‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Movie Review: Fun for die-hard fans offering little else
Fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may be elated or incredibly disappointed by the latest reboot of the franchise. While the film pays homage to old jokes, the pizza loving mutants didn’t get a good upgrade beyond the amazing motion-capture CGI.
Rumors were abound about an “alien” themed origin, but the ooze is a mutagen in the new film, transforming four turtles and a lab rat into superpowered ninjas. While Shredder is lurking, organizing the army called The Foot, his plan will finally be realized unless the turtles grow up quickly and find their inner strength to stop the big baddie.
Fans get an exciting intro as the TMNT take down some Foot soldiers in an awesome subway sequence, but the film quickly returns to childish schtick in between blatant plot exposition. The film is riddled with plot holes and idiotic concepts that are never addressed, the least of which is Donatello’s amazing tech which contrasts their lowly living conditons and the tape on his glasses.
There is a ton of eye candy and fun for the kids, but the new TMNT is only a 2014 update to the Secret of the Ooze turtles of 1991…without the ooze….or creatures to battle…or Vanilla Ice. Moreover, while Megan Fox is tolerable at times, often she is worst than a soap star at a local dinner theater.
Shredder’s armor, which kids will love, appears to be a reject prototype for the Silver Samurai from last year’s The Wolverine. In the wake of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, there is NOTHING impressive about the CGI or the performances. In fact, Splinter is so poorly done at times, it’s distracting. This is only trumped with the awful effects during flashbacks showing juvenile turtles.
Michaelangelo is funny, Splinter can fight, Raphael has a bad attitude and there IS a Cowabunga!
After a big opening, there is already a sequel planned, an that is understandable for the appeal to kids and the massive number of action figures which can be sold.
The film stars Megan Fox, William Fichtner, Will Arnett, Alan Ritchson, Pete Ploszek, Jeremy Howard, Danny Woodburn, Mos Def, Noel Fisher, Johnny Knoxville and Tony Shalhoub.
Overall Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles receives 2 stars out of 5 stars.
If this is for your young boy, add atleast a star (maybe more), just keep your expectations low.
[…] up after the action of the first film, Out of the Shadows begins with Shredder a national criminal, headed to prison when the Foot return […]