Who's the star in the 1st film? April, Raph, or the TMNT?

saul · 03-17-2010, 04:56 PM

In the original 1990 film, who do you consider to be the main protagonist? We all know it's titled "TMNT", but the film does not put equal emphasis on all four turtles. Ignoring the title, if you were to watch without knowing anything about the movie, who would you think it was about?

I will argue the film is really about April.
- It opens and ends with her (opens with her report, ends with her celebration with Casey & the turtles)
- She has the only Voice Over in the film (at the farm) thus establishing her as the dominant narrative force.
- The entire plot/story is about her attempt to uncover the secret foot clan gang, and who she meets along the way (the turtles) that help her on her mission. The turtles are in effect an extension of her-- they draw out and expose to the audience another side of April we wouldn't have seen otherwise (her relationship to her dead father, her old farm house, her openness to accept odd things [the TMNT], etc)

Other possible options: Raph, Leo, Splinter, Shredder, Danny, the city of NY, the foot... etc
Please elaborate on your answers

*oldmanwinters* · 03-17-2010, 05:00 PM

Ironically, that's about how I feel about the first episode of the OT, "Turtle Tracks." That episode really is about April until the scene at the pizza parlor when the focus starts to shift to the TMNT themselves. I would say April and Raph are co-protagonists until until the campfire scene when Splinter makes contact with Leo and the others. At that point, it's the turtles' movie from then on out, since we really don't see much focus on April outside of her getting her job back and kissing Casey at the end. She becomes very much a side character as they return to the sewers and all she really does is bop a foot soldier on the head as if to tell the audience, "Hey, remember me?"

*Weapon X* · 03-17-2010, 05:05 PM

Your points about April are pretty valid, I cant really argue with them. Although it's still about the Turtles and their struggles as a whole.

As far as "Star" Turtle, It's Raphael, it's basically "The Raphael Movie". He even replaced Leonardo as the one who gets jumped by the Foot. Which brings me to how underused Leonardo was. His big scene was being contacted by Splinter while meditating, that was about it. He's like Cyclops in the X-Men movie's. Just kinda their.

*Roseangelo* · 03-17-2010, 05:07 PM

Nah, it's about Danny.

*oldmanwinters* · 03-17-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Nah, it's about Danny.

What about Chief Sterns?

*Weapon X* · 03-17-2010, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

What about Chief Sterns?

Wait! It's Sam Rockwell as "Head Thug".

*Roseangelo* · 03-17-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

What about Chief Sterns?

As much as I am kidding, the movie being about Danny isn't a total exaggeration. We see him in the opening sequence and throughout bits of the beginning part of the film as a "troubled" boy. He rats out (pun not intended) the Turtles and Splinter to Shredder, ends up feeling remorseful about that, gets words of wisdom from Splinter, saves Splinter from death, and at the end has matured into "Dan."

*oldmanwinters* · 03-17-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

As much as I am kidding, the movie being about Danny isn't a total exaggeration. We see him in the opening sequence and throughout bits of the beginning part of the film as a "troubled" boy. He rats out (pun not intended) the Turtles and Splinter to Shredder, ends up feeling remorseful about that, gets words of wisdom from Splinter, saves Splinter from death, and at the end has matured into "Dan."

You actually do have a point. Unlike April, Danny actually plays a key role in the film from beginning to end. Because of him we see the Shredder. He outs the turtles to Shrdder which results in their exile. He interacts with Splinter in the key scene which changes his life and then alerts the turtles to where he is being held. And it is he who leads Casey to rescue Splinter. He is sort of the dramatic foil to the "family" theme that runs through the film, but becomes the most dramatic example of the redemption theme.

So yeah, good point, Rose. Thematically, he drives the story like no other character can.

*Andrew NDB* · 03-17-2010, 05:30 PM

He's absolutely the emotional center of the movie, if not the main character himself.

Which is something to point out to the crazies that swear the first movie is some kind of near-perfect adaptation of the Mirage comics.

saul · 03-17-2010, 08:01 PM

I agree with the Danny points (which is why I brought him up to begin with), but here's some things:

- Could we think of a better plot device than Danny? How else would/should the foot find the turtles in April's pad?
- His time is, in reality, really minimal.
- I don't think the film was as much about Danny as a person as it was about the footclan. His role was just a way to bring us inside the clan and relate to it. It made it feel closer to home.

I've read your script, so I know you are proabably the one to ask about such things. And I want to ask: Would you cut Danny out of the movie entirely? Or, which scenes do you see as superfluous? And, what would you replace them with?
BTW, this is not an argument, I'm just very interested in how us fans could have shaped a better movie.

*Powder* · 03-17-2010, 08:09 PM

Survey says... April. I just wanna chime in by saying this is a very cool thread lol.

*Samhain* · 03-17-2010, 09:40 PM

I think April aswell. But to me Raph is the center of alot of it too.

BoggleKng · 03-17-2010, 09:56 PM

April's relationship with the Turtles.. Danny wouldnt have been a plot point if not for April in the long run..but good point.. now who is star of the 2nd movie?

*Samhain* · 03-17-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoggleKng

April's relationship with the Turtles.. Danny wouldnt have been a plot point if not for April in the long run..but good point.. now who is star of the 2nd movie?

Keno? Maybe Raph.

*Weapon X* · 03-17-2010, 10:07 PM

I feel like Donatello got a lot of time in the light in the second film.

Michelangelo in the third.

*Samhain* · 03-17-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weapon X

I feel like Donatello got a lot of time in the light in the second film.

Michelangelo in the third.

I dunno. I feel like Raph got more time than any turtle.

DonatelloDomeHead31 · 03-17-2010, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

What about Chief Sterns?

Yeah I gotta support you on that. After all, he does kick April out of the office, and as she leaves, her co-worker has timed her at 1:07--I wonder if that's still a new record

And also his attitude is the same in the 2nd one. So OldManWinters, you have my support on Chief Sterns.

Raphael and his anger are pretty close, but Raphael's is on the top.

*oldmanwinters* · 03-17-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donatello22

And also his attitude is the same in the 2nd one. So OldManWinters, you have my support on Chief Sterns.

Well hey, Judith Hoag got unceremoniously recast for the sequels, yet good ol' Chief Sterns was obviously worthy of shelling out the hefty paycheck to bring him back for his big Secret of the Ooze scene!

Alex · 03-18-2010, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weapon X

I feel like Donatello got a lot of time in the light in the second film.

Michelangelo in the third.

You are deffinatly right about Michelangelo in the third movie. That's one reason why I like it so much

Vivi · 03-18-2010, 06:22 AM

TMNT, and Raph - mainly because it's about him being unable to control his serious anger issues before getting the cr*p kicked out of him. I think he may actually even learn something, after which, they start fighting as a coherent unit. April and Danny compliment well and weave us into the human world. Even though it's not a perfect adaptation of Mirage, it's a very good movie.

03-17-2010, 04:56 PM	#1
saul Foot Soldier Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 161	Who's the star in the 1st film? April, Raph, or the TMNT? In the original 1990 film, who do you consider to be the main protagonist? We all know it's titled "TMNT", but the film does not put equal emphasis on all four turtles. Ignoring the title, if you were to watch without knowing anything about the movie, who would you think it was about? I will argue the film is really about April. - It opens and ends with her (opens with her report, ends with her celebration with Casey & the turtles) - She has the only Voice Over in the film (at the farm) thus establishing her as the dominant narrative force. - The entire plot/story is about her attempt to uncover the secret foot clan gang, and who she meets along the way (the turtles) that help her on her mission. The turtles are in effect an extension of her-- they draw out and expose to the audience another side of April we wouldn't have seen otherwise (her relationship to her dead father, her old farm house, her openness to accept odd things [the TMNT], etc) Other possible options: Raph, Leo, Splinter, Shredder, Danny, the city of NY, the foot... etc Please elaborate on your answers

03-17-2010, 05:00 PM	#2
oldmanwinters Overlord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Between yesterday and tomorrow! Posts: 15,497	Ironically, that's about how I feel about the first episode of the OT, "Turtle Tracks." That episode really is about April until the scene at the pizza parlor when the focus starts to shift to the TMNT themselves. I would say April and Raph are co-protagonists until until the campfire scene when Splinter makes contact with Leo and the others. At that point, it's the turtles' movie from then on out, since we really don't see much focus on April outside of her getting her job back and kissing Casey at the end. She becomes very much a side character as they return to the sewers and all she really does is bop a foot soldier on the head as if to tell the audience, "Hey, remember me?" __________________ Experience the TMNT Fan Commentaries! Check out my TMNT fan comic, "Nothing to Fear"! View my sketch work! I'm selling some of my hard-to-find TMNT items!

03-17-2010, 05:30 PM	#9
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,537	He's absolutely the emotional center of the movie, if not the main character himself. Which is something to point out to the crazies that swear the first movie is some kind of near-perfect adaptation of the Mirage comics. __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

03-17-2010, 09:56 PM	#13
BoggleKng Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Boston, Ma Posts: 1,224	April's relationship with the Turtles.. Danny wouldnt have been a plot point if not for April in the long run..but good point.. now who is star of the 2nd movie? __________________ You guys mind telling me what you're doing to my little green pal over there, hm? -Casey Jones, TMNT movie...

03-17-2010, 05:05 PM	#3
Weapon X Turtle Power! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,744	Your points about April are pretty valid, I cant really argue with them. Although it's still about the Turtles and their struggles as a whole. As far as "Star" Turtle, It's Raphael, it's basically "The Raphael Movie". He even replaced Leonardo as the one who gets jumped by the Foot. Which brings me to how underused Leonardo was. His big scene was being contacted by Splinter while meditating, that was about it. He's like Cyclops in the X-Men movie's. Just kinda their.

03-17-2010, 05:07 PM	#4
Roseangelo Emperor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: California Posts: 9,117	Nah, it's about Danny.

03-17-2010, 08:01 PM	#10
saul Foot Soldier Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 161	I agree with the Danny points (which is why I brought him up to begin with), but here's some things: - Could we think of a better plot device than Danny? How else would/should the foot find the turtles in April's pad? - His time is, in reality, really minimal. - I don't think the film was as much about Danny as a person as it was about the footclan. His role was just a way to bring us inside the clan and relate to it. It made it feel closer to home. I've read your script, so I know you are proabably the one to ask about such things. And I want to ask: Would you cut Danny out of the movie entirely? Or, which scenes do you see as superfluous? And, what would you replace them with? BTW, this is not an argument, I'm just very interested in how us fans could have shaped a better movie.

03-17-2010, 08:09 PM	#11
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,954	Survey says... April. I just wanna chime in by saying this is a very cool thread lol.

03-17-2010, 09:40 PM	#12
Samhain Dare To Be Stupid! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 1313 Mockingbird Lane Posts: 4,752	I think April aswell. But to me Raph is the center of alot of it too.

03-17-2010, 10:07 PM	#15
Weapon X Turtle Power! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,744	I feel like Donatello got a lot of time in the light in the second film. Michelangelo in the third.

03-18-2010, 06:22 AM	#20
Vivi Mad Scientist Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ninja HQ, Moon Posts: 1,076	TMNT, and Raph - mainly because it's about him being unable to control his serious anger issues before getting the cr*p kicked out of him. I think he may actually even learn something, after which, they start fighting as a coherent unit. April and Danny compliment well and weave us into the human world. Even though it's not a perfect adaptation of Mirage, it's a very good movie.