CBR Visits "TMNT" Studio

[FightingDreamer]

Here's the link for a "TMNT" set visit done by Comic Book Resources: http://comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9456.

Personally, I'm a bit worried. 81 minutes is way too short, and we may not see Mikey use his nunchucks... again. I'm not too broken up about no throwing stars, but no nunchucks? We see him unfurl his nunchucks in the trailer when the Turtles are about to fight some big monster, so Munroe and Gray's about no nunchucks has me scratching my head.

 

[SirLemming]

That's a real shame. Why is the UK still getting all uppity about nunchucks? In movies, no less? More generally, it's unfortunate that they weren't permitted to have violence that might scare children. From what it sounds like, they're getting the short end of the PG stick (they said they weren't permitted to do something Narnia-level).

Somehow I also doubt we'll get an "unrated version" DVD.

 

[FightingDreamer]

That's a real shame. Why is the UK still getting all uppity about nunchucks? In movies, no less? More generally, it's unfortunate that they weren't permitted to have violence that might scare children. From what it sounds like, they're getting the short end of the PG stick (they said they weren't permitted to do something Narnia-level).

Somehow I also doubt we'll get an "unrated version" DVD.

I wouldn't say it's the short end of the PG stick; the trailer has a TON of action, and the Leo/Raph fight is allegedly very intense. Still, I'm a tad concerned.

 

[Frank Castle]

I'm worried about this movie now. I hope the movie is good, but right now I have doubts.

 

[NightwingAngelo]

“They have different standards for us than they do for ‘Narnia' or something,” Gray said. ‘You can't whack somebody with nunchucks.' Nunchucks are absolutely illegal in the UK, you can't even show them being whipped around. Throwing stars are definitely out. We were told up front, ‘Don't whack anybody with a nunchuck, because it's going to be cut out.'
“If we had our way, we'd probably be making PG-13 or R.” “The biggest enemy is intensity, not violence,” Munroe tried to explain. “[The violence] is never really glorified. It's always done with that sort of Turtles spirit, which is cool, even though they're still using katanas and stuff. It's not language or blood or anything, it's sort just intensity…”

EVERYTHING until tha point was great. I can't believe Mikey can't use his Nun-chuks, yet Leo and Raph can use Katanas and Sais.

Not downplaying the Nun-chuks of course, but comon'!!!
I agree about the intensity though. I don't see the need for this film to go all gorey, but I wanted it at least at the level of the new cartoon (Not FF). I hope it gets there, and maybe beyond that.

 

[SirLemming]

I wouldn't say it's the short end of the PG stick; the trailer has a TON of action, and the Leo/Raph fight is allegedly very intense. Still, I'm a tad concerned.

Well, I was referring to their comment that they weren't given the same standards as Narnia, a PG movie with very intense bloodless fight sequences. Mike not being allowed to use nunchucks is pretty ridiculous. It'd make sense if he used them directly on humans, but we all know that's not going to happen. Their weapons are all potentially very deadly, but they don't use them that way.

 

[CyberCubed]

Why is the UK so worried about nunchucks in the first place?

They've been like this since way back in the original cartoon when Mikey had a grappling hook replace his nunchucks.

 

[Master Moron]

I haven't seen the trailer or anything, but this movie doesn't sound that great. The main villain is just some random monster? That sounds so lame. Why couldn't they use Baxter Stockman or the Rat King or something? Their comparison to Batman Begins really doesn't work, since Ra's Al Ghul is considered a pretty important villain by the hardcore fans.

Why do they care so much about the UK audience anyway? Isn't the U.S. audience a hell of a lot bigger?

 

[BigEclipse]

I'm sure once we actually see the movie we won't even notice the nunchuck thing. They'll probably cut away or use long camera angles to get around that. Mikey can have his 'chucks in his hand but kick or punch his enemy. In all the stills, he has them either lashed to his belt or in his hands. It's 2007, there are ways around EVERYTHING.

I personally like all that I'm hearing. The villian isn't the center of the story, it's a character piece. I'm excited about Leo and Raph throwing down. I think their sibling rivalry is one of the most dynamic aspects of the Turtles story. Raph considers himself the bravest and strongest, yet Leo is considered the leader. Leo assumes this role not based on his ego, but because he sees himself the big brother and wants to look out for his family. It's that thinking that made his season four characte change so compelling. People didn't like the new Leo, but I understood comepletely. We sometimes do things out of charcter for our families.

 

[CobraSpectre]

PG rating, ouch. I really would have preferred something higher.

Anyways, if you watch the cartoons it's not like they ever really get a chance to use their weapons. They spend time training, just to make sure nobody gets hurt. I might be wrong, but it seems like there was never any blood.

What is the huge concern is nunchuks? If you don't know what you're doing you're just going to hurt yourself. Swords are easy to get and everyone can get hurt.

 

[Dark Fact]

I agree that this is absolutely ridiculous that the corporate suits aren't allowing Laird and co. to do this film by their own way. The whole debacle with the nunchuks is old hat and after the old TMNT series went off the air, this should've blown over like an old storm, but yet the UK still wants to stick their nose into Laird's business and have him have Michelangelo disuse the nunchuks entirely.

The TMNT just can't seem to get off on their own, can they?

 

[FightingDreamer]

I agree that this is absolutely ridiculous that the corporate suits aren't allowing Laird and co. to do this film by their own way. The whole debacle with the nunchuks is old hat and after the old TMNT series went off the air, this should've blown over like an old storm, but yet the UK still wants to stick their nose into Laird's business and have him have Michelangelo disuse the nunchuks entirely.

The TMNT just can't seem to get off on their own, can they?

It appears not. Still, I'm pretty stoked for this; the trailers have so far been awesome, and it'll be such a relief to get some good-old fashioned turtle power in a sea of CGI-celebrity-critter-comedies.

 

[Dark Fact]

Is there some law that states that any movie made in the U.S. HAS to be shown in the UK no matter what?