Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(2014) currently sits at 20% on Rotten Tomatoes critic reviews. What does that have to say about this movie? Absolutely nothing. It is stupid to sit here and state that you shouldn't listen to a critics review of a movie, while offering up my own review, but that is what I am here to do, and you don't have to listen to mine either.
As a kid, the Ninja Turtles were my favorite characters. I loved them. I still have all four turtles from the original movie somewhere in my garage, I have the original movie on VHS, and all three of the original movies on DVD. Turtle fans like me, are the ones who have been complaining ever since Michael Bay was attached as a producer, and when the designs of the turtles came out, Turtle fans threw a fit. Unlike those Turtle fans, I didn't worry about Bay's attachment to this movie, nor did I really freak out about the designs, although it was off putting a bit. As I entered the theater, as I do every movie I have a certain fan attachment to (Batman), I didn't go in worrying about these slight changes in the looks or any other issues fans of the original TMNT had. So how did I feel when I left the theater? I felt like a kid again.
The story wasn't anything special, it is hard to give a movie a positive review when the story isn't well written, and has major plot holes. Movies are forms of story telling, so when not having a good story, its hard to say something positive. Fortunately, that didn't bother me in the slightest. Why? Because I saw this movie in the same eyes that saw the original, the eyes of a child seeing the turtles come to life on the screen. This is a movie that should bring all the Turtle fans nostalgia, but unfortunately these fans are going into it ignorantly, and not realizing they are in there 20's-30's, and were a child when they fell in love with the Turtles. Go back and watch the original 1990's movie, the story isn't anything to write home about, it is also sitting at a negative 40% (only 20% higher then the new one) on Rotten Tomatoes. When you go back to watching the 90's movie, you will always love it because it was the biggest thing in your life when you were a child, you didn't care about the story, you cared about the action, and the Turtles, and how cool and fun and funny they were to watch. Well guess what, 2014 TMNT, the turtles are cool, fun, and super funny, and the action is simply AWESOME.
Lets talk character designs. Sure, its super off putting at first, but once the turtles are in action, and interacting with each other, the design and personalities meld together and then you realize, that is Leonardo, that is Raphael, that is Donatello, that IS Michelangelo. You can't deny these are the Turtles you grew up on (TV/MOVIES. Comics, they are a bit different). If you deny that these are the turtles, you are simply being ignorant and blinded by childhood.
Megan Fox is another issue the fans had with playing April O'Neil. She was decent. Nothing special. If any character in this film fell flat, it was unfortunately Will Arnett as Vern, and I love Will Arnett. Not saying he is awful in this, but his jokes fell flat and he felt a bit underused.
Overall, the critics are going to slam this film because they are looking at it professionally, they are looking for a tight, well plotted story. Fans of the original TMNT are going to slam this film because they can't get over the fact that it is a different generation, and the fact that when they fell in love with the turtles it was new, and exciting for them, and the story meant nothing to them, and the action was mind exploding, and the characters were SUPER COOL, but they were also most likely children. The thing with fandoms (especially a nostalgic fandom) is one small change makes them flip out. You could recreate the original TMNT movie scene by scene, but give the turtles four fingers and they would flip the shit out and say it is the crappiest movie of all time. I loved this movie. I felt like a kid again, I left feeling like a kid. I was in aw of the turtles like I was seeing them for my first time. Something I did NOT feel while watching the animated TMNT movie in 2007 (I did not like that movie). Anyone leaving that theater hoping to see a movie close to the original is going to be leaving disappointed, maybe angry, and these are the people who don't realize that the original movie is special because you were a kid and you fell in love with the movie as a kid, and it will always hold a place in your heart and will always blind you from any negative aspects of that film, they didn't matter to you then because you were a kid, and they shouldn't matter now because it is in a special place in your heart. Give the new TMNT flick a chance, see it as you saw the original as a kid.
I give this movie:
4 and a halfshell(get it?) out of 5.
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Saturday, August 9, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
75 Years of AWESOME
On March 30th 1939, Detective Comics #27 went on sale. What is the significance of this? Detective Comics #27 was the first issue to introduce the worlds greatest detective, and in my opinion, the greatest superhero to ever be created, the dark knight, the caped crusader, the Batman. Today, March 30th 2014 Batman turns 75 years old!
Cover date refers to the date displayed on the covers of periodical publications such as magazines and comic books. This is not necessarily the true date of publication. For some publications, the cover date may not actually be found on the cover, but rather on an inside jacket or on an interior page.
Now, I can spend my time giving you a history lesson on Batman in honor of his 75 years, or I can just direct you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman and you can read up on the history yourself. This blog won't be a history lesson, but instead, it will be paying homage to why this character means so much to me.
I've loved Batman ever since I was a kid. I can remember clearly watching Batman Returns as a kid (I was too young to see Batman 89' in theaters), and I can remember playing with my Michael Keaton Batman Returns figure which I still have today, unfortunately it is now marked with crayons and scuff marks, but still standing in my collection of Batman stuff. I remember loving each Batman movie I saw, Batman Forever, AND Batman and Robin (Remember guys, I was a kid!!!). I just loved Batman.
As a 26 year old, a lot of people seem to look at you like a weirdo when you have all these Batman statues, bobble heads, pez, posters, and wear a different Batman shirt each day of the week. I am not ashamed of who I am, and my love for this character. Sure, it is a fictional character, but to me, and others (not just with Batman), some things have a bigger meaning then JUST a comic book character.
As a kid, he is a hero to you, even if you know he isn't real, you as a child love characters like Batman because the hero aspect of it, the child like entertainment you see from the cartoons and comics, but when you grow up it becomes more then a "hero" or a "cartoon/comics". You begin to understand the stories, and the maturity of the comics and the very amazing animated series of the 90's. You see the adult view of this character, and you have a whole new love and understanding of Batman. It was around 2005 when I again became a huge Batman fan, after growing out of everything geeky and childish like. I am almost certain it was Christoper Nolan's Batman Begins that drew me back into it, although I am certain it was lingering in me and I just kept it hidden to fit in as much as possible.
My obsession with Batman begins (pun intended). Why was this character so special to me as a kid? The better question, why was this character so special to me as an adult? Well, time for me to get a bit personal. Ever since I can remember I have always in a ways felt alone, and not capable of becoming anything in life, that I am nothing special to family or friends and that I go out of my way to show them I am something and I feel a little crazy inside sometimes, struggling with my thoughts, and trying to fit in. It may sound crazy to some of you, but when I watch a Batman movie, or watch the show, or play the Arkham video games, or read a graphic novel, I see a story of a boy who lost everything, and grew up to become something, without any powers, without being special like everyone else around him. I see a dark psychological struggle, someone who is doing all he can for everyone and yet is also as crazy as the people he is fighting against. When I was a kid, I saw a hero fight the bad guy in a colorful world and a cool costume (still a super awesome costume), as an adult I saw the meaning behind the character, the depth into his psychological struggle, and I related ( No I am not crazy...maybe a little), and I became inspired.
Batman has inspired me on many occasions. One aspect of my life that this character has recently inspired me, has been something as simple as my art. One day I just became so fascinated with Jim Lee's interpretation of Batman, I decided to start up drawing again. Sure, you can say it was Jim Lee's interpretation that inspired me, which it was, he is a wonderful and inspiring artist, but without my love of the character, I wouldn't of cared to look at this art. I have become so determined in my artwork to become a better artist and one day hopefully create a character so amazing as Batman that I can inspire many others as the character has inspired me. I've struggled with what I wanted to do in life, and my realization of my love for Batman and comics have brought me to realize I want to create stories and draw them out for all to read and love and to inspire.
A fictional character and a fictional story may seem, to some, a stupid thing to be inspired by, something incapable of having an impact on peoples lives, but this isn't true. You see girls react to characters in books like 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight, drooling over fictional characters and hoping for a man like that (unfortunately sometimes the stories are awful). A character, a story, fiction or not can bring someone to tears, make the heart ache, inspire you, make you laugh, and make you strong. Sometimes it last for only that story, or in my case can last you a lifetime. From being a childhood hero, wanting to grow up and be just like Batman, to actually growing up and realizing that some things, no matter how crazy, and stupid they may seem are the most inspiring and most dear to your heart.
Now, I can spend my time giving you a history lesson on Batman in honor of his 75 years, or I can just direct you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman and you can read up on the history yourself. This blog won't be a history lesson, but instead, it will be paying homage to why this character means so much to me.
I've loved Batman ever since I was a kid. I can remember clearly watching Batman Returns as a kid (I was too young to see Batman 89' in theaters), and I can remember playing with my Michael Keaton Batman Returns figure which I still have today, unfortunately it is now marked with crayons and scuff marks, but still standing in my collection of Batman stuff. I remember loving each Batman movie I saw, Batman Forever, AND Batman and Robin (Remember guys, I was a kid!!!). I just loved Batman.
A blurry picture of me as Batman as a kid, and my cousin who ruined this picture with the Genie from Aladdin.
A Batman costume I made in 2010 for Halloween...and sometimes to fight crime...
Just some of the things in my room
As a kid, he is a hero to you, even if you know he isn't real, you as a child love characters like Batman because the hero aspect of it, the child like entertainment you see from the cartoons and comics, but when you grow up it becomes more then a "hero" or a "cartoon/comics". You begin to understand the stories, and the maturity of the comics and the very amazing animated series of the 90's. You see the adult view of this character, and you have a whole new love and understanding of Batman. It was around 2005 when I again became a huge Batman fan, after growing out of everything geeky and childish like. I am almost certain it was Christoper Nolan's Batman Begins that drew me back into it, although I am certain it was lingering in me and I just kept it hidden to fit in as much as possible.
My obsession with Batman begins (pun intended). Why was this character so special to me as a kid? The better question, why was this character so special to me as an adult? Well, time for me to get a bit personal. Ever since I can remember I have always in a ways felt alone, and not capable of becoming anything in life, that I am nothing special to family or friends and that I go out of my way to show them I am something and I feel a little crazy inside sometimes, struggling with my thoughts, and trying to fit in. It may sound crazy to some of you, but when I watch a Batman movie, or watch the show, or play the Arkham video games, or read a graphic novel, I see a story of a boy who lost everything, and grew up to become something, without any powers, without being special like everyone else around him. I see a dark psychological struggle, someone who is doing all he can for everyone and yet is also as crazy as the people he is fighting against. When I was a kid, I saw a hero fight the bad guy in a colorful world and a cool costume (still a super awesome costume), as an adult I saw the meaning behind the character, the depth into his psychological struggle, and I related ( No I am not crazy...maybe a little), and I became inspired.
Batman has inspired me on many occasions. One aspect of my life that this character has recently inspired me, has been something as simple as my art. One day I just became so fascinated with Jim Lee's interpretation of Batman, I decided to start up drawing again. Sure, you can say it was Jim Lee's interpretation that inspired me, which it was, he is a wonderful and inspiring artist, but without my love of the character, I wouldn't of cared to look at this art. I have become so determined in my artwork to become a better artist and one day hopefully create a character so amazing as Batman that I can inspire many others as the character has inspired me. I've struggled with what I wanted to do in life, and my realization of my love for Batman and comics have brought me to realize I want to create stories and draw them out for all to read and love and to inspire.
My Bruce Timm inspired art
Batgirl Bruce Timm Inspired art
A Jim Lee inspired sketch I did
A fictional character and a fictional story may seem, to some, a stupid thing to be inspired by, something incapable of having an impact on peoples lives, but this isn't true. You see girls react to characters in books like 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight, drooling over fictional characters and hoping for a man like that (unfortunately sometimes the stories are awful). A character, a story, fiction or not can bring someone to tears, make the heart ache, inspire you, make you laugh, and make you strong. Sometimes it last for only that story, or in my case can last you a lifetime. From being a childhood hero, wanting to grow up and be just like Batman, to actually growing up and realizing that some things, no matter how crazy, and stupid they may seem are the most inspiring and most dear to your heart.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
So...About that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Trailer?
I grew up on the Ninja Turtles, I saw the first original movie when I was younger, I can't remember if I ever saw it in theaters in 1990 since I was two (came out two days after my birthday on March 30th 1990), but I remember multiple viewings on VHS at home, from the original, and the two sequels. This will be a shock to many of my fellow friends and family, the original TMNT movie was definitely my go to movie, even over the original 1989 Batman movie, in which I can't even recall watching that on VHS when I was a kid (If you are reading this and a stranger to my life, I AM A HUGE HUGE BATMAN FAN).
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| A VHS TAPE: A rather crude and low quality tape-based video recording format from the 70's, which remained popular 'till the 90's, mainly because it was the lowest common denominator -URBAN DICTIONARY
I can remember seeing the stage show "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out of Their Shells" Tour when I was younger, I think at Universal City, I remember watching the VHS of the Tour constantly at home as well. I loved the Ninja Turtles, I had toys, I had beach towels, I had the movies, I just loved them as a kid.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: COMING OUT OF THEIR SHELLS: The continued adventures of the four adolescent mutated turtles gifted in the art of the ninja, as they attempt to stop a mysterious evil that threatens to end the world.
As I got older I grew out of them, in fact I grew out of a lot of things I loved, even Batman, but around 2005 I found my way back into the geeky culture I loved when I was a kid. 2007 the animated feature film "TMNT" came out, and to my disappointment, it was pretty bad. It wasn't the worse turtle movie (TMNT III).
TMNT 2007
Out of curiosity I decided one night to check out the new TV show on Nickelodeon, and was pleasantly surprised at the brilliance of this show. It brought the turtles to a new generation of kids and was still very accessible to the adults who grew up on them. It had the humor down perfectly (Michelangelo is pure brilliance in the show), it had the action and it had heart. I finished the first season in days, and can't wait to catch up on the new season! If you love(d) the Ninja Turtles when you were a kid, do yourself a favor and watch this show, you won't regret it!
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2013 TV SHOW
Finding out about this new movie, I was stoked, even when hearing that Michael Bay was attached as producer, I was still not concerned. All I heard on the internet was complaint after complaint about a movie that no one had even seen photos of (up until recently), and anger at casting a white guy as Shredder, again, not a concern of mine. So finally today I was browsing my Facbook on my phone while laying in bed, I see an update from a page I follow "See the 1st trailer for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". I jumped out of bed, straight to the computer and watched it, and never had an experience with a movie trailer as I have had with this one....
Does it look good? Does it look horrible? Was I excited? Or disappointed? I seriously don't know...I've never been excited for a movie, only to see the trailer and not know what to think. Do I think it looks good? Yes, it looks awesome! Do I think it looks horrible? Yes, it looks like it could possibly be awful. Was I excited? Yes, extremely. Disappointed? Yes, extremely. What is this effect it has had on me. I am confused at what to think. Is it nostalgia making me excited for this and making me feel that this will be awesome? Is it also nostalgia making me feel disappointed and that this will be horrible? When I finally got my glimpse of the turtles in the trailer I was taken back. What the hell is this? They were horrid looking! Those lips. What is this...?
WTF?
I can't tell if this is Shrek? Or a turtle. Why are they so awfully tall as well? People complained about the Turtles design in the recent video game "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of The Shadows", which I found to be an excellent more modern and darker take on the turtles look, and would of been beyond happy with it.
OUT OF THE SHADOWS VIDEO GAME
So who had the idea to make them look like some weird deformed green human/shrek/turtle hybrid?
The real question here though, as a fan of Ninja Turtles, can I look past this? Yes, it's hard to, but I can. Although disappointed in what I've seen so far, and yet still extremely excited for what I've seen so far (that mask joke at the end was excellent), I can tell you with that lingering disappointment and shock of the design, I will be one of the first in line to see this, and will be crossing my fingers for the best. I hope, like the new TV show, this will open the turtles to a new generation, and yet still cater to us old fans of the comics/movies/tv show. I will hold ALL of my disappoint until after I see the movie and I truly hope my current disappointment will be erased after I see it.
Check out the trailer here and tell me what you TMNT fans think:
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