First TMNT Movie Review 12 Years Later...

[Aztec General]

I've decided to do this post because I've watched the movie twice over the last six or so months and I wanted to give a review of the film as a long time fan.

Overall I really like this movie. It's not Pulp Fiction, Requiem For A Dream...etc. but it is quite a damn good comic book movie. Overall I'd rate it 4 out of 5 stars (although the nostalgic part of me wants to give it 5).

Here's my list of the Good and Bad points of the movie. Let me know what you guys think.

Good
1) For the most part it followed the Mirage storyline (Casey, April's apartment burning down, Yoshi being killed...)
2) It had a lot of fighting and action
3) Shredder was a complete bad ass and a great villian
4) The costumes for the TMNT, Foot, and Shredder were great
5) It showed the Leo/Raph idealogical conflict so prevelent in the comics

Bad
1) The lighting was horrible. Couldn't they afford a spotlight?
2) The Splinter costume wasn't so hot. He never really looked like he was living, or capable of movement.
3) Too many jokes in heated battle scenes. That's not to say that I didn't like the humor (because I did, especially Mikey's) but there is a time and place for it.
4) Not enough weapons use. There are plenty of ways of having the TMNT use their weapons without Braveheartesqe violence. Too often they just used their hands or "silly" items (tamberines, fish water...)
5) In the comics the Foot were more like the Mafia. In this movie the Foot were a bunch of disillusioned teen punks. Now I see the merit of this as a recruiting method, or as a means of getting some dough from illegal goods, but they should have showed a higher level Foot involved in more serious criminal engagements.

Well there it is. For those of you who might have noticed, yes I've posted this on another discussion board. I've updated it a bit though.

[d_osborn2000]

i always thought it would be cool to show members of the foot clan in higher up positions, like city officials and wall street brokers, not just teenagers like you mentioned. great review!

[Aztec General]

i always thought it would be cool to show members of the foot clan in higher up positions, like city officials and wall street brokers, not just teenagers like you mentioned. great review!

Thanks and welcome to the board. I don't know if I'm ranked high enough to distribute mangos, but here have some! :evilgrin:

Yeah perhaps a crooked cop, politician, or some good old fashioned racketeering.

[d_osborn2000]

:D thanks for the mangos! btw, you mentioned in your first post that you posted the review on another board. are there other large tmnt boards? anyway, another thing about the tmnt movie i forgot was the score, it's GREAT! i recently listened to my old tmnt soundtrack, and found that a big chunk of the score is on track 8-shredder's theme. anyone know where i can get the full score recording? once again rat king, thanks for the mangos. maaangooosss..... :| mangos......... (in my best chris kattan voice) YOU CAN'T HAVE A DE MANGOSSSS!!!

[Aztec General]

The only other TMNT boards worth mentioning that I've seen are at www.mikeystmnt.com/ and www.superherohype.com/forums/ it's under the Superhero TV section.

Shredder's theme music was cool.

[Karpo_007]

I agreee, The first movie was really good. It succesfully combined the Darker Original TMNT and Humour. I have heard that a lot of scenes were cut, probably because tought to be too violent. hopefully we will see a special edition someday!

[Nickokapo]

Shredder's theme music was cool.
Yes it was, i totally agree! :evilgrin:
Shredder's suite is my favorite song from the first tmnt movie soundtrack..

[Sparvid]

I agree on all the Good-points.

1) The lighting was horrible. Couldn't they afford a spotlight?Agreed. Plus one more thing: What's the deal with the scenes that are shown in much higher speed than normal? For example, Raph after finding out that Splinter is missing, and Casey trying to sleep in the truck...
2) The Splinter costume wasn't so hot. He never really looked like he was living, or capable of movement.I think it's the best they could do at that time with a limited budget.
3) Too many jokes in heated battle scenes. That's not to say that I didn't like the humor (because I did, especially Mikey's) but there is a time and place for it.IMO, too much talk in the fight scenes...
4) Not enough weapons use. There are plenty of ways of having the TMNT use their weapons without Braveheartesqe violence. Too often they just used their hands or "silly" items (tamberines, fish water...)Definitaly agree, but it could be worse (TMNT 2... *shudder*)

[Karpo_007]

Yeah in TMNT 2 they had completely lost their weapons... :x

[Tokka-B]

Yea, that's a shame, isn't it?!? :x :evil: They should have just made the 2nd and 3rd ones more violent and rate it PG 13 or R, geez... of course they could lose millions of $ because I am guessing mostly kids like tmnt...

[Deathknight]

TMNT 1 was great and stupid parents ruined it by complaining about the violence. It was great that way, a perfect blend of comedy and action. One of my favorite parts of the tmnt movie was when Mikey and the foot soldier have the nunchuk competition in April's apartment.

"Oh! a fellow chucker eh?" -TMNT 1

[raphael90]

The first movie is my favorite, although I like TMNT 2 merely because I grew up with it since I was 9.

So many good lines and scenes in this one. The music is great, I like that early 90's vibe. Rap sounded way cooler back then too.

FAVORITE LINES:

"Wise man say forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for a late pizza" -MICHAELANGELO

"Hey Bogie...who died and made you referee?" CASEY JONES

"A Jose Casenko (however you spell that) bat....tell me, you didn't pay money for this?" - RAPHAEL

"Cricket?! No one understands Cricket! You gotta know what a crumpet is to understand Cricket!" -RAPHAEL

APRIL: "I'm not dreaming am I?" SPLINTER "No, I'm afraid not"

"Woah! And I thought insurance salesmen were pushy!" -MICHAELANGELO



FAVORITE SCENES:

Casey and Raphael's rumble in the park

Raphael's rescue of April in the subway...I just like that one! :D

The fight in April's apartment all the way through.

Shredder's fight with the Turtles and Splinter's revealing himself. (I love Shredder's expression when he takes the mouthpiece off)

[Apple Cat]

---delete this

[Karpo_007]

I heard that a lot of scenes were edited. I hope we will get a director's cut someday...

[Reznorite420]

I heard that a lot of scenes were edited. I hope we will get a director's cut someday...Seeing as how the DVD is sold in the "Family" genre at many stores, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

But I don't see how it can be sold in the family section sinced it's labeled on the DVD itself as "Action".

Let me also say that my parents were some of the few that did NOT complain at all about the degree of violence in it. Hell, they saw that it was rated PG for a reason (the mild violence)...to be continued.

[FreshRazz]

Shredder's suite is my favorite song from the first tmnt movie soundtrack..

Thank You Nick, cause I tottally agree with you!

[Nickokapo]

Yeah, it so totally fits shredder :D one of my fave parts of the movies is when shredder enters the foot clan base or whatever :evilgrin:
As for the director cut dvd...well that'd be nice :P i didn't know there were cuts in the movie besides the ending one.

[Kali]

Let me also say that my parents were some of the few that did NOT complain at all about the degree of violence in it. Hell, they saw that it was rated PG for a reason (the mild violence)....
My parents are like that too. Except they pretty much let us watch whatever we want (although they drew the line at anything over R). All of us kids were watching violent horror films before we were ten. Man, no wonder we're all screwed up. :lol:

[Machias Banshee]

Gotta wonder....If they could redo the second and third movie to be the exact same style and 'darkness' the first one had been...what could have happened? How different would the characters have been? So any possibilities...


*sits down, poses as "the thinker", and ponders...*

[Kali]

There's a really good, dark fan-sequel to the first movie called "True Forces" by Sue Stilter.

I would have liked to see a Return to New York/City at War adaptation.

[Machias Banshee]

True Forces! That was a kick-arse story.... :D

Return to New York/City at War? I'm not familiar with that... :???:

[Kali]

It's a Mirage comics storyline. After Shredder's permenately killed the Turtles and friends all go up to the farm. Through the course of Return/City the group goes their seperate ways, and the turtles eventually go back to New York to check out some possible Foot sightings. We get the Karai and the Japanese Foot trying to kill off the last of the Shredder Elite. April's dealing with her father's death in CA. Casey's off marrying Gab then taking in his step-daughter Shadow. And Splinter meets the dead Ratking trying to survive being trapped with a broken leg.

The whole thing ends with everybody coming back as one happy family again.

[raphael90]

My parents certainly didn't seem to have a problem with the movie, for I watched it the first time when I was probably 8 or 9. It had probably been out
for a year or two before I saw it. I only got started on the Turtles in December 1990.

[Donatello]

i thinkj this moviem is near perfect the only complaint i had was the absence of oruku nagi's character

[Karpo_007]

Well It is the best TMNT that has ever been on screen. New cartoon might change that.

It was a good combination of the Original TMNT and cartoon like humour. It was a movie that all could enjoy.

[Reznorite420]

Seeing as how the DVD is sold in the "Family" genre at many stores, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

But I don't see how it can be sold in the family section sinced it's labeled on the DVD itself as "Action".

Let me also say that my parents were some of the few that did NOT complain at all about the degree of violence in it. Hell, they saw that it was rated PG for a reason (the mild violence)...to be continued....and it continues.

I may have said many posts ago that my dad liked TMNT a lot too when I was growing up. Hell, the only who really didn't look into it as much as I did was my mom. Even then she still approved of it with no problems at all. TMNT was practically a religion for about 3 to 4 years around the house. The year the movie came out, WE WERE THERE!!!!! Of course, we had to wait about a week before it came to the local dollar theater (this was during the years when my family had to scrimp every penny), but it was still the month it came out (March 1990, I had turned 5 the October before that).

But I will say this much: my favorite part of the movie was NOT a fight scene, NOT a line spoken, and NOT a musical montage...my favorite part of the movie to this day is the instant the title logo pops onto the screen and those few seconds it stays on. You have to understand that I liked seeing the logo enough while it was in the cartoon, but seeing in the movie....now THAT is sheer bliss to a 5-year-old!!!!!!

I also remember not being upset or disappointed about it not being based on the cartoon entirely. My reaction when I walked out of the theater: "AWESOME, DUDES!!!!" My peers (I wasn't in school yet) always complained about how it didn't have Krang, Rocksteady, Bebop, and the Technodrome, but I didn't! No sir! At the time I thought it was absolutely the best movie ever made! Yes sir!My parents are like that too. Except they pretty much let us watch whatever we want (although they drew the line at anything over R). All of us kids were watching violent horror films before we were ten. Man, no wonder we're all screwed up. :lol:Hehehehehe....to be honest, I don't it's the kids like you and I that are messed up, but rather the ones who DIDN'T allow their children to watch certain movies at all, even with parental guidance. I say that because many kids today have trouble grasping what's real and what's not. I applaud you, Kali, for not being one of the troubled youths :thumbsup: Well It is the best TMNT that has ever been on screen. New cartoon might change that.

It was a good combination of the Original TMNT and cartoon like humour. It was a movie that all could enjoy.I couldn't have said it any better. This new generation of TMNT had better blow the previous one out of the water.

[rat queen]

great review,i prettymuch agree with every thing ya wrote :tthumbsu:

[Psycrow]

For the record, I must say that I wished that Soccer Moms didn't get a hold of the TMNT like they did, it was completely butchered after that point... (not just being discrimanatory against Soccer Moms, but also against all overprotective parents who restrict other children's viewing on their children's behalf)

Now that I got that off my chest, the best TMNT movie is easily the first one. It was alot darker, which gained alot of support by me when it first came out. Also, it reminded me of the Mirage comics, which is another plus in my books.

Oh yeah, Michaelangelo (or Michelangelo if you wanna be politcally correct about it) was the best in that movie, hands down. :lol:

[Reznorite420]

I'm not kidding when I say this: when those "soccer mom" types started butchering TMNT, my own parents were actually outraged themselves. Weird, huh?

[Psycrow]

I'm not kidding when I say this: when those "soccer mom" types started butchering TMNT, my own parents were actually outraged themselves. Weird, huh?

Nope, not really, seeing as my parents were also mad at them too. They kind of took it offensively seeing as some people were trying to tell them on how to raise their children better.

Lookin' back on it from that viewpoint, I'd see it as offensive too.

[Reznorite420]

Yeah, well...like I said earlier, TMNT was practically a religion around my home at the time...we were a weird bunch :roll:

[Psycrow]

Yeah, well...like I said earlier, TMNT was practically a religion around my home at the time...we were a weird bunch :roll:

Haha same here. I have a twin brother, so having myself and him around = alot of TMNT around the house. We used to have TMNT birthday parties, TMNT hallowe'en customes, and pretty much everythin' TMNT!

Hehe, I miss the good ol' days. That's why my brother and I still go around and relive our youth through all these 80's cartoons (and 90's!) like the TMNT.

[heretic888]

You know there is a motto that a comic books freedom organization has: CENSORSHIP IS IGNORANCE.

[raphael90]

Yeah, I had sheets, sleeping bag, pillow cover, shirts, pajamas, and get this...

...AN ELECTRIC TURTLE TOOTHBRUSH! :lol:

Yeah, I was obsessed back then...wish I still had some of that stuff but oh well. I still have a Michaelangelo headband and some stuffed Turtles from that time. I'm hoping to get a collection of the first couple rounds of action figures and as many shows as I can get.

[Reznorite420]

Was anybody ever a member of the TMNT fan club? I was. I think that included a year's subscription of the TMNT magazine.

[Psycrow]

Was anybody ever a member of the TMNT fan club? I was. I think that included a year's subscription of the TMNT magazine.

Yes, I was, but I remember the magazines being pretty lame overall, even for a TMNT fan like myself. I don't remember what I did with those magazines though, but I remember you used to get various things like pins and the like with them from time to time.

[PacMan2005]

Hey guys,

Do people here actually remember the time when parents got outraged about the first movie? What exactly went on? I was fairly young then and wasn't aware there even WAS an outrage until I picked up the Making of TMNT II VHS. Then I saw the sequels in a whole new light. The first movie is still amazing and enjoyable to me and I think I watch it every year.

Also, does anyone notice that when Mikey challenges the foot soldier, he first has a numchuck that is connected by rope, then he twirls it around his finger and it's connected by chains, and then after it goes back to rope?

I really liked the fighting scenes. The two scenes in the movie that stick out for me is when Raph gets whooped by the foot and the whole Turtles versus the foot which leads to Turtles getting whooped by Shredder. Although the Turtles lose, I just find that scene really nice. Slow motion worked there.

My fav lines:

"I mean, c'mon, how you guys expect to beat me?"

"Awwww...no more?!"

"The only thing safe in the woods would be the trees."

"Y-O, I don't know. A couple throw pillows, a TV news reporter, what do you think?"

This was a movie I simply grew up with. I have most of the lines of this film memorized. I hope to see a special edition DVD that I heard was in the works through a rumor. I even heard commentary was supposedly recorded.