Tuma, Two-face?

[cjr205]

Have you ever noticed that in all the books and serials, Tuma is a smart and cunning leader, who clearly has a great deal of intelligence? But in The Legend Reborn, he is portrayed as a brutish warlord with absolutely no brains at all. WHAAAAAATTTT!

[Bonkle]

That's one of the main reasons TLR gets a lot of hate. They screwed up all of the personalities.

 

 

And Kiina's voice.

[Toa of Ice - 1987]

Yeah it was indeed a big contrast in character for him. He didn't even get much dialect.

[cjr205]

Yeah it was indeed a big contrast in character for him. He didn't even get much dialect.

Yeah, mostly just "GRRRRRRR".

[Toa Smoke Monster]

Don't you know? Tuma just goes through fazes where he ignores his intelligence he possesses and embraces the inner single-minded warlord within himself, and he went through one of these fazes as the events of the movie took place. It's the only reasonable explanation!

 

....Or the movie just represented Tuma very poorly. It could be either one.  

[cjr205]

Don't you know? Tuma just goes through fazes where he ignores his intelligence he possesses and embraces the inner single-minded warlord within himself, and he went through one of these fazes as the events of the movie took place. It's the only reasonable explanation!

 

....Or the movie just represented Tuma very poorly. It could be either one.

 

[Irrie]

That's one of the main reasons TLR gets a lot of hate. They screwed up all of the personalities.

It's a trend in Bionicle movies. Take a look at Sidorak.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Because kids don't like words in movies. Kids just action and KA-BOOM! SMASH! AIEEEE!

 

At least, that's what filmmakers think.

[Erasmus Graves]

Tuma doesn't even say GRRRRRRR. He goes IIIIIII!!! a lot.

It's pretty sad that they screwed his personality up so much, ruining his character so drastically. I mean, they had the legendary Fred Tatasciore voicing him! C'mon!

The Skrall have a real 'Greek tragedy' vibe running through their characters, but the filmmakers oversimplified them and got rid of that entirely. Tuma of the books and serials was easily one of the great villains in the Bionicle universe.

He's more anti-villain than most of the antagonists, sometimes veering towards 'anti-hero' more than villain (e.g.. Metus is the ultimate opportunist, out for himself and none other, Ahkmou got brainwashed by Teridax into a deliberately malicious fellow, the Piraka are unabashed cutthroats, traitors and murderers, the Brotherhood of Makuta are a dysfunctional family/organisation who fell from their role as peacekeepers because they craved recognition and acceptance, Sidorak is a foot soldier who happens to be a boss at tactics and  a part-time political animal, Roodaka's a demon and manipulatrix supreme in Vortixx form, willing to sell her soul to the devil for power, and the Dark Hunters just want lots of moolah).

 

Tuma is a pretty selfless guy in many ways, sacrificing his personal wants for his race (though most definite in making sure he's in charge). He's a remarkably complex character for a one-year villain. His end is quintessential Greek Tragedy, because he's booted out of his position as leader and exiled after somehow getting whupped by a gold-clad nancy-boy. He is, as Richard Adams would put it:

 

"...a character like the tragic heroes of Ancient Greece, who secured great blessings for their society but paid heavily for their accomplishments in terms of personal suffering."

 

That's from the 2014  introduction to his second novel, Shardik (great book, but completely unrelated to Bionicle).

 

OK, Tuma does lose in his battle against Mata Nui, but still, he dedicated his life for the good of his race. And it must have been even worse for him when he is exiled, as he watches the structure of his race's society collapse, leaving nothing but roaming warbands searching for petty plunder. They have been reduced to the state of Bone Hunters, except not quite as skilled in desertcraft and walk instead of ride. All that he has striven for, all that he has created...

 

...Has come to nothing.

 

Basically, the moviemakers just failed enormously in translating his complex character to the screen. From what I hear, Greg did a better job in the novelisation, despite the constraints of the film script  (however, I can't judge. I haven't read the novelisation, just the extract that was given at the end of Raid on Vulcanus). 

Edited December 23, 2015 by Erasmus Graves

[MrSciFiGuy]

I saw Legend Reborn before I read Tuma's story and even then I hated him. But after reading all about him, man they screwed up big time. He was an amazing character I wish they could expand on way more

[toa kopaka4372]

Yeah, Tuma was a superb character in the books and serials with a surprising amount of complexity; The Legend Reborn film really did him a disservice. Greg does his best to explain Tuma's odd incompetence/silliness in the novelization, with some degree of success. If you want to find some way to reconcile the TLR Tuma with the book/serials Tuma, the novelization is your best bet. 

[cjr205]

Yeah, Tuma was a superb character in the books and serials with a surprising amount of complexity; The Legend Reborn film really did him a disservice. Greg does his best to explain Tuma's odd incompetence/silliness in the novelization, with some degree of success. If you want to find some way to reconcile the TLR Tuma with the book/serials Tuma, the novelization is your best bet. 

Thanks, I will try that.