TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Trailer: More Shredder, Splinter and Skrillex?

Well at least they are still mutants and not some alien race because as Megan Fox's character says... that would be stupid. The latest trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles offers much more footage from the film ranging from the Turtles in action to a Splinter/Shredder showdown and even Will Arnett (yay!) getting a couple of lines.

It's got the usual vibe of a big bloated Michael Bay film even if he is only the producer. Shredder seems to have been turned into a Transformer and to add to the 'hey kids we're still cool and relevant' factor, a Skrillex tune has been drafted in to make the trailer more fun and energetic.

I'm still upset with many things about this but they are petty grievances that should not ruin the movie if it is fast paced, funny and action packed (which this trailer is). Splinter is my biggest worry as though we have no good glimpse of him yet, I don't like what I am able to see. I'm also gutted that April isn't a redhead but then again, how important is hair colour really? The Turtles look quite cool on occasion, but I have the nagging suspicion that the film is just going to be crammed far too full of CGI enhanced action sequences that will ruin some of them.

Anyway, I have written a full preview of the film for Starburst Magazine which should be in the August issue 403 along with a new short story I have written called The Nurse and the Butcher.

Here's the trailer:



More trailers from I Love That Film

Robocop preview in new issue of Starburst Magazine

Issue 397 of Starburst Magazine is out now and available to buy online from the website or from loads of good retailers. This month there is a huge focus on the Robocop remake and and all the films (and TV shows) that have come in the franchise before it. I was offered the opportunity to write the preview of the reboot and just recieved my copy of the magazine in the post.

As always there is also loads more stuff in the latest issue including news, reviews and features on everything in the world of sci-fi, horror and fantasy so I hope you might be interested in going and picking up a copy.

No Fate But What we Make: Terminator Reboot

One of my two worst movie fears is coming true with the news that Terminator is getting a reboot that will (inevitably) be the beginning of a new trilogy. My other worst fear is that next in Hollywood's sights will be the Back to the Future trilogy. Robocop and Total Recall remakes I can handle but Terminator 1 and 2 and the BTTF trilogy are my untouchable sacred cows.

I can deal with endless inferior sequels to classics like Die Hard and I can handle remakes of some of Hollywood's output but I can't stomach a Terminator reboot. Every year I show students in my Film Studies class both Terminator 1 and 2 when we are studying how to analyse films from a genre and feminist approach. Each year some students grumble about Terminator 1 which occasionally looks very dated in places but then we get to Terminator 2 and I think pretty much every student loves it.

Some would argue the first Terminator is in need of a remake then if it fails to grab the youth and looks dated in terms of 80s hair cuts and some dodgy stop-motion scenes. I would argue otherwise. With Terminator 2 still looking relatively fresh and still dazzling in terms of its brilliant use of CGI, the pair of films perfectly complement each other and while the original might be a bit harder to stomach for modern young audiences, it is an inspiring example of what can be achieved on a modest budget.

I hear Arnie might be back for the reboot, no doubt shoe horned in by some dodgy bit of screen writing that introduces him as the creator of the Terminator programme or something. I also hear rumours of Paul Walker appearing which is worrying. No real offence to Paul Walker but I can't bear to see him as a new Kyle Reese. Admittedly though, he looks ok below. I guess as long as he's not John Connor.

I just don't see how a reboot can improve on the original stories or action scenes. Then again, I'm not sure reboots often even have the intention of improving on anything. I want to say boycott this reboot at all costs but on the other hand, I know as the stills, posters, and trailers start to roll in, I'll probably start getting excited about it. However if we can convince enough people to stay out of the cinemas for this one, perhaps we can stop the inevitable Back to the Future prequel which I can predict won't be far behind. (They're bound to try and get Fox and Lloyd in for cameos).

There are so many things I don't want to see ruined about these movies, I can't even begin to count them. I wish instead of rebooting, Hollywood could just take a chance on something original that could potentially be of the same quality as James Cameron's films. Before buying a ticket for the Terminator reboot, I urge you to please remember there is no fate but what we make for ourselves.

Is it just me… or should Warner Bros forget a Batman reboot?

Is a Batman reboot really necessary... I mean ever? For my money, The Dark Knight Rises is the best comic book movie that will likely ever be made. Christopher Nolan’s final take on Batman and Bruce Wayne scaled dizzying heights of greatness with its grand, emotional and epic storytelling.

The entire Dark Knight trilogy was a miracle rebirth for a character that should have been all but forgotten after the 1995 disaster that was Batman and Robin. George Clooney’s nipples, Alicia Silverstone’s Batgirl and Schwarzenegger’s comical if he wasn’t so damn awful Mr Freeze all nailed Batman’s coffin shut for eight years.

 

Looking to the future

Nolan revived the franchise with a new direction, a new Batman and a very different vision from what had come before, whether from Tim Burton or Joel Schumacher. Batman Begins began a new trilogy but only in 2005 was this attempted after the wounds inflicted on Bat fans were finally starting to heal.

Whoever takes on the frankly silly task of topping Nolan’s trilogy is cruising for a bruising. It will take something seriously impressive to do justice to what Nolan, Bale and the rest of the crew and cast achieved over the past seven years.

Reports initially suggested the possibility of a 2015 reboot (only three years after The Dark Knight Rises) but recent rumours suggest it is more likely to be 2017 or possibly beyond. I’m sure that most Bat fans will agree that this can only be a good thing!

See what is says there... The legend ENDS!!!!

If you want to watch a Batman film so desperately, go out and buy Nolan’s trilogy on Blu-ray and watch the films again, then work your way through the exhaustive special features. If that doesn’t satisfy your desire for the masked vigilante then start a petition to have Nolan’s films put back in the cinemas where they belong. I for one will sign that petition if it comes along in 2017 or so. I’d even consider forking out for an IMAX visit.

Please don’t urge Warner Bros into rushing into a financially motivated reboot. We do not need any more Batman stories for now. A script does not need to be hastily cobbled together, just because Warner Bros want to keep milking their caped crusader cash cow. No one in their right mind would try to best Nolan’s trilogy at this point so you will be most likely getting the work of a madman.

There was eight years between Batman and Robin and Batman Begins. Eight years it took to get the right director, script and cast and to let us Bat fans come to terms with a reboot. That was after a disaster. Whatever follows The Dark Knight Rises is taking on a modern masterpiece.

Marvel only waited five years to reboot Spider-man and grosses were down and frankly the new film felt completely pointless. Man of Steel may only be arriving seven years after Superman returned but at least it has Nolan behind it and is again, following a disappointment. 

I urge Warner Bros to give The Dark Knight a rest at least until 2020. He’s earned it. Or is it just me?