Ron RoweTMNT (2007)
March 4th 2008 07:10
Poster for TMNT (2007)
Directed by: Kevin Munroe
Cast:
Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako, Patrick Stewart, Mitchell Whitfield, James Arnold Taylor, Mikey Kelley, Nolan North, others
Running time: 87 minutes
Rating: ★★★★& #9733; 10
They’re teenagers. They’re ninjas. They’re mutant turtles. They’re awesome.
TMNT or, as it really should be known, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV, is actually a sequel to the 1990-1993 live-action movie trilogy. Live-action has been replaced with CGI, but the film is definitely within the same continuity.
Set at least a year after the end of Turtles III, which ended with the death of the Shredder and Leonardo being sent away by Splinter to learn to become a more capable leader and master, TMNT begins rather depressingly: Donatello works as an IT support guru, Michaelangelo works as a party entertainer, and Raphael sleeps all day (after spending each night vigilante-ing as the armoured “Nightwatcher”).
April O’Neill and Casey Jones are living together, but April has been hired by a Mr. Winters to find four stone statues. On one of her trips she finds Leonardo and encourages him to return home, but he says no.
Then things turn whacky.
The Foot, led by a woman named Karai, is hired by Winters to find thirteen monsters spread throughout the city - it turns out Winters is actually a 3,000 year old warrior king, the statues are his four generals, and the monsters are part of a curse that grants him immortality!
As the Foot and the four generals collect the monsters for Winters, Leonardo returns and attempts to assume leadership, leading to confrontation with Raphael. After sorting out their differences, Leonardo is captured by the four generals as a fake 13th monster, in order to betray Winters and ensure their continued immortality.
The turtles, with Casey and April, rescue their brother and, after teaming up with Winters and the Foot, break the curse - destroying Winters and the generals in the process. Karai and the turtles go their separate ways, but not before Karai assures them their paths shall cross again soon… and that their future interaction will involve a familiar face from their past.
Whew.
The CGI animation is astonishingly consistent and effective. I could not find fault anywhere, and would be pleased with Imagi making many more Turtles films. But what was really amazing about TMNT was the story.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as a franchise, has several continuities - that of the original comic that started it all, that of the newer comics, that of the 1980s animated series, that of the 2000s animated series… and that of the live-action movies.
I enjoyed the 1980s cartoon, but haven’t really taken to the Turtles beyond that… except for the movies. The first movie was the very first film I saw at the cinema, and I loved it. However, that was 20 years ago (even III came out fifteen years ago!) and I cannot remember them too clearly (although, the final scenes of III are pretty strongly implanted in my mind).
Those films presented a unique view of the Turtles’ world, something the other incarnations of the franchise have not been able to emulate, but a view that I have adored from the very beginning. TMNT accurately and firmly portrays that same continuity, that same worldview - so even though we had different actors, and a switch to animation, the movie was every bit as magickal to me as the first three.
Oh, and this one featured Karai - and although it was not revealed in the film, the more savvy viewers know full well that she is the daughter of the Shredder. You know that’s going to lead to some awesomeness.
I recommend TMNT to everyone. It. Is. Awesome.
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Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Its not that hard to follow a simple three act structure!
The CGI was great thought.
- Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
www.backtotheeighties.net
Comment by Adrian J. Watts
What was a specific plot-hole that bugged you, Jarrah?
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
I love the 1st movie, it really was a great and mature effort and one of my all time favs.
It went downhill from there, I never actually saw the 3rd. Any good?
Funny enought, I just wrote about them a little in my latest blog...and in Karate Kid one also.
Go ninja go!
- Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
www.backtotheeighties.net
Comment by Adrian J. Watts
... but not as good as the first.
Karate Kid, on the other hand, maintained the same quality throughout all three films. Masterful.
"Back to the Eighties" has quickly become one of my daily "must visit" blogs, Jarrah.
Comment by Harry
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