Michealangelo from TMNT
©Mirage Studios Inc.
Reviewed Format: Theatrical Release
Rated: PG
Stars: James Arnold Taylor, Mikey Kelley, Mitchell Whitfield, Nolan North, Mako, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chris Evans, Patrick Stewart, Ziyi Zhang
Writer: Kevin Munroe
Director: Kevin Munroe
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Go Ninja Go?
By: nataleekwDate: Thursday, February 28, 2008
This movie vexed me in several ways. I was ecstatic that a new teenage mutant ninja turtle movie was being produced, being an avid watcher as a child and even into adulthoood. The previews left something to be desired. Not only were the turtles animated, but they were "darker" just as the new version of the television series portrays them to be. Where these the same turtles that I had grown to love?
TMNT begins with Leonardo on a vision quest, which I can work with. That is an act well within Leo's character. Then April is with Casey, again okay, I can live with that. But April and Casey now find artifacts for private collectors? In what world is that possible? April, a scared of everything news reporter who finally reveals her edge when Casey arrives on the set of Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze, is now kicking butt in the wonderful world of archeology. Who thought up this female version of Indiana Jones? Not only is that a stretch, but Casey, an unemployed, violent, self-proclaimed crime fighter is now transporting artifacts. The only character that did not lose integrity in this remake was Splinter, but really, how can you screw that up?
I was disappointed by the lack of zaney humor during the fight scenes. We went from watching the turtles act like punching bags during a fight and using one liners such as "And next time I'll use mustard," to a semi-serious fighting style with little or no antics. Have our turtles been nutured since Ninja Turtles 3, when their humor was obviously still intacked?
This movie had great potential but turned out to be a just "okay" version of the original. Way to let the die hard fans down gently!
Click here to read the staff review by Mania.
