TMNT and older audience

[mik8la]

Originally Posted by Rooish

This is a sort of random comment, but did anyone ever see the animated Watership Down movie? It's rated PG and it shows a rabbit having its throat ripped out, another one torn apart by a dog, a squashed hedgehog on a road, a rabbit choking in a snare...

Never saw it, but now that you described it like that...now I wanna see it. I'm going to go track it down. Marvel at the powers of suggestion.

Originally Posted by Rooish

I feel that the trailer was too kiddie at times, but it was really intense at the end.

I think the trailer was cut to appeal to the kiddies (it must've, if it was paired with Eragon). If I hadn't seen the leaked pics, I would've thought that it was all monster stuff and fighting. I can't wait for the more serious cut, the one that'll deal with the family dysfunction and the more intense fight scenes and everything.

And...you guys are gonna crucify me for this, but I agree with some of the points the critics brought up in regards to the original live-action movies, particularly the lighting. So the critics didn't "get" the turtles, but that's the challenge of making a movie that's good enough and universal enough that the masses--the people who might not get the comics or the cartoons or the games--can "get" what's so appealing about the franchise.

[Warhorse]

^I saw Watership Down when I was a kid. I remember the rabbit choking on the snare and vomiting blood.

It seems like a lot of nature type movies can get away with certain scenes that would have action type genre films slapped with a rated PG-13 or R. There was that Sheena or Sheila, queen of the desert or some crap like that. Movie was PG, but had eyebrow raising scenes in it.

[Masked Ninja]

Ahh, Watership Down.

I like the book a bit better, but that film is probably one of the better book-to-film adaptions I've seen. And what few changes they did make made sense. I'd definitely recommend it... especially for that spiffy intro sequence. It might make more sense if you read the book first, but it's not necessary.

As for TMNT... I wish it was taken more seriously, but it isn't. I'm constantly correcting people who think the '80s toon was the "original" TMNT (and getting shocked reactions when I say a new Turtles movie is coming out ). I hope for this movie to be on par with the first for good family/sibling themes and have enough kickbutt action to reinforce the TMNT's capability for intensity. But especially considering the huge burp in the trailer, I won't set my expectations too high. That way I can only be impressed.

I do think this wouldn't get nearly the seemingly-automatic "kiddie" brushoff if that burp weren't in the trailer. :\

[Ramboraph4life aka Matt]

Well you guys won't like this one neither. Just recently in an LA Times article there was a 2007 Predictions in which Kim Voynar, managing editor of www.cinematical.com , wrote this:
Biggest Flops: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" has awesome flop potential (though I hope for the sake of the TMNT fans in my household that this doesn't suck).
So Tmnt definately has an uphill battle.

[Warhorse]

Well, if Warner Bros doesn't start advertising more, like ASAP, then TMNT will flop. People wont go if they don't know the movie exists. I let people know, and while they are shocked at first, they already made plans to see it opening night.

[Thwomp]

I don't think that TMNT will flop, but I know for a fact that it's going to have a hard time keeping its legs as the weeks go by. On March 23rd, it'll be battling "Pride" (another inspirational movie about troubled high school teens that band together to form an amazing sports team), and one week later the sugar-and-ADD-fueled Disney flick "Meet the Robinsons" will premier. If WB/Mirage/4Kids/whoever involved wants to see this movie hit #1, and STAY there for more than a week, then they're going to have to do several things that have been mentioned previously in this thread: show the "common joe" that there's MORE to the Turtles than what they remember from the 80s toon.

And, by god, in the very next trailer that is shown, I want to see at least ONE shot of Raph and Leo face-to-face in the rain, weapons drawn. That's a ticket-seller.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Well, if Warner Bros doesn't start advertising more, like ASAP, then TMNT will flop. People wont go if they don't know the movie exists. I let people know, and while they are shocked at first, they already made plans to see it opening night.

If only they put out the trailer earler and showed it with Borat, then more people may get excited.

But you're right, it's tome to advertise, it was a good move putting the toys out, but now it's time to think bigger. Kevin and the cast need to hit some talk shows, maybe it's too early but airing the t.v. spots would'nt hurt, also they should really do something about the website it only has the trailers.

Also, 4Kids needs to do some TMNT marathons, but of the good episodes, not FF.

Well you guys won't like this one neither. Just recently in an LA Times article there was a 2007 Predictions in which Kim Voynar, managing editor of www.cinematical.com , wrote this:
Biggest Flops: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" has awesome flop potential (though I hope for the sake of the TMNT fans in my household that this doesn't suck).
So Tmnt definately has an uphill battle.

Every movie has awesome flop potential, except Spider-Man 3, thats gonna make hellacious money.

But anyway, Transformers has bigger flop potential. Everyone expects this movie to be amazing, but I doubt it's gonna meet all expectations. No one expects anything out of TMNT, so if it does do bad, no one is going to be shocked. It's the underdog.

[Warhorse]

Have you ever sat in the theater waiting for the movie to start, and sometimes they have a behind the scenes look. Why can't they start that with TMNT?

And I agree, Borat would have been ideal. They also need to get a few prime time commercials. Who is the advertising agent for Happy Feet. I never seen the movie, but I cant turn around with out that damned thing being milked for all it's worth.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Have you ever sat in the theater waiting for the movie to start, and sometimes they have a behind the scenes look. Why can't they start that with TMNT?

And I agree, Borat would have been ideal. They also need to get a few prime time commercials. Who is the advertising agent for Happy Feet. I never seen the movie, but I cant turn around with out that damned thing being milked for all it's worth.

Well, Warner Bros may air some sneak peaks durring they're prime time line-up.

[gobo]

Originally Posted by gobo

I value the opinions of the hosts of Attack of the Show so much. They're just so smart. If they think TMNT is a joke, I can't possibly bring myself to go see it because they're always right. And, they'll publicly humiliate me by showing up to the theater to laugh at me. When, they premiered the trailer, it was obvious they were trying to ridicule it behind their plastic enthusiasm and idiotic costume bit. But, still... They're on TV. That makes them smarter than us. I hope they know what a total fan of theirs I am. Maybe they'll even have me as a guest on their show. Cuz celebs are teh most impotent-- er, impertinent? Yeah. Celebs are the most impertinent people EVAR!

Uh... Dood? You even know who you're supposed to be flaming?

[gobo]

Originally Posted by gobo

Uh... Dood? You even know who you're supposed to be flaming?

No. Why?

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

Do you know who you are?

[gobo]

Originally Posted by ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael

Do you know who you are?

No. Why?

[iris]

Stop second-guessing, dood. *hands gobo his meds and a glass of apple juice*

[gobo]

*swallows the pill & downs the juice*
All better.
...
OMG!! WHO STOLE MY PASSWORD & POSTED A BUNCH OF DUMB CRAP?!?

[Rooish]

Woah, what's happening with gobo?

Originally Posted by Masked Ninja

Ahh, Watership Down.

I like the book a bit better, but that film is probably one of the better book-to-film adaptions I've seen. And what few changes they did make made sense.

I agree, except for the throat-ripping-out bit. That character didn't even die in the book! But ah well. And Warhorse, that makes sense, what you said about the documentary-type thing. Also "Watership Down" was made a while back, when the rating system may have been more lenient... but it's still rated PG now, from what I can tell. Anyway, sorry about "Watership Down" rants. But it's a good movie and an amazing book. Go see/read! Now! Everyone!

I hope that they release another trailer for TMNT with some more intense, family-like moments shown, too. I love the trailer we have, just because it's a wonderful glimpse at what's to come, but it won't appeal to the masses (at least the adult ones). I know that everyone I've shown it to has been weirded out by all the monsters. Why monsters? Is that the best they could come up with? Whatever, I still cannot wait for this movie.

And I agree it must be publicised more. mik8la, I won't crucify you for agreeing with the critics. TMNT is really complex, and has shown up in tons of different manners, directed at kids and at adults. Some of it has been dark and ninja-clan themed, and some has been about aliens and monsters. And the characters always have varying levels of development and depth and closeness. It will be quite a difficult job to incorporate all the elements, and advertise as such. I'm just hoping that all the characters will interact, and not just Leo-Raph-Splinter and Don-Mike.

[Bircher]

Sorry for ignorance, but who is Kevin Monroe?

A good way we can help build hype is to help the trailer score high on google video and other such outlets. We can't control WB, but we can impact other mediums together

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Rooish

Also "Watership Down" was made a while back, when the rating system may have been more lenient... but it's still rated PG now, from what I can tell. Anyway, sorry about "Watership Down" rants. But it's a good movie and an amazing book. Go see/read! Now! Everyone!

Woot! Watership Down is my favorite book in the world.

And the movie is awesome, too. I have a cell.. best birthday present ever.

[gobo]

Originally Posted by Bircher

Sorry for ignorance, but who is Kevin Monroe?

The director of the new CGI film.

[Masked Ninja]

Originally Posted by Rooish

I agree, except for the throat-ripping-out bit. That character didn't even die in the book! But ah well.

Wholeheartedly agree with you... that and the mysterious inclusion of a "Violet" in the beginning are the only bits that really bother me. Not only did they kill a character that was supposed to live, but it was the most disturbing 2 seconds of the movie. Naaasty.

And yeah, the "PG-13" rating has only been in existence for so long. It used to go from PG straight to R, didn't it?

And I'll agree/repeat that Warner had better get off its butt soon and advertise TMNT. I'm doing my best on my own, but I only have so much influence. Though I do get people who know I'm a Turtles fan and tell me the movie's coming out. That puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart.