MovieChat Forums > Turtles Forever (2009) Discussion > As someone who grew up with the original...

As someone who grew up with the original series...

posted 13 years ago by sonbuhitsunei
9 replies | jump to latest

I have to say, even though they did poke a lot of fun at the original '87 series... it was enjoyable to watch them interact with the 2k3 characters, if only to have a laugh at how much 'cool' has changed for me since I was a toddler (I was pretty little in 87 but I did watch it).

I definitely prefer the newer turtles (though I hate that they screwed with the animation after a while on the 2k3 series). It's definitely true that 2k3's Shredder and ninja would obliterate the incompetant 80's villains (let's face it, they were pretty soft as villains go, and not nearly as sinister).

I get that the 80's show's focus was more on the comedy. Fine. But...if you look at the origin of all of it, the 80's show was kind of a butchery of that to begin with, and the 2k3 series is closer to the original comics. They kidified the 80's version, there's no denying that. It worked for me then, but it's good to see it get the jabbing it deserves now that I'm grown.

All of us who grew up in the 80's and early 90's have a soft spot for the original turtles, and I think we've grown enough that we can handle a little fun at the expense of what we once considered cool. We were lame then. Let's face it. We were. I once went out for halloween with a plastic ninja turtle mask and a cardboard shell on my back. Lame. But man, was it fun!

I mean...the 87 show WAS silly. Back then, it was cool. To those of us who were there. But in retrospect...yeah. I'm glad we had it, wouldn't change anything about it, but I'm also glad the property has matured as well.

[–] DarklordRB 13 years ago

Well, I think if it wasn't for the 80's series there wouldn't be any 2k3 Turtles at all. Besides the whole 80's show was what made the Ninja Turtles popular in the first place. If it wasn't for the 80's Turtles there wouldn't be any TMNT franchise at all. They would have just stayed in obscurity.

[–] soul_reaver265 13 years ago

While it is true that the 80's TMNT toon catapulted the characters to fame and success, I also enjoyed seeing that incarnation of the Awesome Foursome being mercilessly ripped to shreds. While I do hold a degree of respect for the people who are devoted to the Classic Turtles, part of me also can't help but think that maybe - just maybe - they have their Nostalgia Goggles clamped on a tad too tightly.

We all have our problems, some just hide it better.

[–] DarklordRB 13 years ago

I don't think so. I gave the other series a chance too. There was stuff I liked in the 2k3 show aswell that I wish was in the old show too. And I think they made some things appealing and improved on too, like their Casey Jones. But by no means was the 2k3 show perfect either. I watched the 2k3 show and it had some great concepts but lacked some things that made the 80's show great and some of the logic in the 2k3 show was a bit questionable at best.

[–] soul_reaver265 13 years ago

See, I respect that. You've seen both the 2K3 series and the 80's one, and you've noted that while neither one is perfect, they each have their merits. I have no problems there.

What really grinds me up though, is people who are so slavishly devoted to one particular incarnation of a franchise that once that version ends, they refuse to give any others that may come along a chance.

Take, for example, Power Rangers. I cannot tell you how many people think that the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series is the best, for no other reasons than nostalgic values, simply because it was first and they grew up with it. Like Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers has continued as a franchise, and while no one season is absolutely perfect, they have shown just how badly the original series has aged. It doesn't mean I can't enjoy the MMPR episodes (I still have the 1995 movie on DVD), but the best, they ain't.

We all have our problems, some just hide it better.

[–] DarklordRB 13 years ago

Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I also watch Power Rangers aswell and some PR series are good too not just the first series and some did do some things I liked and hated.

But one thing that also gets on my nerves too is people who blatantly bash the Hell out of something(I like or still like) just because it's old or retro or something else, with such a pompous and smug attitude. It be nice if they were a bit more modest when they note their criticism in a constructive manner and be fair as to state other faults with the new product they like aswell not just the other one's or what's postive about the other one's too, but if they do it in such a way as of being egotistical or saying that everything new rules, everything old sucks flamming one-sided attitude, I see no point other than that person is just being obnoxious.

Just like the 80's He-Man Master's of the Universe Live Action Movie. I still thinks it's good but some people(new generation or otherwise) want to nitpick at it for the sake of nitpicking, on this and that in the movie that I wonder, why did they even watch it in the first place. It was a fun movie, if it was a bit cheesy then that's fine at least they should have the sense to try and enjoy it and not try to be so obsessive and one-sided to find fault in it.

[–] Stratego (29252) 3 years ago

He clearly had no retort, because your post showed he was just being an asshat.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] westyw_17 13 years ago

I just found out this Turtles Forever existed and I thought it was an awesome treat. I am also someone who was in the prime demographic when turtlemania was blowing up in the 80’s/90’s, so all of my emotional attachment to the Ninja Turtles lies with the ’87 cartoon turtles (and the subsequent live action films).With that said, I was not in any way offended by the depiction of them in this special. Sure the depiction of their corniness was exaggerated a little (they would never cry), but it still felt like more of an homage to them and the franchise as a whole than a parody. Also if you think about it, the 87 turtles were more useful in this special than the 03 turtles were. The 87 guys took charge of the fight when they first saw the technodrome and the whole group would have been in deep trouble if it were not for 87 Don’s invention. Plus it was two 87 characters who saved the day.

As for my take on the 2003 series (which I did not grow up with but was fortunate enough to have seen the first 4 seasons of), I thought it was pretty cool show. Since I was older at the time it was refreshing to see a more mature and action oriented take on the turtles. That’s not to say it was without flaws though; the main one being that a lot of the filler episodes were rather boring. For me it will never have the nostalgic charm of the first series, but I will admit that the character depth, action sequences, plot, and animation were all superior to the 80’s show.

Overall Turtles Forever should be enjoyed by all fans of the franchise. Even the mirage comic fans had something to smile about. And yes, it is safe to assume that if it weren’t for the success of the 1987 toon then all of the following TV shows and movies would have never existed.

[–] domester82 10 years ago

I grew up in the height of Turtlemania, in the late 80s and early 90s, and I loved this movie! I think it is the best TMNT movie since the 1990 live action film. It was better than the 2007 CGI movie, but that one was still entertaining. Overall, I can enjoy most versions of the Turtles (except Next Mutation was admittedly a bit crap)