The first trailer for the 2014 reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has arrived, with Megan Fox pouting her way through the Michael Bay-backed amphibian action. But for all its striking visuals and turtle-based shenanigans, the differences between the new version of the film – due to open in cinemas on August 8 – and the 1990 original are all too obvious. Let us examine the evidence for ourselves… The Turtles In 1990: The quartet were cute, child-friendly even, with a fondness for skateboarding and pizza. In 2014: The quartet are bulked up and mildly sinister-looking, and much given to wielding weapons and jumping off building. And there’s not a pizza in sight. The special effects In 1990: All a bit low-rent, to be honest, although there is a lot of peeking out of drains. In 2014: All very lavish and Michael Bay-like, with flashing lights, big backdrops, things being smashed up, snowscapes, smartphones and other assorted 21st Century trappings. The heroine In 1990: Turtle sidekick April O’Neil was blonde, 80s permed and a bit mousy looking. In 2014: Megan Fox, as April, looks all tousle-haired and pouty, without so much as a hint of mullet.
The music In 1990: Sounded like the kind of tinny racket which would inspire small groups of people to begin breakdancing at any moment. (and who could forget the actual film’s theme Turtle Power? Actually we had. But anyway…) In 2014: Sounds like the kind of epic, banging noise that you might more commonly associate with Batman or the soundtrack of a Marvel movie. All a bit much for a movie about four turtles living in a sewer, perhaps. The logo In 1990: Mean, green and on the screen. Or something. In 2014: More subtle and a bit less in-your-face. But the verdant hue remains. Metro |
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