Splinters capture in the first movie
 

Does anyone else think that Splinter allowed him self to be captured so that the turtles could learn their final lesson. I mean, he took out the Shredder so I'm pretty sure he could've taken a few foot ninjas.

The Foot probably ambused him. Imagine 50 Foot plus probably Tatsu all there at once, he would definitely have a hard time fending them all off.

I dont care if he is some hot shot ninja master, he's a 4 foot old rat and he can be taken by a large group of younger taller ninjas...but not without a good fight he wouldnt be taken

You also have to keep in mind that the lair in the first movie wasn't all that big, so there weren't many places he could manuever around. Also, that version of Splinter seemed to be the weakest.

He was really old, and wouldn't have had the strength to do any damage, that version of Splinter was on the verge of death.

Casey took on several ninjas and he wasn't even trained in ninjutsu he was just a street fighter. I'd imagine Splinter would have gone out fighting if he didn't want to be captured. Also he's a rat so he probably heard or smelled them coming so he could have escaped.

I always felt that the first movie's Splinter was portrayed as too old and weak, but he didn't allow himself to be captured.

I think it would have been pretty cool to see Splinter fight those Foot, but I also think it was good surprise that we didn't find out about Splinter's capture until the Turtles came home and found out themselves.

Look at the lair after Splinter's capture. It's wrecked. I assume he put up quite a fight.

Yes, but Casey was easily manhandled by Tatsu, alone. I imagine that Splinter would have to deal with not only 20-30 Foot kids, but their trainer as well. No way he alone could handle that.

EDIT: Heck, one may assume that the original invasion of the lair was meant to take all 5 mutants, just imagine the Foot forces amassed if that was the objective.

This is a very good point. The only thing that still bothers me is what I said earlier about how he should have heard or smelled them coming

Another valid point.

Don't let the name fool you, I'm full of "valid points." :P

This kinda makes me wonder if there may have been a deleted scene where we see the sneak attack.

I have to agree on movie Splinter coming across as the weakest of any incarnation of Splinter I've seen thus far. He certainly did seem more frail than any other version, however I wouldnt call him completely unable to defend himself as he took out The Shredder himself with relative ease. As far as the scene being a deleted scene cut out of the movie (splinters capture) I kinda doubt it. It's really one of those scenes better left to the imagination than one that we actually get to see. The turtles discovering their lair in ruins along with Splinter being abducted at the same time of the viewer watching the film works best.

Yeah, I'm not sure why I posted that...I guess to keep from just posting the lame joke. :p

I think a deleted scene would be good, but I doubt it was done. I dont think Splinter seemed that frail in the movie. He may have come off as frail because of the limited animatronics. As for him taking out Shredder, the Shredhead ran for, say, a hundred feet, so 1) Spinter saw him coming and had time prepare, 2) he is a ninja so quick reaction time is a breeze and combined with #1 it shouldnt have been a problem.

Splinter, although old, would've wrecked up some foot ninjas. It didn't look like he could, but I'm sure he would've. I mean, come on, when the turtles were meditating at the old farm house and summoned up splinter, he even said it himself, "you have passed your final test."

In the movie universe... yeah, Splinter woulda kicked ass.

In real life... no... the foot would have ripped that puppet apart. I don't think they could make Splinter do much besides sit, stand and talk in the movies.