TMNT (2007)

Although the initial Turtlemania wave died down at the tail end of the 1990s, the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) cartoon proved to be the adrenaline shot that the franchise needed to continue forward. As such, this would eventually lead to a new theatrical film in 2007, simply titled TMNT (TMNT 07), only this time fully animated in CG. While my first viewing was some years after the film initially released, I decided to give it another try after watching the original live-action trilogy, in part because it is meant to serve as a sequel to those films. It did make a lot more sense in this context, but it still had some issues.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

Note: This review contains spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III.

While the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ first foray into live action proved rather profitable, making $202 million worldwide (lifetime) on a budget of a mere $13.5 million, the wider franchise couldn’t replicate its success. As the 1990s continued, the initial wave of Turtlemania waned thanks to declining toy sales and 1987 cartoon viewership, on top of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (TMNT II) pulling in a lower box office performance ($78.7 million against a $25 million budget) than the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film (TMNT I). In an effort to squeeze more money out of the franchise while they still could, Golden Harvest would produce a third film, simply titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (TMNT III), released in 1993, that not only continued the trend of diminishing returns (earning $54.4 million against a $21 million budget), but earned a reputation for driving the franchise into relative dormancy until the 2003 cartoon aired. As someone who had just missed Turtlemania by virtue of being born too late for it, I had no real attachment to the turtles until later incarnations, which eventually led me to slowly exploring other parts of the franchise, including the live-action films. During my recent journey of watching the films in order, I ended up at TMNT III and finished with a complete understanding of why it couldn’t turn a profit.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

As Turtle Mania continued into the ‘90s, it was natural to follow up the success of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) film (TMNT I) with a sequel, this one coming just one year later in 1991 as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (TMNT II). Much like the first film, this was one I was vaguely aware of since childhood, but didn’t watch for the first time until around the release of the 2016 TMNT film, Out of the Shadows. After rewatching TMNT I, I decided to give TMNT II another fair shot, finding it to still be enjoyable, if weaker than the first.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

While Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) debuted in 1984 with a sleeper hit independent comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, it didn’t truly become a global phenomenon until it was adapted into an animated series in 1987. With Turtle Mania going strong, the next logical step would be to adapt it into a live-action film (as was the style at the time), also named Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT I), in 1990. As a kid, I was vaguely aware of this film growing up, but I never watched it until the Turtle bug bit me much later. Although my first viewing was around the release of the 2014 film, I felt like giving it another shot after attending a pre-release for the Magic: The Gathering | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles expansion. Even without having any personal nostalgia for it, and it isn’t perfect, it’s easy to see why this film is so beloved and is easily the best of the original film trilogy.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

The success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has evidently had an impact on the animation industry, as it led to DreamWorks Animation taking risks with The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. This new wave of experimentation has now hit Nickelodeon, with the latest installment in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) franchise, Mutant Mayhem, featuring a unique style not seen before in other TMNT media or even any major animated films of recent memory. As a TMNT fan whose entry point was the IDW comic (and whose personal favorite iteration is the criminally-underrated Rise of the TMNT cartoon), I had mixed feelings on the announcement due to producer Seth Rogen’s reputation, though the visual style and premise were interesting enough that I still went to see it on opening day, ultimately leaving curious to see more.

Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Batman is no stranger to odd stories, but none quite like IDW’s Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic from 2015, a crossover between the two titular franchises. I had read it at the time and enjoyed it, so I was very curious to see the recent animated adaptation, Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This film represents an unlikely crossover between not only the two titular franchises, but also an unlikely deal between Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon, considering their status as rival companies. Fortunately, the end result is well worth the price of admission.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

After the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), directed by Jonathan Liebesman, it only seemed natural that a sequel would soon follow. This sequel has now materialized as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, directed by Dave Green. As seems to be common with blockbuster franchises, Out of the Shadows has a much larger scope than its predecessor, featuring a larger cast and clocking in at nearly two hours. Though the end result feels sillier in some ways, it does somehow manage to balance these elements into an enjoyable viewing.

One year after the events of the previous film, the evil Shredder (Brian Tee) is being transported, by corrections officer Casey Jones (Stephen Amell) to a higher security prison along with the prisoners Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (Sheamus). The Foot Clan attempt to break Shredder out of the transport vehicle, only for the Turtles to thwart the effort but fail to capture Shredder themselves. After this escape, Shredder collaborates with Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry) to enact a larger scale plan than simply taking over New York, also enlisting the aid of Bebop and Rocksteady. Meanwhile, Casey Jones sets out on a quest to redeem himself by tracking and capturing Bebop and Rocksteady, as they had escaped his custody with Shredder. At the same time, April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and the Turtles work to investigate TCRI, where Baxter Stockman works, and bring down Shredder while resolving a family dilemma. While Leonardo (Pete Ploszek) and Donatello (Jeremy Howard) are content with staying within the shadows, Raphael (Alan Ritchson) and Michelangelo (Noel Fisher) long to be accepted by the humans outside of their small circle.

Casey Jones as portrayed by Stephen Amell.

The general story seeks to embrace the inherently silly nature of the Turtles brand while also striking a balance with the more generally serious aspect of the Mirage and IDW comics series. Overall it seems to succeed, taking itself just seriously enough to further develop the Turtles and deal with their struggle to remain silent protectors of the city while remaining lighthearted enough for the many situations and character interactions to be more upbeat and fun. Despite the numerous subplots and new character introductions, the movie also manages to be pretty easy to follow and maintain the viewer’s attention. However, at least a couple of smaller scenes fall apart a little when you think about them and at least one plot thread seems to go unresolved, though perhaps a potential third installment would take these into account.

One area which received improvement is the special effects, which are rather impressive and contain plenty of small details, including a humorous moment where Bebop, as a mutant Warthog, is finishing off a strand of spaghetti; you can see the strand unwind twice around one of his tusks before whipping his eyes and finally ending in his mouth, complete with sauce stains. In addition, there are some small Easter eggs for fans, including a subtle use of a turtle head from the 1987 cartoon. The designs of the Turtles also seem more streamlined this time, with less bulky equipment, and the action is fast paced, featuring more application of ninja moves. There are also some creative setpieces, which are woven pretty naturally into the context of the story.

Also good is the acting, particularly notable with the larger cast size. The four Turtle actors are very good at distinguishing the personalities of each character from each other as well as establish a unique and engaging dynamic between the brothers and their master/father Splinter (voiced by Tony Shalhoub; motion-capture by Peter D. Badalamenti). Gary Anthony Williams and Sheamus also do a great job portraying Bebop and Rocksteady as total bros who are able to stay optimistic despite everything that gets thrown their way. One interesting performance comes from Will Arnett, returning as Vern Fenwick. It would be easy for him to be portrayed in such a way as to get grating, but Arnett manages to play him in a more balanced way, remaining in character while not being obnoxious and making him a good source of the film’s humor.

Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (Sheamus) share a humorous "bro" dynamic.

While not a fantastic movie, Out of the Shadows is an overall better installment than its predecessor. This is achieved by engaging performances, action which never leaves a dull moment and an easy-to-follow story despite the higher amount of new characters and subplots. What also helps is the improved special effects and the increased number of laugh-out-loud moments mined from the mostly smart sense of humor found in the dialogue and character interactions. Though not the best film to come out this year, it’s one which will entertain Turtle fans old and new, as well as those who simply want to have a good time in the theater this summer.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) - Heroes In A Half-Shell

In 1984, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird released a comic through their Mirage Studios label titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT/Turtles/Ninja Turtles). Released with low expectations, the comic ended up becoming a massive mega-hit, leading to a highly successful animated series in 1987 that spawned a massive media juggernaut that continues to this day, which among other things has included a musical production, a plethora of video games, and numerous pizza promotions. Though there have been other iterations of the Turtles on TV over the years, including another animated series in 2003 and a new one that began in 2012, as well as the live action 1997 series Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (do not bring this one up to Peter Laird), comics have continued to be published beyond its time with Mirage, including the likes of Archie, Image, Dreamwave and, currently, IDW Publishing. The Ninja Turtles are no stranger to movies either, as they have had a live-action film in 1990 that was followed up by two sequels (II: The Secret of the Ooze and III, the latter of which has been mistakenly referred to as Turtles in Time), a separate CG animated feature in 2007 called TMNT and a new one this year, simply named Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the subject of this review.

As a bit of a disclosure, my personal interest in the Ninja Turtles brand began not with any of the cartoon series’, though I have been aware of them, but with the IDW comic series in 2011, which has heavy involvement from Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman. When I heard about this comic I became mildly curious about it, since at the time I was hearing a lot about the TMNT franchise in general. So when I saw the first issue of the IDW comic on the rack at my local comic shop, I decided to pick it up, managing to get covers A through D in the process since they go together, just to so I could see what all the fuss was about. To this day, I have yet to regret this decision. While the series also has a handful of mini-series tying into it in addition to one or two Annuals, it is actually a very well-written series that I would not only recommend to existing Turtles fans, but also to newcomers (like me) as an excellent jumping-on point; there’s another TMNT comic from IDW based on the 2012 cartoon from Nickelodeon, but I have not read it since I haven’t been watching the show. In any case, it is because of the IDW comic that I have grown somewhat interested in Ninja Turtles lore, and though I have become mildly curious about past cartoon series due to the positive feedback that I have heard about it and have since read and enjoyed a reprint from Comic-Con of the first issue of the original Mirage comic, I have decided to finally branch off into other parts of the franchise starting with the new movie, directed by Jonathan Liebesman. After seeing a free 3D screening of it at Paramount Pictures, I found myself actually enjoying it.

If you haven't already, go read this. (Pictured: IDW comic #1, Covers A-D combined.)

In New York, a mysterious group known as the Foot Clan has been causing a lot of trouble, making it a common news item. April O’Neil (Megan Fox) is a reporter for one such news station, Channel 6, though she tries to do what it takes to dig deeper into the case. One night while walking around, after reporting what she considered an underwhelming news story that day, April happens upon the Foot Clan committing a robbery and decides to try and get a closer look. As she tries to gather evidence, a mysterious group takes down the Foot, though she believes to have only seen one. In the end, the best evidence she can gather is a picture of a set of Japanese Kanji on the side of a shipping container; when April attempts to relay this experience later that night to her roommate and the next day to others at Channel 6, including her boss Bernadette Thompson (Whoopi Goldberg), they all think she’s crazy. Later, when driving around with co-worker Vernon Fenwick (Will Arnett) in a news van, April sees people running from the subway and goes to check it out. It turns out to be the Foot, led by Karai (Minae Noji), taking people hostage. When April tries to sneak a photo, she is spotted by the Foot and about to be shot, only for the mysterious strangers from before to emerge from a passing subway train and rescue the hostages. Not long after, April hears the group talking amongst themselves on a rooftop, climbing up the fire escape and taking a picture, causing them to take action and their appearance causing her to faint. When she comes to, the group of four, Leonardo (Pete Ploszek for mo-cap, Johnny Knoxville for voice), Michelangelo (Noel Fisher), Donatello (Jeremy Howard), and Raphael (Alan Ritchson), introduce themselves to her as being “teenagers”, “mutants”, “ninjas”, and “turtles”, letting her go after erasing her evidence so long as she promises not to tell anyone.

April O'Neil (Megan Fox) meeting the Turtles for the first time (Leonardo pictured).

The story, while not perfect, is actually pretty well-written and does a good job with the Turtles’ origin story and the handling of familiar characters. Having read the IDW comics released so far, the backstory of the Turtles made me think of said comic, as well as how April O’Neil relates to them. The personalities of each Ninja Turtle are also very distinct and stay true to previous incarnations, as with characters such as Splinter (Danny Woodburn for mo-cap, Tony Shalhoub for voice). Aside from the lone instance of crude humor in the entire film (a single fart joke), the movie has a great sense of humor that helps keep the story from taking itself too seriously. Some of the jokes are small cultural references, but they are worked in such that they feel natural and add to the humor value without detracting from the experience. When it comes to important plot points, the movie doesn’t go out of its way to hammer them into your head; rather they feel natural and come up in such a way that they make sense. The story admittedly has a few minor issues though, but it is rather enjoyable anyway.

The acting is another positive, which aids the quality of the storytelling. Megan Fox does a pretty good job portraying April O’Neil and the voice actors for each of the Turtles and Splinter really sell their respective personalities. William Fichtner plays the human character Eric Sacks well (no spoilers) and Will Arnett does a good job portraying April’s co-worker Vernon Fenwick without taking away from the experience. It is a little odd that, of the five mutants present in the movie, Leonardo and Splinter are the only ones whose motion capture and voice actors are different, but this fact didn’t really bother me.

The special effects are pulled off rather spectacularly, with the Turtles and Splinter worked seamlessly into the movie, as if they had a physical presence rather than being obvious CG effects (the mo-cap work from the actors probably helps). This goes hand-in-hand with the action sequences, which are excellently framed and provide a good amount of thrills. A stand-out example is a sequence shown in the trailers where the Turtles have a battle with the Foot while sliding down a snow bank, which flows really well and has a good amount of creativity put into it. I also liked the effects applied to Shredder’s armor in this version of the story, though without giving it away there is one rather creative addition that has not been seen in previous iterations (from what I have seen).

Shredder (Tohoru Masamune) as he appears in the movie.
(Splinter is in the foreground.)

The music, composed by Brian Tyler (ex. Transformers: Prime, Thor: The Dark World, John Dies at the End), helps give the movie some amount of depth as it knows how to set the tone of a scene without becoming intrusive, something Tyler has shown he knows how to do well. There is also an original song in the movie called Shell Shocked by Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign, and Juicy J feat. Kill the Noise and Madsonik, which, while not exactly anything to write home about, does admittedly kind of grow on you after a few listens. There’s also a rather hilarious use of a familiar song by The Turtles (see what they did there?), but I don’t want to ruin the context for anyone that hasn’t seen the movie yet.

While not perfect, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) is a good representation of TMNT lore and an all-around fun movie to watch. The story and acting are good, the action is amazing, and the humor gives the whole thing a more light-hearted tone (in a good way). Fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in any capacity should give this movie a try, though it also proves a worthy jumping-on point for newcomers to the franchise (my parents, who also enjoyed this movie, had never had any previous first-hand experience with anything TMNT related). While I wouldn’t do so right away, this is a movie I wouldn’t mind seeing again, and if the inevitable sequel is made from this continuity, I wouldn’t mind seeing that either.