Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Sneak Peak - And our Culture of Complaining

by Jonathan Longnecker

There's something you may not know about me. I'm a huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan. I loved it when I was a kid, and have rediscovered how much I love them as an adult as my kids have become fans over the past couple of years.

We've watched the 1980's cartoons, plowed through the 2003 version on YouTube (it's really good, you should check it out!), watched Turtles Forever, the original live-action movies, the CGI one from 5 years ago and are currently breathlessly waiting for the next episode on the Nickelodeon animated series that started in 2012. Which might just be the best of the bunch so far. It's pretty rad.

All four of my kids are crazy about the Turtles. It's all my 2 year old wants to watch. I have to keep up with toy fair announcements to let them know what figures are coming out next because we have them all. I considered posting a picture of the massive pile in our TMNT drawer upstairs, but it's a little embarrasing. I think we have a problem.

And so that brings us to what came out today - a for real, official sneak peak at the upcoming live action/motion capture movie coming out in August of this year. I'll give you a minute to watch it. Try not to pee your pants. Just come back and finish the article.

Still here? Good.

Now this is the interesting thing. I've been following the development on this for a while and literally everything that gets leaked is met with complete and utter derision. Just go find a movie site where they've posted this trailer and read the comments.

“They have lips, now I'm going to kill myself!”

“April's dad helped create the turtles - blasphemy!”

“Michael Bay is involved?!?! He's ruining my childhood just like Transformers. Arghghgh!!”

It's crazy. I mean, it's obvious that someone has poured a lot of love, sweat, tears and money into this movie, even from the whole minute and a half we get to see. And seriously. That shot of Leonardo flipping off the building and landing in front of April? How can you not say that's freaking awesome? I love that he's got a little NYC button on his strap. And Mikey's little mask gag at the end is perfect!

But what do we do? We complain. We whine and moan about how we would have done it better.

Except we didn't do it better.

Someone else had the balls to make a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art film about teenagers who are also mutant turtles and ninjas. With a rat sensei named Splinter. I want to give all of those guys and girls a high three and a Cowabunga. They're literally making my 8 year old imagination come to life on the screen.

Guys, we can choose to consume and complain or create and celebrate. Far too often we choose the former. Right now, I'm choosing the latter. I'm excited about this movie!

I'm challenging you today - don't get caught up in negativity, anger and selfishness. Put that energy into making your own art instead of consuming everyone else's. And don't be afraid to celebrate what others do. We all need each other's backs. Be thankful, positive and selfless. Trust me, it's a much better way to live.