Now that I'm thinking about it, it seems appropriate for the season that the only two movies I saw nearing Holy Week were Rocky and TMNT-two resurrected properties that really performed well at the box office. To think that I was a little bit worried for both these movies.
TMNT-or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for those of us who grew up without seeing the need for giving everything acronyms-is another franchise that's close to my heart. I faithfully watched the original animated series, which premiered in 1987. I also caught the first two live-action films, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (released in 1990, and in which Ernie Reyes, Jr. did some of the stunts), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (released in 1991, and in which Ernie Reyes, Jr. was introduced as Keno, the Turtles' human friend). We even had action figures of the four Turtles-Leonardo (who leads), Donatello (who does machines), Raphael (who is cool but crude), and Michaelangelo (who is the party dude)-Shredder, and April. We might have had a Splinter toy too, but I'm not sure. Funny, because you'd expect one to remember a toy figure rat.
There was a third live-action movie in the franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, but I think it didn't do as well as the others. In it the Turtles travel in time back to feudal Japan. How they pulled off puppet suits with ancient Japanese costumes, I don't know. A quick look at the movie's Imdb.com entry tells me that this film didn't use the same costumes as the first two, and that it was panned by both fans and critics. Critic Fred Topel is quoted to have called it a "Terrible conclusion of the trilogy." Happily, the fourth film, though no longer live-action, and, being CGI, not technically part of the trilogy, brings back the pow in Turtle Power. The movie opens with the Turtles's new, post-Shredder life. They defeated him in the second movie, and now their CGI selves have had to take a rest from serious crime-busting.
Leonardo has been sent by Master Splinter to the jungles of South America for a year's training. He ends up overstaying, partly because the locals needed him, and partly because he feels like a failure. Disillusioned with his brothers, especially Leo, Raphael has taken it upon himself to be the Night Watcher, a vigilante crime fighter prowling Manhattan at night for undesirable elements. Donatello is in tech support (with his headset!). Michaelangelo has made a career out of the two things he knows best, being a turtle and partying: donning a fake turtle costume, he entertains at children's parties. April O'Neil has also left a career in broadcast journalism, and is now working for a rich man who has her traveling all over the world to collect what she thinks are rare pieces of art, but turns out to be part of the evil that brings all of them back together. Them, and the supposedly dead Shredder's Foot Soldiers.
Although it took on a more serious tone, TMNT was exciting enough to merit a sequel. At the end of the film, the head Foot Soldier (um, that didn't sound right), Karai, implies that Shredder is back. I'm already looking forward to it, because this movie focused more on getting Leonardo and Raphael to bond again, and didn't give equal attention to Donatello, and my favorite Michaelangelo.
I can say more about the film, but I'd rather focus more on what long-time fans had to say about the new Turtle movie. Take note, like me, these were kids when they fell in love with the Turtles. And they're like in their late 20s to 30s now. Sometimes, movie forums provide entertainment enough! Here are some of the comments I dug up from Imdb.com.
"Kinda disappointed they didn't roll out Turtle Power by Partners In Kryme for the new movie! However, as a 30-year-old man, I'm not sure that is something I should really be concerned with!" - Imran-Khan. But here's my favorite thread.
"The thing that bothered me the most was Splinter's voice! Come on, that didn't even sound anything like him. I can do a better impersonation of Splinter than the guy that voiced him." - reinventedDAMAGE "Impersonation? No one was trying to impersonate anyone." - Lencho01
"So what you are saying is the guy who voiced Splinter really is Splinter, and there is no impersonation going on because giant talking rats exist." - reinventedDAMAGE
"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying." - Lencho01
"I knew that thing I saw in the alley a while back was Splinter...I just didn't want to believe it. He must have been rehearsing for his voice part in TMNT." - reinventedDAMAGE.
"Good grief, of all the things to worry about!" - tammytkspr "Not as bad as worrying about this." - Lencho01, who then gives a link to my next favorite thread. My next favorite thread…
"Hey, I totally forgot that this movie was coming out and my friend went to go see it and he told me that the Ninja Turtles don't eat pizza anymore, they eat KFC. Is this true? Because that would seriously piss me off." - radiohead099
"Seriously, it doesn't matter what they eat. And I find it sad that this would really piss you off." - Lencho01
"Um, yes it does matter what they eat. Apparently you are not a true Turtles fan. Yes they eat some pizza but not nearly enough if you ask me. - kittypoocaca
"They actually eat Taco Bell. Splinter chows down on some chimalupas." - klburton-1
"Are you serious? They eat Taco Bell?! That's Bullsh*t. *beep* the new Ninja Turtles. Are you serious?" - radiohead099
"klburton-1 is as serious as a heart attack." - Lencho01
"Nah dude, the Turtles that I love eat pizza. I'm not going to see some Taco Bell KFC eating turtles. That seriously pisses me off." - radiohead099 Cowabunga!