TMNT in Wizard

~~Leo656~~ · 06-28-2003, 08:26 PM

I picked up the latest issue of Wizard Magazine this week (it's a magazine for comics enthusiasts, for those that may not know), and one of the main features was one that ranked the Top 50 Comic Book Movies of All-Time. To my pleasant surprise, all three TMNT movies were not only included, but also had a decent showing.

#39: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
"You know you're in trouble when Corey Feldman won't even reprise his role. However, for the rush-released sequel to 1990's 'TMNT' blockbuster, producers proceeded with such offbeat casting as an unseen Kevin Nash as the Super Shredder and Vanilla Ice as himself. (Best Scene: Vanilla apparently ad-libbing the shoulda-been classic 'Ninja Rap' while the Turtles battle a giant mutant wolf and a snapping turtle.) Not as much fun as the original flick, the sequel relies too much on repeat gags (They like pizza! Splinter makes another funny!) and a thin plot, even by Turtle standards (it's a movie about ooze). At least gifted thespian Ernie Reyes Jr. pops up as Keno, the Turtles' sassy new ally."

#27: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
"By the time the third installment of the 'TMNT' movie franchise hit theatres, the Turtles' popularity had pretty much gone the way of the Rubik's Cube. However, diehard Turtles fans still shelled out cash to see the four pizza-scarfin' mutant amphibians travel back in time to feudal Japan to take on a gaggle of samurai and other assorted baddies. Plus, the surprise return of Elias Koteas as Casey Jones is a welcome treat, even if he doesn't beat people up with sporting goods. If only the kid-friendly 'TMNT III' took on a slightly darker tone (like in the comics), it woulda made more of an impact."

#14: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
"God, we love watching these turtles - and we're not ashamed to admit it! Despite the fact that by the time this movie hit theatres the Turtles had ascended from gritty, underground anti-heroes to kid-friendly, Saturday morning fodder, 'TMNT' still captures what makes the Turtles mythos so cool: the origin of our heroes, wisecracks that are actually funny, badass Casy 'Wayne Gretzky on steroids' Jones and kick-ass action sequences where the Turtles take on the Shredder's Foot Clan! The turtle costumes (created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop) not only look like actual amphibians, but they actually allowed the martial artists wearing them to fight fluidly. As Splinter says at the end, 'I have always liked... Cowabunga!' Us too, dude!"

For anyone curious, here's the full ranking (50 being worst and 1 being the best):

50: Batman and Robin
49: Steel
48: Red Sonja
47: Virus
46: Fantastic Four
45: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
44: Conan the Destroyer
43: Captain America
42: Tank Girl
41: Supergirl
40: The Crow 2: City of Angels
39: TMNT 2: The Secret of the Ooze
38: The Crow 3: Salvation
37: Superman III
36: Batman Forever
35: Barb Wire
34: Judge Dredd
33: Return of Swamp Thing
32: Bulletproof Monk
31: Men in Black II
30: Spawn
29: The Punisher
28: Howard the Duck
27: TMNT III
26: Mystery Men
25: Batman Returns
24: Swamp Thing
23: Batman (1966 Adam West version)
22: Daredevil
21: Timecop
20: Conan the Barbarian
19: The Mask
18: Blade II
17: From Hell
16: American Splendor
15: The Crow
14: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
13: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
12: Men in Black
11: Akira
10: Blade
9: Batman
8: The Rocketeer
7: Ghost World
6: X-Men
5: Road to Perdition
4: Superman
3: Superman II
2: Spider-Man
1: X2: X-Men United

Seems pretty accurate to me, but I personally think Batman should be higher than 9, maybe 5. Anyway, debate and discuss.

06-28-2003, 08:26 PM	#1
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	TMNT in Wizard I picked up the latest issue of Wizard Magazine this week (it's a magazine for comics enthusiasts, for those that may not know), and one of the main features was one that ranked the Top 50 Comic Book Movies of All-Time. To my pleasant surprise, all three TMNT movies were not only included, but also had a decent showing. #39: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze "You know you're in trouble when Corey Feldman won't even reprise his role. However, for the rush-released sequel to 1990's 'TMNT' blockbuster, producers proceeded with such offbeat casting as an unseen Kevin Nash as the Super Shredder and Vanilla Ice as himself. (Best Scene: Vanilla apparently ad-libbing the shoulda-been classic 'Ninja Rap' while the Turtles battle a giant mutant wolf and a snapping turtle.) Not as much fun as the original flick, the sequel relies too much on repeat gags (They like pizza! Splinter makes another funny!) and a thin plot, even by Turtle standards (it's a movie about ooze). At least gifted thespian Ernie Reyes Jr. pops up as Keno, the Turtles' sassy new ally." #27: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III "By the time the third installment of the 'TMNT' movie franchise hit theatres, the Turtles' popularity had pretty much gone the way of the Rubik's Cube. However, diehard Turtles fans still shelled out cash to see the four pizza-scarfin' mutant amphibians travel back in time to feudal Japan to take on a gaggle of samurai and other assorted baddies. Plus, the surprise return of Elias Koteas as Casey Jones is a welcome treat, even if he doesn't beat people up with sporting goods. If only the kid-friendly 'TMNT III' took on a slightly darker tone (like in the comics), it woulda made more of an impact." #14: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "God, we love watching these turtles - and we're not ashamed to admit it! Despite the fact that by the time this movie hit theatres the Turtles had ascended from gritty, underground anti-heroes to kid-friendly, Saturday morning fodder, 'TMNT' still captures what makes the Turtles mythos so cool: the origin of our heroes, wisecracks that are actually funny, badass Casy 'Wayne Gretzky on steroids' Jones and kick-ass action sequences where the Turtles take on the Shredder's Foot Clan! The turtle costumes (created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop) not only look like actual amphibians, but they actually allowed the martial artists wearing them to fight fluidly. As Splinter says at the end, 'I have always liked... Cowabunga!' Us too, dude!" For anyone curious, here's the full ranking (50 being worst and 1 being the best): 50: Batman and Robin 49: Steel 48: Red Sonja 47: Virus 46: Fantastic Four 45: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace 44: Conan the Destroyer 43: Captain America 42: Tank Girl 41: Supergirl 40: The Crow 2: City of Angels 39: TMNT 2: The Secret of the Ooze 38: The Crow 3: Salvation 37: Superman III 36: Batman Forever 35: Barb Wire 34: Judge Dredd 33: Return of Swamp Thing 32: Bulletproof Monk 31: Men in Black II 30: Spawn 29: The Punisher 28: Howard the Duck 27: TMNT III 26: Mystery Men 25: Batman Returns 24: Swamp Thing 23: Batman (1966 Adam West version) 22: Daredevil 21: Timecop 20: Conan the Barbarian 19: The Mask 18: Blade II 17: From Hell 16: American Splendor 15: The Crow 14: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 13: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 12: Men in Black 11: Akira 10: Blade 9: Batman 8: The Rocketeer 7: Ghost World 6: X-Men 5: Road to Perdition 4: Superman 3: Superman II 2: Spider-Man 1: X2: X-Men United Seems pretty accurate to me, but I personally think Batman should be higher than 9, maybe 5. Anyway, debate and discuss.