New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Set For Christmas 2013!

[Alex]

Awesome, awesome, awesome!! So excited!

[Baxter Stockmen]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

You're really not seeing the bigger picture.

A super successful TMNT movie in 2012 (or 2013, or 2014, or whatever it ends up being) cannot be "for" any existing faction of the fandom. It will not become a blockbuster on any sort of virtue of "nostalgia," be it for guys like me who only find a lot of merit in the source material or the clusters of people who replay Fred Wolf episodes every couple of weeks or so.

It needs to be provocative and exciting for brand new viewers in modern demographics that make quirky martial arts actioners successful. And focus group limiting things to what children of a certain age are supposed to like is falling into the same age-old trap that a lot of would-be franchise makers fall into. C'mon, think back a bit. Kids aren't entirely stupid... when they're kind of told "This sort of thing is what you should be watching," they kind of become hip to it. They resist it. Kids like to know they're watching something with a bit of an edge, something a bit above what society tells them is above the cut of their jib... it's what makes it provocative.

And we're not talking about an R-rated Turtles movie... I'm talking about a pretty hardcore PG-13 Turtles movie that would strike a perfect balance of demographic vs. faithfulness to the source material, something that's never been tried before.

Exactly. To me it needs to do what Batman Begins did for batman. A new concept and a totally new direction. Basically redefining what everyone had previously thought about batman.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Baxter Stockmen

A new concept and a totally new direction.

This is what I think the new film should be. I don't want a re-hash of the first movie.

[TurtleTitan97]

Man, I would love it if TMNT went the Dark Knight route. Be the coolest thing ever.

[JakeSully]

Who wants WETA for the turtle effects?

[Bob]

Originally Posted by JakeSully

Who wants WETA for the turtle effects?

Definitely me.

[Kendamu]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

You're really not seeing the bigger picture.

A super successful TMNT movie in 2012 (or 2013, or 2014, or whatever it ends up being) cannot be "for" any existing faction of the fandom. It will not become a blockbuster on any sort of virtue of "nostalgia," be it for guys like me who only find a lot of merit in the source material or the clusters of people who replay Fred Wolf episodes every couple of weeks or so.

It needs to be provocative and exciting for brand new viewers in modern demographics that make quirky martial arts actioners successful. And focus group limiting things to what children of a certain age are supposed to like is falling into the same age-old trap that a lot of would-be franchise makers fall into. C'mon, think back a bit. Kids aren't entirely stupid... when they're kind of told "This sort of thing is what you should be watching," they kind of become hip to it. They resist it. Kids like to know they're watching something with a bit of an edge, something a bit above what society tells them is above the cut of their jib... it's what makes it provocative.

And we're not talking about an R-rated Turtles movie... I'm talking about a pretty hardcore PG-13 Turtles movie that would strike a perfect balance of demographic vs. faithfulness to the source material, something that's never been tried before.

It's not that I don't agree and it's not that I don't see what would make a really cool TMNT movie that's supposed to make people see TMNT in a whole new light. It's just that, after how the average person responded to the 2007 film, I have no faith in said average person "getting it" when it comes to something cool and provocative in the TMNT sense. I can see kids getting into something new and a bit edgier than what their used to in the same sense that I got into the original TMNT flick and, several years later, the comics once I saw the connection between the two. I just don't see fully grown adults accepting anything that "OMG IT DIDN'T HAEV THA THEME SAWNG!!!!!111"

In short, while the kids would fall in love with something like that, I'm extremely cynical on what the average adult will accept in regard to a TMNT film.

[TheCanadiandrome]

This got covered on Electric Playground, albeit just a tidbit

[Baxter Stockmen]

Originally Posted by Goongasnootch

It's not that I don't agree and it's not that I don't see what would make a really cool TMNT movie that's supposed to make people see TMNT in a whole new light. It's just that, after how the average person responded to the 2007 film, I have no faith in said average person "getting it" when it comes to something cool and provocative in the TMNT sense. I can see kids getting into something new and a bit edgier than what their used to in the same sense that I got into the original TMNT flick and, several years later, the comics once I saw the connection between the two. I just don't see fully grown adults accepting anything that "OMG IT DIDN'T HAEV THA THEME SAWNG!!!!!111"

In short, while the kids would fall in love with something like that, I'm extremely cynical on what the average adult will accept in regard to a TMNT film.

Yeah. you have a point. But if they get the type of direction Nolan had with Batman. Fans won't care there wasn't the theme song. As long as they don't try to reinvent a theme song. Just get a good composer to score the movie.

[Rat A Tat]

All I want is something that truly defines and explores the characters. I enjoy some good action, but for me, a great movie is more story driven and even more character driven. I want a film that doesn't just say "ok audience, Raph is the hot head," for example. I want a film that takes time to delve into it and explore it.

I think if you make a film that creates real, believable characters with a story that connects with them, then you can overcome the audience predetermined expectations. I think that's what ultimately comes down to how the Nolan Batman films changed some people's perception of Batman.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Goongasnootch

It's just that, after how the average person responded to the 2007 film, I have no faith in said average person "getting it" when it comes to something cool and provocative in the TMNT sense.

I think the only thing the 2007 film proved was that general audiences won't go and see a horrible TMNT movie and nostalgia won't fill seats. I could've told them that beforehand and saved them a lot of money.

In short, while the kids would fall in love with something like that, I'm extremely cynical on what the average adult will accept in regard to a TMNT film.

The adults would and could only be the icing on the cake of any super successful TMNT movie... it's the teens that will fill the seats. They have to. And if it's not insultingly kid-pandering as, say, a PG TMNT movie would be (Teenaged Ninjas... but it has to be completely pasteurized for pre-teenagers? why?), then it wouldn't keep out adults either.

I guess my point is that there can still be a PG-13 movie that's awesome and intriguing for teens and youths that still has enough teeth that, 1) It'd be faithful enough tonally to the source material, 2) A "Children Only" flag won't go up for adults. But #2 doesn't even matter in the big picture of box office, I'm just saying that in this case, we can have our cake and eat it too so why not?

[Baxter Stockmen]

Would anybody be opposed to it being just "Ninja Turtles"??

Where you know, they aren't teens anymore. A little more mature, maybe even more cynical and brutal with their handling of thugs.

[shezcrafti]

Originally Posted by Baxter Stockmen

Would anybody be opposed to it being just "Ninja Turtles"??

Where you know, they aren't teens anymore. A little more mature, maybe even more cynical and brutal with their handling of thugs.

You read my mind. I think it makes complete sense to age the Turtles into something more mature. I can easily envision a film where they're in their early 20's and have more life experience. The TMNT fanbase has grown up, so why shouldn't the Turtles?

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Baxter Stockmen

Would anybody be opposed to it being just "Ninja Turtles"??

I would be more than OK with that.

In fact, I made this about 12 years ago as a kid:



Of course, I understand there's a kind of a kitsch charm to the full "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" title but strictly speaking personally I like the idea of just "Ninja Turtles" for a variety of reasons, but largely for the greater emphasis that gives on the "Ninja" aspect of the TMNT.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by shezcrafti

You read my mind. I think it makes complete sense to age the Turtles into something more mature. I can easily envision a film where they're in their early 20's and have more life experience. The TMNT fanbase has grown up, so why shouldn't the Turtles?

I suppose that because turtles are such naturally long-living creatures, they can say that they may be “teenagers” in human years, but they’re really in their early-to-mid-twenties in their own years.

Honestly, though, I think they’re probably going to stick fairly close to each turtle’s characterisation that people have known for years. Michelangelo will be the “comic-relief” one, for example, whilst Leonardo will be the serious, sensible leader and so forth.

And yes, I do like Ninja Turtles as the title. I still think they're going to go with the full title, though, seeing as their "rebooting" the franchise, so to speak, and starting from scratch.

[Bmaga123]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I would be more than OK with that.

In fact, I made this about 12 years ago as a kid:



Of course, I understand there's a kind of a kitsch charm to the full "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" title but strictly speaking personally I like the idea of just "Ninja Turtles" for a variety of reasons, but largely for the greater emphasis that gives on the "Ninja" aspect of the TMNT.

That is one sick cover you created Andrew, I love it

[AquaParade]

"You grew up. So did they"

Ha! I love it. Cheesy like most taglines, but awesome nonetheless.

I love the name "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", but if it meant the direction of the film would follow suit, I'd be all for dropping the "Teenage Mutant". I think it'd be a fresh name for a tmnt film either way, really.

[Slap-Happy]

At the Nick upfront presentation that happened earlier this week Michael Bay presented some pre-viz stuff from the movie to the audience.

Not much, but it's still info.

[Powder]

I'm not familiar with the term "pre-viz", so what kind of content would that be?

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I would be more than OK with that.

In fact, I made this about 12 years ago as a kid:

Spoiler:

Of course, I understand there's a kind of a kitsch charm to the full "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" title but strictly speaking personally I like the idea of just "Ninja Turtles" for a variety of reasons, but largely for the greater emphasis that gives on the "Ninja" aspect of the TMNT.

Seems like I remember that as part of the whole "!*@$ with the Green, and it's gonna get Mean!" mantra.