Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie

• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Children's/Family
• Movie Type: Sci-Fi Adventure, Superhero Show
• Themes: Ninjas, Mutants, Heroic Mission
• Director: Steven Barron
• Main Cast: Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Josh Pais, Ray Serra, Michelan Sisti, Michael Turney, James Saito, Leif Tilden
• Release Year: 1990
• Country: US
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• MPAA Rating: PG

Plot

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie is the live-action, feature film adaptation of the cult comic book and the popular animated television show. After prolonged exposure to radiation, four teenage turtles--Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello--have mutated into ninjas and have begun living in the sewers of a large city. Under the guidance of a ninja master Splinter the Rat and television reporter April, the Turtles embark on a mission to run crime out of the city and battle the warlord Shredder. The Turtles have been designed by Jim Henson Productions and effortlessly fit into the live-action surroundings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Review

This live-action film version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is more like the satiric black-and-white comic book by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird from the early '80s than the wildly popular syndicated cartoon show, which broadened the humor from the original's dark tone. However, the bleak pseudo-noir production design and turtle body suits didn't keep away the audience; it became a box-office hit for New Line Cinema, becoming one of the top-grossing films of the year. The story concerns the origin of the turtles and their teaming with reporter April O'Neil to beat the Foot Clan along with some flashbacks of Master Splinter's past, but the plot is really just an excuse to bring the quick surfer-speak and ninja action to the big screen for Turtles fans. The work of Jim Henson Productions, the latex animatronic costumes were well-constructed and worn by stunt men doling out the turtle power in some effective action sequences. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie was followed by a few sequels, a video game, and numerous other media before Turtlemania was quickly overshadowed by the coming popularity of the Power Rangers. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide