First TMNT movie

MW8979 · 02-25-2004, 03:35 PM

With all this talk of movies going on right now, I kinda had a question myself. Why was it that the first movie was more based on the comics then on the cartoon? I know from a hardcore fan's perspective that is a good thing, but I'm just wondering what guided the corporate decision makers to accept that script, considering by 1990 the cartoon was very well off and making lots of money. I just don't understand why they didn't want to base the story on the cartoon, that all kids at the time knew, and instead based it on the comics, that were a lot less known. It wouldn't cost them much more to make R & B costumes, but might have made them more money, simply due to "familiarity factor". Any ideas?

THE-X-FLO · 02-25-2004, 03:37 PM

I guess Krang and the Technodrome would have been to hard to recreate in the movie.

Aaron · 02-25-2004, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE-X-FLO

I guess Krang and the Technodrome would have been to hard to recreate in the movie.

I'd say you are right.

Orochi Chimera · 02-25-2004, 03:51 PM

I guess they figured as long as it is TMNT the kids would go nuts over it.

It would be real interesting to what they can do with Krang and the Technodrome these days.

THE-X-FLO · 02-25-2004, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orochichimera

It would be real interesting to what they can do with Krang and the Technodrome these days.

Yes you're right, too bad they both belong to the past

**Karpo_007** · 02-25-2004, 04:26 PM

You know, the fact Eastman and Laird owned the TMNT property might have something to do with it... Maybe they just didn't want a goofy children's movie.

raphael90 · 02-25-2004, 04:43 PM

All good reasons...it probably would have been hard to recreate some of the stuff from the cartoon, although with a little ingenuity perhaps some of it could have been done. With today's technology they could have pulled it off, but I wouldn't want to see it in CGI I'd prefer animatronics...that's just my opinion. But it was a nice change of pace to do the comic story I guess and the first the movies rocks anyhow.

*Buslady* · 02-25-2004, 06:28 PM

I dunno but I'm glad it was more comics than toon, there were little things that were toon like April being a news lady and the pizza obsession but nothing major.
I just wish the other movies were more like the first.

*PizzaPower* · 02-25-2004, 08:02 PM

I am glsf it was based more off the coomics. It was totaly awesome!!

TournamentFightersOwns · 02-25-2004, 08:43 PM

It had that dark,gritty style that the comics had as well. Something I wish the movies that followed would've kept.

MW8979 · 02-25-2004, 09:07 PM

I like the first movie as it is, for sure. But I think the most correct answer is probably that making the Technodrome was gonna take more money then the studio could spend.

*Tetsu Deinonychus* · 02-25-2004, 09:29 PM

Eastman and Laird had turned down old-cartoon based scripts, because they wanted a Mirage based movie. The director was a Mirage fan, and the comics are the main branch of the francise.

That's why the movie was Mirage-based.

Ninja Turtles Cartoon Fan · 02-25-2004, 10:30 PM

All I remember is how utterly surprised I was when I saw the first movie. I had wondered in anticipation for weeks:

How will they make Bebop and Rocksteady?
How will they make Krang?
How will they make the Technodrome?
How will they make Dimension X?

And then when the first movie was nothing even remotely close to what I had imagined, it was a big disappointment. And I know I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

The first movie is fine as it is, but I'll never forget how shocked I was at seeing a bunch of men in body suits instead of metal Foot Soldiers, and some bald guy named Tatsu instead of Krang.

"And that is how they became the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!" - Splinter, from "Turtle Tracks"

*J Legault* · 02-25-2004, 10:38 PM

Stuff like that would be very difficult to do back in 1990.

Today special effects and animactronics are easier to get then it was back then.

*Bry* · 02-25-2004, 11:01 PM

Perhaps the studio felt the original source material was stronger and better suited to a film than the old cartoon's storylines?

I certainly wouldn't blame them.

MW8979 · 02-26-2004, 06:18 AM

Interesting suggestions some people have made. Do you really think that Eastman and Laird had that much control over TMNT still? I was under the impression that the franchise was taken over from them and that they didn't make any key decisions in those days. I guess I could be wrong. Did they really put their foot down?

**Karpo_007** · 02-26-2004, 08:56 AM

Frachice taken from them? They have always had total controll over the TMNT brand, but not some licenced products like the old show. So yes they probbaly did not want a goofy movie based on the cartoon.

Krangfan · 02-26-2004, 02:39 PM

I think the first movie was great the way it is. Now that I'm more grown up than when I was a little kid I can appreciate it more. Of course, when I was a little kid I loved the first two movies but now I like it even more. Of course, I still love the zany action of the second movie

but I also like the more mature nature of the first movie as well. I like how they kind of blended the comic and cartoon together (using Pizza, one of my fave things from the 'toon, and April being a reporter).

*Coola Yagami* · 02-26-2004, 10:30 PM

IMO the TMNT act like they do in the cartoon (cept for Raph) but they're facing the Mirage style situations forcing them to be serious at times. I mean, they say even more surfer slang here than they do in the cartoon.

*Deathknight* · 02-26-2004, 11:42 PM

I loved the 1st TMNT movie, mirage based plot with cartoon elements included... perfect for all fans.

02-25-2004, 03:35 PM	#1
MW8979 Hench Mutant Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 431	First TMNT movie With all this talk of movies going on right now, I kinda had a question myself. Why was it that the first movie was more based on the comics then on the cartoon? I know from a hardcore fan's perspective that is a good thing, but I'm just wondering what guided the corporate decision makers to accept that script, considering by 1990 the cartoon was very well off and making lots of money. I just don't understand why they didn't want to base the story on the cartoon, that all kids at the time knew, and instead based it on the comics, that were a lot less known. It wouldn't cost them much more to make R & B costumes, but might have made them more money, simply due to "familiarity factor". Any ideas?

02-25-2004, 03:37 PM	#2
THE-X-FLO Foot Soldier Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 242	I guess Krang and the Technodrome would have been to hard to recreate in the movie. __________________ In the darkest of hours... in the greatest of battles... we must never forget who, or what, we are

02-25-2004, 04:43 PM	#7
raphael90 Stone Warrior Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: ...down in the sewer listening to Skinny Puppy... Posts: 618	movie All good reasons...it probably would have been hard to recreate some of the stuff from the cartoon, although with a little ingenuity perhaps some of it could have been done. With today's technology they could have pulled it off, but I wouldn't want to see it in CGI I'd prefer animatronics...that's just my opinion. But it was a nice change of pace to do the comic story I guess and the first the movies rocks anyhow. __________________ "Babies? These things haven't even been BORN yet!" -Raphael

02-25-2004, 06:28 PM	#8
Buslady WingsOfDarkness! Perkele! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In 7803... Posts: 4,366	I dunno but I'm glad it was more comics than toon, there were little things that were toon like April being a news lady and the pizza obsession but nothing major. I just wish the other movies were more like the first. __________________

02-25-2004, 08:02 PM	#9
PizzaPower Foot Elite Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pizza Parlor Posts: 3,200	I am glsf it was based more off the coomics. It was totaly awesome!! __________________ https://www.twitch.tv/turtlepizzapower

02-25-2004, 03:51 PM	#4
Orochi Chimera Mad Scientist Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,289	I guess they figured as long as it is TMNT the kids would go nuts over it. It would be real interesting to what they can do with Krang and the Technodrome these days.

02-25-2004, 04:26 PM	#6
Karpo_007 Inactive Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 8,798	You know, the fact Eastman and Laird owned the TMNT property might have something to do with it... Maybe they just didn't want a goofy children's movie.

02-25-2004, 08:43 PM	#10
TournamentFightersOwns Random Punk Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 47	1st TMNT flick It had that dark,gritty style that the comics had as well. Something I wish the movies that followed would've kept.

02-25-2004, 09:07 PM	#11
MW8979 Hench Mutant Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 431	I like the first movie as it is, for sure. But I think the most correct answer is probably that making the Technodrome was gonna take more money then the studio could spend.

02-25-2004, 09:29 PM	#12
Tetsu Deinonychus The Iron Dinosaur Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Studio Snowlion HQ Posts: 3,021	Eastman and Laird had turned down old-cartoon based scripts, because they wanted a Mirage based movie. The director was a Mirage fan, and the comics are the main branch of the francise. That's why the movie was Mirage-based. __________________ (Image hosting by Postimage.org) And here's a list of all my old wacky threads!

02-25-2004, 10:30 PM	#13
Ninja Turtles Cartoon Fan Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: USA Posts: 835	All I remember is how utterly surprised I was when I saw the first movie. I had wondered in anticipation for weeks: How will they make Bebop and Rocksteady? How will they make Krang? How will they make the Technodrome? How will they make Dimension X? And then when the first movie was nothing even remotely close to what I had imagined, it was a big disappointment. And I know I'm not the only one who thinks this way. The first movie is fine as it is, but I'll never forget how shocked I was at seeing a bunch of men in body suits instead of metal Foot Soldiers, and some bald guy named Tatsu instead of Krang. "And that is how they became the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!" - Splinter, from "Turtle Tracks"

02-25-2004, 10:38 PM	#14
J Legault Mad Scientist Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: West Coast Posts: 2,054	Stuff like that would be very difficult to do back in 1990. Today special effects and animactronics are easier to get then it was back then. __________________ I am a fan of TMNT and I'm still one today. I got into the habbit back in 1992 or 93' when I was little. I would like to thank my 2 year older cousin for getting me in the habbit. 2001 was when I revised my knowledge on TMNT. And today I'm a bigger fan than I was years ago. I have all 3 TMNT Movies, current Toon, and old school Toon on DVD.

02-25-2004, 11:01 PM	#15
Bry So Long, Stinktown! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,463	Perhaps the studio felt the original source material was stronger and better suited to a film than the old cartoon's storylines? I certainly wouldn't blame them. __________________ My Stuff: Webcomic \| Podcast \| DeviantArt \| YouTube \| Patreon

02-26-2004, 06:18 AM	#16
MW8979 Hench Mutant Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 431	Interesting suggestions some people have made. Do you really think that Eastman and Laird had that much control over TMNT still? I was under the impression that the franchise was taken over from them and that they didn't make any key decisions in those days. I guess I could be wrong. Did they really put their foot down?

02-26-2004, 08:56 AM	#17
Karpo_007 Inactive Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 8,798	Frachice taken from them? They have always had total controll over the TMNT brand, but not some licenced products like the old show. So yes they probbaly did not want a goofy movie based on the cartoon.

02-26-2004, 02:39 PM	#18
Krangfan Hench Mutant Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: In a house Posts: 434	I think the first movie was great the way it is. Now that I'm more grown up than when I was a little kid I can appreciate it more. Of course, when I was a little kid I loved the first two movies but now I like it even more. Of course, I still love the zany action of the second movie but I also like the more mature nature of the first movie as well. I like how they kind of blended the comic and cartoon together (using Pizza, one of my fave things from the 'toon, and April being a reporter). __________________ "Home is where you hang your hat" -Krang's favorite phrase Krang owns!

02-26-2004, 10:30 PM	#19
Coola Yagami Overlord Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 15,709	IMO the TMNT act like they do in the cartoon (cept for Raph) but they're facing the Mirage style situations forcing them to be serious at times. I mean, they say even more surfer slang here than they do in the cartoon.

02-26-2004, 11:42 PM	#20
Deathknight Mad Scientist Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: One of the 972 rooms of the technodrome Posts: 1,995	I loved the 1st TMNT movie, mirage based plot with cartoon elements included... perfect for all fans. __________________ Shredder: "Ninja hall of fame? Ha! Where's MY statue?!" -My Brother, the Bad Guy