I went with okay/not sure on Knoxville - ive been very vocal on other threads about how uneven his performance seems, and how certain lines seem strong and authoritative, and others, high pitched, and ridiculous.

but then again Leo is a teen, and he may be going through 'that time'. :lol:
That's the thing, Knoxville's voice sounds like a 50 year old who smokes two packs a day. He has the least teenager voice out of all of them. I'm hoping they're still cleaning up his vocals or something because like you said it's very uneven.

[FrankRightNow]

Am I the only one who wants to hear Pete do Leo? I mean Knoxville is just not who I would of picked for it. But it might work I'm sure but the end of the movie I'll be fine with it. I just don't know how like a press photo shoot would go would you use the 4 that voiced them or the 4 that played them? Or all 5. I guess we'll find out at the movie premier

[FrankRightNow]

And to be clear I just want to hear Pete do leap just for my sheer judgement. Thani can me oh yeah they made the right call

[MajorViolence]

Mikey's voice really sounds forced to me. I'm still on the fence about Leo. Same goes for Donnie. Raph's voice is laying on the "tough guy" a bit too thick. I'm okay with him sounding like that when they're in battle and facing threats, but it seems like every single line is going to be whispers and gravel.

Honestly, out of all of them, Leo's voice is the one I like best, which is not something I expected to be saying.

[TMNT is cooler than MOTU]

While I would've preferred Pete for Leonardo, although Knoxville is serviceable. The voices are actually the best part of the movie.

[Radical Raph]

Am I the only one who wants to hear Pete do Leo? I mean Knoxville is just not who I would of picked for it. But it might work I'm sure but the end of the movie I'll be fine with it. I just don't know how like a press photo shoot would go would you use the 4 that voiced them or the 4 that played them? Or all 5. I guess we'll find out at the movie premier
You are not the only one. I'm pretty outraged about it. The guy gave what looks like a perfect visual performance so I'm sure his vocals were spot on.

[RAPHAEL#1fan]

I really can't decide yet from what I seen and heard it's not lengthy enough to determine if its good or not, unless some one can point me in the right direction with some good footage to listen to.

[graphic_content]

Raph's voice is laying on the "tough guy" a bit too thick.

Im starting to warm up to Raph's voice because we are hearing actual dialogue; I wasnt sure at first because all we heard grunts, and yells, and I thought to myself, I hope they dont go down this weird caveman path with him just to prove his tough.

[MajorViolence]

Im starting to warm up to Raph's voice because we are hearing actual dialogue; I wasnt sure at first because all we heard grunts, and yells, and I thought to myself, I hope they dont go down this weird caveman path with him just to prove his tough.

Honestly I liked it better when all we'd heard was grunts and growls, because I didn't realize that was how he was going to sound all the time. The more I hear him speak, the more I realize he's going to sound constipated for the entire movie.

[Glados]

You are not the only one. I'm pretty outraged about it. The guy gave what looks like a perfect visual performance so I'm sure his vocals were spot on.

You're not alone...

[Radical Raph]

Honestly I liked it better when all we'd heard was grunts and growls, because I didn't realize that was how he was going to sound all the time. The more I hear him speak, the more I realize he's going to sound constipated for the entire movie.
When he says, "They're taking hostages" in trailer 2 or 3 he sounds the most normal. I think we're mostly hearing him talk when he's really angry or trying to be intimidating. But he kinda sounds like Bruce Willis when he says that line.

[Leolead]

The reason i don't like Knoxville's voice is because he sounds like a 40 year old as opposed to all the other Turtles, he doesn't sound like a Teenager like Raph Mikey and Don, he sounds too old, that's why his voice doesn't fit with Raph, Mikey or Don

[Radical Raph]

The reason i don't like Knoxville's voice is because he sounds like a 40 year old as opposed to all the other Turtles, he doesn't sound like a Teenager like Raph Mikey and Don, he sounds too old, that's why his voice doesn't fit with Raph, Mikey or Don
Yea, it's way too gruff. Also makes Leo come off as "trying to be tough" instead of a natural leader. Knoxville would've been more suited for Raph. I don't get it. They got the rest of the turtle personalities down to the point where you could only hear their voice and know who it is... Except Leo. He's the odd man out and it sucks.

[Leolead]

Yea, it's way too gruff. Also makes Leo come off as "trying to be tough" instead of a natural leader. Knoxville would've been more suited for Raph. I don't get it. They got the rest of the turtle personalities down to the point where you could only hear their voice and know who it is... Except Leo. He's the odd man out and it sucks.
Exactly Leo being my favorite Turtle it sucks extra for me, Pete's voice would have fitted way better! it would have been a lot more natural, like i said Knoxville's voice doesn't fit with the other Turtles.

[Radical Raph]

Exactly Leo being my favorite Turtle it sucks extra for me, Pete's voice would have fitted way better! it would have been a lot more natural, like i said Knoxville's voice doesn't fit with the other Turtles.
At this point the most we can hope for is if they somehow release an alternate version with Pete's voice as Leo once the Blu Ray comes out, but I doubt that ever happens.

I'm trying really hard not to let it ruin my excitement for the movie.

[Xiewin]

When he says, "They're taking hostages" in trailer 2 or 3 he sounds the most normal. I think we're mostly hearing him talk when he's really angry or trying to be intimidating. But he kinda sounds like Bruce Willis when he says that line.

Wait that was Raph? I thought it was Knoxville.

[Radical Raph]

Wait that was Raph? I thought it was Knoxville.
No, I think it was Raph and then Knoxville was the "Let's rock and roll, boys" line.

See what I mean though? He sounds too similar to Raph. Leo's voice should be smooth and calm.

I think I just need to hear more of it though because when he yells, "Sensei!" It does sound like Leo.

[Radical Raph]

No matter what though, all I hear is the actor and not the character because Knoxville's voice is so recognizable.

Here they had a chance to make the turtles completely unknowns and really sell the illusion and then some corporate goofball says, "Ooo, I know! Kids love Johnny Knoxville, right? Let's get him to be Leonardo!" :trolleye:

The turtles are the stars of the show. It doesn't matter who his playing or voicing them as long as the voice sounds like THEM.

[Radical Raph]

Honestly, I'd rather see Knoxville play Casey Jones than voice any of the turtles.

[Warhorse]

If the movie does well, I think that they'll want to keep the voices all the same.

I'm not counting on anything. The TMNT franchise is notorious for changing voice actors. Something tells me we might even be hearing a whole new set of vocal cords if a sequel is green lit.

I like Knoxville as Leo but there is a part of me that feels bad for Pete and I keep wondering if it is ever awkward for him around the other turtle guys and Knoxville

Same here. In fact, I think it's kind of sh!tty on Knoxville's part. I mean, he's got his niche in the entertainment world, I wish he had been the better man and just turned the thing down.

[graphic_content]

In an interview, Liebesman stated:

You cannot get a good performance without a great actor. Animators are there to almost retarget that performance onto the characters you create. When they say Andy Serkis deserves the Oscar, he DOES deserve the Oscar. He does an amazing performance, makes you believe Caesar is real, so those were sort of the shoulders we were standing on. So we cast the actors we thought embodied each turtle and their performance was translated where the technology was even a little bit more advanced than Planet of the Apes was that we were able to select different takes and blend them in one performance.

source (http://www.comicbookmovie.com/teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles/news/?a=104344)

READING THIS - makes me even more frustrated at the circumstances. The director himself goes on record saying they went out of their way to cast ACTORS who embody each individual turtle, and we end up with Knoxville, whom critics are already starting to comment, his voice just doesnt match, and actually takes you out of the scene.

[Radical Raph]

In an interview, Liebesman stated:



source (http://www.comicbookmovie.com/teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles/news/?a=104344)

READING THIS - makes me even more frustrated at the circumstances. The director himself goes on record saying they went out of their way to cast ACTORS who embody each individual turtle, and we end up with Knoxville, whom critics are already starting to comment, his voice just doesnt match, and actually takes you out of the scene.
I wonder if Liebesman had anything to do with the decision (probably not) and how he really feels about it.

[Xiewin]

Now im starting to wish Knoxville wasn't cast as Leonardo.

[graphic_content]

- Johnny Knoxville and Tony Shaloub sound wrong as Leonardo and Splinter in the brief clips we saw. They didn't alter their voices at all so every time they spoke all I thought was "Jackass" and "Monk."

source (http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/comic-con-paramount-panel-w-tmnt-hot-tub-time-machine-2-and-more-174)

STAR POWER doesnt matter here - just performances that DONT match because these guys DIDNT actually act the role.

[Radical Raph]

source (http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/comic-con-paramount-panel-w-tmnt-hot-tub-time-machine-2-and-more-174)

STAR POWER doesnt matter here - just performances that DONT match because these guys DIDNT actually act the role.
I've never once in my life ever considered the thought of, "Oh they're making a new ninja turtles movie? And Johnny Knoxville is in it?! Now I've GOTTA see it!"

They already had me when I saw how much they captured the turtles' personalities. THEY are the stars... I loved everything I was seeing so far... until I heard Knoxville's voice anyways.

I was hoping he'd pull a Micheal Keaton or Heath Ledger and COMPLETELY immerse himself into the role... But no, he just did his usual voice.

[Leolead]

That makes me even more upset! i really don't understand why they even cast Knoxville...

[Radical Raph]

Welp guys, I went ahead and started a petition. Just so I can feel like I did something: https://www.change.org/petitions/michael-bay-swap-johnny-knoxville-s-leonardo-vocals-for-pete-plozeck-s-original-vocal-performance-or-release-alternate-version-on-blu-ray

[Warhorse]

I wonder if Liebesman had anything to do with the decision (probably not) and how he really feels about it.

I really don't think Liebesman had any control over that. I think it was purely Paramount heads, panicking when the mixed reactions to the first trailer started to kick in.

[Warhorse]

I've never once in my life ever considered the thought of, "Oh they're making a new ninja turtles movie? And Johnny Knoxville is in it?! Now I've GOTTA see it!"

They already had me when I saw how much they captured the turtles' personalities. THEY are the stars... I loved everything I was seeing so far... until I heard Knoxville's voice anyways.

I was hoping he'd pull a Micheal Keaton or Heath Ledger and COMPLETELY immerse himself into the role... But no, he just did his usual voice.

Ironic thing with me, I was actually excited all the way back when I first heard they were finally doing a CGI/Live action TMNT movie and that Michael Bay was going to be involved (I've actually liked most of his work, I don't give a sh!t what the haters say) and Megan Fox playing April (I think she's fine for a role like this, and I tend to root for her due to all of the hate she gets. Shame, compared to her co-star from Transformers, it looks like she's got her life on the right track! Kudos to the woman!)

[Xiewin]

Ironic thing with me, I was actually excited all the way back when I first heard they were finally doing a CGI/Live action TMNT movie and that Michael Bay was going to be involved (I've actually liked most of his work, I don't give a sh!t what the haters say) and Megan Fox playing April (I think she's fine for a role like this, and I tend to root for her due to all of the hate she gets. Shame, compared to her co-star from Transformers, it looks like she's got her life on the right track! Kudos to the woman!)

This is a bit off topic, but did you enjoy Revenge of fallen?

[Warhorse]

This is a bit off topic, but did you enjoy Revenge of fallen?

Yes I did. I saw that thing like 5 times in the theater. I enjoyed that a hell of a lot more than the last two installments we got. Bay trying to make the franchise too serious made those movies a downer to sit through.

[Xiewin]

Yes I did. I saw that thing like 5 times in the theater. I enjoyed that a hell of a lot more than the last two installments we got. Bay trying to make the franchise too serious made those movies a downer to sit through.

Thank god I'm not the only one who loves that movie. Almost everyone I talked to loathes it with passion.