Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

[aeonpulse]

Because you CAN'T move like a ninja wearing a turtle costume that looks like the TMNT. There's not nearly enough freedom of movement.

You're right, as we can all see in the earlier TMNT live action films. But still, certainly they could create some sort of base costume that would allow for that kind of flexibility, and CGI in the rest of the costume during post, instead of relying completely on mo-cap and CGI?

 

[Westies14]

Apparently Shredder isn't Shredder, but "Colonel Schraeder," and those are his "F.O.O.T." Soldiers. That's why he can be a white guy, and why the Foot look like paramilitary. In the third act, when it's revealed that the turtles are not actually turtles but the four "chosen ones" from Dimension X's widespread humanoid turtle species rather than the accidental mutations that Splinter had always told them they were, it's also revealed that "Schraeder" is from the same dimension they are. He can sprout blade-like protrusions, leading Michaelangelo to say "more like 'SHREDDER!"

The story focuses on Casey and April, using the turtles as background props a la Transformers. April jumps on a trampoline. Hilarity ensues.

This is so crummy. It's easy to see why Nickelodeon/Paramount allowed Bay the franchise - he made a killing with those POS transformer movies. It might make money, but it's barely a story, it's unfaithful to the source material, and it sure isn't art. Thankfully, we'll always have the original comics and the new cartoon. That new show on Nick is actually probably the best possible mainstream interpretation, combining the best aspects of all previous versions of TMNT and taking their time to tell a story. I'm interested to see what the mocap turtles end up looking like, but I'll most likely skip the film.

 

[Kerr Avon]

Bay is a monster.

 

[JLeezy23]

Set footage of the cgi Turtles Set Video With Michael Bay's Pre-CGI TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

 

[Too Much Garlic]

What about Alison Pill? Doesn't she seem like a no-brainer for April?

I could see her as April.

And they moved pretty well in the first Turtles movie - they were believable and were weighed down by the shells, which they used to their advantage when doing rolls. I'm still amazed at how much movement and how they were able to perform in those suits. The second and third movie not so much as they went towards a much more comicy and unrealistic feel.

 

[Westies14]

I think what someone was trying to say earlier (and they're right) is that however you may feel about changing the race of a character for a film, there's a difference when race is intrinsically tied into that character's STORY. Yes, Johnny Blaze has blue eyes, blonde hair, but that IS his race. That's a given in this conversation. Past that, he's American (the melting pot of the world) and his name doesn't point clearly to any specific ancestry/race/genealogy. You can swap him out for any other race and play the story the same way. The same goes for Nick Fury, Perry White, etc. From what I've seen, you could do it with Blade and it wouldn't matter much at all - it does work both ways. In these instances, a blind person could listen to the movie and hear nothing that changes the character they know and love.

By contrast, Japan isn't quite the melting pot of cultures and races that America is. To cast a white man as a hyper-traditional ninja warrior from Japan named OROKU SAKI is to really upend who that character is - not just what he looks like. At the very least, it puts a thousand questions in the way before you can get to the story. But the character is inherently different. You can't just play him the same way. And ultimately, that's what's happened. We now have a Shredder that's US military, apparently. Such crap!

 

[Snikt]

Wow. You explained that perfectly good sir! Kudos! I endorse your message. :ninja

 

[seelsa73]

You people need to chill out, please! It's a RUMOR, meaning not a fact. For all we know, he could be playing the first guy the real Shredder kills. You can have a fit if it ends up being true.

 

[AlexBC]

Well, they cast a white guy as Splinter so fits are already in order.

"NERDRAGE MILITANT WHINGER HURDLES!"

 

[Xxblackbird]

I recently watched that Latino Review video where they talk about the script. The more I see of this movie the closer it looks to that script. Colnel Schrader, etc. Ugh.

However I should remember the original movie, cartoon and a lot of the comics were corny as heck. The original movie was dark and surprisingly adult, the comics were gritty satire - but still. It's not high art.

I really like the new CG series and wish they'd stick more with that. Fun, cute and exciting but not insulting.

 

[Scareb]

I watch the new nick cartoons and I watched the originals religiously as a kid but I'll always prefer the darker grittier ninja turtles like the Eastman and Laird comics and the first film. That being said if they focused all their efforts on making the turtles for little children instead of adults as well, I don't know if I'd be interested.

 

[dbalschi]

Well, they cast a white guy as Splinter so fits are already in order.

"NERDRAGE MILITANT WHINGER HURDLES!"

I didn't hear a lot of complaints when he was voiced by a black man in the original movie. It's a Rat.

 

[Scareb]

I'm less concerned with the fact he's white and more concerned that he's a midget with a higher pitched voice. I mean are they gonna have splinter stand 4 feet tall and waddle around. His casting is the biggest head scratcher of the entire film.

 

[AlexBC]

I didn't hear a lot of complaints when he was voiced by a black man in the original movie. It's a Rat.

You would have if the internet had been around.

 

[AlexBC]

I'm less concerned with the fact he's white and more concerned that he's a midget with a higher pitched voice. I mean are they gonna have splinter stand 4 feet tall and waddle around. His casting is the biggest head scratcher of the entire film.

Yep. While it's great to see more dwarf actors getting high profile roles, this piece of casting is even harder to see than a white Shredder.

Was so hoping for Randall Duk Kim.

 

[seelsa73]

I'm . . . more concerned that he's a midget with a higher pitched voice.

Don't you mean little person?

 

[AlexBC]

Don't you mean little person?

Actually, I think Dwarf is the correct term.

 

[Scareb]

Tomato potato

 

[KrangPrime]

Actually, I think Dwarf is the correct term.

Ahh, to be PC...... Confusing the world one politically correct term at a time ;o)..

while I agree with the Splinter casting (ONLY if these guys are doing mo-Cap AND the voice), it has happened before.
Apparently they cast a little person with TMNT2: Secret of the Ooze and where going to use a costume like the Turtles for Splinter. Obviously they didn't go that direction, and you can imagine the guy was quite pissed ;o)..

As stated above, I think most little people do have a higher pitched voice. It'll make splinter sound really weird IF he's doing the voice.
I wouldn't put it past michael bay.

Now that there is little doubt that leaked script from last year WAS real (apparently one of the photos does match a scene described...) I don't have much hope for this movie. It's like they just gave the reins to Bay and said, "Here, you know what to do with it.."

 

[Scareb]

I just can't figure out why they would cast a LITTLE PERSON (happy?) as splinter. It would make no sense to have 4 turtles ranging in height from 5'8 to 6'3 and then have a splinter stand 4'0 tall. I mean rats and turtles are pretty much the same size. I'm wondering though if they're gonna have him on stilts maybe since splinters legs are skinny and have the weird curve thingie. His arms would still be an issue though. If that's the case, then I would of preferred an actor with a deeper voice like Peter Dinklage. He would of been 10X better.

I just don know why they would choose him. I mean there's no way he could teach the turtles ninjutsu at his size and the fact he can't walk properly.