There isn't much I can say about the Ninja Turtles movie that hasn't already been said. Nevertheless, since I've already reviewed The Secret of the Ooze, I've decided to review the other two as well.The original live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 1990 is the best movie of the three, but that's not saying much. Looking back, it's hard to see why we ate this up as kids. It was so much better back then. If you don't want to spoil your memories, then I don't recommend seeing this movie again (OK, see this one, just avoid the other two at all costs).
I like the fact that this is the darkest of the series. The Turtles use "adult language" (like 'damn', for example), Raphael has to recover from critical injuries, and the Turtles go on a mission to rescue their master Splinter.
I love the Turtle costumes. Even though everything from the music and the special effects are truly dated, the costumes are still great (and honestly, I still have a weak spot for the music too).
The battle scenes are not bad, and even though a few defining characters are missing (like Krang or Bebop and Rocksteady), they didn't screw things up too badly. We have April O'Neil, Splinter, Shredder, Casey Jones, and of course the four Turtles. Unlike some movies I can mention (*ahem* Super Mario Brothers *cough* Street Fighter *wheeze*) this movie actually tries to stay true to the Turtle world, and is actually somewhat more realistic than the cartoon.
My favorite battle scene is where the Turtles are fighting Shredder. Sure, they get their butts handed to them but it's the best combat sequence in the movie. Unfortunately the battle between Shredder and Splinter is completely anti-climactic, and Shredder is shown to be a bumbling idiot. It would have been much cooler if Splinter had jumped around like Yoda, but no, he just swings a Nunchuck, wraps it around Shredder's... uh, Naginata I think it is... trips him up, and sends him into a dumpster truck. If Splinter really is that good, I don't think we needed the Turtles at all.
One thing that kind of gets overlooked is the voice acting for the Turtles, but I actually thought it was half decent. Their dialogue may be cheesy and corny, but it's far superior to the sequels. Some of the combat sequences are turned into comedy as well, but this movie also has some serious and dramatic moments which make it enjoyable.
All in all, I can still sit through this one without cringing too much, which is really saying something. It's hard to believe that it's been 18 years since it was released.
Related Articles:
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze Review
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III Review
Published on August 8, 2008