New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (TMNT) movie trailer
by Blake Snow 
{ Jul 22nd 2006 at 5:00AM }
Back in the late 80's, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a big deal in pop culture, at least with little tykes like yours truly. Now after the previous fat, "rubbery" movies some 20 years ago comes an all new computer animated feature film due out in February of next year. I wish I had something snarky to say, but I'm still trying to figure out if I can buy into the fiction of grown, pizza-eating ninja turtles once more. Can you?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Phil @ Jul 22nd 2006 5:05AM
In b4 "how's this about video games?" discussion.
T-Bag @ Jul 22nd 2006 5:27AM
Kowabanga dudes!
No seriously though, it’s 2006 people. All the kids want today is Jap Crap, excuse the language. There is no way this movie’s going to succeed unless all of “us” are willing to face the person who sells the tickets (I’m not). I’ll just wear a fake beard and some big glasses when I go to my local video store and rent it.
tmnt @ Jul 22nd 2006 5:39AM
the trailer looks like a cheap intro to a tmnt game! $&%$&#&§$%&§$#&§$%&!!!
also the turtles looks like the were on slimfast or the atkins diet.
this movie will not do any good the the tmnt franchise...
i'd rather watch the 2nd gen. tmnt cartoon that currently airs on some tv networks
Fo0dNippl3 @ Jul 22nd 2006 5:48AM
I'm stoked for this. It's supposed to take a lot of inspiration from the original Eastman and Laird comics, which means it has the potential to contain mass amounts of awesome. More ninja-like action? Heck yeah!
Eih'Beir @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:20AM
Woooo! Go Donatello!
the_game_master @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:52AM
The original cartoon debued in 1989
was aired on mostly local affiliates before it was picked up by CBS and aired on Saturday mornings in the 1990s.
AJay17 @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:53AM
#2... In what way does that look cheap? Looks like they spent alot of time on it, and it payed of. Damn, have an open mind, so they changed the look a bit. Its been 20 years. Your one of those people thats "cool" and bitches about everything aren't you? I normally don't read comments here on Joystiq because it seems to attract people like you. Figured since it only had 3 it'd be ok. Guess not.
/end rant
#3 ... Right on
Insomnia Bob @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:04AM
Yeah, the art looks a lot more like the original comics. Which, while surreal and freaky, were nowhere near the cartoon show's level of cheesy strangness. Totally different in tone, for one thing.
Looks worth checking out. Also, 'tmnt', take a look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TMNT1987Series.jpg
...and tell me if you'd go see a movie that looked like that.
Tiago @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:28AM
I love tmnt... but I've got to admit, it does look like an intro to a game more than a cgi movie :s
Hope I can shout cowabunga again... but I'm not too excited with this trailer :s
James @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:33AM
Thought the trailer looked cool but...
How cool was the first TMNT movie? I still pick up my old (legit) VHS copy of it sometimes. For my money it is still the best "movie based on the cartoon based on the comic" of its era. The costumes were awesome, the turtles didnt look awkward in their fighting at all, and there was actually a decent story (although why krang wasn't in it, ill never know).
Looking forward to the new one, but let us not forget the old, "rubbery", trail blazers of yesteryear.
Christopher7xii @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:51AM
This looks damn cool I think. It's a CGI comic, what do you expect? Photo-realism CGI? What's the point then?
Pretty funny timing. Just was thinking about the music tour they had back during their peak and the VHS I had of it. Wonder if I still have that...
Chronogears @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:23AM
WHERE ON EARTH DID THIS COME FROM!?!?!?!?
I LOVE YOU, JOYSTIQ!!!!!
Weirdo @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:23AM
The beginning shots of the buildings look like a game intro, but the turtles look damn good. The last few seconds when we get to see the closeups, I thought it was magnificent! I think they got the look just right. Looking forward to it.
THEM @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:37AM
That's awesome!!!! Can't wait!
Ubersnuber @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:39AM
When i watched the cartoons in the early 90', i swear they were named "Teenage mutant hero turtles"!
nobody believes me though :P
Ron @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:46AM
Definitely looks bad ass! This looks like a refreshing change to the "rubbery" turtles before. We will see if it can even compare when they release actual fight scenes.
Jonathan Harford @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:52AM
Someone getting hurt and then weakly calling out “I'm okay!” == COMEDY GENIUS
Probot @ Jul 22nd 2006 8:53AM
Movie looks really good so far. The fast-paced, ninja-like moves make more sense than the giant, slow moving turtles of the old movies. (Though I still love the old ones. Well, the first two anyways.)
Kotaku posted a clip of the video game. It looks like it shows actual gameplay and it looks pretty decent too. Still a year away from release though.
http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/top/clips-making-the-tmnt-game-with-ubisoft-189050.php
The1 @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:07AM
Back then I thought TMNT was STUPID then; and I most certainly think it is stupid now and beyond.
Lachry @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:07AM
Since when do the turtles move like real ninjas? From watching the cartoon show, you'd think they all had asthma.
kevinski @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:08AM
14. When i watched the cartoons in the early 90', i swear they were named "Teenage mutant hero turtles"!
nobody believes me though :P
If I'm not mistaken, that's because Europe (?) had issues with the whole 'ninja' thing in general. Thus, the name had to be changed. I don't know if this is still the case, though.
Timkell @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:12AM
'Ubersnuber' I believe you because you're right, In some places it was called Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles! I'm pretty sure the reason for calling them "Heroes" instead of "Ninjas" was that they thought hero sounded more western, more american than ninja; which obviously isn't exactly western. Anyone know anything more on this?
striderhayasa @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:26AM
Here's the problem...and I do agree that the first movie is still the best. TMNT fell off when the violence was toned down and the story was watered down for kids. I used to be a big TMNT fan back when Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird released the 4 graphic novels under Mirage publishing. The turtles were violent and the foot clan weren't a bunch of idiots. The were vicious and the turtles had the scars, bruises and the cuts to prove it. When Shredder made his return in book 4 it was one of the best stories of the time.
The CG from the trailer isn't movie quality so I agree with many of you here that it looks more like a game intro. Look at the CG for Pirates 2. I was expecting something more hi end along that line. I have a bad feeling that the movie will be watered down so the game/toy/cartoon spin offs can be marketed for the tykes instead of following the original story for the turtles that had them fighting hard against the Foot.
We'll see.
I'm skeptical at best.
The best animated TMNT are the original 5 episodes that kicked off the first series. The best TMNT games are the Konami TMNT and TMNT: Turtles in Time that were in the arcades and the TMNT 2 version that was almost arcade perfect on SNES in the 90s. Special mention goes to Turtle Tournament Fighter on SNES, also by Konami.UBI has their work cut out for them.
jestergoblin @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:40AM
1. The TMNT cartoon debuted in 1987, not 1989.
2. The switch from Ninja to hero was made because of censorship laws in England during the early 90s. Because of heightened gang activity who used ninja moves, they wanted to distance themselves from them. This was later carried to other non-American countries who used the dubbed version of the English release. It is also why Mikey lost his nunchakus during the third season and switched to a grappling hook.
3. The plot of the film has very little to do with the Foot Clan. They will be in the film and lead by Karai, Shredder's adopted daughter, but will not be the main enemy.
Tyler Bartlett @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:53AM
Best Movie of 2007. No contests, Spidey wishes he was as cool as the Turtles. This Ninja-Tag teaser is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. This movie can't get here fast enough. And anyone who thinks this movie won't do well: you're just stupid. The TMNT are still one of the strongest brands in the world.
They have one of the better Sat.AM cartoons. Not to mention an entire generation that is still full of fans of them.
God I can't wait! I'm going to go watch the trailer again.
Jerry Seinfeld @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:28AM
It's probably going to be based off the newer version of TMNT, the one that was on the FoxBox or 4kids tv or whatever the hell they call it. Thus, the movie will most likely be a dissapontment to anyone over the age of twelve.
riffgod @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:31AM
I'm all about this movie. I've been a fan of TMNT since I was a child. Remakes are all the rage right now and it looks like this one is doing it right. This really should be an easy project, it's pretty hard to get this movie wrong. Let's hope for the best.
While we're talking about movies instead of games. There is always little bits of rumors and information about a Zelda movie that pop up from time to time on the internet. Has anyone heard anything about it lately? A Zelda movie would be hard to pull off as most movies based on games are. However the fan base for a Zelda movie would be over critical and nit-picky and I imagine would need several billion dollars and at least ten years to get everything right. As long as it doesn't turn out as cheesy as the Super Mario Bros. movie.
Ninegauger @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:43AM
Looks cool to me. I can't tell anything about the movie coming from a trailer with so little dialogue. I find it interesting that others have. The CG doesn't look realistic but I don't think that's the point. I'm willing to hope that it'll be a good as the original movie.
I don't know if anyone's actually done this but for all you whiners I dare you to watch the old show and the new show and tell me the old show is better in some objective way. The old show was made for kids when you were kids, the new show was made for kids while you are adults. I imagine that it's not the turtles that changed but you.
Austin @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:55AM
http://movietrailersreviewed.blogspot.com/2006/07/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-teaser.html
This movie looks absurd. Maybe once we get closer to a release and we see more of the actual plot, it might get better. Are kids even still excited for TMNT anymore?
I don't think they have voice actors yet, that's why there was no dialogue.
I'll have to see when another trailer comes out, but for now, I'm not too excited for this movie.
http://movietrailersreviewed.blogspot.com/2006/07/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-teaser.html
calthaer. @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:03AM
I'm with #22 - TMNT arcade game was the awesomeness back in the day. I was a little old for TMNT (the Transformers movie coming out next year is much more my speed), but nobody could argue with the smashing madness of 4-player fun that could be had in that stand-up machine. That was truly the arcade in its highest form, just before it fell into the black abyss of history.
Zero_ @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:03AM
Well, I for one, am excited for this movie, and I grew up on the original TMNT series. Come on guys, you need to stop defending what you love and cherish and just take it for what it is; a CGI adaption of the original comics.
It's a difficult task to balance the movie to appeal to the audiences. On one hand, you have the biggest market, children aged 6-13 who love this kind of Sci-Fi Action stuff, and then you've got the 16+ adults who either want a really gritty retelling or a really 'psychadelic dude!' version, and from what I could tell from watching that trailer, they've struck the middle very well.
And if all else fails, we always have Transformers... right?
JAC @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:05AM
First Rocky and now this??? dear god, I just hope that at least one of them doesn't suck, and I really hope it's this one.
TURTLE POWER!!!!
Probot @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:06AM
It's a teaser for a movie that won't be out for a year. It's doesn't need dialouge. It's not designed to get people in theaters. It's purpose is to inform people that the movie is being made.
The review didn't say anything beyond "it didn't do much for me." Having an opinion is fine, but don't try to masquerade it as a review.
Markster @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:37AM
#26
I totally agree with you. The new show is in no way inferior to the old one.
And as a fan of the original show, I can actually say that I think the new show is downright better. It actually has plot progression (multi-episode arcs) and certainly more imaginative villians. (Whereas the old show was contantly "O NOES, Shredder again!")
As for this new movie...
The real draw for me of the original movie was that it was the Turtles.... in REAL LIFE!
This new movie is obviously not aiming for that. It'll just be... a TMNT movie. Nothing bad about that. Though, it loses some awesome factor.
Raynre @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:42AM
I -liked- the rubber suits. They obviously put a lot of work into them, and I thought it was interesting that they could do backflips in them... >_>
Of course, that doesnt make up for the complete suckiness of the third movie, but I digress...
Probot @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:58AM
@29
"And if all else fails, we always have Transformers... right?"(Zero_)
If the rumors are true and this is Optiums Prime, then maybe not.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n308/grimlock5/RealOptimusTruck.jpg
Michael Bay has responded to the fan backlash at seeing Prime's truck for changed so much.
"The reasons why they went with a huge long nose truck for OP (BTW, regarding the flames, there is a context for them like Orci pointed out). Bay said they did test with flat noses (FN) for scale purposes, and the FN would only be about 20 to 25 feet tall, so they went with the biggest truck they could find: the Peterbilt. We're talking 40 to 50 foot tall robots here."
Source: http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23858
Jdoki @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:00PM
@20
You are right - and if I remember correctly, that Christmas, when people were literally fighting each other in the shops for those damn action figures... they didn't come with the same 'ninja' weapons as the US versions.
Ah, yep - Wikipedia is our friend...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles#Censorship_and_.22Hero_Turtles.22
As for this trailer... not impressed. This almost looks like the result of a studio asking for animation companies to submit a tech demo.
MrTsLoveChild @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:16PM
to everyone bitching about the CGI:
this isn't supposed to look photo-realistic. it's a stylized CG cartoon. did "incredibles" look realistic? no. did it kick much ass? yes.
i admit the old movies have some sentimental appeal but the turtles looked fat, slow, and very un-ninja-ish. these turtles from the teaser look like sleek ninja masters. and because it's a cartoon, we'll probably finally see krang on the big-screen.
nez @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:39PM
I agree with everyone thinking the look is supposed to be a cgi comic/cartoon, which looks great to me, as it reminds me more of the comics (which i still have) than any other iteration there's been lately. So hey, Turtle Power!! http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=163
dsub @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:55PM
I'm all about a TMNT rebirth, but not this way. The live action films were amazing thanks to the help of Jim Henson's creature shop. I just can't stand how these days every director takes the easy way out and just does CGI. What made the original movies so great was that there was no CGI involved. Hollywood has seemingly lost it's ability to do real live action effects.
Also, this movie looks like a much more dark and serious take on the Turtles than in the past. Serious, mature turtles doesn't exactcly make them "Teenage" now does it? Another part of the series that made it so great was the constant bickering and funny one-liners that took place. I have no desire to see a 21st century take on perhaps one of the three greatest cartoon/toy/movie franchises of my childhood that makes the turtles look serious and not funny. TMNT, Ghostbusters, Transformers, and GiJoe's were what I was raised on. I just hope TMNT doesn't get ruined.
greatslack @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:06PM
yes, but will it have vanilla ice?
Probot @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:08PM
@dsub
Did you actually watch the trailer? There will be comedy in this movie. As short as the trailer is, it was obvious that the humor is not being removed.
My favorite TMNT movie was the first one. And it was dark and serious. I'm gonna wait for more info to make a judgement, but to me this trailer shows a fast pace and dark atmosphere, while maintaining some humor.
pennywise969 @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:13PM
I loved the cartoon back in the day, but in hindsight it was cheesy. From what Ive read this new movie is supposed to be based on the original source material, the comic. I think this trailer looks awesome and I am stoked for the movie. All you haters can eat it.
Also, the original post says this movie is coming out in February of next year when the page it links to clearly says 3.30.07. Reading is fundamental.
striderhayasa @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:25PM
@ Ninegauger
Think about that statement for a second...
"The old show was made for kids when you were kids, the new show was made for kids while you are adults. I imagine that it's not the turtles that changed but you."
What were kids (myself included) watching during that era...
Macross/Robotech
Saber Riders
ThunderCats
Silver Hawks
Voltron
Transformers
Dungeons and Dragons
Inhumanoids
Galaxy Rangers
S.W.A.T.
Visonaries
Tranzor Z
Dragon Warrior (Dragon Quest)
These are some of the best animated series to ever grace televison and even though they were supposed to be for kids, the stories and content dealt with a many adult themes in many of the episodes. Watching Roy Folker and Ben Dixon die in Robotech had me and my classmates talking for weeks.
Better example, watching Mum-Ra transform for the first time as a kid was some creepy shit. Todays kids have no idea or concept of how great it was to be into animation back in that era. This current era is so infused with "me-too" just flatout bad, shovelware Japanese animation, that it's a disgrace.
TMNT was a big part of the reason the old era is held in such high regard. If the production team wanted the new TMNT movie to be the best it could be, they would follow the Turtles from the 4 part print of the mirage publishing run. The first turtle movie had parts that were inspired by Book 4 of that series.
Also, for anyone that believes that quote at the beginning of this post, you tell me what the reactions were in the theaters when adults and kids alike watched in horror as their favorite Transformers were getting wasted in the original Transformers the Movie.
Watching Prime die was bad enough but so many Autobots got merced it was ridiculous.
Why can't I have a Turtles that reflects that era?
Michael Bey and Steven Spielberg?.....yeah, at least we still have Transformers.
Probot @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:37PM
"These are some of the best animated series to ever grace televison..."
As much as I liked the shows you listed (of the handful I watched), that is only your opinion of them. Those shows certainly relfect the culture of the time, but that time has passed.
My younger brothers and cousins (between 5 - 10 years old) don't like watching my Transformers or Thundercats DVDS. It's a different generation.
Judd @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:50PM
I gotta agree with #1. I'm not usually the guy who says "not game related" because there is always some thread with games. It was one thing with the revealing of Rocky Balboa because in the trailer they mention how Rocky won a fight in a "computer match". http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/13/rocky-balboa-rocky-vi-plot-driven-by-video-game/
It was another thing to mention Flat-Panel TV's because even though gaming wasn't mentioned in the article, it is understood the importance of HDTV's during this console generation. http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/20/flat-panel-tv-prices-are-on-the-decline/
But TMNT? I know they've made a lot of video games based on the franchise, but they've also made a lot of Rugrats games. At least somewhere in the article mention a TMNT videogame coming out or something. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to find out this news, but at least call this blog not a videogame site but an entertainment site, like IGN.
Probot @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:03PM
@Judd
Joystiq is a blog about video game culture. Though TMNT movie isn't directly related to video games, it is certainly part of the culture.
But really, I think the 42 comments (44 - two complaints) are justifaction enough.
32_footsteps @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:07PM
Wait, if they supposedly don't have voice actors yet, why does Mikey talk (admittedly a bit quietly and muffled) in the trailer?
Actually, I have to say that I like the new look. I think the TMNT tend to be depicted a bit wide and I always wondered how effective they could be with kind of chunky bodies. The svelte look is good.
Also, while it clearly looks like it could have a great video game adaption, I wouldn't bet on it looking like that. Looked too well-rendered for an on-the-fly sequence like you'd find in a game.
Still, all told, I don't see Michael Bay involved anywhere, so there's at least some reason to remain hopeful.
Killer_Twinkie @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:12PM
I don't care what anyone says I am way hyped there is a new one coming out and will go see it no matter what with no shame because I was such a huge fan when I was a kid. Yeah the CGI doesn't look very realistic but being based on a cartoon do you really want it to be, no you don't because then you'd complain that it's too realistic and they should have just done another live action if they were gonna make it that realistic. I've read that the voice actors they've signed aren't celebrities and I think that is the way it should be. I've also read that the writers of the original movie or something have been there giving suggestions every step of the way. The game looks pretty good too, IGN has some gameplay footage up and it looks like a mix of Prince of Persia and some other games that I can't seem to put my finger on. And stop hating, it's a teaser and the movie doesn't come out for another 9 months. Just wait until it gets closer to the time of release when we get to see a more in depth trailer and make your judgements then.
Exo @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:35PM
"Wait, if they supposedly don't have voice actors yet, why does Mikey talk (admittedly a bit quietly and muffled) in the trailer?"
just becaus they arnt listed in imdb doesnt mean they arnt selected, Im pretty sure the movie would fail if it comes out in less then a year with no voices, and no way to lip sync to those voices yet.