Writing Point of View of the 2014 TMNT Movie's Script

[LeoRaph]

Alright, it seems the Objective Point of View for the 2014 movie thread didn't really work as it was a finished product and had way too many subjective elements but one thing seems to be universal in that the script was really bad. I mean really really bad.

I will always call it the 'bastard child of blue door' or 'April O'Fox Rules the Universe' but hey that's me

Seriously though, I actually think we finally have something we can discuss objectively without letting our own personal opinions get in the way. We all know what good writing is and have seen it many times in other incarnations of TMNT but this movie didn't have it and many people can at least agree with that...you would think. So if we can, let's forget about designs, execution, acting, Megan fox, etc.. and try to keep this from a writing point of view only.

So, here it is:

What was so bad about the script/story? And What Specifically didn't work storywise and What Specifically Did Work storywise (If Anything and I mean Anything)?

[ScrewtheMirageTMNT]

I still think that what we got is better than what we could have got. The movie just needed more rewrites in the story and dialogue department.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by LeoRaph

We all know what good writing is...

You'd certainly like to think so, eh True Believer?

I'll start with "Villains' Scheme Made No Sense For $500" just to be semi-On Topic. Y'all can take it from there, there's certainly no shortage of things to discuss.

[IndigoErth]

Plot holes, unnecessary origin changes and other junk aside, prob one of the script issues that bugs me most is the perspective. It's the Turtles' movie, but the perspective followed April as if it was hers.

Case in point:

Spoiler:

When the Turtles hack April's computer and tell her to meet up with them and the scene where she does. We see it entirely from her perspective of what's happening to poor little April with these big scary Turtles.

April movie.

Turtles movie (imo): We instead see the guys hanging out waiting for her, hoping she shows up, and see the scene from their perspective. (And while they wait we get a touch of much needed down time.)

A Turtles movie should not make me feel like telling frikking April to "Just RUN!" when my dang favorite Turtle has dialogue and a so-called voice "actor" that make him sound un-Leo-like legit creepy in tone when he greets April in that scene with "Heeeey...glad you could make it."

A part of me died a little inside.

[Candy Kappa]

Releasing dangerous toxins that are colored in such a way you can easily see where it originates from, and it's being released from the top of the building that belongs to the company that will miraculously bring the cure. I see no flaws here...

[TrickOrTreater]

I just...I don't even know where to start.

Not a thing made sense in this movie.

They were either sh*tting on the Turtles or they were sh*tting on filmmaking as a whole.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

It's the Turtles' movie, but the perspective followed April as if it was hers.

Case in point:

Spoiler:

When the Turtles hack April's computer and tell her to meet up with them and the scene where she does. We see it entirely from her perspective of what's happening to poor little April with these big scary Turtles.

April movie.

Turtles movie (imo): We instead see the guys hanging out waiting for her, hoping she shows up, and see the scene from their perspective. (And while they wait we get a touch of much needed down time.)

A Turtles movie should not make me feel like telling frikking April to "Just RUN!" when my dang favorite Turtle has dialogue and a so-called voice "actor" that make him sound un-Leo-like legit creepy in tone when he greets April in that scene with "Heeeey...glad you could make it."

A part of me died a little inside.

Now I will never defend this movie's merits on plot, even though I did enjoy.

However, it's worth nothing that both the 2nd issue of the Mirage comic and the first episode of the Fred Wold toon ("Turtle Tracks") were both stories seen almost entirely from April's perspective. She was the protagonist in both of those instances until we (the audience/reader) became more familiar with the Turtles.

[TrickOrTreater]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

Now I will never defend this movie's merits on plot, even though I did enjoy.

However, it's worth nothing that both the 2nd issue of the Mirage comic and the first episode of the Fred Wold toon ("Turtle Tracks") were both stories seen almost entirely from April's perspective. She was the protagonist in both of those instances until we (the audience/reader) became more familiar with the Turtles.

Which would have been fine.

And yet, the movie CONTINUED to be about Megan O'Fox.

Where as the first movie had April and then, literally about 5 minutes later, we introduce the Turtles and the movie becomes theirs.

THIS movie took...what? 20 minutes for a full Turtle reveal? And even then, as I said, the movie continued to be about Megan.

Which sucks even more because the VERY few decent moments this movie had, you can count them on one hand and even then they're marred by sh*t somehow, were from the Turtles.

[Don77]

Script was definitely the worst part of this movie

[Autbot_Benz]

I think we should just rename the TMNT Movie thread into Lets make numerous topics and Bitch about the 2014 movie.

[TrickOrTreater]

Originally Posted by Autbot_Benz

I think we should just rename the TMNT Movie thread into Lets make numerous topics and Bitch about the 2014 movie.

And of course it's only bitching if it doesn't line up with your opinion, right?

Of course.

[TurtleTitan97]

The script sucked.

[IndigoErth]

Well if that's the case then no bitching about anything at all ever. That includes bitching about people's bitching.

[LeoRaph]

I think we should just rename the TMNT Movie thread into Lets make numerous topics and Bitch about the 2014 movie.

We could...but this is SPECIFICALLY about the Writing and NOTHING else which a lot of people think was pretty bad not just for TMNT but from a simple story telling point of view so I think voicing what was bad about the writing isn't 'bitching' at all.

[Chris]

It was just a lazy, lazy script with no heart. I still can't believe 3 people got paid to write it. Like everyone says, where do you even start on this topic, there was just so much wrong with it.

I get suspension of disbelief and "heightened reality", but a film has to obey its own rules of logic. You can't have Raph say he can't help because his shell is cracked then a minute later have him use his cracked shell to smash into a vehicle. Same for April, if she's so desperate to prove the turtles exist to her boss then why not show her the photo she took? Or when she rescued these turtles who were effectively like pets to her, why not take them home, why dump then in the sewers? Everything was done "because it looks cool" (Raph shell smashing the truck) or because it was the easiest way to get the characters to where the plot (and I use that word very loosely) needed them to be.

One of the biggest crimes against TMNT fans was the complete removal of any form of antagonistic relationship between Splinter and Shredder. If they felt the need to tweak/update the origin that's fine, but don't take out something that CRUCIAL and put NOTHING in its place. They spoke and acted like they had a history that the script did nothing to support. It didn't even hint at it. Even if Sack's had been Shredder there was nothing there (that was all given to April). There was no reason for animosity between Splinter and Shredder (and by extension between the TMNT and the Foot). Instead of being personal they fought simply because the TMNT were the good guys and the Foot were the bad guys. There was no depth. To quote April it was all just "froth".

And please don't say "it's for kids". I've seen plenty of kids movies that are better and more intelligently written than movies aimed at adults. This is an insult to kids intelligence.

[TigerClaw]

I person had no problem with the film regarding the script, The Script has gone through many changes over the years. I'm not really a hardcore movie buff that relies on how scripts are done when it comes to films. I just enjoy the movies for what they are, Entertainment.

Anyways, With a sequel coming in 2016, They can improve on it by writing a good script this time around, The 1st time was an experiment that needed revisions, This time, They know what they got, so they can improve on it and fix it in the sequel.

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by Chris

I get suspension of disbelief and "heightened reality", but a film has to obey its own rules of logic. You can't have Raph say he can't help because his shell is cracked then a minute later have him use his cracked shell to smash into a vehicle.

Yeah, that's just bad sequence of events right there... Was there no memory of what had been written shortly before it or too hard to reread and fresh the memory of what's going on before continuing the write? It was his brother that was being pursued, electrocuted, knocked unconscious and needed help. Smashing into the truck soon after just unfortunately made it look more like a disregard for his brother.

Although I did enjoy it being Donnie who went after Leo to help him. There just should have been a better reason - or no need for a reason - that Donnie went.

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

Anyways, With a sequel coming in 2016, They can improve on it by writing a good script this time around, The 1st time was an experiment that needed revisions, This time, They know what they got, so they can improve on it and fix it in the sequel.

Dear turtle god I hope so. They will regain some small measure of respect from me if they are willing to take up some humility, pay attention to what's been said and discussed online, including the critical stuff, and learn from it and apply it. If they however choose to dig in their heels and take an arrogant, flippant attitude, then they deserve all lack of respect they'll receive for it.

[TrickOrTreater]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Yeah, that's just bad sequence of events right there... Was there no memory of what had been written shortly before it or too hard to reread and fresh the memory of what's going on before continuing the write? It was his brother that was being pursued, electrocuted, knocked unconscious and needed help. Smashing into the truck soon after just unfortunately made it look more like a disregard for his brother.

Although I did enjoy it being Donnie who went after Leo to help him. There just should have been a better reason - or no need for a reason - that Donnie went.

They had a reason. Raph's shell was cracked.

Then they completely ignored that reason a few minutes later in favor of ANOTHER slo mo action scene with Raph, who, minutes ago, said he was very injured.

Dear turtle god I hope so. They will regain some small measure of respect from me if they are willing to take up some humility, pay attention to what's been said and discussed online, including the critical stuff, and learn from it and apply it. If they however choose to dig in their heels and take an arrogant, flippant attitude, then they deserve all lack of respect they'll receive for it.

They won't. They've been rewarded for sh*t and now they'll probably care even less for the sequel.

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by TrickOrTreater

They had a reason. Raph's shell was cracked

Well, I mean more that the remark, seeing as how it's forgotten soon after, seems to exist solely as explanation why Donnie goes instead of Raph, when in all fairness to Donnie there shouldn't have to be a reason for him to "be the badass for once," just go be it. If that makes any sense.

[TrickOrTreater]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Well, I mean more that the remark, seeing as how it's forgotten soon after, seems to exist solely as explanation why Donnie goes instead of Raph, when in all fairness to Donnie there shouldn't have to be a reason for him to "be the badass for once," just go be it. If that makes any sense.

Oh it does. The script writers are just not good at writing.

After all, they were also responsible for Blue Door.