Do you think Yoshi and Teng Shen's murder was the reason so many parents were upset?

[Jephael]

I always felt the flashback to Oroku Saki killing Hamato Yoshi and Teng Shen in the original movie was pretty graphic (for a kids' film anyway). It didn't upset me too much as a child, but I always thought it was a bit unsettling. Also the more I think about it the more I have this notion that the scene may have been one of the triggers that lead to the outcry from parents deeming the movie so violent.

[Candy Kappa]

naah, violence is always fun. it coarse language and sex that makes parents cringe.

[marcelangelo]

this is the truth:..I have never met a parent that was upset with teenage mutant ninja turtles....
in all seriousness:have YOU guys EVER?

[Jester]

Some people did:

[pannoni1]

There were likely many upset parents, but it was a small minority who were, and of that minority, a small fraction of this was due to Yoshi and Teng Shen's murder, since a flashback involves a "long ago" storyline that just doesn't seem haunting compared to such an event happening in "present time". The only reason for the downtone in violence for the second movie is to simply make the movie more like the top-rated Saturday Morning cartoon to appeal to the franchises' biggest demographic at the time in hopes of a higher profit.

[gobo]

The only parent I ever knew that disapproved of the cartoon was some religion-nut who claimed it made her kid play-act Turtles with his friends and someone would always get hurt. This was before the movie ever came out. I don't recall ever asking her opinion on the movie.

[Jester]

I'm surprised I never hurt any of my friends when we played Turtles. I used to use these:

As my play sais at one point.

[gobo]

^ What the heck are those? Knitting needles?? O_o

[zkarlette]

They seem to be huge nails with those cable fasteners

[Welmanshire]

Haha my friends and I all have at least one scar each from playing tmnt/power rangers as kids!

[Blossombrooks]

A a kid the Teng Shen/Yoshi murder didn't upset me any more than intended, I did hide behind a cushion the next time I saw the Shredder on the screen but he was an awesome scary villain. I can't remember what certificate the film was though?

[zkarlette]

I think that Tatsu and the foot made it seem more violent that the hole teng Sheng scene, but personally I don't remember it being scary back then.

[Welmanshire]

Originally Posted by zkarlette

I think that Tatsu and the foot made it seem more violent that the hole teng Sheng scene, but personally I don't remember it being scary back then.

Yeah, the scene where Tatsu beats that guy within an inch of his life is pretty brutal, even now as an adult. As a kid I was never overly effected by it though. The fight scenes we acted out were from the cartoon most of the time.

[Jester]

Originally Posted by RIP, gobo

^ What the heck are those? Knitting needles?? O_o

Knitting needles!?

No Vic, they are tent stakes.

[zkarlette]

Originally Posted by Jester

Knitting needles!?

No Vic, they are tent stakes.

So that's what they were..no wonder they seem pretty big, but since I've never been camping I wouldn't know.

[Zachatello00]

I had to beg my mom not to drive us out of the drive in theater when Raph swore, right at the beginning of the movie. I told her that I had heard worse that very day at the playground during recess.

She believed me.

[alliance]

do u guys remember that f*cken scene TS is talking about? that was damn brutal lmao ... her arm or whatever looked completely totaled from my view, it was a hardcore movie especially coming off such a happy cartoon, i wouldnt be surprised if more than a few parents thought it was a little too much for a kids flick

[Azrael Macool]

Originally Posted by Welmanshire

Yeah, the scene where Tatsu beats that guy within an inch of his life is pretty brutal, even now as an adult. As a kid I was never overly effected by it though. The fight scenes we acted out were from the cartoon most of the time.

If what I've heard is true, in the original cut he actually did kill that kid, but to tone down the violence they added the other guy saying "You're gonna be all right" or whatever during ADR (additional dialogue recording). It certainly sounds like ADR to me (if you listen carefully, you can tell the difference), but that doesn't necessarily rule out that he did say that line in the first place, but it wasn't picked up well by he microphone and he just had to do it again. That's pretty common.

Randomly, is there in fact a commentary or director interview or something that could clarify things like this? I've heard for years that the movie got toned down in terms of adult subject matter (such as Leo using his swords more, I've heard they stole beer from April's fridge, etc), but has that ever been confirmed in any way? And if so, is that footage out there anywhere? I have only the DVD of the first movie, which has no real special features on it at all.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

The turtles I have felt for a long time were rewarded with the Beatles' "we're more popular than Jesus" syndrome, which was the real reason for the outcry. Toxic Crusaders aired as a cartoon and became an action figure line AFTER the movie "The Toxic Avenger," have you ever seen THAT? I wouldn't let MY kids watch it, if I had any.

[MikeandRaph87]

I was 3 years old in 1990. My parents bought it for me the day the vhs release came out and watched it with me. I had no problem with Saki killing Yoshi and Shen. I was also able to differentiate at that very young age Spinter being Yoshi and Splinter being Yoshi's pet.

I thought it was the use of ninja weapons that upset parents. The thought of kids wanting or pretending to use ninja weapons like sais,nunchucku,et al. begeting problems in the home by accidents or rough housing that leads to injury. That lead to the mall scene with the croosk at the opening of the second film and using thier surroundings as weapons moreso than their respective weapon.