TMNT Deleted Scene: Training on the Farm - UPDATE!

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I've updated the original post with the "Training on the Farm" deleted scene with two more pictures that I just found. You can check them out fully here.

TMNT Movie Mistakes

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This isn't a new video, but I thought it'd be a good supplement to the TMNT Special Edition DVD effort.



All movies are full of little mistakes that their makers hope the movie viewers won't spot, but if you watch something enough times and pay close enough attention, something's bound to stand out as not quite right. My long-time pal and fellow TMNT fan Karen put this video together last year in the wake of the excitement over the release of the 2007 CGI movie.

With well over 600,00 views, it has become one of the most-viewed TMNT videos on YouTube and spent a weekend as one of Digg.com's top videos. While the video may highlight the mistakes in the film, I believe its popularity is a reflection of the general overall continued popularity of the movie. Surely enough popularity to warrant a Special Edition DVD release.

TMNT Deleted Scene: Training on the Farm

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Here is the second deleted scene from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film that I am highlighting in support of the TMNT Special Edition project. Warner Brothers isn't yet convinced that this is a good idea - But they ARE watching us! - so be sure to let them know personally that you want this Special Edition DVD!

This scene is also pretty well documented, and bits and pieces of it can be seen in the actual movie. I've scanned a few stickers, trading cards, and pics taken from a book and magazine from this part, but the lengthy bit from the script might be more interesting to you.

This scene comes immediately after April yells at Casey, "I wouldn't ask for your help if you were the last... "thing" on the face of the planet!" and Casey follows with, "Coming along 'nicely' ..."

TMNT Deleted Scene: Alternate Ending

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This is the first entry in a series to highlight all of the deleted scenes from the original 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. While all of the deleted scenes from the movie are fairly well documented throughout books and comics, we still have yet to see any of these scenes in their entirety. This is a key reason why releasing a Special Edition DVD of this movie is a necessity!

While the movie ended with our heroes triumphant on the rooftop of a building, there was one final scene in the script. This scene had April and Danny in the office of a comic book publisher, trying to pitch the idea of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Here are some photos from that scene, as well as the actual script that was used for filming!

It's Time For a TMNT 1 Special Edition

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Fans have made half-hazard efforts to get New Line Cinema (and now, Warner Brothers) to release a special edition of, at least, the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film - if not all three - for many years. The response has consistently been, "We are not interested in that project."

Today, Steve Murphy of Mirage Studios posted the following, a quote of an email sent by Steve Barron, director of the first TMNT film, to a Warner Brothers representative:

"...there has been quite a lot of blogging about a director's special edition of the first movie, particularly in the light of its impending 25th anniversary. I would be very keen to contribute to this idea if you thought it a good one. I have lots of original artwork and even a rough cut with a few extra scenes on tape. I think it would be nice to do a definitive release as the extras have always been very limited."

This is not the first time Barron has made such a comment. In fact, a very similar comment was quoted in a Peter Laird, "Blast From the Past" Web site feature back in late 2001.

With this new spark of inspiration from Murphy and Mr. Barron collectively, perhaps it's time to take the effort to make this project happen seriously. Next year is the 25th anniversary celebration of the TMNT - What better way to celebrate than with a special edition of one of the greatest highlights of that 25 year history? Emails from the same handful of fanboys/fangirls to Warner Brothers aren't going to convince them to change their minds about this project. It's time to get bigger and more visual.

Watch this space for more information coming soon.

If you have graphic design skills or video editing skills, please email me if you're willing to provide hands-on help with this effort.

Kirby, The Fifth Turtle

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Back when I posted about The Other Fourth Movie, someone requested to see the Kirby concept sketches from Kevin's Artobiography. Well, I just stumbled upon a snapshot of the sketches I took awhile ago, so here you are!

TMNT Flashback: Coloring Contest

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I found this piece in a promotional packet for the first TMNT movie. I find it particularly amusing because the transition from real picture to black and white line drawing wasn't completely successful. Mike and Raph don't look too horrible, Splinter just kinda looks sad, but both Don and Leo seem to have growths on their shoulders.

If anyone wants to take a crack at actually coloring it, feel free to email your effort to me.

The Other Fourth Movie

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When TMNT hit movie screens last year, it was the green guys' fourth big-screen adventure, with a 14 year gap since the last one. You may or may not be aware that a fourth adventure almost came much sooner, in the form of a live action movie.

Obviously that movie never happened, but it seems like production got further along that I ever expected it did. I recently purchased a 1996 Playmates toy catalog where to my surprise I found this page teasing this movie and the toys that Playmates intended to tie into it.

Details of this proposed movie aren't well documented, but it is known that it was to involve a 5th Turtle, who would have been named Kirby (after Jack Kirby) - Concept sketches of Kirby can be seen in the front and back cover of Kevin Eastman's Artobiography book. This page uses Michael Dooney art created for the TMNT magazine (Fall '92 issue) with a Turtle-in-shadow also featured (I believe the shadow was created using a piece of Leonardo art, also by Michael Dooney, that was used as a pinup poster in the TMNT magazine). The Turtle-in-shadow would presumably be Kirby.

The only plot hints given on this page, which don't include any talk of a 5th Turtle, are in the description of "a weird world of parallel dimensions and gothic proportions." Winter '96 is the given release date.

TMNT 3 Press Photo: Paige Turco with Elias Koteas

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I recently purchased a TMNT 3 press kit off eBay that included seven color slides. I received the kit today and was amazed at this particular slide, as I can't say I've ever see this photo before. And because it's such an adorable picture, I had to scan it and share it right away!!

Restored TMNT 1 Leonardo Movie Costume

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This is REALLY neat! Over at the Technodrom forums, Bmaga123 posted a link to a movie prop restoration service where on a page featuring examples of their work is an original Leonardo costume from the very first TMNT film! If you hit the link, you can see the amazing before and after. Consider me extremely impressed, both by the restoration work and by the simple existence of the costume in the first place!!

TMNT Flashback: The Good Ol' Days

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On the heel of today's big announcement, how about a moment of reflection on the days that were. Above is a press photo from the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie with Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman on the set with Leonardo. Back when two men were able to work and collaborate together to create characters and stories that inspired and brought joy to millions of people around the world.

I can accept that business partnerships come and go, just as friendships do. But today's press release seems to be dripping with insincerity as far as Kevin and Peter's appreciation for each other goes. Kevin's sale of the TMNT to Peter shouldn't exclude him from being a creative mind that can occasionally be tapped for the purpose of good storytelling, but because the two of them are apparently unable to speak directly to each other, that's exactly what it does mean.

I can only hope that they'll be able to put aside they're differences just enough so that whatever participation Kevin has in next year's 25th anniversary events, there can be some sincerity showcased between these two creators. As it stands now, it seems they go as far as avoiding each other when they're at the same convention.

If the TMNT are ever going to get the respect they deserve from the world at large, there needs to be some reconciliation. There is no shame or lost pride in reconciliation; it's a standard show of being an adult.

For Sale: TMNT 2 & 3 Press Photos

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I have a whole bunch of original press photos from the old TMNT movies that I would like to get rid of. You can check them all out and, if interested, order directly from my eCrater store.

http://ninja-pizza.ecrater.com/c/1081595/photographs

TMNT Flashback: McCain Elio's Foods Trading Card #15

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This is a promotional trading card from TMNT-branded frozen pizzas from McCain Elio's Foods sometime around the release of the first TMNT movie in 1990.

I'm not sure that Splinter would approve of Raph's less than ninja-esque habits.

TMNT Flashback: Ninja Rap is Born

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Here's a look at the photo that was used in TMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze for the newspaper at the end of the movie that declares: Ninja Rap Is Born!

Actually, if you compare it to a screen shot from the movie, this photo is slightly different, so it was most likely taken right before or after the photo that was actually used.

Interview with Steve Barron

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The most recent episode of Renart Films Podcast, Episode #27, features an interview with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles director Steve Barron.

If you listen to the whole thing, you'll hear about Mr. Barron's past and current work. If you go forward to about 0:33:25, you'll hear some Ninja Turtles chat.

Thanks to Juniorx for the link.