Alan Ritchson talks about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

*TigerClaw* · 11-23-2013, 04:13 PM

Alan Ritchson who plays Raphael in the new TMNT movie talks a bit about the new movie in an interview he did for thebacklot.com right here.

Here's the TMNT part of the interview.

Quote:

TBL: What about with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

AR: I actually didn’t read any of the comic books– and I really hope I don’t offend anyone saying that– but for me, I think we all know who Raphael is. He’s known as the angry hothead of the group. He is quick tempered and is quick to act. He is less thoughtful of people’s feelings and emotions and consequences. That’s something I can relate to as a person. I am very quick to act, like, ‘okay, decision’s made, let’s go for it.’

So I can relate to him in that sense, but I think just zoning in on who that guy is and then understanding the back story… how these guys were formed in the context of our story and where they came from, and the feelings of abandonment or betrayal. All those very real human feelings are something that are contained within that world, and I think we did a good job of creating a setting and a foundation for that.

So I had everything that I needed to create that character there. So I didn’t actually rely so heavily on somebody else’s perspective of Raphael twenty years ago, which to be honest like many of the cartoons like, this dude is smiling a lot. You know, they all look the same and there is so a much greater level of like, individual personality in this new reboot, you know that we haven’t seen before. So there wasn’t a lot for me to relate to, but I don’t know if people will understand where I am coming from, maybe until they see it, I don’t know.

I think as far as Ninja Turtles, I played a comic book hero [Aquaman] before, so I had some experience with trying to bring a character like that to life. It’s challenging because a comic book can span decades and there is an infinite number of authors to go to. The source material changes and these characters’ identities change. We still see it every day, like Superman is gay now in comic book nine hundred and eighty one, it’s like ‘okay well, that’s different then than the guy that started out in number one.’

*Slade* · 11-23-2013, 04:28 PM

I don't know if I like anything he said.

**Jester** · 11-23-2013, 04:38 PM

More "bad" to add to the stew that is this flick....

*chrisdude* · 11-23-2013, 05:04 PM

I get what he's saying. TMNT, like all big comic properties, has been reinterpreted so many times, I can see why he wouldn't choose to reference them. We all know what Raph's about. I doubt Ritchson will take the character to some new extreme, when he pretty much summed up overlap of Raph interpretations in two sentences.

What's wrong with a fresh take? It's not the only way to go, but it's a reasonable one.

*Galactus* · 11-23-2013, 05:08 PM

Wasn't he the one that claimed to be a fan when commenting on the negative fan and general public reaction?

This is obviously more honest and I've said it before that these actors don't know jack about the franchise beyond some vague recollections of the Fred Wolf show so these differences such as given the turtles very distinct personalities from each other are only different to what they remember.

It's obviously complete nonsense to most of these people so it's unsurprising they are not looking deeper which is sad but par of the course really.

*CyberCubed* · 11-23-2013, 05:48 PM

LOL I bet nobody making the new movie read any of the comics.

They probably used google to find out the basic plot of TMNT and the characters personalities from Wikipedia and went from there.

*The Stryker* · 11-23-2013, 05:49 PM

Anybody expecting every actor cast in the movie to also be a huge fan is fooling themselves.

Everyone creams themselves over Ledger's Joker and he admitted that he barely touched the comics they gave him. Whaaaaatever.

*Shark_Blade* · 11-23-2013, 05:50 PM

Superman is gay?

*The Stryker* · 11-23-2013, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

Superman is gay?

He was giving an example of how characters are different depending on who's writing them and when.

Superman was a Horse once.

*CyberCubed* · 11-23-2013, 05:53 PM

The difference is the people writing the Nick cartoon and IDW comic actually know the franchises hence the characters, references and storylines all being familiar to the fandom.

The people making this movie don't seem to have a clue of what TMNT even is.

*BabyTurtles* · 11-23-2013, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

Superman is gay?

IDK probably in some alternate universe....one of those "earths" I know he was a girl once....

I think he's with WonderWoman right now.

TheMasterTurtle · 11-23-2013, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

LOL I bet nobody making the new movie read any of the comics.

wait... the turtle started as a comic?

ironman29758 · 11-23-2013, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

Superman is gay?

No like other posters said he was making an example (if you don't count the silver-bronze age bromance between Batman and Superman)

Honestly Alan isn't the first actor to admit being a big reader of comics but yeah I expect to do at least some research on the character he's playing ( watch him play Aquaman on Smallville I feel he did a fairly decent job and was pretty enjoyable as Aquaman but I feel Justin Hartley did a better job in the Aquaman tv show pilot), his Thad Castle character is pretty funny and I might (and that is a big might) I'll watch Bunger Games but I'll wait for some trailers and clips to get an inkly of how his Raphael might be and if I'll enjoy it or not.

ironman29758 · 11-23-2013, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMasterTurtle

wait... the turtle started as a comic?

Really?!! Get out of town!

**Jester** · 11-23-2013, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironman29758

I'll watch Bunger Games but I'll wait for some trailers and clips to get an inkly of how his Raphael might be and if I'll enjoy it or not.

Wait...there's another parody of the Hunger Games. Just watched the Starving Games last night...it was awful!

Michelangelo · 11-23-2013, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

Superman is gay?

Dear lord let there never be gay TMNTs.
Donny in love with Casey???
Never...

*Slade* · 11-23-2013, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michelangelo

Dear lord let there never be gay TMNTs.
Donny in love with Casey???
Never...

Please don't open that can of worms.

ironman29758 · 11-23-2013, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

Wait...there's another parody of the Hunger Games. Just watched the Starving Games last night...it was awful!

Wow. Sorry. You can sleep well, because that was a typo. well that's what I get for typing on my phone. But I'll check Starving Games out. How bad is it?

N

*TrickOrTreater* · 11-24-2013, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Stryker

Anybody expecting every actor cast in the movie to also be a huge fan is fooling themselves.

Everyone creams themselves over Ledger's Joker and he admitted that he barely touched the comics they gave him. Whaaaaatever.

Except Ledger DID read comic books relevant to Joker and the story Nolan was telling.

http://www.salon.com/2013/05/31/expl..._as_the_joker/

Not to mention doing so and locking himself in a hotel room for a month preparing for the role, keeping a Joker journal with clippings of comic book Joker in it(as well as Hyenas and pictures of Alex DeLarge from Clockwork Orange).

So Heath did a sight of a lot more than this guy apparently did.

*TrickOrTreater* · 11-24-2013, 01:15 AM

Anyway, this is something that worries me:

"how these guys were formed in the context of our story and where they came from, and the feelings of abandonment or betrayal."

Where they came from? They're mutated earth turtles.

Makes me think of the "aliens from dimension X" thing they were trying for before.

11-23-2013, 04:28 PM	#2
Slade god status Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Louisiana Posts: 3,291	I don't know if I like anything he said. __________________ Do not concern yourself with what I've already done: rather tremble at the thought of what I am about to do. Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=48140

11-23-2013, 04:38 PM	#3
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,293	More "bad" to add to the stew that is this flick.... __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

11-23-2013, 05:04 PM	#4
chrisdude Foot Elite Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,708	I get what he's saying. TMNT, like all big comic properties, has been reinterpreted so many times, I can see why he wouldn't choose to reference them. We all know what Raph's about. I doubt Ritchson will take the character to some new extreme, when he pretty much summed up overlap of Raph interpretations in two sentences. What's wrong with a fresh take? It's not the only way to go, but it's a reasonable one. __________________ PSN/Miiverse: MikeFarber

11-23-2013, 05:49 PM	#7
The Stryker Stupid Rich Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Room 237 Posts: 11,152	Anybody expecting every actor cast in the movie to also be a huge fan is fooling themselves. Everyone creams themselves over Ledger's Joker and he admitted that he barely touched the comics they gave him. Whaaaaatever. __________________ @~<3 Mom~@

11-23-2013, 05:08 PM	#5
Galactus Foot Elite Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,008	Wasn't he the one that claimed to be a fan when commenting on the negative fan and general public reaction? This is obviously more honest and I've said it before that these actors don't know jack about the franchise beyond some vague recollections of the Fred Wolf show so these differences such as given the turtles very distinct personalities from each other are only different to what they remember. It's obviously complete nonsense to most of these people so it's unsurprising they are not looking deeper which is sad but par of the course really.

11-23-2013, 05:48 PM	#6
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,694	LOL I bet nobody making the new movie read any of the comics. They probably used google to find out the basic plot of TMNT and the characters personalities from Wikipedia and went from there.

11-23-2013, 05:50 PM	#8
Shark_Blade Emperor Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 7,909	Superman is gay?

11-23-2013, 05:53 PM	#10
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,694	The difference is the people writing the Nick cartoon and IDW comic actually know the franchises hence the characters, references and storylines all being familiar to the fandom. The people making this movie don't seem to have a clue of what TMNT even is.