If you read the headline and your immediate answer was “NO”, then you must be an  ANGRY INTERNET FAN. Hello. I have some stuff I wanna bring up with you before we go, BUT…before we get to that, lets look at the new trailer first.

So, after you saw that, how do you feel now?

Still hate it? Still want to tell Michael Bay to burn in hell for killing your childhood?

Well, then you’re not going to like what I’m going to say next….

I honestly thought it didn’t look that bad.

In fact…I liked some it a great deal.

“WHAAT??!”

Yeah, I know. Listen.  I get it. We don’t trust Michael Bay, I understand. I’m right there with you.

If you read my LOOKING AHEAD from yesterday, I pretty much was through with his Transformers movies.

But you all keep forgetting that Bay isn’t directing this one. The director for this one is Jonathan Liebesman. Now, I’m not saying Liebesman’s an amazing filmmaker who we can trust to make this work. He’s made some ok films that looks solid, but when I keep hearing people call this Michael Bay’s TMNT, I feel that’s unfair. If this movie fails, it’s because of MANY people, not just Bay. Let’s spread the responsibility here folks.

“BUT JUSTIN! THEY LOOK STUPID!!!! THEY LOOK LIKE THEY GOT HIT UP ON STEROIDS!!”

Yep, won’t disagree with you there.  I will say this, the one thing they do share with Bay’s Transformers is how incredibly busy and messy the new designs are for the heroes in the half shell. Like, I get WHY they though Donatello with eye glasses would make sense, but they look more like a designer change for change sake. And yeah…they look too big and muscular for my taste too.

“SO WHAT? WHAT IN GODS NAME DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE NEW TRAILER?!”

It seems to me that they got a few things right that I feel is really important to making a TMNT movie.

The characterization of the Turtles and humor.

It’s a big statement that they put so much of the Turtles IN the trailer, as oppose to make Megan Fox the focus. Unlike the Transformers movies, the trailer seems to remember who the real stars of this franchise is.

Judging from the trailer, everyone is acting in character. Mickey is funny and immature. Leo is leading. Donny is a nerd. Ralph is hard. It’s not the hardest characterization to nail, but even the beloved first LIVE ACTION movie (click here to read Bobby’s Nostalgia Free Review of it.)  made the mistake of making Donatello and Michelangelo both act like surfer dudes.

And yeah, I laughed at a few bits from this footage. The clips we saw in the trailer in which April discovers them have a lot of really strong comedy beats, and all of it in character.

Granted, I think the trailer gives TOO much of the plot, and it’s pretty clear that Raphael is going to be hero with the arc in this movie….AGAIN. Also, still not sure how I feel about the new “Foot Soliders with Guns” angle. AND, yes, a white guy as Shredder is still driving me UP THE WALL IN ANNOYANCE.

And yes, the CGI looks ok, and that’s me being polite. But, I honestly think the action looks pretty damn good and I like the fun team work that’s displayed in the trailer. It’s really kinetic, and surprisingly easy to follow.

“BUT JUSTIN! THEY PUT DUB STEP IN THE TRAILER!!”

Right…like the 1990 movie didn’t use trendy music in it’s marketing….oh wait….

“BUT DUDE, IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE MY TMNT!”

Ahhh…and we found the problem!

Look, I’m not here to say this movie looks amazing. No, I think still have my reservations, but I’m going to do my best to be open minded. I love to find out that movie ends up being really enjoyable. Why? Because watching movies like these can be fun.

If you need your Turtle fix, and if you haven’t watch it yet. I highly recommend the Nickelodeon TMNT CGI cartoon instead. It’s pretty damn good, and a ton of fun.

http://youtu.be/yxNwzHGy0_Y

I understand this franchise means a lot to you. Hell, it meant a lot to all of us, but sometimes you have to take those nostalgia glasses off and wish for the best.

I think the tone of the trailer is getting more right then wrong so far. It FEELS like a TMNT movie to me.  That’s more than what I can say for the Bay directed Transformer movies.

“BUT WHAT IF THE MOVIE SUCKS!?”

Then it sucks…..move on….it’s just a movie.

So why don’t we hope for it to be an entertaining one, huh?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be in theaters August 8th, 2014.