Are you guys happy that the new film is getting a sequel?

[snake]

Honestly, not really. If its better then the first one, I'll probably enjoy it.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by chrisdude

I'll go ahead and agree with Anton, here. I'm 27, as well, and I've loved TMNT all my life. And I loved this movie, too.

Did the movie have plot issues? Absolutely. But we all understand that there was a massive patch job in the eleventh hour so, I don't see why we're still harping on it.

For me, it felt like being a kid again. The turtles' personalities, their banter, and the action - it all felt very much like the old cartoon. (Seriously, the subway fight, the downhill chase, meeting April on the roof. You can imagine those scenes in OT.) Not everyone would think that's most important for a great turtles movie, but I guess I do.

That doesn't make me a casual, or someone who doesn't remember his childhood. I'd rather have a turtles movie that's actually fun than (and I use this example a lot) a well-written Dark Knight that sacrifices the humor, fun and fantasy that I grew up with, in the name of being super cereal.

I feel like Batman and Robin just came out, and all the Burton fans are raging out, and there's that one Batman 66 fan saying, "What? This is everything I love."

I'd actually dare say Batman and Robin as a stand-alone film isn't all that bad, especially if you do consider it an updated Adam West Batman. It just fails hard as a sequel to what came before.

Did Batman suddenly suffer some bizzare mid-life crisis and think 'hmmm I'm too dark, I'll lighten it up a little bit'. Nostalgia Critic was spot-on with his review. 'The same Batman that was so paranoid over Vicki Vale snapping a few pics of him is now showing up at bachelor auction parties?'. And yeah... Keaton Batman wouldn't be using a 'Bat Credit Card' and this is supposed to be the same character here.

[Ramboraph4life aka Matt]

Folks uploaded all of the fights/action bits onto youtube, and they were rather lame. Especially for a big budget movie.

Like that subway fight ...you can't even tell anything that was going on. Epileptic lighting, random folks got thrown, and confusing editing (which Turtle threw the Foot upwards in order to smash into the lights up above? Who knows). It's cool if folks enjoy it, but I don't understand what's so great about that fight.

The only one people in general even remember/talk about is a downhill snow chase. So again, it's funny that a movie called Ninja Turtles has its' one 'Primary Action Scene' (that people remember) be a sequence that involves no Martial Arts and nothing 'Ninja' about it.

Even the fight with Shredder at the end was 'we get our ass kicked 97% of the time, and then do 2 or 3 things'. Let alone the 'Raph getting beat down by Shredder' and not even getting a couple of good hits in. You could still have Raph get beaten (and promote the idea that all 4 of them would need to get together to beat Shredder) And Still have Raph at least get A FEW good hits in (and no, he didn't. I just saw the scenes for myself on Youtube). So, no worthy/decent fights in a brand new/big budget Turtles film is a pretty big fail.

Plus they had this other sequence on youtube...and Wow, they even missed a great opportunity of having all 4 Turtles just going to town on the Foot before they get into the elevator scene. But instead, they just wave and run to the elevator. Because, hell, this new film could have taken a page from the 2007 CGI TMNT flick with their 'Turtles vs. The Foot' sequence.

And I hate to say it, but I will give credit to the 2007 film. Because honestly? That 'Foot vs. The Turtles' sequence, the Raph Vs. Leo fight, and the fight with the Stone Generals were better action sequences than Anything in this movie. It showed that they could actually fight, they didn't get their asses kicked 97% of the time, and it actually showed their Martial Arts skills

God forbid that they couldn't even get that portion right for the Turtles in this new flick, when I can see Well Done Fight Scenes with Expertly Crafted Choreography in low-budget/Direct to DVD Action films.

[Xiewin]

Not sure whether to blame Jonathan Liebesman or the screen writers for the lackluster fights, but I also thought that they were rather lame and poorly shot.

They looked utterly bland and cheap, which I assume had to be the directors fault.

[chrisdude]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

I'd actually dare say Batman and Robin as a stand-alone film isn't all that bad, especially if you do consider it an updated Adam West Batman. It just fails hard as a sequel to what came before.

Did Batman suddenly suffer some bizzare mid-life crisis and think 'hmmm I'm too dark, I'll lighten it up a little bit'. Nostalgia Critic was spot-on with his review. 'The same Batman that was so paranoid over Vicki Vale snapping a few pics of him is now showing up at bachelor auction parties?'. And yeah... Keaton Batman wouldn't be using a 'Bat Credit Card' and this is supposed to be the same character here.

This is something I've been debating about, internally, for some time. I've always been hard on sequels like Joel Schumacher's Batman films, Superman 3, Secret of the Ooze. But is it really fair to criticize a sequel for a change in tone or silliness? Even though there's a continuity there, is there an obligation to make sequels that feel like the original? Especially when there's a different director? I'm not sure.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by chrisdude

This is something I've been debating about, internally, for some time. I've always been hard on sequels like Joel Schumacher's Batman films, Superman 3, Secret of the Ooze. But is it really fair to criticize a sequel for a change in tone or silliness? Even though there's a continuity there, is there an obligation to make sequels that feel like the original? Especially when there's a different director? I'm not sure.

Yes, there is. Otherwise you make it into a reboot or something else. You can't grab a movie with an established character and personality and then have his story continue with a complete 180 of his character completely contradicting what we saw before with no rhyme or reason.

The Batman we saw in the Burton films is NOT the same dude we saw in the Schumacher films. Alternate actor aside, he's supposed to be the same character. The Batman we saw in the first two movies would not turn himself into a celebrity (as Batman) and turn into a smiling goof.

Sadly the TMNT kinda suffered the same thing in Secret of the Ooze. Personality wise they were pretty much the same, except for the bizzare decision to suddenly stop using their weapons (yeah, I know the real world reason, but what was the in-universe reason? at least have Splinter forbid them or whatever) the dancing in public at the Vanilla Ice concert clashed with how careful they're supposed to be about keeping from being seen. That and the sudden disappearance of Casey without any reason or mention.

But yeah to answer the question... if you choose to continue the work of someone else, then yes, it is your responsibility to continue the story and keep the characters in check. Imagine a Harry Potter sequel where Harry got all 'EXTREME!!!!1111' because a new director saw fit.

Originally Posted by Ramboraph4life aka Matt

Folks uploaded all of the fights/action bits onto youtube, and they were rather lame. Especially for a big budget movie.

Like that subway fight ...you can't even tell anything that was going on. Epileptic lighting, random folks got thrown, and confusing editing (which Turtle threw the Foot upwards in order to smash into the lights up above? Who knows). It's cool if folks enjoy it, but I don't understand what's so great about that fight.

The only one people in general even remember/talk about is a downhill snow chase. So again, it's funny that a movie called Ninja Turtles has its' one 'Primary Action Scene' (that people remember) be a sequence that involves no Martial Arts and nothing 'Ninja' about it.

Even the fight with Shredder at the end was 'we get our ass kicked 97% of the time, and then do 2 or 3 things'. Let alone the 'Raph getting beat down by Shredder' and not even getting a couple of good hits in. You could still have Raph get beaten (and promote the idea that all 4 of them would need to get together to beat Shredder) And Still have Raph at least get A FEW good hits in (and no, he didn't. I just saw the scenes for myself on Youtube). So, no worthy/decent fights in a brand new/big budget Turtles film is a pretty big fail.

Plus they had this other sequence on youtube...and Wow, they even missed a great opportunity of having all 4 Turtles just going to town on the Foot before they get into the elevator scene. But instead, they just wave and run to the elevator. Because, hell, this new film could have taken a page from the 2007 CGI TMNT flick with their 'Turtles vs. The Foot' sequence.

And I hate to say it, but I will give credit to the 2007 film. Because honestly? That 'Foot vs. The Turtles' sequence, the Raph Vs. Leo fight, and the fight with the Stone Generals were better action sequences than Anything in this movie. It showed that they could actually fight, they didn't get their asses kicked 97% of the time, and it actually showed their Martial Arts skills

God forbid that they couldn't even get that portion right for the Turtles in this new flick, when I can see Well Done Fight Scenes with Expertly Crafted Choreography in low-budget/Direct to DVD Action films.

I can at least excuse the subway scene cause you weren't supposed to see the turtles clearly on purpose. I think that was before April met them proper.

The rest I completely agree with. Plus, they weren't ninjas when it came to fighting. They were basically football players/hulks. All about overpowering. Ninja skills be damned. Honestly has Splinter predicted they would have grown to be so huge, he woulda skipped the martial arts all together and taught them basic street fighting... which is kinda what we saw anyway.

[slingtheory]

Originally Posted by chrisdude

I'll go ahead and agree with Anton, here. I'm 27, as well, and I've loved TMNT all my life. And I loved this movie, too.

Did the movie have plot issues? Absolutely. But we all understand that there was a massive patch job in the eleventh hour so, I don't see why we're still harping on it.

For me, it felt like being a kid again. The turtles' personalities, their banter, and the action - it all felt very much like the old cartoon. (Seriously, the subway fight, the downhill chase, meeting April on the roof. You can imagine those scenes in OT.) Not everyone would think that's most important for a great turtles movie, but I guess I do.

That doesn't make me a casual, or someone who doesn't remember his childhood. I'd rather have a turtles movie that's actually fun than (and I use this example a lot) a well-written Dark Knight that sacrifices the humor, fun and fantasy that I grew up with, in the name of being super cereal.

I feel like Batman and Robin just came out, and all the Burton fans are raging out, and there's that one Batman 66 fan saying, "What? This is everything I love."

I feel like that last sentence sums it up perfectly. Just like with batman and Robin it comes down to what type of fan you are and what you love about the characters in the first place. It's easy to see how someone who wanted a live action version of the original toon could be happy with the movie and there's nothing wrong with them feeling that way. It's just that some of us were hoping for something different. Im 28. I grew up with the old show and loved it. I watched it every day, but it's also something I grew out of and if i never found out there was a more mature side and older skewing material I probably wouldn't be as much of a fan as I am today. What I was hoping to get from a new movie was something a little more mature. Badass ninja treachery with some sci fi mixed in and some decent humor. Not necessarily completely dark and gritty but at least able to strike the same kind of balance we've been getting in other tmnt stuff lately. That being said i could probably deal with it better if my only problem was that it didnt fit my specific fan sensibility. It's the problems with the plot that bother me the most. 11th hour patch job just says to me that they either never had any idea what they were doing or not enough confidence to stick to their guns after they saw the backlash.

[Coola Yagami]

.... Except it wasn't like the cartoon. Sure they had April as a reporter and Vernon but hey April was a reporter in the old movie too and it was more mirage based than anything. Sure it had a homage here and there but it was nothing like the cartoon of yesteryear starting with the designs and everything. We barely saw any of the turtles to even know if they were based on the old cartoon other than cowabunga.

Sorry but batman and Robin had way more in common with the Adam West show than this one had with the 80s cartoon show. Sure a homage here and a reference there but very VERY far from it.

I'm also surprised by the amount of people acting all nostalgic over this movie when it's nothing like the old cartoon AND there is a new cartoon airing currently. It's not like the turtles have been gone for years.

And about the plot being changed last minute... It was for the better. People should stop bringing that up. Sachs being shredder was just a bad idea no matter how they try to justify it. People complain about the plot reshoot as if the original was closer to the comic/cartoon and the reshoot added mecha-shredder or something when it was the other way around. However this one cane out, the original script with shredsachs trying to 'make heroes' with the turtles is even worse and even further away from the general concept. Don't call it tmnt then if you don't want to make a tmnt movie.

[Ramboraph4life aka Matt]

I still laugh about that whole Kevin Eastman referencing 'The Raid: Redemption' when talking about the fights/action. Or the whole 'Fist of Legend/The Raid' that apparently the director 'shared/had in common' with Eastman on what they were going through (and yes, I know Eastman didn't have any say on it...but the fact he kept saying on how the director was mentioning it, and then he kept repeating that line of dialogue again & again...)

I wish someone would go up and ask him about that.

And you can even do it without being a douchebag about it, with a simple 'so, whatever happened to that? Was that changed at the last minute too?'

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Xiewin

Not sure whether to blame Jonathan Liebesman or the screen writers for the lackluster fights, but I also thought that they were rather lame and poorly shot.

They looked utterly bland and cheap, which I assume had to be the directors fault.

Have to agree. It's sad, when a 40 minute cartoon on Nick has more badass fights in it than a 125 million dollar, 100 minute movie! And, it managed to even get some emotional scenes thrown in and character development. In 40 minutes! Paramount and company just should have thrown Invasions parts one and two on the big screen, it would have saved them a lot of money!

[Newt]

I'm 32, grew up watching TMNT and I enjoyed the new movie, it could have been better for sure, but I really had a good time watching it. Much more than that, my 4 year old loved it. We are all looking forward to the sequel and the DVD release of the first one.

[samxsteal]

Originally Posted by Newt

I'm 32, grew up watching TMNT and I enjoyed the new movie, it could have been better for sure, but I really had a good time watching it. Much more than that, my 4 year old loved it. We are all looking forward to the sequel and the DVD release of the first one.

and this is what i keep hearing from all the parent i know who are also fans which is great

[RaphaelinSTL]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Have to agree. It's sad, when a 40 minute cartoon on Nick has more badass fights in it than a 125 million dollar, 100 minute movie! And, it managed to even get some emotional scenes thrown in and character development. In 40 minutes! Paramount and company just should have thrown Invasions parts one and two on the big screen, it would have saved them a lot of money!

This! My brother and I have just started catching up with the 2012 TMNT series and we were on the edge of our seats and giving each other high fives during some of the scenes. We didn't get that feeling whatsoever when we went to our advanced screening of the film and I remember just wanting the movie to be over as that final fight with Shredder was going down. It didn't feel meaningful or earned.

[Xiewin]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Have to agree. It's sad, when a 40 minute cartoon on Nick has more badass fights in it than a 125 million dollar, 100 minute movie! And, it managed to even get some emotional scenes thrown in and character development. In 40 minutes! Paramount and company just should have thrown Invasions parts one and two on the big screen, it would have saved them a lot of money!

And this is why Platinum Dunes shouldn't be allowed to make movies.

I've seen amateur fanfictions that have better story and dialogue.

[This_is_my_username]

Originally Posted by chrisdude

I'll go ahead and agree with Anton, here. I'm 27, as well, and I've loved TMNT all my life. And I loved this movie, too.

Did the movie have plot issues? Absolutely. But we all understand that there was a massive patch job in the eleventh hour so, I don't see why we're still harping on it.

For me, it felt like being a kid again. The turtles' personalities, their banter, and the action - it all felt very much like the old cartoon. (Seriously, the subway fight, the downhill chase, meeting April on the roof. You can imagine those scenes in OT.) Not everyone would think that's most important for a great turtles movie, but I guess I do.

That doesn't make me a casual, or someone who doesn't remember his childhood. I'd rather have a turtles movie that's actually fun than (and I use this example a lot) a well-written Dark Knight that sacrifices the humor, fun and fantasy that I grew up with, in the name of being super cereal.

I really like the way you described the experience. I felt the same.

I've been on a bad movie bad luck spree with a couple of movies that were a chore to finish, they were so disappointing. The characters were bland, the plots textbook formula, and I couldn't wait to finish them. (Or couldn't).

I did not feel that way about TMNT, even with the weak and formulaic plot. I felt an instant bond with all four turtles and their portrayals, and I had a great time whenever they were on screen. I really wanted to see these turtles develop, because I liked where things were going around the shaky story. The scene with the lair getting destroyed while Splinter/the brothers tried to defend themselves hit me big time. The little time they had to develop, they hooked me right away. I left the theater wanting and wishing I had more, more, MORE, instead of thanking the gods it had finally ended and I could put it behind me. Seriously, those four actors could have easily carried the movie with a simple plot. They almost did manage to carry a messy, saturated plot. I have since watched it again and I sit and look forward to the turtle scenes.

Just felt like putting some positives out there for four portrayals of TMNT that brought smiles (aka doofus grins) to at least one picky little fan. Considering some of my fandoms are experiencing tumbleweed syndrome at present, I am loving that TMNT is thriving in different media right now. It's a great time to be a fan.

[samxsteal]

Originally Posted by This_is_my_username

I really like the way you described the experience. I felt the same.

I've been on a bad movie bad luck spree with a couple of movies that were a chore to finish, they were so disappointing. The characters were bland, the plots textbook formula, and I couldn't wait to finish them. (Or couldn't).

I did not feel that way about TMNT, even with the weak and formulaic plot. I felt an instant bond with all four turtles and their portrayals, and I had a great time whenever they were on screen. I really wanted to see these turtles develop, because I liked where things were going around the shaky story. The scene with the lair getting destroyed while Splinter/the brothers tried to defend themselves hit me big time. The little time they had to develop, they hooked me right away. I left the theater wanting and wishing I had more, more, MORE, instead of thanking the gods it had finally ended and I could put it behind me. Seriously, those four actors could have easily carried the movie with a simple plot. They almost did manage to carry a messy, saturated plot. I have since watched it again and I sit and look forward to the turtle scenes.

Just felt like putting some positives out there for four portrayals of TMNT that brought smiles (aka doofus grins) to at least one picky little fan. Considering some of my fandoms are experiencing tumbleweed syndrome at present, I am loving that TMNT is thriving in different media right now. It's a great time to be a fan.

VERY Much agree man the the whole lair scene was epic and emotional and i loved it very much and i keep saying the actors are perfect as the turtles it could not have been better

[Xiewin]

Originally Posted by This_is_my_username

I felt an instant bond with all four turtles and their portrayals, and I had a great time whenever they were on screen. I really wanted to see these turtles develop, because I liked where things were going around the shaky story.

Same here. I really enjoyed these version of turtles, so props to the actors who portrayed them.

But the problem for me is that, I want them to be placed in a better movie.
Not only an improvement from the last, but an actual good movie.
But I feel like that's never going to happen considering that Platinum Dunes is in charge of it's production.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by Xiewin

Same here. I really enjoyed these version of turtles, so props to the actors who portrayed them.

But the problem for me is that, I want them to be placed in a better movie.
Not only an improvement from the last, but an actual good movie.
But I feel like that's never going to happen considering that Platinum Dunes is in charge of it's production.

Design wise or character wise? The designs need a LOT of work and character wise... We barely knew them. I felt the lair scene didn't mean as much cause we don't even know these guys. And then shredder and splinter somehow know each other? And then they capture the turtles for the mutagen blood and not splinter?? Just so much wrong in one scene.

Nostalgia is clouding your judgement. Most of your feels are coming from the turtles you've seen in past versions but this is a whole new universe and a whole new version and so far these turtles are nothing past a few one liners and Mikey's perving over April. It's like Raph apologizing for a bunch of crap we never got to see in the movie. Whatever we know of Raph in other incarnations DOES. NOT. COUNT. so whatever he's blubbering about loses all meaning and has no impact. At least in the first one we got to know the turtles and saw them interact with splinter a lot more before he was kidnapped. It was more emotional.

I honestly don't see how 'nostalgia' even plays a role in this. These are NOT the turtles you grew up with, or any other version for that matter. They're roid raged wannabes. In one example, when I saw the scene of Batman's debut in Batman Begins, now THAT'S nostalgia. Batman lurking in the shadows, picking off the bad guys one by one, the bad guys scared no knowing where he would strike next. THAT'S Batman. It's a 'new interpretation' because he was never like that in any movie before that. Burton's Batman tried, but he didn't capture the whole 'lurking in the shadows, where will he strike next' feel that this movie had, so this is the first time we've ever seen that kind of thing on the big screen. But THAT'S how Batman works, so this new interpretation works. This version of the TMNT on the other hand.... um... well they're green..... they have shells...? They got the names, colors and weapons right.... cept for Raph's doorag. That's barely enough for it to be anything close to nostalgic, unless it's been that long that you forgot what the turtles were like.

A sequel better give the turtles more screen time, down time and character moments so we can actually care about these characters.

[The Stryker]

Why do you insist on telling people how they feel and how they should really feel instead? Who are you to do ish like that?

That's really Uncool Yagami.

[Xiewin]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

Design wise or character wise? The designs need a LOT of work and character wise... We barely knew them. I felt the lair scene didn't mean as much cause we don't even know these guys. And then shredder and splinter somehow know each other? And then they capture the turtles for the mutagen blood and not splinter?? Just so much wrong in one scene.

Nostalgia is clouding your judgement. Most of your feels are coming from the turtles you've seen in past versions but this is a whole new universe and a whole new version and so far these turtles are nothing past a few one liners and Mikey's perving over April. It's like Raph apologizing for a bunch of crap we never got to see in the movie. Whatever we know of Raph in other incarnations DOES. NOT. COUNT. so whatever he's blubbering about loses all meaning and has no impact. At least in the first one we got to know the turtles and saw them interact with splinter a lot more before he was kidnapped. It was more emotional.

You know what?
Design wise.

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

honestly don't see how 'nostalgia' even plays a role in this. These are NOT the turtles you grew up with, or any other version for that matter. They're roid raged wannabes.

Well In my opinion, they kinda are. And I loved every moment when those "roid raged wannabes" were on screen.

But characterization in this movie was awful. So you're right, without my nostalgia, I wouldn't really have gotten to know these turtles that well.

But my goodness, did you really have to write a full essay? I get what you're trying to say, but jeezz...