10 Ways To Make Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 Not Suck

[Xav]

http://whatculture.com/film/10-ways-...2-not-suck.php

[NinjaPug]

#1 is right on the money.

“There is something half-hearted about the entire film, as if those behind it were involved not because they wanted to make it, not because they should make it, but just because they could.”

No one involved with the movie cared about TMNT outside of the fact that it could make them money.

[TrickOrTreater]

He's completely right except for 10 and 2.

You can't get rid of Shredder until we actually GET Shredder in this movie. What I saw wasn't Shredder.

And you can't not do the origin until the origin is done right.

Everything else is exactly right. And, funny enough, the exact same worries and fears people had BEFORE the movie was released. And we were all correct.

[Powder]

I'm gonna go ahead & be that guy- Can someone copy/paste what the ten are? I refuse to read these "click the next page to continue" articles, as it's just a shameless way to generate more ad revenue. Hate that ish.

[Cure]

I disagree with a lot of these. They felt like brothers to me, I liked the designs, I thought the action was tight, and they should not look to the 2003 show for inspiration. That show is not good, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Powder

I'm gonna go ahead & be that guy- Can someone copy/paste what the ten are? I refuse to read these "click the next page to continue" articles, as it's just a shameless way to generate more ad revenue. Hate that ish.

I would do it for you, but going back and going through all of them for you would accomplish exactly what you don't want, more clicks. Sorry, bruh.

[CyberCubed]

They need to give the Turtles nose jobs most of all. Second make a coherent plot. Third axe Eric Sachs entirely and give Shredder actual development.

[IndigoErth]

Saw that the other day, agreed with a good amount of it, though there's still plenty I could add to it.

[Powder]

Originally Posted by Cure

I would do it for you, but going back and going through all of them for you would accomplish exactly what you don't want, more clicks. Sorry, bruh.

I support your choice to stand against "The Man" with me.

[Xav]

Originally Posted by Powder

I'm gonna go ahead & be that guy- Can someone copy/paste what the ten are?

10. No Shredder
9. Brotherly Love
8. Look To The 2003 Series
7. Improved Designs
6. Visible Action
5. Don’t Forget They’re Ninjas
4. Bring Back Casey Jones
3. April Is Not The Star
2. No More Origin
1. Find A Team That Actually Likes The Turtles

[Powder]

Thanks, Xav. Well, based on key points alone, I agree with the bulk of it.

1. Shredder I think is in some way a necessity, but he should be built up & saved for the grand finale, maybe.

2.Brotherly love is probably the most important thing, given the family themes of TMNT. It needs to have some hang-out time. Playing games, talking about life, eating breakfast, anything. We didn't see much of the turtles' personalities, but they weren't totally off, so let's get more of that (minus the toilet jokes, please).

3. I have my fair share of qualms with the 4kids series but given it's based on Mirage, sure, lets take some queues from there. The more serious tone could help, potentially. Making Baxter a key player in the same vein as in 2003 would also be dope.

4. It'd be kind hard to "improve" the designs at this point, they could shave off a few accessories/armor pieces, I guess, but I imagine people take issue with the facial features most of all, so it may be a lost cause. While I'm still not a fan of the latest designs & made a big fuss up until I saw the film, they are in my opinion the least of our troubles, & while I never grew to like them, I did get used to them.

5. Visible action, yes, could use some decent fight choreography. Study Jackie Chan films, I say. Flashy blocking, lots of jumping around, some prop damage & slapstick.

6. Nina stuff, word, the turtles are so big though, I dunno, it might be too late for that. More shadow play though? Absolutely.

7. Casey is a favorite of mine but these films are a little cluttered character-wise, IMO, so I think they'd be better off fleshing out the rest of them before adding more.

8. April definitely needs to take a back-seat, agreed.

9. No more retreading origin-wise, sure. Well, I mean, if they want to try & make more sense of what they have established with new changes, alright I guess, if it will be less convoluted, go for it. Adding Yoshi would probably only complicate things, & I'd rather they not make anyone/thing more inter-connected than it already is.

10. Some added professional fans as creative consultants or whatever? Yes, do that.

[Redeemer]

Originally Posted by Cure

I disagree with a lot of these. They felt like brothers to me, I liked the designs, I thought the action was tight, and they should not look to the 2003 show for inspiration. That show is not good, in my opinion.

It wasn't saying to use the same designs as the 2k3 show, but it was specifically giving praise for the way they adapted the stories from the original comics and the voice acting.

I think number 8 is the best point.

[Cure]

Originally Posted by Redeemer

It wasn't saying to use the same designs as the 2k3 show, but it was specifically giving praise for the way they adapted the stories from the original comics and the voice acting.

I...know that. I never said it was about the designs? I don't like the stories from 2003 and definitely not the voices, especially Raphael's.

[MikeandRaph87]

Right in every account however #10 needs to be switched out for use of secondary characters that will make the most out of them whether its Karai or Irma or Casey Jones or even Bebop and Rocksteady. Not just have them in a few scenes and be irrelevant. Shredder on the other hand is necessary. For some reason TMNT actually made up villains for the movie. What other comic book heroes had to face a made up foe for their film? Shredder is their best villain and has been featured in the two best films. If he is not the central focus he needs to be the driving force or involved somehow with Krang, Rat King, Karai, or Baxter Stockman.

[Redeemer]

10.No Shredder

Spoiler:

First and foremost, the sequel needs another villain besides the Shredder. Much like the X-Men movies seem to think that Magneto is the only villain who matters, the Turtles are starting to think it’s all about the Shredder. A lot of this is due to the influence of the animated series from the late 80s and early 90s, where Shredder pretty much was the sole villain, or at least the driving force behind most other villains.
But the Turtles do have other villains. If you must use the Foot, then instead of the Shredder why not use his daughter, Karai, or Baxter Stockman? Both had small parts in the reboot, so there’s already reason to use them. Or what about the Rat King, an enigmatic and creepy character that can give us a Turtles film with a completely different tone from anything seen before. Or go full-on galactic and bring in the Triceraton.
It’s time to give the Shredder a break, especially after the awful way he was treated in this reboot. He served as little more than a henchman and for some bizarre reason, was given a mech suit with ridiculously impractical weapons. Give another villain the spotlight to differentiate from the first movie and bring the Shredder back in grand fashion in a future sequel.

9. Brotherly Love

Spoiler:

The most important thing anyone who approaches this franchise needs to know is that the Turtles are brothers, first and foremost. They fight, they squabble, they bicker, but deep down they all love each other. That kind of camaraderie really felt absent from the reboot. Oh sure, the personalities of the characters and their relationships were paid lip-service to, but overall it just felt like a veneer of who the characters really are. Leo’s the stoic leader, Raph’s the trouble-maker, Don’s the smart guy and Mikey’s the goofball. These stock characteristics were present, but there was precious little chance to get to know the characters or their relationships.
One of the reasons for this was because the Turtles were basically supporting characters in their own film (more on that later). To really get a feel for the brothers and their relationships means having to devote the proper screentime to them. Arguably the best scene in the reboot was when the Turtles were riding in the elevator and they all start beat-boxing.
It was a great moment that showcased their youthful characteristics. Or look back to some of the quiet scenes from the very first Turtles movie, like the conversation between Don and Mikey while they’re waiting for the pizza delivery guy, or when Mike’s trying to wow April with his impressions and Raph mutters, “oh no, not Cagney…” These little moments are what’s needed to show who these characters are and that they have history.

[Redeemer]

8.Look to the 2003 series

Spoiler:

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series from 2003 is the gold standard for Turtles adaptations, and all other adaptations should take a cue from it. Not only was the animation superb, but the writing and voice acting were all excellent. Moreover, it managed to find the perfect balance between the extremes of the Turtles. For the uninitiated, the Mirage comics that started everything were actually pretty dark and violent. Many fans were shocked when they saw the 1987 animated series, because it was such an extreme departure from the source material.
But the first movie managed to find something of a balance between the two. The 2003 series did so even more, and the CGI film followed in the same vein. Unfortunately, the ’87 cartoon is so dominant in the collective consciousness that pretty much every single adaptation uses it as a template. Which means lots of goofy humor and a very lax approach to storytelling. Rumor has it that Bebop, Rocksteady, and possibly even Krang will be in the sequel; all of which would be a huge mistake. Stop borrowing elements from the ’87 series and look to the 2003 version.
The 2003 series is one of the best version of the Turtles. It still kept some of the humorous elements as the ’87 series, but it also had a bit of a darker edge that was closer to the comics. The characters all had individual personalities as well, just as in the comics, and both April and Casey were more accurately represented. This is what future filmmakers should look to if they’re struggling to figure out how to balance the very different interpretations of the Turtles.

7.Improved Designs

Spoiler:

The designs for the reboot are overall extremely ugly. The decision to add nostrils and lips to the Turtles was reportedly done to humanize them, but it only made them look like freakish nightmare fuel. All the added junk they’re wearing was also extremely unnecessary, with the only intention being to drive home the characteristics of the brothers without bothering with silly little things like character development.
Instead, they presented Leo with a chestplate and leather grieves to give the impression that he’s staying true to the samurai roots, Raph wears a leather loincloth and sunglasses to show he’s a badass, Mike has wetsuit pants and a sweater tied around his waist to show he’s laid back, and Donny has taped glasses and what looks like Ghostbusters cosplay to show that he’s the nerd.
Then there’s also the size of the characters. The Turtles are supposed to be human-sized: they’re light on their feet, quick, but in the reboot they look like they could give the Hulk a run for his money. Remember the line from the very first issue of the comic: “we strike hard and fade away into the night.” Well, the reboot Turtles can strike hard, but they’re not fading away.
Splinter and the Shredder didn’t fare much better, what with Splinter sporting Fu Manchu-type whiskers (and it wouldn’t be a Bay-produced film without some not-so-subtle racist elements) and Shredder plodding around in a suit of armor that makes Iron Man’s Hulkbuster look downright subtle in comparison.

6.Visible Action

Spoiler:

Does director Jonathan Liebesman know what a tripod is? Does he know how to use one? When fans go to a Ninja Turtles movie, they expect to actually be able to see the Turtles, especially during the action scenes, but with so much frantic jump-cutting and close-ups, the film delivered no more than a visual mess that makes it impossible to follow.
This isn’t only a problem with the Turtles reboot, but is a problem with modern-day action movies as well. Ever since the Bourne sequels, far too many think that the proper way to film an action scene is to do so by making the action completely incomprehensible.
The first live-action Turtles movie offered believable action when they were working with puppets and rubber suits. CGI today is so advanced that it made a wise-cracking raccoon with a machine gun and a walking tree look completely realistic in Guardians Of The Galaxy, so there is absolutely no reason why anyone should be subjected to fight scenes of the Turtles that are barely followable.
The key component of an action movie is the action, and that means that the viewers have to actually be able to see the action. These scenes should thrill, not inspire motion sickness. Pull back the camera.

[TigerClaw]

I loved the 2014 movie, The only thing i want improved for the sequel? a longer running time.

at least make the sequel 2 hours, But don't go 2 hours and a half, 2 hours is enough for character development. the 1st film was only 1 hour and 41 minutes, They actually shot stuff that didn't make the final cut, For example, Raph in a trench coat, They need to bring that for the sequel.

[Redeemer]

5.Don't Forget They're Ninjas

Spoiler:

It’s right there in the name – Teenage Mutant NINJA Turtles. Bay and Liebesman apparently have no idea what the word ninja means, so it’s probably helpful to give them a hint: ninjas aren’t commandos, ninjas aren’t slow-moving mechs, ninjas aren’t giant creatures that can knock over a Hummer.
Ninjas are stealthy, quick, efficient killers. Ninjas rely on silent, close-quarters weapons. They don’t use assault rifles. Remember the “ninja” part of the title. The Shredder especially needs to be mobile, but the armor he’s given in the movie is so ridiculous, it looks like it belongs in a parody of the Turtles. This Shredder can’t handle stealth, because every step he makes causes a tremor and can be heard from miles away.
The Foot are a clan of ninja warriors, and the Turtles are also supposed to have that same training. When the Foot strike, you’re not supposed to know they’ve been there and the same goes for the Turtles. It’s how they remained unseen for so many years, because they were good at slinking back into the shadows once they did their job.
But Bay and Liebesman apparently have no patience for any kind of subtlety. Everything has to be loud and bombastic, right down to redefining the word ninja as plodding giants who don’t know the meaning of the word silence.

4.Bring Back Casey Jones

Spoiler:

Casey Jones was reportedly supposed to be in this movie, but the script was rewritten and he was replaced by Vernon Fenwick.
Just let that sink in for a minute: Casey Jones, a long-time friend and ally of the Turtles, who has been a major part of their supporting cast and is a total bad-ass, was replaced by Vernon Fenwick, an irritating, inferior character created for the ’87 cartoon.
That right there sums up how little the film-makers understand this property.
Casey is integral to the Turtles: both he and April provide something of a humanizing point of view for them, and it also shows that the heroes don’t only need to be mutated amphibians. Casey fights right alongside the Turtles, holding his own the entire time. He was an integral aspect of the comics, the 2003 series, and the CGI film. Not to mention being played pitch-perfectly by Elias Koteas in the first live-action film.
As much fun as Will Arnett is, not even he can make Vernon likable. So for the sequel, get rid of Vernon and the rest of the Channel 6 news studio. Every single one of those characters was a waste of film and had absolutely nothing of value to add. Casey Jones alone adds more to the Turtles than all those worthless characters combined.

3.April is Not the star

Spoiler:

It’s called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not April and Her Green Team, but the filmmakers chose to make April the star of the film, which is like making an Avengers movie where Maria Hill is the main character.
April is a supporting character. She acts as a point-of-view character for the audience, but ultimately the movie is about the Turtles, not her, which is clearly a problem for Michael Bay. His Transformers films focus more on the humans than the Transformers and now he’s doing the exact same thing to the Turtles.
Nobody goes to a Turtles movie to watch the Turtles act as April’s supporting cast; fans go to a Turtles movie because they want to see the Turtles. If Bay wants to make movies where Megan Fox is the star, then come up with a franchise for her to helm, but don’t reduce the Turtles to supporting roles in their own film.
If you can’t find a way to make a Turtles movie that doesn’t feature April as the star, then you should not be making a Turtles movie. It’s really as simple as that.

[Redeemer]

2.No more Origin

Spoiler:

Origin stories have gotten pretty old, and there have been a slew of them lately, whether they’re necessary or not. Everyone knows that Superman was rocketed from a doomed planet and raised by a kindly farmer and his wife, and that Batman swore to fight crime after watching his parents gunned down Likewise it’s well known that Spider-Man learned that with great power comes great responsibility after inadvertently having a part in the death of his uncle, and that the Turtles were transformed by mutagen and trained in the martial arts by Splinter.
So no more origin.
Especially the awful one that the filmmakers came up with for this reboot. Gone is Hamato Yoshi and instead, Splinter taught the Turtles how to be ninja masters from a book someone flushed down the toilet. Yes the notion of Splinter learning ninjutsu by mimicking Yoshi’s movements from his cage is a bit unrealistic, but teaching the Turtles how to be ninja masters from a book stretches the suspension of disbelief.
The new origin adds fixes that were never necessary. Throughout the Turtles’ entire thirty-year history, not once did anyone ever say, “this would make so much more sense if April were connected to the Turtles’ origin.” Just do everyone a favor and forget you ever established this origin, ignore it and move on.

1.Find a Team that actually likes the Turtles

Spoiler:

Throughout every step of this film’s production, it was very clear that neither Michael Bay nor Jonathan Liebesman had any real connection to the Turtles. While sitting through those painful hundred minutes, not once did it ever seem like anyone involved really cared about this property. As Mark Olsen of the Los Angeles Times said, “There is something half-hearted about the entire film, as if those behind it were involved not because they wanted to make it, not because they should make it, but just because they could.”
That is as perfect a description of Bay and Liebesman’s approach as you’re ever going to get. The movie feels like it was made by people who didn’t care about the Turtles, didn’t bother to understand why people love these characters, but just because it was there and they could make it. With the Marvel films, there’s a genuine sense that the filmmakers involved really care about these characters. The same goes for Kevin Munroe’s CGI film. But there’s no heart to this reboot, it’s just a soulless cash grab made by people who will never even bother to try to understand these characters.
Jonathan Liebesman won’t return to direct the sequel, so we’re already off to a good start. Now if only we could get Michael Bay to give up his producer’s chair to someone who actually likes the Turtles.

Are you excited to see the Turtles sequel? Share your thoughts on how to improve it in the comments thread below.

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by Redeemer

It wasn't saying to use the same designs as the 2k3 show, but it was specifically giving praise for the way they adapted the stories from the original comics and the voice acting.

I think number 8 is the best point.

I think number 5 is the better point. We heard they were ninja's, but there was no ninja-ing going on.

I've never really liked the 2003 series, it wasn't so much a good translation of Mirage, just the closest when compared to the OT. I think Turtles Forever did Mirage best.

[NinjaPug]

Remember when people tried to compare the fights to The Raid? Haha, good times.