Michael Bay is synonymous with making spectacular, blockbuster VFX films. From Bad Boys to Transformers, he is Hollywood's king of explosions. The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer is vintage Bay. Though the film is directed by Jonathan Liebesman, Bay's style is clearly evident. From the sweeping shots of the New York City skyline to the quick edits of the turtles fight with The Foot Clan, there's no doubt this film will be action packed.
Here are the five most Michael Bay moments from the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer:
[1] The Fight Between Splinter and Shredder
The trailer shows us a few tantalizing scenes of the duel between Shredder and Splinter; with a defeated Splinter seemingly on his last breath under a pile of rubble. Every great comic adaptation hinges on the strength of the antagonist. If your villain is weak, then the hero is lesser for it. Shredder looks fantastic here. Channeling an almost Megatron-like vibe as he attacks Splinter. This pivotal fight scene is a classic good versus evil showdown from Michael Bay. I have high hopes that William Fichtner will be awesome as Shredder.
[2] Intense Action on the Subway and in the Snow
Bay does not go soft on action. Every film, whether as director or producer, is wall to wall with intense action scenes. The turtles face real conflict and distress. The trailer shows the turtles in all out deadly combat; grittier, darker, more realistic than the animated series. It's fantastic to see a harder edge in the fight scenes. The glimpses of the subway fight and the turtles facing The Foot Clan in the snow look first rate.
[3] New York City Gets Pummeled
The turtles are true New York City creatures. From their lair in the sewers, to the fight in the subways, to rescuing April O'Neil on the rooftops, the city is front and center in the trailer. Big city action scenes are trademark Michael Bay. While we don't know if New York City faces mass catastrophe like in Armageddon, it looks like the Big Apple will take a beating in TMNT.
[4] Megan Fox, Looking Gorgeous, Needs Rescuing
Megan Fox was propelled into stardom by the huge success of Transformers. She was cut from Transformers: Dark of the Moon because of her well publicized comments comparing Bay to Hitler. It seems that that fence is mended as Bay cast Fox as the female lead, April O'Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She's back in Bay glory as the gorgeous damsel in distress. The trailer has the turtles rescuing Fox in the subway, then taking her phone as she tries to snap a few pics on a building rooftop.
[5] Turtle Group Dynamics
The turtles are fully fleshed out characters with a great group dynamic. One of the things we see in every Michael Bay film is a playful rapport between the protagonists. From buddy cops Will Smith and Martin Lawrence to the juiced up Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson, the turtles have a goofy chemistry in the trailer. This is the comedic heart of the franchise and key to the success of the film.
August 8th can't come soon enough. Give us your feedback on the trailer, all things turtle, and whether Michael Bay's style is right for this franchise. Follow me on twitter @realjulianroman