Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

If you have been alive very long you know the story. Turtles defending the city against THE FOOT which is basically like what Lo Pan from BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA would have used for his ventures if he didn’t have the Storms, a really furry demon and a bunch of ninja chicks that will jack you up. April O’Neil (played by Megan Fox) discovers them and promptly decides to trust them based on some memories…queue the flashbacks.

The great – if you have not seen this in 3D I would suggest that. The camera angles and cinematography are freakin spectacular in portions of this film. Unlike most of what you may thing Michael Bay had almost nothing to do with this movie other than funding it. Instead we are given sometimes hit, sometimes miss director Jonathan Liebesman who only seems to let the camera fly like every other movie. I also really liked the designs on the turtles. I honestly thought they looked like garbage standing still, but in action that are pretty fun and they do display some of the personality you have seen in the comics and cartoons for the past 30 years (yes, 30 years). To close out the great stuff Megan Fox was just wonderful in this, perfect for the roll, only probably a bit too much makeup to be climbing around in sewers.

The problems - Whenever you take us to a world like this you have to not only pull the emotion bone, not just to make a great movie, you need it if you are going to try and show us something we haven’t really seen. We get a really shaky Shredder at best and although he looks great and has cool weapons, he doesn’t do anything that makes you think he is in charge of anything. He is as intimidating as the lady at the crosswalk. We do get some pretty cool fight scenes and in those Shedder is pretty cool, but we don’t hate him. He is just trying to do the same thing all villains want to do, smuggle stuff and kill big smelly turtles. Almost all of the actors aside from Megan Fox appear to have been after thoughts and Will Arnett as Vernon Fenwick is really the only one I saw even trying. We are also given some creepy moments where Valdimir from Twilight (Michelango) is hitting on April. I don’t remember that from the cartoons or movies. Anyone?

I give this one a 3 out of 7. RATING DEFINITION : JUST ALRIGHT. This is the movie you put in your BLU RAY or DVD player and watched when you are bored out of your freaking mind. You have exhausted all of your Netflix and Hulu options and now you feel like watching something that you don’t have to pay too much attention too… because if you do, you might as well just let a live raccoon loose in your house while zombies are chasing you with hot frying pans. You don’t mind the mess maybe once or twice…but after awhile you are thinking to yourself…why? Why? Why the hot frying pans?

TMNT 2014

Well now...

I didn't grow up with the Turtle toys, but I watched some of the cartoons and movies growing up, so while I'm not a devout fan,  I do have a fair grounding in TMNT.

Overall, I was fearful of what the combination of Bay and Fox would create...and I wasn't disappointed. It was chaos-filled a thrill ride for sure, unfortunately one that seemed to try to keep one foot in the lighthearted comics and cartoons, and the other borrowing the darkness of Nolan's sewers and alleys, without deciding which to follow. This disparity was jarring for me at times.

The cinematography was pretty dark overall, even accepting that much of it takes place in the requisite sewers. However, even the bright rooms felt claustrophobic to me. The film may have lacked the blood and gore of recent films, but it couldn't seem to shake the darkness.

William Fitchner is always enjoyable to watch, but it didn't feel like he was really stretching here, and the rest of the cast felt...well, two dimensional, in their deliveries. I had a hard time really getting worked up about any of them. Any one of them could have been hit by a truck and I wouldn't really have missed them.

The chases and crashes were fairly consistent in their ignorance of the laws of physics, which is sort of expected when you adapt a cartoon...but then the occasional slow-motion bit would be straight out of a textbook...creating further jarring for me. Entertaining? Absolutely.

Overall, it was about what you would expect from a Michael Bay/Megan Fox film. Plenty of action, not so much with the acting, a passable summertime popcorn flick for either people who grew up with the Turtles, or slightly older kids of today. If you liked the previous incarnations, you'll likely enjoy this one, but if you're looking for anything that will stimulate your brain...keep looking.

John De Lancie of 'Star Trek' and Kevin Eastman, 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Co-Creator, Added To Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con Celebrity Lineup

De Lancie Seventh 'TNG' Star For 25th Reunion At New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; Stewart, Anderson Will Not Attend

NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, November 13, 2012 – John de Lancie, who portrayed “Q” on several iterations of the legendary “Star Trek” franchise, and Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the wildly popular “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” have been added to the roster of guests attending Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 2012, at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.  De Lancie joins six other “Star Trek: The Next Generation” cast members in the 25th reunion of the iconic TV series.

Both are scheduled to attend all three days, will meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photo ops.  De Lancie will be part of the Star Trek: TNG special programming, and Eastman will discuss 'TMNT' in an interactive Q&A session.

Additionally, Wizard World has announced that Patrick Stewart has canceled his New Orleans Comic Con appearance due to filming in Winnipeg, and that Gillian Anderson will also no longer be attending.

Along with de Lancie and Eastman, comics legend Stan Lee, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Eliza Dushku, Reservoir Dogs headliner Michael Madsen and WWE® Superstar CM Punk® top the standout lineup of celebrities scheduled to attend the event.  They will be joined by an All-Star collection of well-known artists and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions in the final event on Wizard World's 2012 calendar.

In addition to de Lancie, members of the 'TNG' cast reuniting in New Orleans include Jonathan Frakes (Commander William T. Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lieutenant Worf), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data) and Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher).

De Lancie has been active in screen and television roles since 1977.  Although he is best known for his recurring role as “Q,” de Lancie has an impressive background within the entertainment industry. Among his many acclaimed stunts are the production and acting in several audio dramas based on classic science fiction stories for the production company Alien Voices, which he founded with Leonard Nimoy.
  
Eastman, who also owns, edits and publishes the magazine "Heavy Metal," created what began as a self-published comic and would go on to be a huge, worldwide phenomenon in the 1980s along with Peter Laird.  It wasn't long until "TMNT" was everywhere, spawning numerous TV series, a set of live-action movies and innumerable toys, games and other merchandise, even a concert tour.

Eastman adds to a standout lineup of superstar comic creators which includes Eisner Award Hall of Famer Neal Adams (“Batman,” “Green Lantern”), Eisner nominees Ethan Van Sciver (“Firestorm,” “Green Lantern”), David Mack (“Kabuki,” “Daredevil”), Jesus Saiz (“Resurrection Man,” “Birds of Prey”) and Ron Garney (“Captain America,” “Wolverine”), “Zombie King” Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies,” “Army of Darkness”) and Michael Golden (“Hulk,” “Daredevil”) leading the way.

Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK), will bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.  Admission is free for kids 10 and under, and Sunday, December 2, is “Kids Day,” an array of programming specially designed for children.

Event hours are Friday, Nov. 30, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more on the 2012 Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-neworleans.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.