Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (August 8, 2014)

[Dantrag]

God why do their lips look so...black? D;

[Serra]

Seriously. Fan Leo (1st pic) is amazing.

I'd even be ok with the second though.

[NynJa]

WHY DO THEY HAVE LIPS?!?!?

[Cail]

http://www.nerdist.com/2014/04/teena...tony-shalhoub/

The radioactive ooze that transformed ordinary turtles into Italian cuisine-loving, sewer-dwelling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is evidently transforming some of the actors behind Paramount’s forthcoming Michael Bay-produced, Jonathan Liebesman-directed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, too. Deadline reports that the studio has recast Leonardo with Jackass alum Johnny Knoxville and Master Splinter with Monk‘s Tony Shalhoub, which may come as a shock to some considering the film comes out on August 8th.

During the filming process, Pete Ploszek (Shameless) played the role of Leonardo and Danny Woodburn (Seinfeld) portrayed Splinter, but evidently, sources had hinted that the studio was always open to recasting the voice component of the film and the actors were only guaranteed that they would physically perform the roles in costume. It isn’t a move without precedent either by Paramount, who added 100% more Channing Tatum to G.I. Joe: Retaliation and a new ending to World War Z, or other films like Hellboy, which featured Doug Jones as the physical version of Abe Sapien and David Hyde Pierce providing the voice. The question remains: will they recast the pizza with flatbread panini sandwiches? Panera was not available for comment.

[Qalbert]

[AidenCarby]

Johnny Knoxville has the voice for Leonardo I think.

[Salodin]

The panera comment at the end got me lol.

They're only voice acting, so this is w/e. They'd only do this if the originals were pretty terrible any ways. Sucks for the original voices though he he.

[Meresgi]

Splinter = a dwarf?

[Guyverarmor]

I would be fine with Knoxville doing Leo's voice... I think he can pull it off.

[Qalbert]

[Myrrh_Quetz]

They are gonna milk the fuck out of the "It's just a mask" line because it's probably the only good funny moment in that whole movie.

[6souls]

April O’Neil is a ‘Modern Woman’

Easily one of the most controversial elements of director Jonathan Liebesman’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot, the casting of Megan Fox as April O’Neil continues to be a source of outrage among fans. Even though Fox was not featured heavily in the recent TMNT teaser trailer and was non-existent in the teaser posters, our own commenters continue to voice disapproval of the casting choice in every new post on the site.

Understandably, all that criticism stems from a disconnect between the hyper-sexualized characters that Fox typically plays and an on-going depiction of April that is both intelligent and family friendly (in spite of a skin-tight yellow jumpsuit). For that reason, fans began to worry that producer Michael Bay intended to turn the beloved Channel 6 news reporter into a pin-up girl – especially after TMNT set photos, of Fox jumping on a trampoline, surfaced online. Nevertheless, Fox has continued to assert that her April isn’t going to Sully the character’s 30-year reputation – recently stating that, in spite of what pre-release audiences think, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle reboot may provide the toughest and smartest version of April yet.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Fox discussed how this updated live-action April differs from the cartoon and movie iterations that came before:

She’s more of a leader when she explores her relationship with the turtles instead of just the human companion that gets dragged along on the adventure. It’s more representative of a modern woman [...] There’s no gratuitous skin or sexual anything. Jonathan was really insistent on not wanting her to be sexualized or to take that sort of typical role we’ve seen women take in movies thus far, and that I’ve taken in particular.

Fox went on to address the controversy surrounding her previous work, which she directly mentions in the prior quote, specifically whether or not she thinks her “sexy” image is a hurdle when playing a “smart” character like April:

I don’t really mind. It’s actually a large part of my personality. I think you can be that and you can also be intelligent and strong. I don’t think they’re in opposition to one another – at least in my life.

Despite appearing in mega-successful blockbusters (Transformers) as well as respected indie fare (Friends With Kids), Fox has yet to convince most moviegoers that she’s got the acting talent to balance model looks with believable intelligence within a strong character. Still, Fox’s “modern woman” comment should be encouraging to fans, or anyone hoping to see a quality Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. The more we learn about the TMNT reboot, the clearer it is that the filmmakers (even Bay) were very intentional about crafting a version of April with believable motivation for encountering the Heroes in a Half Shell – as well as contributing to the team.

We’ve seen various versions of April over the years, and if we’re being honest, a lot of them have sidelined the character as little more than a semi-capable sidekick and, often, more damsel-in-distress than skillful heroine. Additionally, while her character has never been gratuitously sexualized, even her “romance” with Casey Jones is understated, the design of the cartoon character has repeatedly drawn criticism for exaggerated hourglass proportions – hourglass proportions that were fighting to bust out of a skin-tight jumper.

As a result, for all the (legitimate) concerns about Fox as an actress, fans who are still fearful the character will suddenly be portrayed as a sexually charged harlot, simply because a specific actress is in the role, are being more dismissive than discerning (while wearing rose-tinted glasses). The worry was valid before official photos of the character, and comments from the cast and crew were available, but it’s pretty clear at this point that the biggest question facing April in the TMNT reboot is whether or not Fox will up her acting game to truly make the character convincing as a “modern woman.”

Given her casting in more than one cartoon-turned-big budget movie adaptations, the actress also commented on which other animated shows she’d like to see adapted for the big screen:

Gundam Wing, Pacific Rim was sort of a Gundam Wing situation, but they should do it. What about Thundercats? [...] “[Sailor Moon] could feasibly be made into a live action movie. I don’t know how many Americans were into that. I was into that, but I don’t know how huge it was here.

http://screenrant.com/megan-fox-apri...ninja-turtles/
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/04/1...r-moon-remake/

[Sunrider]

So people are outraged at Fox as April?

I dunno, maybe it's just me, but the white guy playing The Shredder... I can't.

[Karbuncle]

I think the biggest complaint should be shes not a believable April O'neil, and she's only casted as such cause Michael Bay seems to have a hard on for her. I mean, they could have at least dyed her hair or cut it short... but no, brown, long haired, they didn't even try, its almost the complete opposite. They just said "Megan fox go be Mega Fox".

Regardless, I'm sure the acting will be fine, but casting someone who fits the role and is believable as the person they're playing is just as important, and fox does not strike me as "April O'Neil" no matter how i look at her. Its not like It'd been hard to shorten her hair and dye it, or give her a wig.

its whatever.

[AidenCarby]

Emma Stone should have been April, end of story.

[ringthree]

I love that they have to put Eastman and Laird's names in huge in the credits. It's not like this has anything to do with original story, or FUCK MICHAEL BAY AND THIS FUCKING BULLSHIT COWABUNGA FUCKING FUCK CASEY JONES, RAPHAEL'S MENTAL BREAK, THE ALIENS ARE GOOD GUYS, GOD FUCKING DAMN IT.

Did anyone actually read the Eastman-Laird comic? ANYONE?

[Guyverarmor]

Well, sadly he got input from Eastman... who doesn't really care too much about the franchise and sold his half to Laird... then went on to make "Heavy Metal". Would have rather had Laird be involved than Eastman. At least Laird gave a damn about the comic.

[Qalbert]

[Dantrag]

Looks like a Dark knight movie D;

[Guitarman]

What the FUCK at Donnie's face.