Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

As you probably noticed, this was my 'looking forward to' film for October.  I didn't think I was going to get to see it at the cinema because my Dad didn't want to see but luckily I went to visit some friends in Sheffield and they wanted to see it.  Win!  This was my favourite cartoon as a kid (just behind The Flintstones) so I was uber-excited and a little pensive that they could ruin one of my childhood favourites.

This version of the original cartoon mostly follows April O'Neil (Megan Fox) and her desperation to be a real reporter by taking foolish risks that no one else will.  In doing so, she got a glimpse of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle but being so desperate to get a story she tells her boss and gets laughed out of the office.  That is when she meets all four of the turtles and enlists their help to save New York from an evil scientist trying to make money.

Sound familiar, well it should because the story is a combination of every superhero movie so far.  There is nothing original about this story or the lead character.  She is the typical female lead (less maybe the Avengers) of a superhero movie, it's just that in this case the heroes or Turtles so it doesn't become the 'love story' we are so used to (although Michelangelo does appear to have a thing for her).  However, in feeling like they need a love interest they brought in the completely redundant Will Arnett, whose character attempts at humour and being the love interest fail epically.

Speaking of the Turtles themselves, could they be anymore boring.  Michelangelo was by far the highlight of the whole film because he brought some much needed humour to the proceedings, the rest were tired, boring and predictable.  There was no excitement like there used to be in the cartoon and even in the 90's movies.  The CGI may have been better but I'd much rather sit through the 1990 version, at least that kept with the trend of the cartoon and made the turtles fun.  Plus, is it just me or did the new CGI turtles (and Splinter for that matter) look a lot more gross that I remembered, I always knew they lived in a sewer but it never looked like they did until now. yak!

I'm really disappointed to say that although it kept my interest throughout it wasn't great, the story was dull and predictable as were the turtles.

The Top 5 Worst Films of 2014

Wow, to be able to write a list like this makes me feel like an actual blogger. I used to look at people with confusion when they would argue over a film and discuss just how awful it was, because I'd never really watched a film that I disliked. I guess I used to watch so little films that I only watched what I knew I would like, which is what I love so much about this blog. It's opened my eyes to a huge array of films that I never would have watched before. Some of them I've loved, and others, not so much.

So here is me, jumping on the Top 5 bandwagon with the Top 5 worst films I've seen that came out this year.

What If (2014)

You know, I never even got round to reviewing this. I couldn't even try now, I can't remember what this film was even about. When we saw it at the cinema and ordered our tickets, the guy actually said 'what?'. He forgot the film existed, and that the cinema was showing it. It wasn't a bad film by any means, but it was just entirely forgettable, just a few months after I originally saw it.

The Inbetweeners 2 (2014)

Another film I never got round to reviewing! I absolutely loved the Inbetweeners TV Show, and was so excited when the first film came out. My brother and I even introduced our parents to it, who also loved it, even if they didn't understand some of the phrases. I think too much time passed between the first film and its sequel, and although The Inbetweeners 2 started off fairly strong, after half an hour I was bored and witnessed one of the worst endings to a film I've ever seen.

The Monuments Men (2014)

I quite often get my own way when my fiance and I go to the cinema. He doesn't mind really and will sit through nearly anything, like me. However, I thought earlier in the year we should really go to see something of his choice, and he chose The Monuments Men. I didn't protest too much, war films aren't really my thing but with that cast, I thought it would be okay. This, sadly, was a complete snore fest, and even my fiance turned to my halfway through and said 'sorry, we'll see whatever you want to next time'!.

Tammy (2014)

It wasn't very long ago that I included Tammy in a mini reviews post on here. I love Melissa McCarthy and think Bridesmaids and The Heat are comedy gold, but Tammy really fell short of the mark. She played the kind of character that she plays best, but without another lead or a decent supporting cast, she just came across as irritating. A shame, but it definitely hasn't put me off her.

Sex Tape (2014)

Oh Jenna, I blame you for this one! Not the film itself of course, that would be a little harsh, you can't be completely at fault, but it was your choice for us to see this! You can read just about anyone's review of Sex Tape and my opinions are the same, I don't think I ever found a positive one. Stupid characters doing stupid things, none of which are funny. But to be fair to the film, the credits were really funny.

After seeing Allie had started this post I decided to work out what my Top 5 worst movies of 2014 were.  After finding a list of all movies released in 2014 I was gutted to spot how many movies I have missed this year (although in my defence it has been a busy year!).  I have now doubled my 'watch list' just from films in 2014.  So this list is my Top 5 worst films of the one I have actually seen....

Need for Speed (2014)

Sorry Allie, this film just wasn't for me (and in payback, I blame you for this one because you told me it was really good and that I should watch it! It was really good! I can't believe you had to be forced to see this but you willingly went and saw Transformers...).  The story was terrible, the plot holes were huge and ridiculous and there was no chemistry between any of the cast.  So disappointed as I am a big fan of Aaron Paul (in Breaking Bad he is amazing and steals the show for me most of the time) but in this there was nothing about him.

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

If you have seen my review of this you will already know I didn't like it.  The story was terrible, the cast worse and the dialogue cringeworthy.  It was too long and the action scenes moved so fast you had no idea what was going on, who was the good guy/bad guy/robot/dinosaur/human and ultimately by the end I didn't care anyway.

Lucy (2014)

A lot of people have been raving about this film (I haven't yet managed to review it myself) and I'm not sure if I'm missing something.  The acting was great, Scarlett Johannsen has the ability to act without saying a word which worked well for this but I kept expected the story to start, it felt like an introduction to the real story, which never came.  Not sure I thought it was that bad, just that from previous reviews I expected more so ended up disappointed.

Sex Tape (2014)

No need to say much as Allie said pretty much everything above but I will say This. Is. A. Sh*t. Movie.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

Probably my biggest disappointment of 2014, mostly because I had really high hopes for it but I was let down.  As my childhood favourite, I was willing this to be great but it was far from it.  No chemistry, scary evil looking Turtles, random useless characters and terrible dialogue.  Music was great, but that is all that was great about this lifeless reboot.

What about you though? What films disappointed you this year?

Looking Forward to Seeing at the Cinema this Month...October 2014

Wow, where has September actually gone? One second it was my Birthday and we were having a barbecue, and the next I'm writing up my Christmas shopping list. Someone tell me when it's acceptable to start watching Christmas films?

I thought September was a fairly quiet month actually after the all the summer blockbusters, but it's been a great time to catch up on some other films I've been meaning to see. Here's what I'm really looking forward to this month though:

I've heard the name Gone Girl floating around Twitter for quite a while now, but funnily enough I saw the trailer for the first time about two weeks ago. It hooked me instantly, it's just my kind of film. I was so excited I rambled on to my Mum about it who shockingly told me it's based on a book, which she's read. My Mum will read a book once every 2 years so this is why I was so surprised! She almost blurted out how it ends too before I could shut her up.

Just a couple of honourable mentions if I may for Nightcrawler and Horns, because they look great too. Finally, if like me you're entirely oblivious to highly anticipated films due out soon, here's the trailer for Gone Girl:

Gone Girl is released in UK cinemas on 2nd October, 2014

So here's the thing, I was desperate to see this film and I get back off holiday and Allie informs me that its been on and finished...heart broken!  Then a few weeks ago we rocked up at the cinema and the place was swarming with TMNT posters, with the date 17th October in GIANT LETTERS!!!!  I hadn't missed it at all!

 

 

I used to LOVE this cartoon when I was a kid so the prospect of a film (back in 2007) was so exciting and then it turned out to be less exciting and more...well...crap!  So, here I am all excited again for another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie but this time live action...what could possibly go wrong?!

 

I am also quite excited because Paramount Studios gave me a huge version of the poster above as part of my tour around the studios (there's one wall I don't need to wallpaper now!!) :-)

I also have an honourable mention this month, they hadn't yet released the date for Dracula Untold when I wrote this and now I know it's in October it's pretty much a front runner with this!!

 



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is released in UK cinemas on 17th October, 2014