Author

Justin Bozung

Justin Bozung is a film researcher/writer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has written for such print publications as Shock Cinema, Fangoria, Paracinema, Whoa, Bijou and Phantom Of The Movies' Videoscope.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem

Seth Rogan’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Will Hit Theaters This August

by Justin Bozung March 8, 2023

written by Justin Bozung

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Seth Rogan Movie Coming

The Paramount Studios / Seth Rogan Production: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem will feature an all-star cast: Jackie Chan, Seth Rogan, John Cena, Ice Cube, Hannibal Buress, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, and Post Malone.

Watch the newly-released trailer down below.

It’s been 3 days since Seth Rogen walked out onto the stage at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and announced the cast for his upcoming Turtles reboot, but the internet still hasn’t calmed down about it yet.

Scheduled to hit theaters August 4th, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem finds our favorite 4 sewer-dwelling, pizza-loving heroes in a half shell Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael with their sights set on keeping New York City safe from the antics of Bebop and Rocksteady, but also on finding acceptance from those above whom they protect.

What will make this new TMNT movie stand out from those that have come before it, will be the big screen introduction of such well-known origin story/mythology/1980s animated TV series characters as “Genghis Frog,” “Leatherhead,” “Wingnut,” “Cynthia Utrom,” “Ray Millet,” and “Mondo Gecko,” but also the insane cast of big names attached.

Splinter: Jackie Chan
Donatello: Micah Abbey
Michelangelo: Shannon Brown Jr.
Leonard: Nicholas Cantu
Raphael: Brady Noon
Bebop: Seth Rogan
Rocksteady: John Cena
April O’Neil: Ayo Edebiri
Genghis Frog: Hannibal Buress
Leatherhead: Rose Byrne
Superfly: Ice Cube
Wingnut: Natasie Demetrious
Baxter Stockman: Giancarlo Esposito
Ray Millet: Post Malone
Mondo Gecko: Paul Rudd
Cynthia Utrom: Maya Rudolph

With Rogan at the helm of this new movie, Turtles fans will likely get to see a much better film than those previously brought to the big screen by director/producer, Michael Bay.

And judging from the recent statement by the President of Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Animation, Ramsey Naito, the studio itself might be thinking the exact same thing:

“We are beyond thrilled by this world-class cast we’ve assembled to bring these iconic, beloved characters to life in a new chapter of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe. This really sets a new bar for this globally celebrated franchise, and we can’t wait to show audiences this film.

March 8, 2023 0 comment

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

by Justin Bozung June 3, 2016

written by Justin Bozung

There’s one thing that’s abundantly clear after you leave a screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. It’s that you realize, right away, just how much better this Turtles movie is over 2014’s
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And when I say, that I mean it. Out of the Shadows is incredible! Where the first Michael Bay Turtles movie relied heavily on the set-up and back-story of the Turtles, Out of the Shadows throws you right into the Turtles world without any of that pesky story set-up or back-story to get in the way, and it really makes for one hell of a fun ride. While Bay’s first Turtles movie had some really wonderful action sequences, Out of the Shadows not only out does the previous Turtles movie, but it also captures the comic book essence of the Turtles, which give us a comic book brought to life on the big screen.

Each scene in Out of the Shadows feels/looks like a comic book panel has come bursting off of the page. Even the story line here is more comic-oriented. The jokes are very comic book esque. Here’s a breakdown of the story: Shredder (brought to life perfectly by Brian Tee) is in prison. Baxter Stockman (who is played by the under-rated and highly nerdy Tyler Perry–pay attention to his laugh in Out of the Shadows), has been hatching a plan to bust him out. April O’Neil discovers this and puts the Turtles on the case. However, the Turtles
are unable to stop Shredder from escaping as they don’t anticipate Stockman’s plan of opening a dimensional portal to get him out. The portal sucks Shredder out too early and he lands into the hands of Krang (who is voiced by Everybody Loves Raymond’s Brad Garrett).

Michelangelo Poster Still from TMNT 2: Out of the Shadows

If Turtles fans have any issues with Out of the Shadows it might be with how Director Dave Green revises the Turtles mythology slightly. Here in Out of the Shadows Green pits Krang as a dark overload who enlists Shredder to help him with his plan open another, bigger portal into Earth so he can wreck havoc there. Where things differ is how it all ends between Krang and Shredder. It doesn’t end well for either of them, but one ends up frozen and locked in a prison–no doubt setting the franchise up yet another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film to follow next year, perhaps. Out of the Shadows is a perfect summer Hollywood action blockbuster.

It really has it all, and this time around, Director Dave Green has taken care to fix the 3D elements that were sort of lacking in the first film. This time around, too, whereas, in the Bay’s first Turtles movie, the human characters (April, Vern, villains) sort of served as the main characters of the story, here they are almost just really secondary side players. They’re part of the story but they aren’t the main characters, the Turtles are, and that’s the way it should be. Also, coming into the story line here is Casey Jones. Jones is played by the star of the CW’s hit show Arrow, Stephen Amell. As Casey Jones, he’s fine. There will always be a small part of you as a Turtles fan however, that wishes that Amell would’ve added that Clint Eastwood vocal infliction into this interpretation of Jones for Out of the Shadows. With Jones, there’s another, mythology skewing in the film as well. As we all know how Casey Jones became Casey Jones in the Turtles mythology, here we are introduced to Jones and we understand in the first 10 minutes of the movie exactly how the hockey mask hero is created.

There are some really stunning action sequence in Out of the Shadows. While most may remember the downhill slide sequence from the 2014 Turtles film, here in Out of the Shadows each action sequence is like that, but better. The most memorable sequences in Out of the Shadows include the opening Shredder prison break sequence, the airplane in Brazil sequence, and of course, the finale which features the Turtles in the sky above New York City surfing the construction of Krang’s Technodrome. The finale of Out of the Shadows is dazzling. The Turtles fight against Krang and the sequence goes on for quite a long time, and given the architecture of the Technodrome and it’s construction during this sequence, one feels like they’re seeing a live-action Futurist / Kandinsky painting come to life on the screen.

It’s really impressive and awe-inspiring when you consider all the work that went into this film to create these CGI creatures and effects. The creation of Krang is really impressive as well, and in the flesh he’s way more frightening and gross than any cartoon could ever portray him. Out of the Shadows is a thrill ride. It’s funny, action-packed, and it has a lot of heart. And most importantly, it’s a literal comic book brought to life for the screen. Which is all us Turtles fans have ever wanted from any Turtles movie ever. Out of the Shadows, finally, gives us what we’ve all been hoping that a Turtles movie would deliver. It’s about time.

Left to right: Megan Fox as April O’Neil, Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Stephen Amell as Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

June 3, 2016 2 comments

Other News

Google says: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” searched for the most in Michigan

by Justin Bozung October 29, 2015

written by Justin Bozung

What is about Michigan that elicits the recent report via Google and the website Estately that suggests that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is searched the most via Google in the State of Michigan?

And it’s not just “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” in general, it’s specifically “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Costumes.”

Certainly, everyone remembers the 2014 Turtles gathering happening in Michigan, but is Michigan really the State with, perhaps, the most Turtles fans in per area? And if so, why?

Estately, a site mostly known as a real estate blog goes further into the report:

MICHIGAN: Pikachu, pig mask, Robin Hood, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
If you ever see a group of kids dressed up like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hold up a trick-or-treater in a pig mask for his Pokemon cards you’ll know you’re in Michigan.
…..
So, as you can see Michigan also has folks searching for such interesting terms as “Pig Mask,” “Robin Hood” and “Pikachu.” And to be fair, this report is based on an average over 11 years at Google as well.

Does your state have the most Turtles fans? Or is Google onto something here?

Tell us what you think…

Source: Estately

October 29, 2015 4 comments

How To

10 TMNT Bedrooms You Wish You Could Sleep In

by Justin Bozung October 22, 2015

written by Justin Bozung

We’re all completely devoted and slightly crazy (some more than others) when it comes to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Some Shellheads are comfortable just owning a few TMNT action figures, a couple t-shirts etc. While others need to own Turtles merch from every country in the world! Then there are some the ultra hardcore Turtles geeks who wear something associated with TMNT out no matter where they go. They may wear a Turtles tee out on a Friday Night. They might wear green tennis shoes to a dressy occasion. The ultra hardcore Turtles fan also owns movie props from any of the live-action Turtles movies. And yet, there are still those Turtles fans that actually transcend the ultra hardcore Turtles fanatics, and those folks–who’ll call “Turtles Sleepers”–go beyond just being a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They become the Turtles in their own way, they root their lives in the TMNT universe in some way. One easy way to do that is to transform one’s bedroom into the ultimate shrine to TMNT or to change your bedroom into one of the Turtles living locations.

What follows are some of our favorite examples of TMNT fans who have gone beyond the call of duty of fandom and combined their world with the Turtles.

and if you don’t have the money to turn your own bedroom into a Turtles Shrine like those above did, you can always just buy a bunch of pizza boxes and make furniture out of them. You know the Turtles would’ve done it!

October 22, 2015 1 comment

Other

10 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLE COSTUMES GONE WRONG

by Justin Bozung October 21, 2015

written by Justin Bozung

We all start out with a idea in our heads, and when we think of this idea, it always seems like the greatest idea we’ve ever thought of, right? Especially, if it’s an idea that allows us to be completely free creatively. We think that we’re going to set the world on fire with our idea or design, and we envision it finished and perfect. But most times our ideas simply just don’t pan out–whether that’s because of poor creative execution, lack of funds for materials, or what have you–our realized vision often doesn’t come out exactly as we had created it in our minds.

So, we’re thinking that’s pretty much what happened with the below Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costumes. These costumes clearly went wrong at some point during the conception phase. Whether, again, it was just a lack of funds to buy the materials needed to create their D.I.Y. Turtles costumes or lack of invention, or just pure laziness–we’ll never know. One thing we do know however, is that these Turtles costumes gone wrong have pictures associated to them now. You be the judge. Remember, we’re not making fun of these Turtles costumes, we’re merely pointing out the perils and errors of the creative process and how it can all go wrong if not carefully monitored or thought out in greater depth.

Lastly, and most importantly, we can’t hold it against any Turtles fan who wishes to go out and buy one of the poorly-designed Ninja Turtles costumes that are created for profit and not Turtles fandom.

“Turtles Snuggie Costume”