Doesn't everyone just love the fact that I've started using pictures again?
If anyone knows me, they should also know that I don't like CGI. I have always preferred the art of animatronics (or Jim Henson's Creature Shop puppets) as I find they have much more character and imagination. It's what I hated so much about the Star Wars prequels; the use of CGI creatures just made everything sterile and lifeless. There was also terrible dialogue, ham acting and Jar Jar... but hey, I'm not here to bash Star Wars (at least not today). What was I saying? Oh that's right, apart from Lord of the Rings and The Matrix to some extent, I am usually totally put off by these so called "visual feasts" that film-makers prepare for us on their computers.
Which brings us to TMNT
I first heard of production on this latest movie back in 2004, after I wrote a letter to TMNT creator Peter Laird (oh yes, how high did that raise my nerd points?), when Mr. Laird finally revealed that production was beginning on a new TMNT movie... completely done in CGI. I didn't know what to think. And to be honest, I still don't know what I thought at the time; I was obviously excited about the possibility of a new movie, but the idea of the turtles being completely computer generated made me very uneasy. In fact, I do believe these were my first words:
"Oh no..."
You see, I love the original movies; The Creature Shop did an amazing job with the turtle costumes (TMNT II was actually the last film Jim Henson worked on before his death), and while it didn't totally follow the cartoon at the time and the voices were different, they were still great to watch and a whole lot of fun. Plus, as I said before, 'puppets' have so much more character and also mean you can include them with real actors - because if there is one thing I hate most in CGI, it's humans. And the fight scenes were outstanding, because you had guys who were actually world-class martial artists in the costumes (and playing the Shredder), and to do the stuff they did while wearing those big rubber suits is an absolute credit to their abilities. Heck, there are just so many things I could go on and on about, like the soundtracks and the stories and the dialogue... So I guess what I'm trying to say is, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies are awesome in everyway
Except number 3. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person on the planet that likes it. And I'm OK with that
Back to the blog
TMNT 2007. I've just finished watching... and I still don't know what to think. I definitely have some gripes, but there were also some very cool things
First, the bad:
The Soundtrack. This is probably more because of my age and attachment to the original movies, but I when I think of TMNT movies, I think of Ya Kid K, Spunkadelic, MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice. Jet have no place in the TMNT world... or any world, except some sort of amateur world where they sound more talented compared to the local snail farmers. And I like P.O.D., but I just felt like their song did not fit - right at that point, the movie really called for a big pumpin' MC Hammer song. And I really did miss John Du Prez's score this time around
April & Casey. Firstly, I think they were the only 2 characters I had a real problem with the animation (except for Splinter, but I'll get to him in a little while). They both looked so thin, which is stupid when Casey is supposed to big a big tough vigilante. Plus, they had new jobs that seemed like a lame excuse for getting them involved in the story.
Voice Casting. Now this was actually quite bad. Most of the Turtles were cast quite well - especially Michelangelo (they used Mikey Kelly who provided the voice for Michelangelo in the first 3 movies - he's fantastic. Kudos to the film-makers for bringing him back), Michael Clarke Duncan was pretty good, and Patrick Stewart was absolutely brilliant as always... but everyone else was just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG! And while he wasn't the worst (I'll get to that next), Laurence Fishburne as the narrator just confuses me in everyway; having a narrator in the first place was unnecessary, but if you're going to have one, why choose a guy who couldn't act his way off the gong show?
Message to Warner Bros.: The Matrix wasn't just him playing a role - he really is that bad!
And then there is Splinter... I don't know what or who developed this version, but who(what)ever it was must have been confused. Firstly, he looked like a squirrel. Now I know I've already said I have no real respect for CGI, but come on - is it really that hard to draw a rat that doesn't look like it's running across a frozen wasteland while battling with a nut? And as for his voice... I actually burst out laughing the first time he spoke. My sense of humour quickly faded into disgust, when I soon learnt that it wasn't just a moment thing. I wish I could explain it, but I can't; was like some bad American actor impersonating someone doing an offensive impersonation of an Asian man trying to speak English.
Wow this is getting really long
But all my TMNT nerd bitching standing, I must say it was a pretty cool movie. As far as storyline goes, they picked it up after the third movie a few years down the track. Was pretty full on, and really cool. Plus, I actually did enjoy the animation; although not as cool as animatronics, the Turtles looked pretty cool. Good action... enough funny quips to keep me entertained... and some little 'scary' moments too. But I think I probably most enjoyed it because of the acknowledgment of the previous movies. The relationship between Leonardo & Raphael was given the same treatment, without it seeming tired or old, and also getting Splinter in on the action was pretty cool too
If it seems like I'm just glossing over this, I'm now very tired and want to go to bed. Bit of a shame, as I spent most of the blog making fun of a movie that I actually enjoyed, but I just can't recall the cool things right now. Maybe I'll update this tomorrow when I'm thinking better
But yes on the whole I did enjoy it, but that's probably because I am huge TMNT mark - probably not the sort of movie you would enjoy if you weren't. But let's just get that clear before I run away. TMNT 2007 was pretty darn cool. I've used that word a lot. I must be tired.
In the end, none of it really matters, because (as I said earlier today) all of these movies are just here to fill in time before Transformers destroys everything in its path
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