Official episode discussion: Rise of the Turtles, Part 1 and 2

[HerpDerp]

A nice review.

[bloodstainedwings]

Watching a second time around I am really liking Donny's voice as well. All the Turtles voices are done really well.

[Master Splinter]

Good stuff. That is all.

-ms

[Gyt Kaliba]

I had to work this morning so I didn't get to see the actual premiere, but thank goodness not only for my DVR, but also for them re-airing it again on the west Nick feed, so I'm watching it right now! I'm avoiding the rest of this thread until I've seen it all.

YES! I totally called it that the opening sequence was the training scene.

[Brandatello]

anybody find it odd that they had the story centered around the kra'ang not shredder? it just seems to me that most first stories revolve more around shredder.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Originally Posted by Brandatello

anybody find it odd that they had the story centered around the kra'ang not shredder? it just seems to me that most first stories revolve more around shredder.

Shredder wasn't the main focus in the first few eps of the 2003 series either - Baxter Stockman was - but they got to focusing on Saki eventually.

[TurtleTitan97]

Originally Posted by Brandatello

anybody find it odd that they had the story centered around the kra'ang not shredder? it just seems to me that most first stories revolve more around shredder.

Not really, no.

[Brandatello]

true. very true. but all in all I really liked how they introduced shredder. My buddy doesn't think his voice fits, but I like it I found it menacing but not as menacing as the 2k3 shredder. What are your thoughts?

[Gyt Kaliba]

Not to nitpick, but doesn't it seem odd that Raph, Mikey, and Donnie were all kinda 'ehhh' over the usual food of worms and algae, only for Raph's comment later of 'I never thought I'd taste anything better than that' to pop up? Or was it less 'Ugh, this actually tastes nasty' and more 'What, THIS again?'

I'm loving the fighting in their first fight with the Kraang so far, I've never thought about their weapons getting all tangled together before, it's a nice touch to show them as being kind of new to this instead of being masters already.

'...Did you just slap me?'
'I was trying to calm you down.'
'HOW WOULD THAT CALM ME DOWN!'

HA!

[KROW]

Saw it, loved it, and look forward to the next one.

I'm not going to analyze or pick at certain things; I've seen plenty of TMNT incarnations and it'll be interesting to see where this one goes.

[Raph's Girl]

Ok! Part 2 has been seen! WOOT!! Loved every minute of it!!

I have come to the conclusion that the Kraang learned how to talk from watching Powerpuff Girls. Seriously. They all sound like Mojo Jojo.

Ok so Splinter's daughter was Miwa...who is Shredder's adopted daughter (or was in the original bio... perhaps she's Karai now?).

Nice that April still has family in the city. Wonder what happened to her mom? At least she has her aunt.

[CyberCubed]

I'm amazed as to how spot-on the Turtles personalities were. They were all true to their roots while adding new aspects to them, (like Leo wanting to be a hero, Donatello's crush, Mike's sillyness), which is all welcome.

Seriously, even April felt exactly like April even though she was only 16.

[Zachatello00]

Well Kraang, I was happy that all 4 turtles seemed to get a good amount of attention, and initial character development seemed good also. I thought overall this was a very good first impression, Kraang.

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

I just saw the two parter on Nick and I loved it. Though I honestly feel like it's the first time they made Mikey a bit too stupid and silly. I mean I know he has the voice but he doesn't need to be Beast Boy.

Originally Posted by HerpDerp

Scumbag Splinter:
Warns sons not to use "filthy" public restrooms
Keeps them in a sewer for 15 years

I lol'd

[Gyt Kaliba]

Just finished watching it as well, and overall I think I'm gonna love this show - though that's not much of a surprise really.

The humor and action both seem to be really on par, like everyone else has already said. The comedy really did seem funny instead of just trying too hard, which was nice. And as far as the action goes, I'm surprised by the beating Snakeweed took, it was more than I expected in a way, so that works for me.

All of the characters seem spot on too. I'm having a tough time deciding who I like better between Mikey and Donnie so far; I'm leaning towards Mikey at the moment but Donnie could take the top spot with the him and April thing.

Astin and Biggs are both pretty good as Leo and Raph too, though I could also deal with other people playing the roles if it came to it eventually (though actor inconsistency bugs the hell out of me - I dunno how I'll survive that in the OT when I get it all eventually). I forget his name, but the guy playing Splinter sounds good too. Whitman sounds a lot better as April in-episode than she did in the one clip we'd gotten before, which is nice.

Oh yeah, speaking of April...I'd heard something about some kind of 'twist' that was surprising. Was that just someone trying to spread a rumor during the hype, or did I blink and miss it or something?

Oh, and I'm still not really sure I'm feeling Richardson as Shredder. Don't get me wrong, KMR is an amazing actor, and I'm sure I'll be pleased with where it goes...but it just seems too much of an obvious casting, or something.

The soundtrack is great too. There was this one repeated beat while they were all going to jump on top of the van, I think, that I really liked. I doubt it but I'd love if they released some MP3s of the BGM as well as the opening.

The only major flaw to the show is the CG. Don't get me wrong, I know it's only TV budget CG, but I'm kind of 'eh' on CG anyway. I'm much more of a fan of traditional or digital animation. But, the CG is flowing pretty well, so I think I can get past my initial distaste and just enjoy the show for what it is beyond that - another great take on the Turtles mythos.

Can't wait to see where this goes next!

[DarkLightDragon]

^Pretty much my sentiments on the show too since I have yet to bring up my thoughts on the premiere today without repeating with what's already been said.

And FYI, Gyt Kaliba, Hoon Lee is the voice of Splinter.

[Tomoshibi Amatsu]

It's like I feel the nostalgia of the 80s cartoon mixed with the good writing of the 2K3 cartoon.

I just wish they had gotten James Earl Jones to play shredder again, or at least the one who played 80s Shredder in Turtles Forever.

[XERO]

Missed the first 3 minutes of it, but I dug what I saw. Normally I would rant about the changes as well, but then I realize, I'm not 18 anymore.

Hell, even the first episode of the 2003 Cartoon was titled Things Change. Pretty much the creed for every cartoon incarnation of TMNT. If they are ever still around in about 15 years, it's gonna be the same thing. It's like being a wrestler; you gotta keep your gimmick fresh and original, but not backing away from what made you who you are in the first place. There's nothing wrong with a few tweaks every now and then.

I look forward to the next episode.

Originally Posted by Tomoshibi Amatsu

I just wish they had gotten James Earl Jones to play shredder again, or at least the one who played 80s Shredder in Turtles Forever.

Er... come again? Don't you mean James Avery?

Haha, you got Uncle Phil mixed with Mufasa, yo.

[Anarchistguy]

Originally Posted by Tomoshibi Amatsu

It's like I feel the nostalgia of the 80s cartoon mixed with the good writing of the 2K3 cartoon.

I just wish they had gotten James Earl Jones to play shredder again, or at least the one who played 80s Shredder in Turtles Forever.

James Avery played Shredder in the 80s toon.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by Tomoshibi Amatsu

I just wish they had gotten James Earl Jones to play shredder again, or at least the one who played 80s Shredder in Turtles Forever.

What.

James Earl Jones has never voiced Shredder.