Turtles Forever

[KnightBeat]

I've not seen an episode of the Turtles TV show or movie since they originally showed up on the big screen. However, I'm intrigued by the new Turtles Forever TV movie. It promises to combine the original characters with the modern interpretation.

Turtles Forever montage

The Turtles visit the 1980s TV show dimension

A Transformers Universe series that incorporated characters from each of the various TF continuities would be a great way to get kids interested in the older TV shows and characters.

[Deleted]

That actually looks good. I'll have to catch that at some point.

[duffism1981]

This does look like it will be worth a watch. The cross over element could be interesting, and it will be interesting to see how the turtles react with the other selves.

[Kingoji]

Ken told me about this a good long while ago. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Sadly, none of the original voices are back, but I've heard that the replacements do an awesome job of imitating them.

[Dave]

I've been looking forward to this since I heard about the rough version that was shown....somewhere... ages ago. Sounds interesting though I've been avoiding clips.

Apparently it'll be shown on the 21st. So special internet edition soon after.

[Andy Turnbull]

Sounds good. Will check it out when it comes out!

Andy

[Hero]

Been waiting for this for months. This was going to be a DTV offering too.

Some Transformers DTV releases would be decent I think.

===KEN

[duffism1981]

Just a reminder for the people who don't mind downloading shows that this is now available on the torrent sites. I just watched it but will post my thoughts later as I need to go and walk the dog.

[duffism1981]

This was an interesting movie that did feel like a one off extended tv episode.

At first it was really strange to get into, maybe it was adjusting to the voices of the original Turtle series characters not sounding like how I remember them, but slowly I started to get used to them which let me enjoy what I was watching.

It was fantastic to see the some of the old characters again such as Rock Steady and Be-Bop, hell even Tokka and Rahzar make an appearance, though it was really frustrating that the eighties characters were treated as more of a joke while the naughties counterparts came across as the greatest thing ever.

Sadly Uncle Phil didn't reprise his role as the shredder,

SPOILER: Click to show

I was only expecting there top be a cross over between the eighties and the naughties cartoon characters, so it was a nice surprise to find that a third set of turtles was also featured, that being the original comic characters. The comic foursome are just bad asses.

[blueshift]

Haha yes. I found myself really really enjoying it as well. But I too got annoyed that the original guys and Krang/Shredder were treated as a giant joke to make the new ones look badass.

I mean, I LIKE them as a joke, but not to no-sell other guys, if you know what I mean!

[Hero]

I did'nt think the 80's TMNT were going to be treated seriously regardless of the voice actors. The soundalikes worked well, except maybe for Mikey.

This special highlighted the many whacky cliches of the old toon that were harshly critiqued by Peter Laird but enjoyed by its fans such as; walking around in the daytime, having a giant blimp with Turtles written on it, the constant pizza puns, trashcan ammo, Krang and Shredder's 'marraige', OT Shredder being wimpy, April always in trouble - I could go on

2K3 TMNT did get some of its own fun pokes too and they were not let off, but in hindsight the TMNT generations left thier mark on each other. Admittedly TMNT itself started as a parody anyway

I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. And needless to say, I enjoyed the performance of all 8+ Turtles as well as the various support cast. I also preffered this as an ending to 2K3 TMNT as opposed to Casey and April's wedding from earier this year.

Of course it's not over...

SPOILER: Click to show

Shredder and Krang now have a souped up new Technodrome, thanks to being in the 2K3 verse.

Rumour also has it that Nickelodeon who now own the rights to TMNT will be remaking the old toon. The next couple of years will reveal all.

===KEN

[duffism1981]

I have seen some of the 2k3 episodes but not many featuring Shredder, so I was very WTF when I found out that their version of Shredder was an alien rather than a human. That did kill a lot of the credibility for the 2k3 universe for me.

[Deleted]

I watched a few of the 2k3 episodes but just couldn't get into them. I used to love watching the original series when I was a kid but whether I'll still like them now is up for discussion.

[Hero]

There is actually a lot more to Shredder in the 2k3 verse than just the Ch'rell version. Season 5 / The Lost Season explained a lot more about Saki's origins beyond his admitted Utrom namesake.

I can certainly see why alien Shredder would get the WTF factor, especially from anyone who has not followed newer shows. Me I'm used to it, but I prefer Shredder as a human too.

===KEN

[Dave]

He's not like your Shredder, he's vicious, lethal... Competent.

Really enjoyed that. Liked seeing the different styles of the universes

SPOILER: Click to show

Especially the comic universe and Mirage Leo's narration was funny - especially when someone mentioned he was narrating out loud

.

I've seen quite a bit of the 2003 cartoon though I haven't seen any of the Back to the Sewer eps. I find it a great deal more enjoyable than the 1980's version which even when I was younger I had problems with. I'm not completely negative about them though and for the purpose of this story they worked.

[Kingoji]

That was just awesome fun. The guy who did the earlier Raph was the most spot on of the new voices imo.
I had heard that TMNT 2 mutants Tokka and Rhazar were going to be in here, but when two particular characters were mutated into a dog and turtle I was a bit gutted. Glad to see the 'real' pair turn up towards the end!
I'll defo be buying this on DVD!

[Hero]

I'll be getting the DVD too. According to some fans I've talked to, this TV airing had a lot of bits cut compared to the Comic-con premiere.

===KEN

[duffism1981]

According to wikipedia, I know not the best source for facts, there is an extra 12 minutes worth of footage that was cut from the tv showing but which shall be on the dvd.

[Kingoji]

I watched the film on Youtube, and they had the audio-only deleted scenes up there as links after the film. To be fair, none of them are really deleted scenes, just extensions of some of the ones we saw.

[Dave]

The DVD is now out. Actually due next week but received mine from PlayUSA a few days ago. Film is still a lot of fun but there are a few problems with this release.

It's in the 16:9 aspect ratio but presented in 4:3 letterbox format, so borders all round on a widescreen TV. Now most TV's have some viewing mode that will adjust the picture to fill the screen: not stretching, just enlarge the image to loose the borders, but why they didn't just go with an anamorphic 16:9 release I don't know.

No extras aside from some nickelodeon trailers before you get to the main menu. You thought they could have at least included the Turtles Forever trailers and the animatics that appeared on the website.

Speaking of the website, that had the extended version of the film, but this DVD is as broadcast which seems a bit silly really.

[The Doctor]

I had heard about the shoddyness of release. One to, sadly, yarr rather than buy.

-Ralph

[Hero]

I'm still yet to receive my copy of this TMNT celebration Seems a shame its been handled this way.

On another note, I have heard that paramount are not happy with the script for the next film. The idea of 'Bayformer' TMNT is scary enough.

Still. New series on the horizon and it could be verrrry good.

===KEN

[Hero]

New show starting up soon.

Here is a Sneak Peak

So far, the confirmed voices are: Rob Paulsen as Donatello (Rob voiced Raphael in the old toon) and Jason Biggs (Jim from American Pie) as Leonardo.

I am glad the proper white eyes look retains. I also just glad that TMNT is returning to TV.

===KEN

[Kingoji]

I dunno, man. I hope it's not an all-CG show, or at least, that these aren't permanent character models. They look like early PS2 graphics.
And giving Mike and Don bladed weapons really just cries overkill to me.

I won't judge it too harshly until there's more than a few seconds of poorly lit non-event to see... but my initial reaction would be to quote Leonardo;

"Turtles die with honour."

[Hero]

I don't think all CG offering would suit TMNT tbh. CG shows cant capture a city setting as its too expensive putting in background population. Just look at Transformers: Prime and how it avoids busy scenery as much as possible. An all CG TMNT would probably be restricted to the sewers...

Mike and Don have had blade weapon upgrades in a toon before. Season 5 of the 2k3 show which was known as the Lost Season featured Donatello with a Spear upgrade to his staff and Michaelangelo with a triple nunchuck thing with sharp bits on.

The clip as vague as it is gives an idea of what Nick has in mind for this show. The white eyes, and blade updates are two good enough newspeices but does'nt tell all about this upcoming serial. It could be pretty rubbish for all we know. I hope more news arises.

I will say though, that the blade additions for Mike and Don must mean the Foot 'ninja' are now robotic again.

[Hero]

I got word today after a couple of acquisition requests.

TMNT: Turtles Forever UK HMV Pre-Order

The UK release is said to be the full-length un-cut feature. Considering how TMNT used to be censored over here I'd say that's a justified turn-up.

===KEN

[Kingoji]

Typical this would happen after I just caved and got the US release.

[Dave]

As mentioned above I have the US release but I'll upgrade to this at some point. I kept the uncut version (from the website) on my hard drive but it's quite a small resolution so I'll happily grab the disc version.

Uncut Turtles is good, but I kinda like how for the first show (according to wikipedia) the German DVD's include the uncut episodes and the "Hero" versions. Would be interesting to compare the differences. I have the 'How it All Began' VHS tape around somewhere and recall it was quite a mess - though that is a lot more extreme in it's editing than most of "Hero Turtles" as it is a compilation of several episodes.

[Kingoji]

And a pointless one at that! Sections stripped from the middle of Blast From The Past, which lead inexorably into the Eye Of Sarnath saga...

[Hero]

The US show eventually censored Mikey's chucks out in favour of a grappling hook weapon called the Turtle-Line. This was later parodied in the Turtle-Titan episodes of the 2K3 toon.

I rented out How It All Began back in 1991 and held out hope that the BBC would air the full episodes from that. Seemed like BskyB was where its at for TMHT episodes.

I did get a friend to record me "Planet of the Turtleoids" off The Movie Channel which I later found out was multiple episodes merged into one feature. The feature being one big toy advert at that.

Speaking of more censorship. I am holding out hope that the 2K3 Lost Season eventually gets a DVD release over here. I bought the Australian release a while back and never got the goods.

===KEN