Just when you thought cinema couldn't get any more radical, more totally bodacious, it looks like a live-action 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' reboot is on the way. The four mutated, amphibious martial artists first appeared in comics before graduating to an animated television series, a line of extremely popular toys, and landing their first film in 1990. Since then we've had two live-action sequels and a computer-animated feature. But now, Paramount and Platinum Dunes, the studio known for remaking classic horror films, are looking to reinvigorate these characters and their live-action film franchise. They are currently in negotiations with Jonathan Liebesman ('Battle: L.A.,' 'Wrath of the Titans') to direct the new 'TMNT' film. Liebesman would be working from a script written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, the guys who wrote 'Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol.' No word yet on when filming is set to begin.

As a kid, I was crazy for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I watched the cartoon religiously, I had an absolutely absurd collection of the action figures, and I wore out my VHS copy of the first feature film within a couple months. Although my fervor for these characters has waned in my cynical old age, I revisited the first film again just a few weeks ago and was surprised how well it held up. The thing that impressed me the most were the fight sequences, not because they were immensely complex or bone-shattering, but because they were being artfully executed by guys in giant rubber turtle suits. My hope for the reboot is that they find a way to simultaneously maintain and update this quality. Polishing up the dialogue a bit would hurt either. That's why I'm so glad the 'Ghost Protocol' guys wrote the script, shouldn't be a stretch for them to craft great action with sharp dialogue. I'm not entirely sold on Liebesman as the director for this. I found 'Battle: L.A.' to be woefully mishandled, but I'll admit I am looking forward to 'Wrath of the Titans' so I'll reserve judgment until I see it.

What do you guys think? What new elements could they bring to a live-action 'TMNT' film? Is Liebesman the right choice to direct?

Source: Variety