MovieChat Forums > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) Discussion > Best version of turtles?

Best version of turtles?

posted 11 years ago by somethingtofear
30 replies | jump to latest

I watched the old cartoon and first movie when i was a child i do not remember much about them but i remember i was enjoying while watching.The thing is i have never been a fan of the franchise, for me they were 4 turtles who can do ninja stuff and like pizza.But this show made me love the turtles and franchise. I am 22 but i cannot stop myself to stop watching.The humor,style is really good.

So i wanted to ask to fans who probably remembers and knows more about the other films or animations of the franchise, do you think this is the best thing in franchise.I do not say adaptation because there are some changes in this one.

[–] AmberTribal 10 years ago

This is just my personal opinion! And I'm only including the main characters and those who have appeared/will appear in over two incarnations.

Leonardo: 2k3
Raphael: 2014 Movie
Donatello: 2k3
Michelangelo: IDW Comics

Splinter: Tie between 2k3 and IDW
April O'Neil: 2k3
Casey Jones: 1990 movie

Oroku Saki/Shredder: IDW Comics
Karai: 2007 Movie
Baxter Stockman: 2k3
The Rat King: Undecided

Leatherhead: 2k3
Slash: IDW Comics
Mondo Gecko: Archie Comics

"My outside finally matches my inner. I'm Blast Mode beautiful and don't you forget it!"

[–] remorselessd 10 years ago

Does anyone else not find it odd that it's a bunch of grown-ups discussing the merits of this show without a young person to be found?

Anyhow, fellow old-timer here, had all the '87 era toys, saw the first 2 flicks in theaters, spent all my spare money on the video games. I just checked this show out the other day on a whim, and I really enjoyed it. Tone-wise it strikes the right balance between action and comedy with an occasional dramatic moment where it seems most reboots tend to take things too far in one direction (super-serious Charlie's Angels reboot, anyone?). Animation-wise, I think it's some of the best CG cartoon work I've seen on TV. It doesn't have the stiff, processed look that always marked CGI cartoons until a few years ago and still often does, and it makes the fight scenes pop in a way they didn't in the original cartoon. There's also a nuance of movement and facial expression in the characters that I think is really well done.

Overall, I consider myself a fan of this version of the show and will keep watching it, not for nostalgic reasons but because it's entertaining and fun to watch, regardless of what network it's on or what its target demographic is. There are aspects of TMNT that I liked better in other iterations - the list posted earlier is pretty close to how I'd break it down - but I think this show is at the least a worthy successor to the franchise, and I wouldn't have a problem with someone saying it's the best version.

[–] destinafaroda 10 years ago

I don't think it's odd there haven't been younger people because most kids don't go onto message boards to discuss television shows, especially forums as text-oriented as IMDB ones.

That being said, I agree with you. This show is balanced between action, humor, and drama, with the action being very well directed as of late. At the same time, it nods to the past incarnations without being bound to them.

What I like is that it took risks (April and Casey as teenagers) and it made them pay off. When I first heard about lowering April's age, I thought it was terrible, but when I watched the episodes I realized it was the best adjustment the franchise could have made. It also knows how to be serious without going gritty and dark just for the sake of it. Most importantly, all of the Turtles in this version are really, really fleshed out.

There are some flaws in this show. At times, especially in Season 2, it rushes developments that could have taken just a little longer to pay off. I also don't like how in some ways, this cartoon is even less balanced in terms of male-female characters than even the 80's cartoon (although this is starting to be remedied this season). However, I can safely say that this is clearly the best version of TMNT so far.

[–] somethingtofear 10 years ago

I don't think this made for kids. i was considering that before i started to watch. but i saw many homages and references to films like thing,aliens apocalypse now and bun other in this show. these references cannot be for kids and they also aim adults imo.

[–] remorselessd 10 years ago

Kids' shows referencing stuff that kids wouldn't get has always gone on, though- "Goodfeathers" from Animaniacs, the Peter Lorre\Edward G. Robinson references in the old Looney Toons, etc.

What did kind of make me feel old, though, was the Napoleon Bonafrog episode, when I realized that "Napoleon Dynamite" is 10 years old now and most of the kids watching would not get the reference.

[–] DeRo64 10 years ago

Are you asking if anyone else thinks this is the best version of the turtles or what their favorite versions of them are in each series?

"There is no escape, John!"

[–] somethingtofear 10 years ago

i actually asked that is this version the best one made so far or do you have other favorite, soo kinda both of them.

[–] HappyPamster 10 years ago

I have seen pretty much all versions of the Turtles. For movie versions the original TMNT movie with Jim Henson's creature shop involvement was hands down awesome. As for televised TMNT, I'd have to go with Nick's. Seriously. Especially after that last ep Serpent Hunt. WOW! I wasn't into the comics, but...I was living with a guy who worked at Pizza Hut in the 90's and went with him to the OUtta of our Shells "Concert" and yeah, we were the ONLY adults there without kids...LMAO! Ah, memories.

Back to now though, hands down, Nick's version. though it took some serious getting used to seeing April and Casey as teens after having the original movie engrained in my psyche as the way those characters were. I wouldn't watch this version at first. I just watched from a distance as my son enjoyed it. And when I paid attention to it I was drawn in by this telling of the TMNT story.

Seeing Rocksteady and Bebop being added like they were sealed the deal for me. 😎

[–] Tsavo 10 years ago

For me, the best versions of the Turtles follow the original Mirage run, then the 1990 Film, and the 2003 series. And on the subject of the 2003 series, I am frankly baffled about the hate I see it getting regarding Shredder being an Utrom. I mean, I will admit I was not the BIGGEST fan of him as an alien, I saw far dumber things done in the 80's series, some of the films, this new series, and the newest film (though there was very little the new film did well at all anyways). Shredder as an Utrom worked in the series, and even managed to still be sinister, imposing, and have dramatic weight. I have felt very little emotional weight in this new run.

[–] psychozealot 9 years ago

Definitely this is the worst in all but in the diversity of characters. Then there is a tie between the 80's-90's series, the noughties series and the original comics, the tie is broken based on preferences, 80's-90's is the lightest, the original (comics) are the darkest and the noughties' are the most arrogant, over the top and ambitious (like this one they misrepresent the one from the 80's, 90's).

[–] psychozealot 9 years ago

Wait, I was forgetting "Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation" which is the worst and I rather do like it never existed and also the anime, which I never watched but must be the best, anime is always better (supposing the scriptwriters were mangakas or came from anime scriptwriting background).

[–] CSMV 9 years ago

The anime is basically just two extra episodes of the '87 show, with some of the usual anime cliches thrown in. It's hardly the best, nor the worst, and doesn't really stand on its own.

[–] psychozealot 9 years ago

then it is shrt enough to judge it, thanks