Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Classic Series on DVD

Fans of the original TMNT have reason to scream "Cowabunga!" Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Classic Series on DVD November 13, 2012. This massive 23-disc box set will include all 193 episodes from the original 1987 classic series. The set will also feature a radical replica of the turtle van. Check it out:

Each episode will be presented in 1.33:1 full frame, with 2.0 Dolby Digital audio. The set will also include over three hours of bonus features, ported over from previous Turtles box sets.

Suggested retail for this complete series collection is set at $99.98. Amazon's current pre-order price is $69.99 -- not bad considering you get 23 discs and over 73 hours of content. If nothing else, this set should make The Angry Video Game Nerd very happy.

"Cowabunga!" Follow R.L. Shaffer on Twitter, Facebook and MyIGN for quotes, rants, reviews, news and more!

Source : ign[dot]com

Bay Responds to Reviews of Ninja Turtles Script

It was revealed a few days ago that the screenplay for producer Michael Bay's Ninja Turtles was leaked online, resulting in an outpouring of negative reviews. Among those who read the script was TMNT co-creator Peter Laird, who had this to say:

"I think the script that I read is so fundamentally flawed, and -- more to the point -- so NOT a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, that trying to make piecemeal changes to it in an effort to make it into something halfway decent is probably a fool's errand. In my opinion, the thing should just be tossed out, deliberately forgotten, and the process of generating a new script really a new outline, then treatment, then script -- should be started again."

On the whole, fan reactions weren't much better. However, Bay recently issued a response to this brouhaha, explaining the situation:

"The leaked script that different sites continue to comment on was written well before I, or anyone at Platinum Dunes, was involved with the project. That script saw the shredder a long time ago. This is tired, old news -- wait for the movie!"

Ill-timed "Shredder" pun aside, Latino Review also points out that the script had a 1/30/12 date, which was two years after Bay and Platinum Dune were attached the project in late May 2010. Suspicious, no?

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love on Twitter and IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation Volume One DVD Review

As a longtime Turtle fan, it's hard to criticize the recent attempt to reboot the Ninja Turtles from Michael Bay without acknowledging the wringer this franchise was strung through during the '90s. After all, if you grew up in the “era of the Turtle,” you probably witnessed some serious junk. The Coming Out of Their Shells tour and the live-action Christmas special (which is basically unwatchable, see video below) quickly come to mind. Not to mention the third live-action film, which isn't horrible, but hardly a masterpiece, either.

Then there's Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation. Loosely following the continuity of the films, The Next Mutation is a series that's often forgotten in the pantheon of Turtlesploitation. Produced by Saban, the same folks who brought you Power Rangers (there was even a crossover episode), the series has the general look and feel of the live-action movies, albeit on a limited budget.

The series also makes quite a few changes to Turtles canon. April O'Neil and Casey Jones are nowhere in sight. We're also introduced to a new Turtle, Venus De Milo, who serves only one major role – trying to get young girls to watch the show. Michelangelo trades his nunchaku for a pair of tonfa, as well (nunchaku are pointlessly outlawed in several places).

Shredder returns, restored to his original smaller size following the Super Shredder incident of Turtles II. Unfortunately, he's not a major figure in the season. His return would have been a prominent part of the second season, had the show been picked up. Alas it was canceled before that subplot played out. None of the classic foes are featured on the series to make up for his absence. Instead, the enemies range from foes like the Dragon Lord, generic enemies like Silver (a yeti), Vam-Mi (a vampire) and villains-of-the-week.

The show itself, admittedly, is pretty bad. Some of the martial arts action is cool, but the makeup effects, costumes and general budget limitations greatly hinder nearly every aspect of the series. In order to enjoy this one, you must be able to suspend a lot of disbelief. But even then, a great many stories are fiendishly mediocre, failing to really capitalize on the rich franchise history.

Adding further insult to injury, The Next Mutation arrives right at the tail end of Turtle Mania. The animated series had run its course. The films weren't making any money anymore. And the toys were starting to highlight clearance racks. Because of this, there simply isn't much originality, or energy, left to the series.

Had The Next Mutation boasted a slightly bigger budget, a few name cast members, and a few classic friends and enemies of the original cartoon run, the series would probably be a fondly remembered piece of Turtle History. But as it stands, the show comes close to being decent, but doesn't quite make it. And for newcomers, it might just prove to be serious chore to sit through. In other words, The Next Mutation is just another scuff in the franchise's already checkered history. It's an interesting watch, but only for curiosity’s sake.

The Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation Volume One DVD finally arrives courtesy of Shout! Factory and Saban Brands. The show is presented in full frame, mixed in stereo, with 13 episodes from the 26-episode series spread across two discs. Unfortunately, there's not a single extra on either disc. Hopefully Shout! Factory will be able to get something together for Volume Two. If nothing else, let's hope to see the Power Rangers crossover episode. Fingers crossed!

The show itself looks surprisingly good. With titles like these, it seems tape masters are often used as they're all that usually survives over the years. I'm not exactly sure what masters were used to make these DVDs, but it was high quality, whatever it was. I've seen this show on VHS, YouTube and on comic convention bootleg DVDs over the years, but Shout! Factory tops all previous home releases. In fact, it's a safe bet to say this show has never looked this good – even during its original broadcast.

While the series does still retain that hazy, dated '90s look – like every one on set was smoking right before the take -- the overall image quality here is clean and crisp, with a fine haze of naturalistic film grain present on every episode. Colors are bold, with a bright palette that brings the show to life, while also bringing the show's many flaws to the surface. There's very few distortions, print blemishes or scratches. And the encode is mostly pristine, save for the usual standard definition compression. This is a truly commendable restoration, especially considering the series we're talking about here.

The show's stereo track is also quite terrific, for what it is. Sound elements are clean, balanced, and engaging when need-be. Obviously, the mix doesn't hold a candle to today's modern stereo and 5.1 tracks, but like the transfer, the audio is respectably restored to a quality that's likely never been seen, or heard in this case.

Whether you'll want to invest in Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation really depends on how hardcore a fan you are. For some, the top notch transfer and audio will be enough to win you over. But for those who are skeptical, might I suggest checking the show out on Netflix Instant (by the way, quality on the streaming version is not nearly as sharp as the DVD). The Next Mutation is certainly not the Turtles at their finest, but it's an interesting, if somewhat gonzo entry in Turtle History.

"Never recreate from your memory. Always imagine new places!" Follow R.L. Shaffer on Twitter, Facebook and MyIGN for quotes, rants, reviews, news and more!

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New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Balances Comedy and Action

The TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour can be a rather stuffy affair, which was why it was extra amusing to have the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in attendance for the final day of the two-week event today. No, not just the producers and voice cast from Nickelodeon’s new animated series, but the four Turtles themselves were present as costumed characters – making a brief appearance onstage, before the press began asking questions.

Executive Producer Ciro Nieli noted the challenges of being the third big animated take on TMNT, considering the Turtles now have multiple generations of fans – yet this series has to be appealing for kids. “What we tried to do is get this long view on what it’s been and what you think the public really wants and try to boil it down and do the best thing for the franchise.” He said it was very important to, “Keep that comedy element, which is a really big aspect from the original [1987 animated series].” On the other hand, the more recent animated series (from 2003), “really focused on action,” and Nieli said he felt they “had a pretty decent blend of both” in the new TMNT.

Nieli, who said he was personally also a big fan of the first live-action Turtles film, said finding the balance between all the previous Turtles iterations was “the trickiest thing,” while noting the original animated show especially has a ton of nostalgia surrounding it and was “like lightening in a bottle.”

April O’Neil is a teenager in this version, and Nieli said that came from an overall desire to focus on the word Teenage in the title. Nieli felt, “In all the other iterations, that was either glanced over or completely betrayed,” noting in the 2003 series, the Turtles were “very muscular and seemed like they were in their mid-20.”

Nieli joked about feeling the previous TMNT stories always had April “on her way to work and she seemed kind of frustrated [with the Turtles].” Making her a teenager was a way to “make her more active” and a contemporary to the Turtles.

He also felt April was, “The above-sewer counterpart to Splinter.” The new series begins with the Turtles having never really been exposed to anything outside the sewers and Nieli remarked, “When they finally come above ground, they need this hip, cool, energetic person,” as they discover, “This world above ground in NYC is so amazing!” Added Mae Whitman (Arrested Development, Parenthood, Avatar: The Last Airbender), “She loves pizza now!”

I asked about Casey Jones on the series, and Nieli replied, “Casey Jones will show up in the second season,” noting he didn’t want to give too much away, but that, “We’ll take our time introducing him.” Casey will also be a high school student, but “Maybe a couple years older – he got held back.”

Baxter Stockman will be introduced fairly early on, while Fugitoid may show up later. Nieli said he wanted the first season to focus on the Turtles themselves more than a constant introduction of familiar characters from previous versions. In coming season though, “We’ll get into other mutations,” with the plan being to later get to “science fiction and outer space” and other elements previous Turtles stories have explored.

As to his approach to the villains on the series, Nieli said his philosophy on a show like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was, “”If the characters aren’t having fun, it’s not worth a damn.”

He wants TMNT to be, “A real worls with dangerous stakes and weird characters having fun.” Nieli said balance was key and that while they wanted the villains to have weight, “If Shredder does something that truly is villainous and vile, that we react or cut it appropriately [with something more lighthearted] so it has that balance for kids.” Still, he felt the new Turtles, “can also age up for an older audience. It’s about how you do it. It’s a hard question to answer. It’s subtle. And every case is unique.”

When it comes to the actions of characters like Krang and Shredder, things can “Ramp up for this horrifying moment and then suddenly it becomes very funny, very quickly. It’s compression and release, compression and release. “

A big factor in the success of the original animated series was the cast, Nieli felt, and he said he worked hard to recapture that with the new cast, wanting the group to feel like brothers – and a sister, with April.

The voice cast said they felt they achieved that camaraderie, with Sean Astin (Raphael) saying, “We really didn’t fight for it - it was just there.” Some of the cast, like Rob Paulsen (Donatello) and Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), are prolific voice actors, and Jason Biggs (Leonardo) said, “All of these voices compliment each other. I don’t do a voice. I’m just bringing my [natural] voice to the table.” Biggs added, “When we first saw the footage, it really blew us away. It really worked. It’s very exciting.”

Everyone laughed that the eccentric Cipes essentially was Michelangelo, while there was high praise for veteran Paulsen – the original voice of Raphael in the 1980s series, which Biggs was a big fan of. Paulsen said he was very excited to, “Get another crack at one of the top three or four franchises in history.”

When it came to the fighting on the show, Nieli said, “The violence never goes to a place that’s excessive. The Turtles are acting in the greater good, but they’re justified. This is a kids show. It’s not that violent.” Astin, a parent himself, said he felt Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was, “Fun and age-appropriate and I’m totally comfortable with my kids experiencing it.”

On the other hand, Nieli did want to note this was, “the first Nina Turtles incarnation where they actually use their weapons, instead of throwing them at the wall!” He laughed about scenes on the original series, where Leonardo would leap forward holding his swords, but just kick his feet – only using his sword when he threw it at a light bulb. “That would drive me crazy, so that’s not happening.” That being said, “We’re not chopping sentient, actual thinking beings in half.”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres September 20th on Nickelodeon.

Source : ign[dot]com

Comic-Con: New Teenage Mutant Ninja Cast and Creator Promise "It’s Made By Fans for Fans"

It’s a daunting task to take on a popular, long-standing franchise like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The fan base is huge, and there’s a certain amount of pressure that goes with bringing something that big back. Executive producer Ciro Nieli and the voice cast – Rob Paulsen (Donatello), Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Sean Astin (Raphael), and Jason Biggs (Leonardo) – spoke with IGN at Comic-Con to discuss the support they’ve been receiving and what it’s like to be a part of a new TMNT series.

The friendship between everyone, especially the guys voicing the Turtles, was apparent. Paulsen is thrilled to be back and working on this project again. He provided the voice for Raphael in the original series and is playing Donatello this time around. Regarding the gig, he remarked, “It’s really fantastic. The interesting thing about the first go round is that none of us had any idea that it was going to turn out to be this 25 years later. And now, with this batch [of fellow actors], I’ve got guys who are already established. I’ve known Gregory Cipes for years, and we have two bona fide movie stars. It’s been a hell of a run; I’m a very lucky man.”

Astin said the fact that they all really like each other makes creating the series a blast. He said the show has heart behind it from the actors to the crew: “They have heart with it. Decisions get made, someone wants to go in a different direction or they’re not happy with this particular thing – there’s no negativity about adjustments. Everyone is,  the chain of command – it’s just a well run show. It’s organized, disciplined, the writers deliver on time for everybody. It makes it easier, and the temperament just makes its fun.”

The recording sessions sound like an enjoyable place to be, and the overall tone seems to match that. Clips show a lighthearted series. Nieli confirmed that it wouldn’t be all laughs though. “I feel like its split kind of equally. A lot of what’s happening just with publicity is that we’re trying to get the lighter stuff out there but the shows have deep moments throughout, episodically.”

No matter which tone he takes with the series, TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman is part of the stories, directly or otherwise. Nieli said, “You know, I always go back to his comics so he’s at the heart of it whether we talk to him or not. I run stuff by him, and every once in a while he gives me – almost through osmosis – I get inside of the characters and who they are. Like, I was having trouble trying to figure out Casey Jones, and he said something to me that just made so much sense.”

Nieli and others working on the series are big TMNT fans. Paulsen and Biggs both emphasized that it was important for the viewers to understand that about the series. Paulsen said,  “One of the things that’s really important for the audience to know is that the folks who are creating the show and putting it together all grew up watching our show and reading the comics, so they get it. In other words, you could argue that they get it more than the people who made the first cartoon show.”

Biggs added, “It’s made by fans for fans. It’s not like a new venture where you’ve got people coming in who are unfamiliar with the series, and everyone’s kind of learning as they go. This is established, and these guys are such fans of it. They are respecting the original franchise and bringing their own new cool designs and ideas and stories to it.”

Paulsen summed it up best by saying that it’s an “absolute joy” it was to be a part of this series. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will premiere on Nickelodeon on September 29.

Source : ign[dot]com