Ok, 204s, listen up. I'm here to give you the skinny on all things TMNT. This will be a 3-part mini-series post. The first episode will cover the new TMNT movie, the second will cover the TMNT game, and the third post will cover the plastic tie-in for the movie, the action figures. If you don't know me, I love the turtles, L-U-V them, in fact. (That's more than regular love, you know.) Even though I'm a big fan, I'm also a critical asshole. Therefore I just won't be blowing smoke up your asses for these products simply because they have TMNT written all over them. Let's get started, shall we?
Chinese PosterI went and saw the movie over the weekend, and I must say it was quite an experience. My friends and I showed up about 20 minutes till showtime, not knowing what kind of crowd would be there. I certainly wasn't expecting the sell-out crowd that 300 drew, but what I found was a complete shell shock. There was nobody in the theater. We were 20 minutes early, and yet no one was there. Granted this was an 8:45 showing, but still. Come on. Does nobody like the turtles anymore? We waited patiently for the show to begin, and then about ten to five minutes before showtime all the parents with kids, and families started pouring in. The theater certainly wasn't filled, but it was 8:45 pm. Kids need their sleep.
So, the lights went down, and the movie started as we sat surrounded by 6-12 year-olds. I must say that the movie going experience with the 6-12 year-olds was much better than the 300 experience with 14-17 year-olds. At least the little ones were amazed, and just as excited as I was about what they were watching, as opposed to making crude, even racial comments, to impress high school vagina.
The art in the film is spectacular. In fact, it was my biggest attraction to the new film. The new style of the turtles is perfect. Another thing that was perfect was the voice talent. Every turtles, voiced mainly by animation and video game voice actor veterans, was exactly you they should sound. Leonardo sounded wise with a smide of smugness, Michelangelo sounded like a "party dude", Donatello was a bit geeky, and Raphael was gruff with a brooklyn accent. Why he is the only one with an accent, I couldn't tell ya, but it works. The supporting cast sounded good too. April was voiced by
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Casey Jones was voiced by
Chris Evans and the antagonist, Max Winters was voiced by
Patrick Stewart.
Kevin Smith also had a cameo in the film as the Diner employee.
So, visually it's great, and it sounds good. So, how was the plot? Well, I have to admit the first half I was a bit bored. I was entertained, of course, but that was because there were turtles on the screen again, but the movie really come together until the first big fight. Did I mention that all the fight scenes are fucking A-MAZ-ING? Very well choreographed fights with the right direction makes for excellent fight scenes. The biggest change in this film is that they finally address the broken relationship between Raphael and Leonardo which erupts into the best fight scene in the film.
Another things that surprised me was the movie was only 92 minutes long. I had expected longer for some reason. Well, I would have to give the film a 4/5 simply because it was good, but I think they could have done more in either character development or plotlines. However, they did hint at a sequel featuring everyone's favorite walking can opener. The film did make #1 at the box office on opening weekend with just under $25,000,000. I'm hoping that they bring in enough to make another one.
If you're a TMNT fan, like myself, then go check it out. Otherwise, I would probably wait until it reaches the shelves and see about renting it.
