The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Growing up watching this with my older brothers was fun and that's when I became a fan of teenage mutant ninja turtles. As a kid it makes you excited and makes you laugh, and today when I watch it it still does that for me.*SPOILERS BELOW* It followed the comics somewhat, the story was good and the plot was good and the characters were exciting and fun. The actors did an amazing job and played the parts well. The story follows four mutant turtles with ninja skills and abilities, New York City is in big trouble when a gang of ninja thieves called the Foot cause trouble and chaos for the people of New York. A News Reporter named April O'Neil opens the cities eyes to this trouble and in turn causes her trouble. Being ambushed in a subway station she is rescued by one of the mutated turtles named Raphael, that's when this adventure begins. With the Help of April and a vigilante named Casey Jones , the four heroes learn that the Foot is lead by an evil ninja lord named The Shredder. And that he has kidnapped the turtles master and father Splinter. Learning to work as a team, and to fight as one the four turtles fight for the city and come together to stop the shredder.Reason I give this 9/10 is because now that I am older I see it is kind of cheesy but still very cool and fun. I am impressed how they made the turtles work with the mechanical mask the actors wear. Also,my favorite characters are Casey Jones and Leonardo he has always been my favorite turtle and Casey Jones is just flat out cool with the sport weapons he uses such as bats, clubs, and even a cricket paddle. Every time I watch this it brings back memories when my two older brothers and I sat down and watched this movie, along with the second and third ones. I will always cherish this movie not only for the memories but for the coolness it has. For a 90's movie and me being a 90's baby it is part of who I am and I recommend this movie because it is fun and awesome. Even if your not of fan of TMNT you will enjoy it nonetheless for its humor and good time."Cowabunga Dudes and Dudettes Major League butt kicking is back in Town!!!" :-)

This movie was a charming animatronics "masterpiece" done with the help of Jim Henson's puppet design magic in 1990. Unfortunately, Henson died from pneumonia-related organ failure around this time. Also critics made the film out to be 'utter, utter garbage' because the Turtles were climbing to the third most popular toy franchise on earth, so the idea of a movie would likely be received as more of the mindless cash-in that had followed the Turtles forgettable transition to Saturday morning cartoon, and the toy shops.The movie does have its own aesthetic though. Sort of. It imitates Tim Burton's "Batman" grunge noir and has its own funky, retro style lifted from downtown second hand stores, chipped and crumbling apartment buildings and the original black and white comic book panels.Several key scenes of comic action are well set up and the films impact and tone are excellent here. The MAIN PROBLEM with the TMNT film is that, essentially, it has no plot whatsoever.Raphael (the "red mask" version) gets hit on the head during a battle sequence and literally spends the ENTIRE SECOND ACT asleep in a bathtub somewhere on a farm location (cheap and easy to shoot, but not really motivating in any way plotwise). The other turtles just sort of "do turtle stuff" and there's also two scenes dealing with April O'Neil's possible attraction to ruffian vigilante Casey Jones. So . . .after nothing happens during 'act II' (you know, the bit where the plot's supposed to kick in), the Turtles basically head back to Noo Yoik City to have more zany action comedy scenes, followed by a generic action pic ending.IF ONLY they'd thought of a cool plot device or some real character development to give this picture some plausible reason for existing, it'd be a semi-classic kids film.For some reason, like Burton's Batman picture of 1989, key scenes of staging and cinematography are striking for what is essentially a genre picture, but the film sucks. Followed by a sequel where parents had protested against the action comedy sequences in the original, then toilet quality Michael Bay monster pics years later. There's an all-CGI version out there too, missed by most.

I'll admit I'm a fan of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise, I've been one since I was 8 and I'm still one now. I've seen the animated shows, played the video games, read the graphic comic series (old and IDW series). But also what I love about this franchise the most was that it was the first factor that inspired me to become a martal artist. This film is one of my favorite films of all time, I loved it when I was a kid and I love it even today.The film has a great soundtrack that is one of my favorites. The theme song is solid despite not as memorable as the 80's theme but fun all the same. However it's some of the songs that are used that make the music stand out like 9.95, Spin that Wheel, This is What We Do, just so many great tracks and perfectly fit the dark urbanized atmosphere of the film.The production value is great, I really love the New York location used but I really like the use of the darkness and grit which really gives the film a neo noir vibe. It really feels like a dangerous world where anything could happen, something could be hidden in the shadows.But of course the best thing is the Turtles themselves (along with Splinter) whom were created by the Jim Henson company. They are just fantastic looking because their completely practical theirs no CGI bullcrap. The make up designs are just spot on they really look like creatures that could exist. But I also like the animatronic and pupetering effects which are just spot on not just in speaking but also in emotions.The story is great, I really like the plot line which I think is plausible and whose to say it's not happening right now or that no other crime organization had thought this up. An evil Ninja Clan consisting of youths for recruitment for their own corrupt gains. It's sort of like with the urban gangs we have that do consist of really young members, which makes the plot of the film all the more disturbing.The characterization is great the dialog is fun and memorable. I really like the supporting human characters from April played well by Judith Hoag whom I thought was pretty and I thought her performance as April was great. She's energetic, determined, intelligent, feisty, and can hold her own against danger.Casey Jones played well by Ellas Coates. He was great he is a bad ass that can kick plenty of ass with his sports training and equipment. He's got a lot of charisma, but he's also really funny from how unsmooth he is as he gives April in fact both give each other unintentional grief. But I like that showing how human he is and that he's sort of an underdog despite a tough guy doesn't always get the girl.And of course Spliner and the Turtles are great as their all in character and wonderfully voice acted. But most importantly I really like that we see the family dynamic which of course is the big theme of the film and message about what true family and community consists of.The two that are my favorites are Raphel whom is my favorite character and fictional protagonists. He's hotheaded as he's got an anger streak a mile long so you don't want to get on his bad side but he does his best to keep it under control, I can easily emphasize with that since I have lots of anger inside myself that I struggle to control. But he's a bad ass as he takes crap from no one and just loves to kick some ass no matter the odds thought this is also his weakness as he sometimes bites more than he can chew but I really like that he's a wisecracker as he's got some of the best lines like saying the infamous "DAMN!" that just blew my mind since most films I was allowed to see had no profanity, let alone the fact this was from a Turtle character which is awesome as it stays true to the graphic comic series which had bits of profanity. But he really is a softy by his nature as he deeply cares about his brothers and father despite not always showing it.Michalengelo he is just so much fun, despite being a bit of a ditz and childlike he's not stupid. He's just the ball of energy that really loves to have fun, make jokes, as well as pizza. And he's got some great lines too "Ninja kick the damn rabbit." yeah that line again.I even like the fact that the Turtles exhibit some real emotion which really helps us connect and some pathos for them. The scene when the Turtles find out Splinter has been kidnapped, you can just see the broken looks on their faces but most of all just seeing Raphael scream with grief and anger which really made the scene all the more heart sinking and care for them. This also just made us all the more want these characters to win because it really felt like it mattered.And of course the action is great, the martial arts choreography is just top notch as the people in the costumes are real martial artists. This film has two of my favorite battles of all time from the battle in April's apartment which was awesome because it all took place in confined space and they are just up to their elbows in baddies almost like in the film "Assault on Precent 13". And of course the big final battle that is great as there is the use of three enviorments and it's in constant motion kinda like in a video game.Turtle Power! Rating: 4 stars

Well, my 250th review for this site, so I'm going to try to talk about a film it's simply impossible for me to be objective about. Along with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (RIP Alan Rickman), this was one of the films I watched obsessively as a child. The VHS came coloured green and I liked it oh so much better than the cartoons. This movie made me a fan of Elias Koteas. That's right: my watching The Prophecy, Fallen and Thin Red Line all started here. This was the first movie soundtrack I owned and I listened to it repeatedly, going into random, and usually unwanted, renditions of 9.95 and MC Hammer's "This is What we Do." Watching this movie for me is like having a wave of nostalgia washing over me, every line of dialogue in every scene is like meeting up with an old friend. Later in life I lived with a flat mate who was equally obsessed with it growing up. We could re-enact every line of dialogue in the film.The movie introduces us to a dark New York City, being vandalized by an increasingly large ninja Klan known as The Foot, led by the mysterious Shredder. We get a nice montage showing just how widespread and organized their crime wave is as journalist April O'Neal (Judith Hoag) reports these happenings on the news. April's attempts to expose The Foot Clan draws their ire and the Turtles come to protect her as the baddies attack, kicking their asses. But Raphael loses a Si, but don't worry, it ain't gone. He CAN GET IT BACK man! Raphael is the brooding loner of the group and decides to go to the movies (Critters 3, Leonardo DiCaprio's first movie) where he is unimpressed with what he sees, but ends up meeting a vigilante Casey Jones (Elias Koteas) and getting his ass kicked by him after revealing he doesn't understand either crumpets or cricket, two of the best things in life. Raph then gets his Si back after saving April from another Foot Clan attack and he's forced to take her back to their sewer hide out where Splinter can reveal their backstory. The Turtles go to check out April's house where The Foot attack again. Raphael gets severely wounded during the attack while at the same time the hideout is ravaged by The Foot and Splinter kidnapped and tortured. This leaves the Turtles to escape into the country along with April and Casey and train themselves up for the final showdown with Shredder.OK, I can see flaws in the story, but really, it satisfies me on just about every level. The Turtle puppets are reasonably convincing and mainly kept in darkness. The main cast put around them are all adequate at worst, and Hoag and Koteas are both good. We also have a young Sam Rockwell on screen for a couple of scenes as one of the Foot leaders. The film flows effortlessly from scene to scene and never feels slow or bogged down. It just rollicks along at a good clip, mixing fun, action and some nice messages for the kids. I've heard people say it's too dark, but it never bothered me either visually or in terms of atmosphere.In the end, I can't view this objectively, no matter how hard I try. This is more than a movie, it's an old friend, and like any friend, you accept it faults and all. That old, worn green VHS that gave me hours of enjoyment as a youngster and is still worthwhile more than 25 years later. That's a rare type of connection that only films can give us, and the reason we continue to love movies well into our dotage.