We get it. They have noses. That’s weird. Even though some REAL turtles (such as the Pig Nosed Turtle) DO have noses. Regardless, the bitchlist of gripes about Michael Bay’s TMNT reboot has been heard. And, even though the jury is technically still out, there’s plenty to be excited about regarding the newest installment of the Heroes in a Halfshell. For example…
The Source Material
From day one, everyone’s been up in arms about the possibility of the Turtles being “aliens,” and The Shredder being a corrupt military general, or whatever. But, based on the previews, and interviews with TMNT creator Kevin Eastman – fully on board with the new concepts – we don’t have that silliness to worry about. In July 2012, Eastman called this reboot “easily the best Turtle movie yet,” stating that, while the movie is creating its own story, it has to be true to the source material or else they will get “murdered.” Recent Comic Con interviews also indicate that sequels will feature TMNT fan-favorites Bebop, Rocksteady and Casey Jones.
[Editor’s note: We were wrong. The movie totally blows.]
The Cast
No, not Megan Fox and Will Arnett. What’s more interesting is the choice of Johnny Knoxville as the voice of Leonardo. The Jackass frontman’s deep rasp is a stark contrast to the Leonardos of the past, all of which have been super-eager and mildly self-righteous. Does this mean that the rest of the Turtles – and the movie as a whole – will follow suit with a somewhat darker, more serious take on the franchise? Emmy and Golden Globe winner Tony Shaloub is also voicing Splinter, bringing an unpredictable possibility to the persona behind the master rodent.
