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Topic:
Good & Bad Movie Titles: Is "Quantum of Solace" a Bad Title?
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Jedi_Keiran_Halcyon
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
1/19 10:28am
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"TMNT"
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Zaz posted:
Next: TMNT - "It stands for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," but conventional wisdom says things aren't hip unless you can abbreviate them. Hence, Kentucky Fried Chicken has morphed into simply KFC. When you have a perfectly descriptive title already, why shorten it? A better title: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
Even better title: "TWBOT" ("This Was Better on Television")
Although, when you think about it, the title was a good indicator of the film itself: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but for the ADD-Pokemon generation.
Maybe the producers were worried about the ADD generation reading the title on a short ticket-window marquee. I think the franchise should've stuck with crazy-long titles like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.
Or have we gotten to the point where kids and movie theaters are too dumb to let the films retain longer descriptive titles while shortening them in conversation to things like "Ninja Turtles" and "Turtles II" for easy reference?
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DarthBoba
Registered:
Jun '00
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Date Posted:
1/19 10:45am
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"TMNT"
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This movie was vastly better than either of the sequels to the original, frankly. 
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Third-World Infrastructure.
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Spiderfan
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/19 11:03am
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"TMNT"
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Zaz posted:
Next: TMNT - "It stands for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," but conventional wisdom says things aren't hip unless you can abbreviate them. Hence, Kentucky Fried Chicken has morphed into simply KFC. When you have a perfectly descriptive title already, why shorten it? A better title: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
Even better title: "TWBOT" ("This Was Better on Television")
It has nothing to do with conventional wisdom or popularity. Its fan thing. Its the title that the fans have referred to the turtles for as long as I can remember in any incarnation. This movie was created by the fans (namely Kevin Monroe) and approved by the creators. The abbreviation is no different than Star Wars fans referring to Return of the Jedi as ROTJ or Lord of the Rings fans using FOTR or TTT or ROTK. The fans use abbreviations and this was a fan created project, a labour of love.
The longer title has only ever been used by the uninitiated (or for official titling usage) when referring to the franchise anyway, and generally openly mocked (demonstrating a lack of understanding behind its satirical origins).
Personally I loved the movie. The villain arc was lame but so is almost every villain arc not utilizing the Shredder. The thing that makes this movie great is that it better explores the relationship of Leo and Ralph and anyone who truly loves Turtles really enjoyed this element.
The most regrettable thing is that while Donny was accurate he (again) just blended into the scenery, while Mikey was little more than a one dimensional caricature of himself. On a more positive note they did something that even the original comics couldn't do...make Casey Jones an endearing interesting character and cut way back on him being constantly annoying while still calling back to the fact he isn't the brightest character there is.
Even better title: "TWBOT" ("This Was Better on Television")
Please show me where in the television series they got to explore Leo and Ralph's relationship this deeply. The new series alludes to it and they have their squabbles, but I can't remember them actually brawling that often. This is a staple of their characters for both the comics and the original movie series. Don't get me started on the original series that rarely had much if any character developement. In ten seasons no character changed much from the beginning to the end, there was no growth or personal arc...it was one dimensional.
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"Yeah, well my god has a hammer." - Nick Fury  You look like you could use a hug: http://boards.theforce.net/your_jedi_council_community/b10008/28325808/p1/?211
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JediOverlord
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
1/19 11:05am
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"TMNT"
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I wonder if movie studios make films with short, bland, non-descriptive titles because longer titles won't fit on a movie theater marquee, especially in a multiplex, where space would be a premium?
Just a thought.
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Jedi_Keiran_Halcyon
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
1/19 11:30am
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"TMNT"
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The first TV show was made by people who realized, "This is a show called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," and so the whole thing was as tongue-in-cheek as could be. This led to some fantastically hilarious moments, such as when Bebop and Rocksteady (AKA the two dumbest beings on the planet) are inadvertently hired as TV execs. Was the show an accurate adaptation of the original comics series? No way. But the original comics were incredibly dark and violent, and this show came out a few years before Power Rangers sparked major protest for being too violent for children. Power Rangers.
My big problem with TMNT was that it was ridiculously self-important while at the same time dumbed-down to the level of a 4kids show. Raph and Leo had some good scenes and there were a few funny gags, but the majority of the movie felt like generic filler. Why bother hiring name actors like Patrick Stewart and Sarah Michelle Gellar if you're going to give them the shallowest roles possible? And I'm almost impressed by the fact that they were able to have a final battle so large that felt so non-epic. It defied all forms of logic by being less dramatically compelling than the final showdown with the English guy in III.
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Spiderfan
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/19 12:11pm
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"TMNT"
- Date Edited:
1/19 12:16pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Spiderfan
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Jedi_Keiran_Halcyon posted:
The first TV show was made by people who realized, "This is a show called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," and so the whole thing was as tongue-in-cheek as could be. This led to some fantastically hilarious moments, such as when Bebop and Rocksteady (AKA the two dumbest beings on the planet) are inadvertently hired as TV execs. Was the show an accurate adaptation of the original comics series? No way. But the original comics were incredibly dark and violent, and this show came out a few years before Power Rangers sparked major protest for being too violent for children. Power Rangers.
The Power Rangers contraversy wasn't about the violence. It was about violence without consequences. The power rangers were characters that would be shot in the chest, sparks would fly and moments later they would be on their feet able fight again.
Additionally the TMNT comics were prone to show most of its violence off panel or in an implied manor. Very rarely was it directly.
My problem with the original series wasn't the lack of violence. It was the lack of character or story development and a general disregard for the continuity that inspired it, only occasionally referencing it and often in a very one dimensional way. Even the new series and the movies are able to adapt that edge and darkness without the "graphic violence" and in some cases still create an accurate portrayal of the characters.
Jedi_Keiran_Halcyon posted:
My big problem with TMNT was that it was ridiculously self-important while at the same time dumbed-down to the level of a 4kids show. Raph and Leo had some good scenes and there were a few funny gags, but the majority of the movie felt like generic filler. Why bother hiring name actors like Patrick Stewart and Sarah Michelle Gellar if you're going to give them the shallowest roles possible? And I'm almost impressed by the fact that they were able to have a final battle so large that felt so non-epic. It defied all forms of logic by being less dramatically compelling than the final showdown with the English guy in III.
See I thought they did something interesting with April and instead of being the eye candy, damsel-in-distress (a second rate Lois Lane if you will) they made her an intellectual and strong female role model that demonstrates the strength and compassion of the character. Again the only character that was drastically off was Mikey. In some cases they were actually improved in my opinion. Most were simply underused.
I am not arguing that the movie wasn't flawed or that it was by any means epic or grand. There are things that bother me and things that I know are absolutely horrible (again the villain arc). I am just saying that I think the merits of it were overlooked by too many people who shrugged it off.
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"Yeah, well my god has a hammer." - Nick Fury You look like you could use a hug: http://boards.theforce.net/your_jedi_council_community/b10008/28325808/p1/?211
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
1/20 11:20am
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"TMNT"
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Next: "In the Land of Women" - "This could go either way. On one hand, it suggests titillation for guys who want to fantasize about a land where gorgeous, seductive women vastly outnumber men. On the other hand, it could also suggest the ultimate chick flick - a gal's dream combo of The Notebook, Beaches, and Steel Magnolias all rolled into one. The flick itself is much closer to the latter than to the former. A better title: "In the Land of Women - For Women""
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
1/21 6:57pm
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"In the Land of Women"
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Next: "Blades of Glory"
"Here's an example of one getting it right. Aside from being a clever play on the expression "blaze of glory," the title reflects the fact that this is a comedy about figure skaters. Toss in a poster image of Will Ferrell and Jon Heder wearing ridiculous outfits and you have my eight bucks already!"
I have to say I loved this title.
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
1/22 6:59pm
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles:"Blades of Glory"
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Next: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters"
"The genius of this title isn't its length; it's the fact that they actually built the word "colon" into it. This tactic suggests comic irreverence, a hallmark of the Cartoon Network show on which the movie is based. Plus, you can have fun with it. Try going to the box office and ordering a ticket using the entire title of the film. ("Yes, I'd like one for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, please.") The perplexed look you get from the theater employee will be well worth the admission price, regardless of whether or not you enjoy the "movie film" itself."
Ditto. 
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The2ndQuest
Title: :
-Games
-LACWAC
-Lit Mod of Death
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
1/23 1:37pm
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters"
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Aye, it's a perfect title that conveys the strange brnad of humor the series is famous for- and besides, only ATHF fans were gonna see the movie anyway, so there was no reason to make the title more accessible.
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K'Kruhk, 140 ABY: "Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker?
Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
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Spiderfan
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
1/23 5:58pm
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters"
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Great title. As stated its entirely appropriate for ATHF.
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"Yeah, well my god has a hammer." - Nick Fury You look like you could use a hug: http://boards.theforce.net/your_jedi_council_community/b10008/28325808/p1/?211
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Hammurabi
Registered:
Jan '07
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Date Posted:
1/23 7:23pm
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters"
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Eh. Sounds like a cheap mimicry of Borat's title.
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
3/7 3:00pm
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters"
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Good point.
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The2ndQuest
Title: :
-Games
-LACWAC
-Lit Mod of Death
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
3/7 7:25pm
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters"
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The title was announced before Borat's, or about the same time, IIRC, so they couldn't have taken the notion from the other, but it is the same concept in the joke (though Borat's was meant to come across as a badly translated foreign title, while ATHF's was just supposed to be elaborately redundant)
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K'Kruhk, 140 ABY: "Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker?
Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
Is your Death Magnetic?
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Zaz
Title: Manager:
The Amphitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
3/28 8:01am
Subject:
RE: Good & Bad Movie Titles: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters"
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"Funny Games", which is not a comedy.
Not a good title.
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