I was in grade 5 when I first learned about the Ninja Turtles. It was only a few months after I got into them that the first movie came out. I was so excited about it I would record the trailers, music videos and TV spots on a VHS tape that I would watch over and over.
Over the years the original TV show dwindled away as the movies got progressively worse. There was a thoroughly awful live stage show and equally bad live action television show. There was a mediocre TMNT computer animated film, then in 2012 they seemed to get it right with a well-conceived CGI series.
Now in 2014, we are soon to be treated to a live action film with CGI turtles created in the way Gollum was animated for Lord of the Rings. So far we have seen a couple of posters and now two trailers, which you would think would have me excited to relive my childhood but I have a few reservations…
1. Michael Bay
I’m not really a fan of his, but luckily he is not directing this one. Still his name on the project raises red flags.
2. Megan Fox
Yes she’s hot, but that’s not enough. And so far I can’t get my head around the idea of believing her as April.
3. The story
Not much is known so far, but it seems to be taking a page from The Amazing Spider-Man, in terms of adding a “mysterious” past into April’s life. It is an interesting idea, but nothing new.
At one point in the new trailer one of the turtles says “This is OUR city”. What? They’ve been living in hiding in the sewers their entire life, how does that qualify as THEIR city?
4. The Turtles
I’m still not sold on the new look. They don’t seem loveable but frightening. I imagine my kids will be more scared of them than rooting for them.
5. The look
What we’ve seen of the action looks like it will be pretty neat, but the film looks dark and the action looks too frantic, to the point where it could easily become more frustrating than exciting.
On a slightly different but related note, at one point one of the Turtles whips out a rocket-board. Again, these are characters that were supposed to be living in the sewers with limited means.
6. Woopi Goldberg
Seriously?
Final early thoughts
I really hope I’m proven wrong, and that when I see the movie I find it spectacular. But I’m really worried this is going to be similar to Superman Returns – it will certainly do well financially but very well might set the franchise back several years via a miscalculated reboot.
Related:
Ninja Turtle legs
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