Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Not if there’s something else to watch.
Should you watch this for free? Yes.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 101 minutes (~1.75 hours)
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is an action movie based on the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” franchise that reboots the film series. It stars the eponymous four Ninja Turtles who must foil the evil ninja Shredder’s plot. It stars Megan Fox (April O’ Neil), Will Arnett (Vernon Fenwick), Whoopi Goldberg (Bernadette Thompson), William Fitchner (Eric Sachs), Johnny Knoxville (the voice of Leonardo), Alan Ritchson (the voice of Raphael), Noel Fisher (the voice of Michelangelo), and Jeremy Howard (the voice of Donatello).
The fourth movie to be based on the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” this version definitely benefits from updated CGI technology and much, much better effects. Fight scenes are actually worth watching, and the tone is much closer to that of the 80’s cartoon than the original, gritty trilogy. It’s quite refreshing to see a visually updated Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo.
So what’s great about “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?”
Well executed set pieces
All the action set pieces involving Shredder are just spectacular to watch. The well-choreographed fights and splendid mix of live action and CGI truly make this the 1980s cartoon come to life. The best part is watching the Ninja Turtles and Splinter engaging Shredder in battle. You wouldn’t believe that someone that large and well-armoured can move with such speed and precision, but Shredder manages to pull it off – the cherry that tops an already exciting fight sequence.
Shredder is awesome
Shredder simply steals the show in the film. His armour is already a slick metallic marvel to behold, and it gives him the sheer size and girth to be a credible threat for four very large mutant turtles. You also see the progression of his prowess – when he first dons the armour, his movements are heavy and deliberate, but by the end of the film he’s grown so used to the armour that he can perform amazing feats of agility.
Sadly, there’s just too much that doesn’t work out in the film.
The Ninja Turtles are bland and flat
Yes, the Ninja Turtles are differentiated by the colour of their bandannas, their costume design, and at least one character quirk. But it’s very tacked on – their characters hardly drive the plot, and their personalities, while different, are anything but interesting. For a movie that’s based on them, you’d think that the Ninja Turtles would mature and grow by the end of the film. Nope. They’re the same four teenagers that we meet at the beginning of the film, except that they’ve just saved the city.
Plot is simplistic and straightforward
There’s nothing wrong with an uncomplicated plot, or even a predictable and stereotypical one. But what would normally be forgiveable flaws and clichés in the plot are exacerbated by thoroughly uninteresting characters. You can see everything coming, and there just isn’t enough to story to hold your attention for all 101 minutes.
The two introductions clash with each other
One incredibly jarring move by the film is to have two introductions – a CGI rendered one that explains the origins of the turtles, then a second, slow, cinematic introduction to the existence of the Ninja Turtles. The problem is that we already know that the Ninja Turtles exist, from the actual title itself to the very blatant CGI explanation given. Why, then, is the movie playing up the mystery and identity of the Ninja Turtles? It’s not a surprise, not a reveal, and it’s what the audience expects right off the bat. The handling of the Ninja Turtles’ introduction is bewildering.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” had the chance to be one of the most successful movies this summer, with a rich history that most people are already familiar with. However, it’s just that – straight up, extended retelling of a regular cartoon episode, with none of the gravitas or drama that makes a great movie. As a Turtles fan, I wish it could have been better.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” opens in cinemas 7 August, 2014 (Thursday).
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