Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo are the iconic names, of not only four of the most famous Renaissance artists, but also some of pop culture’s most loved ninjas!
Of course, I’m referring to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), who first debuted in 1984 as a comic. Over the years they have transcended media into an animated series first appearing in 1987, then later as a live action film in 1990. While their popularity seems to go up and down over the years, they have been a long time cult favorite. Even today Nickelodeon continues to show the latest animated version of TMNT, which premiered in 2012.
Now, after 24 years since the original feature film the TMNT are back on the big screen, and they are drawing in longtime fans as well as some all-new ones.
If you’ve been in your shell this entire time, and are not familiar with TMNT plot line, let me give you a quick rundown. The TMNT are four turtle brothers who are mutated into humanoids and are raised and trained in the art of ninjutsu by their mutant rat father/sensei, Master Splinter. The TMNT basically become the invisible heroes who fight a wide and often weird range of villains; from their home in the sewers of New York City.
WARNING THIS ARTICLE MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!!
Okay, so now you know who the TMNT are, let’s get back to the most recent film. I’ll admit when I saw the first trailer for the movie I thought they look liked monsters I was slightly disappointed. They looked nothing like the ones from the 90’s films I remember watching in my childhood.
Despite my hesitations over the new look, after seeing the movie, even though they looked completely different they still were the same TMNT and stayed true to the lovable characters that we know.
The fact that the TMNT were true to their original character personalities is probably the one thing I liked most about the film and feel without their signature characters traits the film wouldn’t have been worth anyone’s time.
Another element like about that the movie is that it did not drag on everything went in a really smooth and quick paste. Good timing and editing.
Actor Megan Fox played April O’Neil, I have to say when I first saw her I did not see April. I thought she looks nothing like her, but she did do a good job as April. I also like the tribute to the yellow jumpsuit, from the original animated series, by making her wear a yellow jacket.
Will Arnett played Vernon Fenwick her so-called cameraman who has a crush on her. His character was amusing but was he really needed. I really couldn’t say, the movie didn’t do badly with him and I doubt it would do worse without him. More or less he was another human character she could interact with and I suppose we needed another character instead of just having April. Lets not forget every movie has a love interest, and for April she actually had two Vernon and Michelangelo.
Speaking of love interests for April, they should have just introduced Jones, another character from the original storyline, and the fact that he wasn’t in the movie was slightly disappointing. However, a part two might be in the work and we might see Casey Jones on the big screen once again
The action in the movie was good. The only thing that was slightly cheesy was the dramatic slow motion effects; it feels kind of like the matrix to me and aren’t we all a little tired of that gimmick.
I have nothing against the new storyline; making them April childhood pets didn’t necessarily bug me. Though I feel they didn’t have that same connection to some of the other characters such as Master Splinter and his enemy Shredder.
Speaking of Shredder, while he was in this movie I feel the main bad guy was his so-called adopted son.
Well, that’s all I have to say about this movie so in the words of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo Cowabunga!
