Just so we're clear, when I say 'great movie,' I mean something I enjoyed. I don't need a movie to be the end all be all of cinematic achievement or definitive of a genre for me to like it. It doesn't bother me that the core plot of Avatar has been used over and over again. It's the way a particular movie tells the story. From acting, directing, photography, music etc. It's a package deal.
2014 Summer Movie Countdown! (of the 13 movies I saw from lowest to highest!)
12) Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
11) X-Men: Days of Future Past
10) Transcendence
9) Hercules
8) Transformers: Age of Extinction
7) Edge of Tomorrow
6) Amazing Spider-Man 2
5) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
4) Captain America: Winter Soldier
3) Godzilla
Tied at 2
2) How to Train Your Dragon 2 - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
1) Guardians of the Galaxy
(Numbers 6-3 are all very close, 8-1 I'll get on Blu-ray, 10-12 are movies I'll probably never watch again)
That said my final two movies I'm writing reviews for are: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.
I've yet to see one actual positive review of this movie that wasn't somehow stabbing the movie in the back at the same time. I don't know if it's the fact that it was produced by Michael Bay shuts most critics down before they even see the movie or what. Trust me, I was skeptical of this movie. When I first heard Bay was involved I was not thrilled. Because I've seen what he has done with Transformers. Hearing that he was making them aliens had me flipping out like many other fans. I told myself I'd give the movie a chance.
Two years later the movie is out. I went with a fellow TMNT fan who was less than hopeful for the movie. I knew I'd at least be getting some great action scenes.
I was thrilled with this movie! I had such a good time watching it. I've been a Turtles fan since 1988. I've seen the story told a retold many different ways. Few have actually impressed me. (The current IDW comics is a great story btw.) What they did in this movie was take the concept and shot some adrenaline into it. The "ooze" that mutates them is "not of this world." April is a reporter who's father was lab partners with Baxter Stockman (he's an easter egg) and Sachs (the seeming villain of the movie.) This connects April to the Turtles back to her childhood.
The Turtles themselves are much bigger, faster, and stronger than they've ever been portrayed. And despite all the criticisms of the designs, I loved the fact that you could see bits of their personalities in their customized costumes. Remember, these are supposed to be teenagers. Who are getting their view of the world from gazing through sewer drains at whatever they can see, and of course, TV.
The animation on the Turtles and Splinter is fantastic. Not quite on par with Planet of the Apes, but pretty close. The Foot Clan has been updated to be more urban terrorists than full on Ninjas, but storywise this makes sense. Dozens of people in skin tight suits with tea ball eyes and swords and throwing stars probably isn't going to phase NYC too much. They would probably be thought of as some sort of flash mob.
Shredder is the most mysterious character in the movie. We don't see his face too clearly and you see he is attached to the old world styles, customs and aesthetics of Japan while merging with a changing world to meet the goals and plans he has. Sachs, who is Shredder's ally and front for their diabolical plans is a greedy scientist/business man. He's a classic villain: he's rich but he wants to get "stupid rich."
Through April's dogged determination to move from fluff story reporter to actual news reporter she starts putting things together as she tumbles into the world of the Turtles. Together they work to bring down the evil plan to poison NYC in a similar plot to the Lizard in Amazing Spidey.
What I loved about this movie was they individual personalities of the four turtles. You clearly saw their unique ideas show through much more than in the past. I will admit I am thrilled that Raph probably got a bit more screen time than the others, and I'm okay with this because he's my fave. The others all got their moments to shine. Leo probably lacked the most screen time. I'm sure he'll get his due in the sequel.
Splinter was very much the same, yet he had a more playfulness to his teachings and has some unexpected moments that I'll not spoil here. Megan Fox played April better than I expected. She was fully clothed the whole movie, and other than Vern (Will Arnet) and Mikey talking about how pretty she is, they don't play up any sexy side of Fox/April.
Bottom line: The movie made me laugh (with it) got me caught up in the story, the action had me literally on the edge of my seat, and I had a blast watching it. Is is different from precious Turtle stories, yes. Is it the most complicated and original plot in a movie, No. The key is the characters. And I think they nailed it.
To be honest, I hadn't made plans to see this. A friend asked if I had any interest and I said if he wanted to go I'd go too. My other option was Sharknado 2, or a double Feature of Transformers 4 and How to Train Your Dragon 2 (and I've seen both of those already.) But I took a chance and went to Sin City.
If you've seen the first one, you'll not really see anything new or different in this one. Other than Eva Green's enhanced emerald green eyes...and a lot more nudity. You get to see a lot of familiar faces from the original. And to be honest, Rosario Dawson looks like she hasn't aged a day.
The story was more convoluted than the first, with it's overlapping/crisscrossing plot lines. I found it hard to sympathize with any character. Maybe I should have known that. But at least in the first one There was Nancy who was protected by Hartigan. But it was all for naught as Nancy was also corrupted by the end of this movie.
The narrative was very monotone. Revenge. There was really no other driving force for anyone in this movie. I defended Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez on the first one. But not on this one. Maybe I'm older/wiser. Or just more sensitive. But it seems there are specific places for women in Frank Miller's created world and it's naked, writhing, and on their backs. Or at least half naked and incredibly violent.
I find it extremely difficult to enjoy a movie or story that doesn't have some glimmer of hope or a character who is redeemable from their choices. Again, I should have known better going into this movie. It's exactly what you'd expect it to be.
It certainly gets credit for the creative style it continues from the first one. But the one note characters drain what little vibrancy the movie had.
