Ninja Turtles - Cowabunga!

Sabrblade

Continuity Nutcase
Citizen
Also, best dad memory of 2003 Splinter was them finding out about the Battle Nexus and being told that Splinter was a champion. Mikey saying 'It's like finding out your dad was Superman' struck a chord. Like, do I have a memory of being proud of my own father?
Yet, when Superman's own sons first find that out in Superman & Lois, their initial reaction was more like "You've been lying to us our entire lives! You're a horrible person!"
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
Understanding, yes, it's getting better. But this show is still distilled ADHD, which is just not the kind of show I enjoy. Teen Titans would often go right up to the line, but never really crossed it. So I could take it. Teen Titans Go was just too much. I have a low tolerance for these kinds of shows. But yes, it's gotten better. It's gotten to be watchable. And I'll wait till the end to make my final judgement. But as it is now, it's watchable, but still not going to be anything I revisit any time soon after I finish it.
That's totally understandable. Though...I think by the end of the show, you'll likely have certain episodes you might want to revisit. Probably not the WHOLE show, though.
 

Caldwin

Woobie Destroyer of Worlds
Citizen
Okay, update. I've been kinda splitting my time between watching Rise and getting "The River" trilogy scanned into my computer. I am now finished with my River Trilogy project, so tomorrow I can focus totally on TMNT (and laundry, dishes and groceries...but you know what I mean). I have 6 episodes left in season one and then I'll be able to start season 2.

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This was the only BST AXN figure they had at Walmart. Lucky for me I already mentioned how I had a distinct lack of Donny.

When I first saw it in the package, it looked like that shiny, hard, cheap plastic you might expect on a McDonalds toy. But when I felt it in my hands, it actually seemed to be an okay plastic. Not top quality like NECA or Super 7, but for a $20 bargain toy, it wasn't terrible.

The problem came when I tried to switch out the head and hands and the whole thing just completely fell apart on me. I saw each individual part including the chest and waist parts that are usually underneath the shell. This told me just how cheap these things are. Like seriously, the Marvel Legends series are similarly prices and have a lot more quality in them. I can't even keep the 'D' on his belt from falling off. I may just have to superglue it.

Sooooo, yeah, I don't think I'll be buying any BST AXN figures any more. I rather pay double for something that won't fall apart on me.

Okay, well, here's the thing. I got the Leonardo on a "I really need a win today" type day. It was quite a bit more sturdy than the Donatello. I also got some Gorilla Glue and now the 'D' on Donny's belt is not falling off any more. And Shredder is actually pretty good. Plus, now that I have Leo and Don, you just know I had to get the other brothers.

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This arrived yesterday from Amazon. I do like that it came with the grapple as well as the nunchucks. But I'm guessing the grapple will go into the storage bin with the other unused accessories.

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And here's best turtle. It makes me sad that the second head has some paint damage on it. So I guess I'll be keeping the default head on it. I like the kunai that he comes with. Being such a fan of Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, you know what's coming.

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I attached a chain to the kunai. All I had was a gold chain, so that's what I used.

So, final review for BST AXN:

I was saying how I was wishing there were some decent toys that weren't the expensive $40-$50 toys you see with Playmates and NECA. Well, here ya go. They aren't hyper detailed. You can tell they made a bit more cheaply than the premium Playmates/NECA toys. But they're only $20, less than half that even the cheap side of Playmates/NECA. I had an unfortunate first venture with Donny, but the others changed my mind. They're less expensive than the others, and you get what you pay for, but for the price, they aren't have bad.

Solid B
 

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
Oh man, I remember plotting one of those when I was a kid. It was going to have digitized graphics using live action suits, and characters from the Archie comics, and... and...
 

Caldwin

Woobie Destroyer of Worlds
Citizen
Okay, the goldfish episode was entertaining. I even liked Splinter in this one. I'll dare to say I hope the goldfish shows up again.

I feel like there should be a "but" there, but...no. It was a fun one.
 

Caldwin

Woobie Destroyer of Worlds
Citizen
Okay, I'm confused. Volume 2 ends with "End Game" and Volume 3 begins with "End Game.'

At first I thought I was just watching a recap because it felt like there were pieces missing. But it turned out it was the entire episode...again. Like, it still felt like a truncated recap...but the entire episode was that.

Oh whatever. On to "Many Unhappy Returns." So I'm finally on the last 12 episodes...which I assume is season 2, even though it seems like the next part of a multi-part episode that I'm pretty sure started in Season 1...but...this thing's a mess!

At least the Turtles seem to finally be taking things almost semi-seriously...ish.
 

Fero McPigletron

Feel the fear!
Citizen
I talk to Caldwin on Discord occasionally, and my favorite comment of his from the Shoe Store episode (aka the one where the series finally starts to get good) is "I've been blind-sided by plot!"
Haha!

Oh Superman technically didn't lie to his sons of his sons never asked him if he was Superman, haha. Only saw the first five eps btw.

Oh, the goldfish ep was scary! Haha

I remember the episode guide in the wiki changing. Dunno what promoted that. Anyhow, did you see the Lair Games yet? Hehe

You're near the end!
 

Caldwin

Woobie Destroyer of Worlds
Citizen
Cudley Cowlick! Yes I knew it was coming because someone here said something...but now I got to see it for myself. This show has Cudley!

Okay, maybe it's slightly better than TMNT 3.
 

Caldwin

Woobie Destroyer of Worlds
Citizen
Okay, soooooo, the last two episodes were actually pretty good. They managed to strike a decent balance between the absurd and the serious. I think if the rest of the series had been like these two episodes, I could have given the series a higher grade. Also, interesting Utrom cameo.

BUT:

1. Casandra Jones? Are you hugging kidding me? And she only pulls a heel/face turn at the very freaking end?

2. So Splinter made Leo the leader with the very last line of the series? I mean all well and good that he eventually became the leader at some point since he's been the leader in ever other series. But...why? Just because he's the leader in every other series? Raph did nothing wrong!

3. I'm still not a fan of Shredder's design. Just...not a fan. I mean, I guess it's not as bad as the 2014 movie...but that's a really low bar.

As far the series as a whole, it's all very "distilled ADHD" and I really just don't like shows like that. Now granted, it probably didn't help that I went straight from probably one of the most serious TMNT series to one of the most non-serious, but I just don't usually go for these kinds of shows any way. It had a few good episodes. I'll give it that. But as a whole, I just don't see myself revisiting it.

On the good side, I'm now ready for the Netflix move whenever it arrives.

One last note. I watched 6-7 episodes of season 1 and the entirety of season 2 today...in one day. My poor, poor brain cells. They never had a chance.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
Okay, soooooo, the last two episodes were actually pretty good. They managed to strike a decent balance between the absurd and the serious. I think if the rest of the series had been like these two episodes, I could have given the series a higher grade. Also, interesting Utrom cameo.
*Nods* That final battle was EPIC! Arguably, one of the best fights in all of TMNT. This finale was FAR better than this show deserved.

1. Casandra Jones? Are you hugging kidding me? And she only pulls a heel/face turn at the very freaking end?
*Shrugs* It's actually KIIND OF foreshadowed. In one of the episodes (Always Be Brownies), we see her room, and she has a Hockey Stick...I think that's it, but it's there. It was REALLY last minute, but I thought it was a cute touch. And...well...I don't want to spoil things for you, but let's say the trailer for the Rise Movie addresses your concerns.
2. So Splinter made Leo the leader with the very last line of the series? I mean all well and good that he eventually became the leader at some point since he's been the leader in ever other series. But...why? Just because he's the leader in every other series? Raph did nothing wrong!
Well, originally, this was supposed to be a "prequel" series showing the TMNT's origins. It...REALLY wasn't that, but this was supposed to be the RISE of the TMNT, the very first stories with these guys at their youngest. I'm assuming they just had to do that to please some executive.
3. I'm still not a fan of Shredder's design. Just...not a fan. I mean, I guess it's not as bad as the 2014 movie...but that's a really low bar.
Personally, I think it works. Not so much as a toy, but in this animation style, he's a threatening beast. Mind, it helps that they CHEAT HARD, and change the length of his neck whenever they feel like it, from scene to scene.

On the good side, I'm now ready for the Netflix move whenever it arrives.
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Actually, you MIGHT have seen these, but they're worth mentioning, because it's pretty easy to overlook them.

May I present....the 2017 Summer Shorts.

In the summer of 2017, right in the middle of showing the final season of 2012 TMNT, Nickelodeon randomly showed these little 5 minute shorts. Half celebration, half pitches, Nick was clearly trying to think ahead about what they wanted the next TMNT to be. This is WAY before Rise was announced.

Here's a Youtube playlist that should have them all:

You can probably guess from the thumbnails which ones are more serious and which ones are more goofy. There's no continuity, just random shorts. You can watch them in any order you please.

You...MIGHT want to just stop after the 5th video in the playlist, though. You remember how we talked about Rise maybe being the Teen Titans Go of the franchise? Well...TMNT Team Up is worse...it's the Breadwinners of this franchise.
 
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Caldwin

Woobie Destroyer of Worlds
Citizen
Okay, understand, this is how I rate these things right now. As me tomorrow, the order might be different. Also, I type this before I’ve actually rated these. So it’s actually possible something may get a higher score yet still be lower on the list. We’ll see. I don’t see this as a contradiction because it is possible to objectively see some flaws in something but still emotionally find them more endearing than the objectively better thing.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 (live action Movie) - S
This was back when everything I knew about TMNT was still the Fred Wolf cartoon. Well…I honestly forget what came first, this movie or my first Mirage comic. I honestly forget. But I do think this probably came first because I was so shocked when Raphel said “damn,” Shredder was competent and boy oh boy did they go in for the drama. It also introduced me to a cool Casey Jones (instead of the Fred Wolf buffoon). It wasn’t as bloody and gritty as the Mirage comics, but it was certainly more serious than Fred Wolf. It was the perfect combo. I still love it to this day.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW Comics) - S
Okay, there are some weaknesses here. Like most comics these days, it’s a very decompressed way of story telling. I’ve never been a fan of these type of storytelling just because you’re paying more and more for comics and getting less and less story. Also, the art over the past few issues has been…not good. The story telling, decompression notwithstanding, is tight as ever. But geeze, that art!

On the good side, it’s included just about every TMNT character you could want: Karai, Rocksteady/Bebop, Jagwar, Alopex (which is really as close as they can get to Ninjara given the copyright confusion). Even characters that are typically not thought of very favorably *coughVenuscouch* are actually being done really well here. It’s the ultimate collection of everything TMNT ever was.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage Comics) - S
Here I’m really conflicted. I like the early issues. The first issue is classic. Some of the Tales issues (I Monster, the ones with Leatherhead), the ones where they went into space, Leonardo one-shot and its continuation in issue 10, Return to New York. It has so many classic story lines. Read them in color. Read them in black and white. These stories are just so good.

The thing is, dang it gets rather depressing. Like, yes, I know the series continued after City at War, but it was the start of the guest writers era and pretty much the end of the Eastman and Laird era…to the point that any collections and reissues stop right here. And it feels like such a sad way to end it. Casey now has a child and was married. This puts a bit of a “what now” strain on his and April’s relationship. Donny and Splinter are staying in Northhampton while the others are going back to New York, splitting the family. It just feels like such a down way to end the reign.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 (series) - A+
Still a kids show, but they kept so close to the Mirage roots. It had to do some softening up of the stories in order to make it past the network. But they were able to keep in so much.

Negatives…I don’t know. It’s debateable. But making the Shredder an Utrom…I just don’t know. As close as the series kept to its Mirage roots, this was a drastic departure. Also, the less said about Fast Forward and Back to the Sewers, the better.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012 (series) S
This series just blew my freaking mind. I had a couple times trying to get into this without sucess. But within the past month when I finally pushed through and an watched the entire series…ho..ly…hell! How many times did I note “how is this a kids show?” I can’t believe some of the things they got away with. The only real negative, if you can call it that, is that it also ended on a downer (if you go by production order). Don’t get me wrong. I love the Mad Max story. But as an ending to the series…I really hate ending things on a down note. But honestly, that’s the only negative. This series, ask me tomorrow and I may just say I like it better than 2003.


TMNT 2007 (CGI Movie) A
Over all, this isn’t the strongest movie. I enjoy it, but honestly, Patrick Stewart is one of those voice actors that I can never see the character on the screen. I can only ever see Patrick Stewart. That’s kind of a me problem, I admit. But this is my list. Over all, I mean, it wasn't bad, but it wasn’t great either. But one thing I have to mention that skyrockets the movie in my opinion, Raph vs. Leo on the rooftop in the rain. That fight and the emotion in it was such a powerful punch to the gut. I absolutely loved it. Best fight ever. I’ll watch the entire movie just for that fight.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - C
Ugh! I hate to give this duo any bit of positive feedback. And look, I know Michael Bay only produced it. He didn’t write or direct it. But he did produce it and it still has his fingerprints all over it. I don’t like Megan Fox. I hate what they did with Casey Jones’ character. Any time you put in fart jokes, you automatically knock down my respect. But…live action Bebop, Rocksteady and Krang…it’s not the worst version of TMNT I’ve ever seen.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secret of the Ooze - C
Freaking parents! How do you have the Turtles and not allow them to use their weapons? The costumes also took a hell of a hit in quality. They recast April, left out Casey. While the first movie had a bit of an issue of having lots of foot soldiers on screen but only a few of them actually fighting…this was so noticable it was painful. The turtles would be surrounded by foot soldiers, but most of them were only standing back and doing action poses. It was painfully obvious even as a kid. And while Tokka and Rahzar have been used quite well since then, at the time it was a severe disapointment that they weren’t Bebop and Rock Steady. Vanilla Ice...okay so the Ninja Rap has become sewn into the very fabric of TMNT. But even at his hight of "popularity," Vanilla Ice was still an easy target for mocking. Soooo...take that for what it's worth.

One thing I will say in support of it, it gave us Super Shredder. And to be honest, it still isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever watched. I can still watch it and not be so disgusted that I have to turn it off. It’s watchable.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (Archie Comics) - D
*sigh* Okay, here’s another one I’m conflicted about. I like that they took the Fred Wolf turtles and took them seriously. Especially for the Archie comics company at the time, they did go dark. Plus, as I’ve already said before, I’m a bit furry for Ninjara.

But for hugs sake! Look, I like the rain forests. I’m all for protecting them. I’m totally for protecting the rain forest. But could you possibly hit us over the head any harder? Is it even possible to drop those anvils any harder? Even by 80’s/90’s standards, this was about as subtle as an atomic bomb in the middle of a library! Hell, the story would (often) come to a dead stop so the writer could preach about the environment and the evils of industry. Just…gah! I can go back and read in moderation…but…gah!

But…I’m furry for Ninjara…so…I think there’s that emotional vs. objective thing that made me put it above the following.


Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - C
I think my most repeated phrase for this series was “distilled ADHD.” I just can not take this kind of show. It frazzles my nerves. I will say that there are moments…just…moments…and maybe a couple episodes…that were pretty okay. In fact, the last two episodes as well as the Gold Fish half of its episode would even rate a solid B…+. But over all…I just did not like this series.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Fred Wolf) - C
I liked this series at the time. After all, if not for this series, I wouldn’t be the TMNT fan that I am today. So there will always be a nostalgic respect for this series in my heart.

But let’s be real. I can not go back and watch this series. I’ve honestly tried lately. I wanted to see a few episodes just to see the first appearences of Chrome Dome, Mona Lisa and other characters. But my brain just could not focus on it for long. I was lucky to get through a single episode before I was just unable to focus on it any more. I hurts to rate it this low, but it truly is one of those childhood shows I used to love that going back to it…I just can’t.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 (live action movie) - D-
Okay, again, I know Michael Bay only produced it. I know he didn’t direct or even write it. But it still has his finger prints on it. And I still don’t like Megan Fox, I still don’t like fart jokes, I don’t Shredders design. I also like the idea of design where sometimes less is more…and boy oh boy did they over design…well, everything really, but the turtles specifically. This was just a huge freaking mess!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III - F
If you have to have your characters laugh at every single joke to make sure the audience knows that a joke was even made, you have a problem. Remember how I said the costumes took a hit in quality in Secret of the Ooze? This movie makes those look like cutting freaking edge! And freaking wet willeys! It’s not funny. In fact, none of the “jokes” were funny. I want to say it was nice to see Elias Koteas reprise his role as Casey Jones, but dang they did a piss poor job writing him. In fact, they did a piss poor job writing everything and every one. Even the worst of the other versions of TMNT I can usually find SOMETHING positive to say. As much as I loath 2014…the action was…okay…ish. The elevator scene was a moment that happened. But this? I can’t think of anything positive to say about this. Nothing! I watched it once because the BluRay came in a set with the first two movies. But never again. This is just…its so piss poor. Nothing redeeming about it.
 

Sabrblade

Continuity Nutcase
Citizen
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 (live action movie) - D-
Okay, again, I know Michael Bay only produced it. I know he didn’t direct or even write it. But it still has his finger prints on it. And I still don’t like Megan Fox, I still don’t like fart jokes, I don’t Shredders design. I also like the idea of design where sometimes less is more…and boy oh boy did they over design…well, everything really, but the turtles specifically. This was just a huge freaking mess!
To say nothing of the movie completely ripping off the climax of The Amazing Spider-Man.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
But for hugs sake! Look, I like the rain forests. I’m all for protecting them. I’m totally for protecting the rain forest. But could you possibly hit us over the head any harder? Is it even possible to drop those anvils any harder? Even by 80’s/90’s standards, this was about as subtle as an atomic bomb in the middle of a library! Hell, the story would (often) come to a dead stop so the writer could preach about the environment and the evils of industry. Just…gah! I can go back and read in moderation…but…gah!
Oh, Man Ray and the Turtle Excluder Devices...part of me STILL wants most versions of Man Ray to go on LONG extremely detailed rants, because I found it so unintentionally hilarious here.

It gets a LOT better once Slash shows up, but yeah, this is fair. Adventures goes from extremely preachy to kind of surprisingly violent. It's a ride.
 


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