Are the 2014 designs good or bad?

[Sighphi]

Bad, Raph and Leo look like they belong in a Conan movie and Don being the nerd has glasses and he is skinny. This is just horrible stereotyping for kids that want to grow up to be mutant turtles. Mike seems to look the most standard but i cant excuse one of the mess of the others.

[Commenter 42]

On a side note, I do think the designs are all we could have expected. The designer, while having possibly one of the more coveted design jobs at the moment (given the opportunity to re-imagine the TMNT, a job loads of artists wanted), I think did a good job of bridging all expectations. I can't imagine it was easy, or even fun, to have the responsibility of pleasing so many different people in one go.

I'll stand by my earlier statement, that it does look like a hodgepodge, and design by committee, but with Nick sales doing 500 mil in it's first year, the franchise having 25 years of variations, the film being a summer tentpole, with two years of bad press...

I think, while it's really not my cup of tea, the fact that even here, there are more good than bad votes is an accomplishment.

[rickwj324]

Originally Posted by Raph_tha_Dude

Bad. I'm actually surprised at the love the designs are getting on this site. Figured most everybody would hate them

What he said!

[turtlefanforever]

[QUOTE=slingtheory;1205703] Plus it all seems to be samurai influenced for some reason even though they’re NINJA turtles.
[QUOTE=slingtheory;1205703]


Exactly! I've been stressing this fact but people keep saying on it expresses his personalities. Actually looks like ninja turtles. It just makes them sound so stupid! They're the EXACT OPPOSITES!

Originally Posted by slingtheory

nothing against you but I think that might be the most dangerous attitude a fan can have. as people who spend our hard earned money to support something we love I think we deserve a level of care, quality, and genuine effort in what's put out for us. being willing to take any half baked crap being thrown at you as long as it keeps the franchise around just sends the message that you'll buy anything so why bother trying to make anything good.

yes, this attitude is very toxic and I'm glad there's so many life long Fans in the world. And on this site that have the right attitude about this!

[DarkLightDragon]

This thread is going so well.

All I'm reading here from most people who do like the designs is that it's okay to complain about people who complain about or happen to not like the designs. Hypocrisy at it's finest.

I just don't like them. That's it. Could've been worse, but hardly anything to sway me over about this movie. So excuse me for not coming as intelligent or rational, since apparently that's a rarity on this site now, when I'd rather be honest than have to kiss-up and accept anything with the Turtle's faces on them.

Peace out and p**s off.

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by DarkLightDragon

This thread is going so well.

All I'm reading here from most people who do like the designs is that it's okay to complain about people who complain about or happen to not like the designs. Hypocrisy at it's finest.

I just don't like them. That's it. Could've been worse, but hardly anything to sway me over about this movie. So excuse me for not coming as intelligent or rational, since apparently that's a rarity on this site now, when I'd rather be honest than have to kiss-up and accept anything with the Turtle's faces on them.

Peace out and p**s off.

Well said.

[shuriken]

I don't have a problem with how they look themselves. It could be MUCH worse. The only thing is I hate their accesories. I feel really meh about it all but...good?

[turtlefanforever]

Originally Posted by slingtheory

Plus it all seems to be samurai influenced for some reason even though they’re NINJA turtles.

Exactly! Not Samaria

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

I love it that some jackass implies people only hates on the designs because of the people working on the movie.

Yeah it's such a pathetic excuse.

Originally Posted by snake

Please explain this "terrible product" to me.

You have 39 episodes to choose from kid.

Originally Posted by Commenter 42

How could ANY fan say they look good?
If they weren't holding their respective weapons, and wearing bandanas, you'd never suspect they were meant to be ninja turtles.

Exactly and we have idiots saying their faces actually look like turtles and when we inform them ninjas and Samaria are the exact opposite and they look like the actors they switch over to, it's cause of the directors and cause they're mutants! And more whiney BS. Haha I just wanna give EM a binky

Originally Posted by FellowChucker

"They look like frogs"
"They look like 1998 Godzilla"
"OMG teh nostrils"
"He looks like Gollum"

Even if you'd consider them over designed, they're clearly 2014 version of Teenage MUTANT Ninja Turtles.

They do, and they're certainly mutant but take away the weapons and bandanas you'd have no idea wtf they were! Especially if you didn't know of this movie. And what do you mean they're clearly the 2014 version? That has been confirmed, wtf else would they be? Can you say anything that represents a logical thought? Damn man. I'm just baffled by the amount of idiotic excuses you come up with and the sentences you put together. And you're not even trolling you honestly think and believe these things! Wow.

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by FellowChucker

These guys had to separate their vision from what came before, at least aesthetically.

Sorry, why did they have to separate their vision from what came before?
Reminds me of the nasty changes to the x-men, or Brandon Routh Superman costume debate.

No, just no. It's this hyperbole that pisses me off. Change for the better is one thing, but change just because is stupid.

The hubris of this post is mind bending.

Here is another example of an "artist" who thought they could improve on the original

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Since there's no "meh" choice, I have to go with bad. I don't despise them, I just think that a lot more thought could have been put into it in terms of the clothing choices (still not sure why Don needs glasses).

[MrTMNT2012]

I love the designs.

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by FellowChucker

No, there is a purpose for the change. You didn't pick up what I was saying.

I understood exactly what you said, and countered with why I disagree.
Sure, the entire business model of Hollywood is to make changes for a whole host of reasons, primarily to do with copyright and trademark law, and claims to ownership. It was for these reasons that MOS was changed to have no red underwear, and the s shield was changed etc etc...

It's ownership over parts of the character that were held up in court as WB battled the Shuster/Siegel estates claim to the character.

But that isn't the case here.

Here it's, as I've said, hubris
It's this^

[turtlefanforever]

Originally Posted by Commenter 42

I understood exactly what you said, and countered with why I disagree.
Sure, the entire business model of Hollywood is to make changes for a whole host of reasons, primarily to do with copyright and trademark law, and claims to ownership. It was for these reasons that MOS was changed to have no red underwear, and the s shield was changed etc etc...

It's ownership over parts of the character that were held up in court as WB battled the Shuster/Siegel estates claim to the character.

But that isn't the case here.

Here it's, as I've said, hubrishttp://www.geekosystem.com/wp-conten.../Ecce-Homo.jpg
It's this^

He's just gonna keep repeating the same thing I'd stop now, before he starts to cry when he realizes he has no logic.

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by turtlefanforever

He's just gonna keep repeating the same thing I'd stop now, before he starts to cry when he realizes he has no logic.

True, there is no winning this argument, just like there's no accounting for taste!

[slingtheory]

Originally Posted by CatalaReturns

I was thinking about this thread last night while watching a couple episodes with my son and I just need to say that I'm a little surprised, and saddened, that there are so many turtle-verses out there and yet people feel the need to really hate on this new one.

Yep, that's how I'm looking at the movie: a totally different turtle-verse. I think that, in order to go into it with an open mind, that's really the only way you can do it. Much like how I treated the Spider-Man movies (hated with a passion), X-Men (liked the first two, not a big fan of the rest), Transformers (I liked Beast Wars as a kid, so I guess I can't have much of an opinion there), and Planet of the Apes (REALLY had to look at that as another artist's take, but it was delicious!).

Ya'll can laugh at me if you want, but I feel the different 'verses need to be treated the same way as if we ran into ourselves from a different 'verse: with compassion and understanding that different events bring about different traits in the same being.

that's how I'm coming at as well. just one of the many different worlds that make up the turtleverse. even though right now it doesn't appeal to me I've got no problem with it as its own alternate universe as long as that's what it stays. the problem is that if franchise movies make a good return corporate execs tend to mandate that other versions of the franchise copy from it to try to pull in the general audience who saw the movie. that's what i'm afraid of. as long as idw and the nick show get to keep doing their own thing i'm good

Originally Posted by FellowChucker

Probably the best, most sensible and intelligent post in this thread. Someone who is a hardcore fan, but is sensible enough to the overall essence of the franchise. Understanding re-invention, adaptation for a property to remain relevant or fresh.

These guys had to separate their vision from what came before, at least aesthetically. As a brand it makes sense. And the changes anyway aren't ridiculous enough to warrant such hate.

All the turtles have now is more defining physical characteristics, as well as personalized accessories or clothes. Big deal. Why are rivers being cried over this?

"They look like frogs"
"They look like 1998 Godzilla"
"OMG teh nostrils"
"He looks like Gollum"

All this bitching or moaning for no reason. Even if you'd consider them over designed, they're clearly 2014 version of Teenage MUTANT Ninja Turtles.

did really HAVE to. was this really necessary to grab peoples attention. its not like the franchise was dead and they're trying to resurrect it. the animated series is already popular. I work in retail and the turtle action figures sold out incredibly fast this Christmas. faster than any other action figure. that says a lot toward already having kids attention. the on going comic series is also doing great. so that's 2 separate versions with more or less "traditional" designs succeeding at the same time. why is there such a need to reinvent what's working right now

Originally Posted by FellowChucker

They'd look like giant mutant turtles. Just without the ninja part. Which any version would look like without their weapons or bandanas. Make sense dude ...

By 2014 version, I meant the propensity for re-invention for long time properties to modernize them, or in some cases over design them to get a point across. A lack of subtlety or nuance. Which is the only things these designs could be considered guilty of honestly.

They are clearly, identifiably ninja turtles. That's not excuse making, that's just the blatantly obvious. Insinuating otherwise is overcompensation for a personal disdain for the overdesigned, contemporary twists to these designs.

they look like mutant turtles I give you that but I don't see much ninja. hell if the gear they had was more like the dark leo suit from idw I think I might be onboard with this. you know just them having pouches and pockets for ninja stars and smoke bombs. dark colors to help them blend into the shadows armor that would actually protect them from attacks that kind of stuff. a lot of people call this a modernized take but I don't see it. what they did to mikey throws that out the window on its own. the guylooks more 90's than a saved by the bell episode. he reminds me of an action figure I had of a rapper version of him minus the four fingered ring and clock chain.

[VaughnMichael]

Put me down for a "Meh" as well I don't hate them like many do but there are quite a few flaws with the designs that I dislike.

[slingtheory]

Originally Posted by FellowChucker

No, there is a purpose for the change. You didn't pick up what I was saying.

As a brand, or re-boot of the same old story but in a new franchise package it makes total sense to distinguish the looks between the live action franchise of the 90's and the one for 2014. It makes sense from a business or marketing perspective.

Why didn't the Nolan Dark Knight trilogy just use the '89 suit because it worked so well on screen? It should've used it because if it isn't broke, don't fix it right?

What they did made perfect sense.

Brandon Routh's Superman, as well as that entire movie was a cluster fukk disaster that didn't know what it wanted to be. It was a loose sequel to the Donner movies, same continuity, but different look aesthetically. It's why audiences were so polarized about it. A sequel to movie that came out in '81, in 2006 for a contemporary audience? Dumb.

Man of Steel however? Total re-invention, changes for re-branding to fit a new adapted vision but still identifiably Superman. Changes to the X-Men? Their comic costumes from the comics would look cheesy as hell in live action.

As an example, see the literal translation of Captain America's costume in Avengers. Looked like a cheap Halloween costume.

in these cases though change was either needed or very minor. the 89 batsuit
and all the ones up the begins really were broke in way as it was heavy rubber that prevented the actor from even turning his head. so updating that to make it more comfortable was more than necessary.
problems with the concept of superman returns aside the only real change in the costume was the material used the and the S belt buckle.
same thing with man of steel. it's the traditional suit with out the red trunks and yellow belt. its not reinventing the wheel supes just doesn't wear his underwear on the outside anymore.
I didn't have much of a problem with the xmen wearing black not because their usual costumes would look cheesy but because it makes sense with the being a team. everybody wearing different colors with different designs and varying styles would probably look weird when standing next to each other. which kind of reminds me of something now that I think about it

[1984TMNT]

Count me in the "meh" group.....def things that are pretty good and horrible at the same time.

[MST3KFan]

Just going thru all these movie based threads I have to make an observation.

I love how the people defending these new looks for the turtles are bashing those that hate them and vice versa.

There is no 'even ground'. You either love it or hate it, but you can't be basically neutral.

However, if you love them, you're told you basically have no taste and aren't a true TMNT fan.

If you hate them, you're told you're too much of a nostalgia nerd (nicer way of saying it), or just hate Michael Bay and everything he touches.

People on both sides have presented good arguments for why they love or hate the designs and yet some seem to want to rile up the masses by claiming the same excuses mentioned above over and over again.

If someone loves the new movie looks, so be it. Same goes for those that hate it.
If you're indifferent to them, that should be fine as well.

Just some thoughts of mine.

[TerranigmaFreak]

It's puke-tastic.