ROTTEN TOMATOES: Box Office Guru Wrapup: Ninja Turtles Unseat Spartans For #1 Spot Comments

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Ninja Turtles Unseat Spartans For #1 Spot

by Gitesh Pandya | March 26, 2007

Summary

A crowded box office saw six new films shove their way into the multiplexes this weekend, but it was the Warner Bros. animated film "TMNT" that led the way knocking the studio's own historical battle film "300" from the number one spot. Back to Article

(1-33 of 33 posts) | Reply

red_wine writes:
on Mar 26 2007 04:47 AM

I am surprised so many people actually care about talking turtles. I for one was never much into TNMT.
But too bad for the Spartans. While the overall gross looks solid, I think it will never head for the 500 million worldwide glory of Casino Royale or Troy. But still this is an R-Rated pic and the publicity guys did a commendable job in my opinion.

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Muddler writes:
on Mar 26 2007 05:42 AM

Proving once again that people will pay to see anything.

(Reply to this)

HJPotter writes:
on Mar 26 2007 06:28 AM

In reply to this comment (#859377)
proving once again that losers knock movies that they have not seen and care nothing about (keep your turtle hating to yourself because you don't know how awesome this movie is)

(Reply to this)

FILMCZY writes:
on Mar 26 2007 07:29 AM

I thought Ninja Turtles and Spartans were the same thing?

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skasforfags writes:
on Mar 26 2007 07:45 AM

In reply to this comment (#859378)
I saw Turtles and I thought it was a piece of shit. Looked good visually.

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Mar 26 2007 07:46 AM

I saw Shooter which was a good solid shootem up action film, and Reign Over Me which was pretty good.

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Matanuki writes:
on Mar 26 2007 07:51 AM

In reply to this comment (#859378)
I value your enthusiasm. And you make a good point; it makes little sense to dish on a film you haven't seen. But audiences are jaded these days. And with so many bad films flooding the multiplex, just going to the movies at all seems a lot like "paying to see anything." 300 was good. No question. I haven't seen TMNT yet but so far the critics -the few that can seldom be trusted- either hate it for illustrating conflict between the brothers, or because they never "got" the appeal of the franchise in the first place.
On the first complaint, it registers as blindingly hypocritical that these so-called critics would pine for character depth and then condemn a film for attempting it simply because the protagonists happen to be four talking turtles. [They never seem to have a problem with talking mice and raccoons and bears in their by-the-numbers Disney flicks] As for the second complaint, these critics have said little more than two words. If you diss a film that you're being paid to legitimately critque simply because the subject doesn't appeal to you, well, clearly you're not being objective, and, further, you're not much of a critic. It's not fair to the audience. It's not fair to the film. And it says absolutely nothing about either.

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Karthik Selvakumar writes:
on Mar 26 2007 09:15 AM

[b]Matanuki sums it up.[/b]
Just go see it before you say anything. This film was obviously for the longtime fans of the franchise and for the fans, it's a thrill. For normal movie-goers, the film was just great visuals and little of anything else. But Matanuki's post sums up everything.

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getupkid4uga writes:
on Mar 26 2007 10:19 AM

[b]Totally[/b]
I really enjoyed the flick, and I have the century illustrations re-release of TMNT #1-#48 on my bookshelf. This movie was for the fans, they didn't market it at all, and it still grossed 26 mil in one weekend. I am impressed that the Turtles still have some clout.

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Koooomar writes:
on Mar 26 2007 10:21 AM

In reply to this comment (#859382)
I totally agree with you dude. I was shocked after walking out of the theatre that critics almost univerally came together to 'hate' on the turtles. Mind you, it aint high art, but it's something that parents can actually watch with their kids without rolling there eyes and it's definatly better then most of the crap that comes out for kids these days.

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aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 26 2007 12:50 PM

In reply to this comment (#859383)
How was it for the long term fans? THEY LEFT OUT THE BEST CHARACTER, SHREDDER, AND THEY BASE IT OFF OF A CRAPPY NEW CARTOON THAT A VAST MAJORITY OF TURTLES FANS HAVE NEVER SEEN BECAUSE IT SUCKS COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL.

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lrm8 writes:
on Mar 26 2007 01:18 PM

usually aknddon3 doesnt really have a point, but he does this time. i havent seen TMNT, not because i dont like talking turtles (as a child of the 80s i grew up with them) but because the villians look like they should be in some japanese cartoon, not ninja turtles. maybe they couldnt have gotten shredder back (genetically clone him perhaps) but they could have came up with something better than the "monsters from another dimension" angle. i guess i'll see it this week and decide later.

as for zodiac, i saw it opening weekend and thought that even though it was not quite the masterpiece that some people said it was, it was still a damn fine movie that deserves better than 31 mil. it says alot when shlock like ghost rider (which ive seen), norbit (i refuse to see it) and all the other crap that comes out and makes triple what zodiac does. obviously im not asking for zodiac to put up 300 like box office (since it is 2 hr 40 mins long and there isnt any "slasher" type scenes) but zodiac deserves better and i think it will have a good run on DVD.

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TheIceGhost writes:
on Mar 26 2007 01:27 PM

I thought TMNT was a fun movie. Yeah, the story was for kids, but there was enough there to keep adults entertained as well. Visually it was awesome, it had some of the best scenery CGI I've seen in a flick. And c'mon, the fight between Raph and Leo..that's cult classic right there. My only real complaint (other than yeah, no Shredder), is that the people (April, Casey, etc.) all looked like trashed designs from The Incredibles.

Turtles rule!

"YOU, aren't, ready. You're impatient, and hot tempered - and more importantly, I'm better than you..."-Leonardo

Love that line...

(Reply to this)

BobsterMAN writes:
on Mar 26 2007 01:42 PM

[b]BOTH ON TOP AREN[/b]
TMNT has a fan base in 19-25 year olds, as well as being appealing to children because of the animation and fight scenes. They definetely could have done better with this though. The whole "monsters" thing was horrible. The movie was over before they really started developing the story. And it had a REALLY weak ending.

300 doesn't have much more of a plot either, just a 300 battle trained goons who are too stubborn and brainless to retreat and reform with greater numbers, so they fight to the death....not much plot ;)

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aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 26 2007 02:30 PM

In reply to this comment (#859391)
They could not retreat because that was against their law and they were not allowed to go to war because of the corrupt priests. There was a plot you just did not pay attention to it.

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PrecentorEpsilonXVI writes:
on Mar 26 2007 10:36 PM

In reply to this comment (#859387)
Well, the Turtles have to beat Shredder at some point - otherwise the whole thing gets kinda repetative. It also allows them to introduce some cool characters, like Kurai. Oh, and note what Kurai said at the end of the movie - that the turtles would be soon seeing familiar faces from their past. Shredder, perhaps?

From what I've heard/ read, this was an experiment by the studio that created it anyway, so the fact that it's made good money in the first week may give hope for animated movies of other franchises that might otherwise be left to collect dust. Besides, you can't beat Laurence Fishburne, Ziyi Zang, Patrick Stuart, Mako (Uncle Iroh!), and Kevin Smith all doing voices in the same movie!

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Floor Man writes:
on Mar 26 2007 11:10 PM

Aha! Just as I guessed: TMNT pushes 300 to #2. Loved 300. Loved TMNT. Mimzy was okay, but quite decent. I loooved the Leo and Raph fight in the rain...I also liked the new liberties they took via the movie's CGI entirety. There are some things you just can't do with live action/Jim Henson stuff. Plus, it was just fun! :P

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aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 26 2007 11:37 PM

In reply to this comment (#859394)
No Shredder or kang or anyone from the original means not a good TMNT movie.

(Reply to this)

TheIceGhost writes:
on Mar 27 2007 12:09 AM

In reply to this comment (#859397)
Haha, KANG! He should be the villian in the next one, if there's a next one. I always felt he was shafted by never being in the live action flicks...ah man, kang...

300 is overrated. It's what I like to call 'scene' - meaning that, "everyone like, just has to like, like it! It's so edgy and cooool..."

Lame.

(Reply to this)

getupkid4uga writes:
on Mar 27 2007 08:59 AM

In reply to this comment (#859397)
Aknddon, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Do you own the comics? Have you read the comics? If the movie had been about the shredder, then it would have been a) a remake of the 1991 live action movie (which is pretty much a direct adaptation of issues 1 and 2) and b) ignoring the entire TMNT universe. OK, I understand all of you guys have a hard on for Shredder, but he DIES IN ISSUE 2!!! People keep on saying "oh, all of this space monster stuff is for kids... it all came with the TV show." First of all, that is crap. In issue 10 they are whisked away to another galaxy where they befriend Fugitoid, a humanoid robot, and then end up drinking in a "Star Wars"-esque cantina with creatures, and eventually end up having a battle royal with Triceratons in a gladiator style arena for alien fans. The Shredder has nothing to do with the evolution of the characters, has nothing to do with the comic, and basically is a tool to introduce us into the world of TMNT. Well, we have already heard that story once and it was time for a new one. Did I also mention that Peter Laird, co-creator of Turtles served as the creative consultant on TMNT as WELL AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER? I understand if you don't like the movie, that's your prerogative. I'm not going to be like some of the asses on here and say you're stupid for not liking the movie. But please don't say stuff like "it wasn't like the comic" because that's just not true, and I happily call your bullshit any time.

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think_first writes:
on Mar 27 2007 09:00 AM

[b]KANG...Fuk yeah![/b]
They should put Kang in the 300 sequel. "301: Kang's Revenge"! OMFG, that movie would rule. 301 Spartans (new ones I guess) vs Kang (who thinks he's a God-King anyway). Kang teams up with Xerxes, but Xerxes seems to like freaks of nature, so Kang gets added to the "royal tent" along with "funny executioner arm guy"� and those mutant lesbians. Box office magic...

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aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 27 2007 11:24 AM

In reply to this comment (#859399)
Comics? Who cares about the comics? I am talking about the original TV cartoon, you know the one that matters and the one that everyone grew up one. You are an idiot for liking this movie, go away little loser.

P.S. Shredder is 100 times better then some stupid demons.

(Reply to this)

jeanpaul writes:
on Mar 27 2007 02:34 PM

[b]300 is ALSO IMAGINARY LIKE "TMNT".[/b]
I'm actually HAPPY "TMNT" unseated "300" from the number one spot... "300" deserves exactly this. TMNT are imaginary turtles in the hieght and likeness of human biengs... well, Guess what? The Spartans, being shown as "freedom loving" and 'good guys' is JUST AS IMAGINARY!! Maybe even more, than turtles fighting as Ninjas...

If they had shown the Spartans as the homicidal and rascist homosexuals, that they were--- and not painting them, so one-sidedly, as the 'ultimate good guys'--- then, maybe "300" would had been "less imaginary" than TMNT.

Jeez, I atleast thought "300" would be unseated by a powerfull good drama or an action packed extravaganza (like "Transformers")--- But TMNT?!
This is really 'humiliating' for "300", I imagine...

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Mar 27 2007 03:18 PM

In reply to this comment (#859388)
My friend, the villains in a film about NINJA.. turtles look like they belong in a Japanese cartoon?... Your complaint sounds more like a compliment to me. I agree that you should go see it.

(Reply to this)

aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 27 2007 04:11 PM

In reply to this comment (#859402)
What? How were they racists? Are you insane? They were the good guys, the evil persian empire was trying to take over Greece, they fought back and kicked ass, then the all the Greeks fought back and stopped the evil hordes of the Persians.

(Reply to this)

aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 27 2007 04:12 PM

In reply to this comment (#859403)
Calling it a Japanese cartoon is not a compliment, that is a big insult since Japaneses cartoons are the worst of the worst.

(Reply to this)

WeaponAndy writes:
on Mar 29 2007 10:55 AM

In reply to this comment (#859387)
[b]What in the crap are you talking about?[/b]
It was made for long term fans you frakkin idiot. The old cartoon was good for the time, but it was a piece of crap compared to the new cartoon. The new cartoon actually follows the freakin' comic book, can get pretty violent at times, and is 10 times funnier when it needs to be. Sucks compared to the original? Why don't you watch it first, and then give your opinion. Gee, that's a novel concept. I've converted about 20 naysayers on the new series so far because they'd never watched it and thought it was going to be retarded as all heck, and then they saw that it's got pretty serious storylines, good dialog, and awesome characters. The movie itself gets better with time and for your information wasn't based off of the new cartoon at all. It was supposedly based off of the comic books design and semi-character, but the rest was supposed to be based off of what happened in the first three movies.

(Reply to this)

WeaponAndy writes:
on Mar 29 2007 11:05 AM

In reply to this comment (#859401)
[b]Who cares about the comics?[/b]
I don't know, maybe the entire Ninja Turtles franchise which I might happen to add, that the cartoon you love so much, was derived from? The old cartoon was made to sell action figures based off of the comic books. Show some respect you prick to the stuff that started the entire craze of Turtles that are ninjas, fight crime, eat pizza, and perform ninjitsu. Secondly, Shredder in both cartoon form and comic book form was reduced to pretty much nothing but a retarded maniac out for revenge while other villains that creeped out of the wood work became amazing. Sorry to dissapoint but Shredder is pretty much 100 times more retarded than any of the other villains. The turtles blew him up with his own hand grenade in the 1st issue of the comic book...not to mention that in every single episode of the cartoon you hail as the end all be all of the Turtles...he was an idiot who got his ass kicked several times and every creation that he made, never really caused that much problems for the Turtles. That sounds like a great villain. A retarded metal can opener that calls himself a ninja.

(Reply to this)

aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 29 2007 11:13 AM

In reply to this comment (#859406)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, no it is not for the long term fans little boy. THe new cartoon sucks big time, hell the original cartoon is like 100 million times better in every way.

(Reply to this)

rgallitan writes:
on Mar 29 2007 01:01 PM

This thread is hysterical.

For the record: I like the Shredder. I've seen the Shredder, and am happy to see the series go in a different direction. After all, Lex is clearly the best Superman villian, but that hasn't stopped his incessant appearances from becoming a crutch for the movies.

(Reply to this)

Paul_Is_Drunk writes:
on Mar 30 2007 12:26 PM

In reply to this comment (#859397)
You know... I usually keep away from forums these days because it is all trolling. Surprise, surprise though... Aknddon3 said something stupid and/or ignorant that makes me jump back into the fray.

In the *original* TMNT, a.k.a. the comic book that inspired the cartoon, Shredder was killed off in the first issue. There was no Kang. They moved on from that character really quickly. I happened to like the cartoon also as a kid, but that doesn't mean that we have to treat it like some holy bible, and any deviation from it is some kind of sin. The movie was good, even without Shredder.

Besides, how many times can you see the turtles beat shredder before you just lose interest?

(Reply to this)

aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 30 2007 12:56 PM

In reply to this comment (#859410)
Hmm Shredder or some loser monsters? I will take Shredder. Again you post an idiotic comment that is retarded. Go ask the long term fans of TMNT and ask them if they ever read the comics and how much you wanna bet that the vast majority did not even read the comics? So why should you make the movie about comics most people never read or a new cartoon that most people think is crap or never seen?

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