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

[gobo]

Just watched it. The silliness of it was pretty overwhelming. Hopefully they'll lighten up on that in the future. Otherwise, I thought it was pretty cool.

[Jester]

Something just dawned on me. If the Kraang think that "The Turtles must be eliminated from all places" then do you think we'll see one thing that was never really explored in the FW series: How Shredder and Krang teamed up. I mean if Shredder can help the Kraang to eliminate the ones who are dangerous to their plans in this place, then they may make an alliance with the one called Shredder to help eliminate them from this place and all other places....ok...it's getting old.

Originally Posted by RIP, gobo

Just watched it. The silliness of it was pretty overwhelming. Hopefully they'll lighten up on that in the future. Otherwise, I thought it was pretty cool.

I can't be alone is seeing the incredible irony of this statement....

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Jester

Something just dawned on me. If the Kraang think that "The Turtles must be eliminated from all places" then do you think we'll see one thing that was never really explored in the FW series: How Shredder and Krang teamed up.

I think that's something that'll happen in the Nick toon and the IDW comic: at first Shredder and Krang are rivals of a sort, but share a common enemy in the Turtles. At a certain point and after a certain number of losses, they'll team up and it'll be like a big thing. Or something.

[Jester]

well, I've always been more of a Mikey, despite my dislike for the character in certain bits of the franchise, so it may not have been as clear to me.
Pointalism Review of Part 2:

Spoiler:

*Mikey wants to drink the ooze to become a super mutant...but does this ooze even work that way? I mean...they don't explain how Splinter becomes a rat, the turtles just bigger, humanoid Turtles, and Snake (later) becomes a....weed.
*"WHY WON'T THIS THING COME OFF!"
*Is that Solid Snake?
*Raph sounds like a toned down 4Kids Raph with his ripping Mikey.
*Taking the scientists out of the city....maybe to THE TECHNODROME!?
*Ok, yeah Mikey's letting Snake escape was kinda weak. But then again it sets up Leo's "master plan" so maybe it's a win-win.
*"Oh great, we let him get away..." ACTING!!!
*Raph pouring his heart out to Spike was sweet.
*I wonder if we'll get any Yoshi and Saki: Buddy Ninjas flashbacks....I really can't wait to see the Saki/Yoshi/Shen story fleshed out.
*April's plan was not a bad idea...but these aren't any mere human thugs.
*"Kraang, are those who are coming to this place, coming to this place..." Yeah, I can understand Snake's frustration...
*Oh, look...I just noticed the very obvious weeds growing up from the cracks in the road at the place which Snake wishes the Kraang would call "here"...
*These human mutations look painful, but why did Splinter's mutation seem more...well...not monsterous?
*Ok, Mikey that plan isn't THAT hard to follow.
*You're not a bone head, Mikey...just a little childish.
*Donnie more working and less fawning.
*Using the arm to bar the door...not that gruesome, really people.
*Snake Weed however...a bit gruesome. I mean, I can see his bones and muscles. Wonder if that'll be part of the figure.
*Raph's "Let it go, man." line made me chuckle both times I heard it.
*Donatello: Action Hero! GET TO DUH CHOPPA!!!
*Beating the baddies by being a kid...unique. All though Leo's fanny slap was a bit much.
*We get it, the Kraang really like the word "place".
*So April's staying with Aunt Agatha and Uncle Auggie?
*Not sure what to make of the Donnie crush on April...kind weird.
*"You asked..." No right or wrong, only choices. "You could have chose Mikey?" "No, that would have been wrong..." Poor Mikey, but funny....funny.
*Hey a Hispanic, Asian, Irish, African Newscaster voiced by Jim Meskimen.
*Shredder has great cable service...and some wicked scars. Maybe you should get that looked at. Maybe some ointment...
*So Shredder's helmet is more functional than anything...kinda a Dr. Doom motif.

[DTBlack]

Where to begin...

I really dislike the way Leo was handled. Him losing to Raph and being made leader only because he asked rubbed me the wrong way. Also the fact that he was content with NOT helping April and her father just because Splinter said to stay in the shadows seemed very unheroic, especially for the guy who's going to become the leader.

Speaking of April, I do not like being a teen. I also do not like this weird crush Don has on her. If it was Mikey maybe it wouldn't bother me as much, but it seems like an odd trait for Don to have.

Speaking of Don, I REALLY wish they got someone else to voice him. It's WAY too distracting for me hearing the old toon's Raph voicing the new toon's Don. If Paulson was doing a completely different voice maybe it'd be okay, but all I'm hearing is 87 Raph whenever Don speaks. To new audiences this won't be an issue, but how could they not think it would be a distraction for anyone who watched the original toon?

Speaking of the original toon, I'm disappointed that they went that route with Splinter, as I much prefer him being a rat originally. I also really dislike the design they went with for him.

So what DID I like?

I really liked the theme song. I liked how it used elements from the original theme, while still being its own thing. While I'm not generally a fan of rap, I think it fits well when it comes to TMNT. Maybe it's the fact that rap was pretty prominent in the first two films that has shaped my opinion, but either way I like the theme a lot.

I also liked that they actually used their weapons! Hopefully this remains consistent. The action in general seemed well done, and it was interesting how the turtles would go white eyed while fighting.

I also thought the animation was surprisingly good. I was expecting cheap/crappy looking CGI, but I had no complaints. I also didn't find myself distracted by the third toe or hand/foot wraps either, though Donny's tooth will take some getting used to.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by DTBlack

I really dislike the way Leo was handled. Him losing to Raph and being made leader only because he asked rubbed me the wrong way. Also the fact that he was content with NOT helping April and her father just because Splinter said to stay in the shadows seemed very unheroic, especially for the guy who's going to become the leader.

So you dislike the fact that Leo is portrayed more realistically than ever before, not being overly competent and right?

Speaking of April, I do not like being a teen. I also do not like this weird crush Don has on her. If it was Mikey maybe it wouldn't bother me as much, but it seems like an odd trait for Don to have.

With the Turtles being portrayed as younger than before, April being a teen makes a lot of sense.

Seeing a 30 year old woman interacting with 15 year olds would be dumb. It only worked in Mirage, 4kids, OT because the Turtles never acted like teens in them.

Speaking of the original toon, I'm disappointed that they went that route with Splinter, as I much prefer him being a rat originally. I also really dislike the design they went with for him.

Splinter's design overall is fine. And going back to the human origin for him makes sense in the context of the show since he has a human daughter.

[Xav]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Seeing a 30 year old woman interacting with 15 year olds would be dumb. It only worked in Mirage, 4kids, OT because the Turtles never acted like teens in them.

April was in her 20's in those versions.

[Cure]

Still weird.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Xav

April was in her 20's in those versions.

April was only 23 in 4kids and in IDW she's a College student.

There's obviously a clear attempt to make April younger and younger in each new incarnation to get her close to the Turtles age.

[TheCollector]

I gotta say, I am so happy they made Shredder so menacing. Cause he really is, you can tell just from those few seconds he was on screen.

Back when they said this show would be similar to the 80's cartoon in some aspects I was worried they would reduce the Shredder to an utter goof like he was in that, so glad they didn't.

And interesting to note, as far as I know this is the first ever bald Shredder.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

With the Turtles being portrayed as younger than before, April being a teen makes a lot of sense.

Actually, in the 4Kids series the turtles started out as 15 too. But they acted a bit old for their age.

[CyberCubed]

The difference is the Turtles never acted like real teenagers in the shows.

They always felt like 20 year olds all living in the same dorm or something.

[DTBlack]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

So you dislike the fact that Leo is portrayed more realistically than ever before, not being overly competent and right?

You can call it more "realistic" if you like, but Leo doesn't seem like Leo to me. Don is overly intelligent, Raph is overly rebellious, and Mikey is overly fun loving. Being "overly competent" is Leo's thing because he's the most disciplined. He seems no more fit to lead the team than Don or Raph in this incarnation. If anything I'd argue he's less fit to lead than they are what with being content not rescuing innocent people in trouble and all.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

With the Turtles being portrayed as younger than before, April being a teen makes a lot of sense.

Seeing a 30 year old woman interacting with 15 year olds would be dumb. It only worked in Mirage, 4kids, OT because the Turtles never acted like teens in them.

I don't really get a sense that the turtles act much younger than they previously have. Maybe Michelangelo, but he's always immature. April could have been made younger, but being 16 is a bit much for me. You may be fine with it, but when they go and change something that's always been a certain way it's not going to sit well with everyone.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Splinter's design overall is fine. And going back to the human origin for him makes sense in the context of the show since he has a human daughter.

In your opinion. I don't like it. It's the only time I've ever had a problem with the way Splinter looked. And they could have just as easily had the daughter be Yoshi's daughter, who Splinter feels a responsibility for since Yoshi is dead.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by DTBlack

You can call it more "realistic" if you like, but Leo doesn't seem like Leo to me. Don is overly intelligent, Raph is overly rebellious, and Mikey is overly fun loving. Being "overly competent" is Leo's thing because he's the most disciplined. He seems no more fit to lead the team than Don or Raph in this incarnation. If anything I'd argue he's less fit to lead than they are what with being content not rescuing innocent people in trouble and all.

Leonardo becomes a bland character when he's shown to be too perfect. What Nick is doing with him is showing him be inexperienced and then grow into a leader.

It's the same reason the OT made Leonardo scared of snakes and 4kids made him go angry for a while, nobody wants to see bland one-dimensional Leo.

I don't really get a sense that the turtles act much younger than they previously have. Maybe Michelangelo, but he's always immature. April could have been made younger, but being 16 is a bit much for me. You may be fine with it, but when they go and change something that's always been a certain way it's not going to sit well with everyone.

The Turtles actually feel like real 15 year olds for the first time. I don't know if you remember when you were 15 or not, but we were all pretty immature and basically kids. The Turtles should act like kids, not College students like they usually act like.

It's the only time I've ever had a problem with the way Splinter looked. And they could have just as easily had the daughter be Yoshi's daughter, who Splinter feels a responsibility for since Yoshi is dead.

The human origin for Splinter worked well in the past, what's wrong with trying it again?

[Powder]

Originally Posted by RIP, gobo

Just watched it. The silliness of it was pretty overwhelming. Hopefully they'll lighten up on that in the future. Otherwise, I thought it was pretty cool.

You're totally entitled to your opinion, but this statement is not only ironic but like, dude, it's a kids show. What do you expect?

[Jester]

I actually prefer the Hamato Yoshi IS Splinter origin better, if only because it gives the Saki/Yoshi rivalry a bit more of an edge.

I think this is our first bald Shredder...but it's totally the scars...

[Xav]

Originally Posted by Powder

You're totally entitled to your opinion, but this statement is not only ironic but like, dude, it's a kids show. What do you expect?

The 2003 series was a kids show as well.

[sdp]

Watched it and it was pretty good.

Somethings I liked:
The CG/The backgrounds/the 2d animated storyboards
The humor, it's also great that it's not as over the top with the anime expressions like in Teen Titans
No eyelids in action scenes, this is what I've wanted for a long time a hybrid, it looked odd in these two episodes but I'm sure it'll look better later.
The familiar yet slightly different origins to the characters


Somethings I didn't like:
The humans, and I'm a fan of the CG humans in TMNT 2007.
I don't like April yet but hopefully she becomes an interesting character
Splinter only looks good in close shots, he looks weird when zoomed out.
Snakeweed, god I really hope it isn't a mutant of the week and that they're more interesting/original.
Bald Shredder looks terrible and he is too over the top with the giant spikes but I liked his origin.

Overall I liked it, I wasn't too hyped and while it didn't get me crazy for the show I enjoyed it and didn't dislike it or were indifferent about it. I really enjoyed that this wasn't the OT and it wasn't 2k3 and it wasn't some terrible kid version of the turtles, it's a new take and I like it a lot. Watching it made me wonder though that it's going to need a lot more to stand out, the ot has a certain charm and nostalgia and TMNT 2k3 had some great action and stories, it's starting out in the right path but I hope it'll be able to keep standing out as it's own thing. I'd also love to see some fight scenes that rival and even outdo 2k3.

[Vegeta]

Having a main character have a rapid crush on a secondary female character isin't sexist. Standard practice for cartoons. There was so much happening in these first two episodes, april will be developed more in future episodes. Don't worry about it. However, I'll always prefer april being a little older than the turtles. I like the big sister vibe for april more so than the teen friend. Well see.

[Vegeta]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I'm not certain that's a rational post.

Over here we have the Mirage/4Kids (and to a lesser degree even the movie ooze) ooze... its rules are simple: it hyper-evolves animals into generally humanoid and sentient stature.

That's it.

Over there we have the Fred Wolf/Nickelodeon mutagen... it's rules are nonsense: after exposure to it, the creature or animal exposed mutates into a hybrid of whatever the last living thing it touched was.

Which is nonsense. There is no "cellular memory" on a genetic level if I'm trimming my jade plant. And right now we're full of living organisms... if I'm exposed to Fred Wolf/Nick ooze right now and the last living thing I touched was a dandelion, why would I become Dandelion Man and not, say, amoeba man? Or if I had the flu virus, Flu Man?

It's just a nonsense, nonsense mutagen that doesn't hold up to even the slightest level of scrutiny and was only invented to crank out a steady supply of mutant toys for Playmates.

The entire premise of tmnt is nonsense. It is a cartoon on nick. Lighten up.