Category:

Movies

Breaking down the Cast Announcement for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”

by Kyle Tobey April 7, 2023

written by Kyle Tobey

We’re Breaking down the Mutant Mayhem cast announcement!

We may have gotten a full trailer on the night of the Kid’s Choice Awards, but each of these cast announcements has something to show us the direction of the new movie. Maybe by breaking down the Teenage Muant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem cast announcement, we can get an idea of the story and where they intend to go with each character.

Let’s take a closer look at each cast announcement title card an examine each card for hints at what we could see this summer!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem poster

The first teaser poster gives us a great look at the overall vibe for the upcoming movie! Already the movie looks very lighthearted and energetic. There’s less “doom and dark” and more “light and fun.” After watching the trailer, the artwork matches the overall art style of the movie.

A well worn skateboard, covered in stickers, with a giant green hand. Looking from the top down, this looks like Raphael’s board. The red wristband was the first giveaway. I thought “Maybe all the turtles will have red before getting individual colors,” but the sai stickers further down solidify this as Raph.

The top left side shows “Ooze,” “Ninja Turtles” and “Turtles” stickers. To the right, another “TMNT” sticker. It almost looks like the turtles got involved in branding? The left side under the trucks could show us our first glimpse at the designs of the Foot Clan/Foot Soldiers/ the Foot. It’s just a sketch, but the designs look like they could go towards traditional ninjas. The other side features some graffiti with the words “Turtle Power,” “Gnarly,” and …I think it says “reptiles?”

Below that, it looks like Raph had a few custom stickers made with his weapon of choice . Possibly another sticker to the left with the sai in a piece of cheese. Maybe a pizza thing, I’m not sure.

We don’t get a look at the weapons in the poster. We don’t see the turtle silhouettes with stark white eyes and the different color bandanas. These are all things we’ve seen before. In the 90’s, in 2007, and 2014. It may not be your preference, but I love that it’s different.

Getting in to the cast list, each of the title cards looks to give some insight to who the character is and how they will behave. Starting with Leo, the announcement shows that Leo will mostly have the same personality traits that we’ve already known. His name is etched on a training board embedded with a throwing star. Already we get the feeling that Leo will be the responsible one, focused on his training.

Mikey is written with stretchy cheese. Already letting the viewer know that Mikey will be focused on pizza and fun! As usual- Mikey is fairly one note.

Donnie is the tech guy. He does machines. It looks like the tech will be getting an upgrade this time around. It give’s hologram vibes, as well as references to math and video games. I wonder if Donnie will have any role in the creation of the Mutants or with Cynthia Utrom, but we’ll see soon!

Raph’s title card is a very familiar feeling. Yes, it gives much of the same feel as Raph from the past. But the metal form of his name reminds me of his vigilante alter-ego from the 2007 movie, Nightwatcher. I know this is an origin story of sorts (at least I think I know that) but it could be interesting to see if Raph will clash with his brothers in this version as well.

Splinter was the cast announcement I was most excited about. Jackie Chan as Master Splinter is the casting I never knew I wanted but is absolutely the casting we needed.

To me, this is showcasing how Splinter will play the role of the Father figure to the turtles. In the original trailer we saw the brothers as babies, and Splinter is the only title card with ooze dripping from it. Showing that, the eye glasses, and the coffee cup with the usual Splinter robe color draped over the “T”, I think we’re going to get a very Dad-like Splinter.

April might have more of an edge this time around. In the trailer, she’s still a reporter. She’s still wearing her classic yellow coat, just with more studs and buttons this time. This looks like a giant back patch with a Channel 4 news button?

Oh snap! Bebop and Rocksteady are in the movie AND we’ve seen what they look like?! They look almost exactly like the classic versions we know, just slightly warped.

They look like punk and hardcore kids from 90’s New York.

Bebop has the purple sunglasses and Rocksteady is still rocking the crossbody with yellow tank top. This isn’t John Cena’s first time in the TMNT universe. He played Baron Draxom in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon! And, this also isn’t Seth Rogen’s first time playing a Warthog. He played Pumbaa in the live action Lion King remake.

Sometimes, when you’re breaking down the Mutant Mayhem cast announcement, there’s nothing to break down. Just us pointing at the screen like a Leo DiCaprio meme saying “LOOK! LOOK! That’s THEM!”

I’m bunching Baxter and Superfly together.

Giancarlo Esposito will be a great Baxter! But I’m very curious about Superfly. I don’t think this will be a new character, though. I think they just gave a name to Baxter’s fly form. And having his voiced by Ice Cube will definitely add to the idea that they are 2 different characters.

It feels almost like a Jekyll and Hyde situation.

Now we’re getting in to some cinematic debuts! We’ve never seen the mutanimals or other mutants from the TMNT universe on the big screen. The 2007 movie brought us ancient monsters, but not the Mutanimals! Mondo Gecko was never really something I thought I’d be looking forward to. It looks like Mondo will be wearing…pearls? And maybe a muumuu?

An interesting choice for Wingnut! Wingnut has long been the TMNT version of Frank Miller’s Batman, so I’m interested to see what Natasia comes up with for the character! Also- not the first time she’s played a bat. This version of Wingnut will have some gadgets as well, but no signs of the sidekick mosquito, Screwloose. Yet.

This title card is pretty straightforward. It’s Leatherhead’s cinematic debut! And they’re a crocodile that smells. Voiced by a very lovely Rose Byrne. I’m here for it.

Post Malone is just deciding to be part of everything awesome I guess. It makes sense that the coolest guy on the planet gets to voice fan favorite and long awaited Ray Fillet! There’s no surprise here. But sometime’s getting what you expect is exactly what you want.

The alternate universe turtles! No word yet on if the other 3 members of the Punk Frogs will be appearing, but I love the choice to cast Hannibal Buress. The main thing I can pull from this is how the eyes look, and the battle axe weapon.

Cynthia Utrom cast announcement — Cynthia Utrom cast Announcement

Finally, this could be the potential big bad of the movie!

The Utrom are an alien species responsible for creating the ooze that mutates the turtles, Splinter, and everyone. Yes- TCRI. Techno Cosmic research Institute. It’s a whole thing, but having them named “Cynthia” is new. The Utrom are mostly known for being associated with Kraang, but in the comics and other iterations, they are an overwhelming force. I wonder if we’ll get an onslaught of Utrom but Cynthia is the leader. Either way, it’s really exciting to see the Utrom get a wider showcase, given their importance in the Mirage comics.

That’s the what we noticed in the cast list for Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles Mutant Mayhem!

Did you notice anything we didn’t? Did you try breaking down the Mutant Mayhem cast announcement? What do you think of the casting for each character?

There are obviously a few notable missing characters. There’s no Shredder, and even with all the extra mutants- No Slash. There’s always an after credits scene!

We’re very excited for the release of the new film! Be sure to check out Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem this summer! Get a small taste of the feeling this movie has by rewatching the trailer here! And stay posted here for more updates on this and all versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

April 7, 2023 0 comment

Movies Reviews

“Batman vs the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” Review

by Kyle Tobey May 18, 2019

written by Kyle Tobey

From the opening scene to the final credits, Batman vs the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an insane crossover that delivers in nearly every aspect to both fandoms.

We get to see Gotham city through a new set of eyes. The turtles, specifically Michelangelo, comment on the insanity that Batman accepts as his normal. There’s no doubt that we are in Gotham. The dirty city and rogues gallery makes that clear. There were obvious nods to Batman: The Animated Series, most notable are the blimps that plague the skies. But everything gains a new level of excitement as the Ninja Turtles encounter this new city. Batman is a character who’s been around for over 80 years, I think we’ve all grown a bit “hard to surprise” in his long tenure. But throwing the brothers in to this world they’ve never seen allows the viewer to re-experience Gotham, all over again.

I think we’ve started to take for granted just how awesome Batman’s world is. Michelangelo is our guide as a reminder. He calls out the things we’ve grown to accept. Yes, it’s very weird to have that many blimps in the sky. Right, the Batmobile is one of the coolest cars ever. Watching Michelangelo try on the cowl is a moment of pure joy that reminds you of being a kid and getting to experience Batman for the first time.

And while Gotham is a great backdrop for this story, the Ninja Turtles shine brighter than ever.

Each turtle is quickly and easily fleshed out to show their classic personalities in new ways. Donatello still builds machines, but nerds are cool now. So now Donnie feels like he’d correct your grammar, Leo and Raphael clash over strategy and Mikey is our loveable goofball.

The story intertwines both worlds flawlessly. The turtles come to Gotham looking for their old foe, the Shredder. Taking out the Foot Clan along the way, Batman is uneasy about these new “Metahumans.” He vows to take out the turtles and find out what they’re up to. As with most comic crossovers, they just couldn’t get along. After a battle between the turtles and Batman I never knew I needed, the teams join forces. Also joining forces are the Shredder and Ra’s al Ghul. Another team-up that works in new, great ways from each character.

We see the Shredder get berated by Ra’s at every turn, yet is such a powerful force that he’s able to accomplish things Ra’s wishes were possible. These two are the main villains here, but they set up a larger story. Batman’s rogues gallery is right in the middle of a Ninja Turtles story. Ra’s and Shredder break Joker out out of Arkham, and gift him a canister of TCRI to boot. Watching the hoards of anonymous Foot Clan and League of Assassins mutate in to psychotic animal ninjas is tons of fun, but the truly bonkers part is watching Batman’s main villains mutate in to insanity.

Bane as a cheetah. Mr. Freeze as a polar pear. And Poison Ivy proves that what you want the most, might not be the best thing sometimes. There’s so much in this crossover that sounds nuts as I type it, yet the story is completely grounded and makes sense.

The crossover, as outlandish as it sounds, makes complete sense of the whole story.

Maybe because the history of the characters is so grained in to our culture that we just accept it. Sure, Donnie kind of explains what ooze is, but if you’re watching the movie you already knew. The story is fun, but the real fun is watching these classic characters team up. Some are natural. Batman and Leonardo become fast friends and grow to learn from each other. Donatello and Batgirl bond over science. Raphael loves how much of a hothead Damien is. And other pairings make use of the “odd couple formula” by teaming up characters who probably wouldn’t get together outside of work. Batman and Michelangelo. Alfred and Michelangelo. Gotham and Michelangelo. Every strange pair only adds to how much fun this adventure is.

The voice cast is incredible. Troy Baker being the first person to play both Batman and the Joker is a feat that deserves recognition, let alone doing it well. Each actor nails the part and adds a new take on iconic characters. Rachel Bloom adds a spark to Batgirl and Kyle Mooney as Michelangelo might be my favorite take on the role.

Through all the fun of the character interactions, the movie shockingly earns it’s PG-13. It’s rare seeing blood in a TMNT cartoon. Even more rare to see that blood come from a Foot ninjas skull after being diced with a ninja star. Overall the tone is much more adult. In tone and Easter eggs. There are so many Easter eggs scattered across the movie, I’ll probably need to write a second article only covering those. But the secrets from both franchises test the limits of character knowledge in some cases, leaving you to search online looking for more. Even the music sounds like a mix between the original 1990 TMNT movie and Batman: The Animated Series.

The entire movie is a love letter to fans of the franchises.

And even if you only like 1 or neither franchise, you’ll probably think this is at least a fun rise. This could be one of the best animated DC movies, and best animated version of the turtles as well. If anything, I wish we got a bit more time in each segment. The story went so fast, I want more mutated rogues. While there’s so much more to explore in this new crossover series, I almost wish some of it took a breather. Truly, the only thing that bothered me was the initial logic of Batman. The turtles took out the foot and saved Batgirl! So why did he want to take them out? It seems like the turtles gave him a favor?

The end credits are a blast to dissect, and by how the end credit scene plays out, it looks like we can look for more of this great crossover in the future. Given the deep worlds each franchise has established, I hope this team-up comes back to show us a new world we’ve seen a hundred times.

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is now available on Digital. It arrives on Blu-Ray/DVD June 4th via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

May 18, 2019 0 comment

Movies Reviews

TMNT: Out of the Shadows SPOILER Review

by Dan Spitaliere June 3, 2016

written by Dan Spitaliere

Two years ago I walked out of the movie theater after seeing TMNT and was a little conflicted. As a life long Turtles fan I was a little disappointed with some of the decisions they had made, but I had felt relieved when I saw the kids in the theater around me and saw how much they enjoyed it. This is a sentiment I have echoed several times on this site. It’s exciting to see your favorite franchise get picked up by the next generation. Still, you want the version that’s passed down to mirror the best of what the franchise has to offer, and while Out of the Shadows doesn’t reach that bar fully, it comes considerably close. You can tell David Green and Platinum Dunes not only set out to make a fun summer blockbuster, but one that is sincerely TMNT, correcting many of the missteps the first film in this generation made.

*Author’s note. As is mentioned in the title, this is a Spoiler Review of the new TMNT movie. If you’d like our thoughts on the movie, spoiler-free, please check out Justin’s review, https://www.teenagemutantninjaturtles.com/2016/06/03/out-of-the-shadows-2016-movie-review/. Once you’ve read that and see the movie, come back here for my thoughts and join the conversation in the comments below!

Left to right: Brittany Ishibashi as Karai and Brian Tee as Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

I’ll get into the story beats in a moment, but I want to talk about style and tone first. This is really where you see the strides Green and Platinum Dunes made to bring Out of the Shadows back to the core ideas of the TMNT. If you think back to the first movie and compare it to this one, you’re going to notice some clear differences. The foot soldiers are no longer paramilitary guys with plastic masks. They look like, act, and fight, as ninjas. Shredder is no longer a giant transformer, but rather a man in armor: Kevlar and materials he could conceivably fight in, completed by his signature gauntlet and helmet. Best of all, the Turtles actually feel like ninjas in this one. It’s hard to pinpoint, since the CGI models haven’t changed much, if at all, but somehow the film manages to downplay the size of the Turtles. In the first movie, they felt like lumbering behemoths, causing craters in cars with their bullet proof shells. Out of the Shadows dials that back considerably, and you finally start to believe that these four are capable of being stealthy. They slide down buildings without causing millions in property damage. Raph crashes into a plane without causing it to explode. These are small details, but they go a long way to making these Turtles familiar again, something the first film missed by a wide margin.

Left to right: Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello and Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

In terms of tone, Out of the Shadows does a good job hitting the beats we’re all familiar with. The family aspect is played up, and much of the central personal conflict stems from this. One unique thing this film does that previous Turtles films have not, is that each Turtle has a small emotional arc. Remember how each of the 90s films and the 2003 spiritual sequel all focused on one brother’s journey in that particular story? This film breaks them down into pairs instead, and not the typical pairs we’re used to. Sure, we get the requisite fight between Leo and Raph, but we also get some great moments between Raph and Mikey, and Leo and Donnie. Even better, each individual Turtle feels more nuanced. The first film played up the stereotypes, but Out of the Shadows plays down this. For example, Donnie is less “geek” and more “person with personality, who also happens to be a genius.”

The Turtle’s human friends are also serviced well here. Will Arnett continues to prove that the inclusion of Vernon Fenwick was a good choice, more funny and earnest than the original cartoon character could ever hope to be.

Left to right: Will Arnett as Vernon Fenwick, Laura Linney Chief Rebecca Vincent, Megan Fox as April O’Neil and Stephen Amell as Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

Megan Fox once again shows that she is game for whatever the writers will throw her, whether that’s street smart reporter, goofy romanticism, or bravely walking into the den of ninjas. I do, however, have to call out the scene in the beginning of the movie where she strips from her “nerdy” disguise to that of a “naughty school girl” as completely unnecessary and not really appropriate. I get wanting to have things for the older audience members, but the way the camera focuses in on her body just made it feel gross. Overall the film does a good job of building April as a real woman. She stands up for the Turtles in their moment of need in the police station, doing what she believes is right in the face of authority. This one moment does disservice to the character, especially since she could have easily gotten what she needed without putting on a short skirt and tying up her shirt.

Stephen Amell is a welcome addition as Casey Jones, his Arrow chops being put to good use in the alleyway fight and his duel with the Bebop and Rocksteady. He also bring some great comedic relief to his surroundings, playing up the weirdness of his situation. His role hit similar beats to Elias Koteas’ portrayal in the first film, and it was smart of the writer’s to lean on that. It’s also great to see Amell get to play a hero with some joy to his character (I’m a big Arrow fan as well).

The police station heist is the best scene in terms of seeing the human friends work together with the Turtles. It’s a shame they couldn’t keep this team up rolling, because by the end of the movie, April, Vernon, and Casey don’t have much to do.

Left to right: Stephen Farrelly (Sheamus) as Rocksteady and Gary Anthony Williams as Bebop in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

Out of the Shadows really hits stride with the villains. Rocksteady and Bebop are delightfully stupid, and Gary Anthony Williams and Sheamus really play up how much fun the characters are having. Complete with their delusions of grandeur, and love of destruction, these two might as well be direct transplants from the 80s, ripped right out of the cartoon. When you walk out of the theater, you will be saying “My man!” for the foreseeable future.

Tyler Perry also does a great job as Baxter Stockman. I was worried going into the movie that he would be too silly, but they play him pretty straight forward. He is a genius who is obsessed with legacy and history. He wants his name to overshadow all the other greats of the scientific world, and opening a dimensional portal is his ticket. He has some stereotypical “nerd” quirks, but is more mad scientist, and it plays well with Shredder’s scheme.

Brian Tee as Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

Green really paints Shredder like a badass too. In the beginning of the movie, Shredder is being moved from a city precinct to a prison out of the city limits. Bound with thick gauge chain and shackles, he is escorted by the entire (heavily armed) police force to a police van where he is chained down to the floor. The convoy transporting him is made up of 6 police cruisers. They take him seriously, and by proxy, you as the audience do too. They tell you right off the bat, this man is dangerous, with or without the giant robotic armor, and Brian Tee does a great job embodying that. This is not the bumbling Shredder of the cartoon. In fact, this is more akin to the original movie’s Shredder; a respected and feared leader, who does not get his hands dirty until he has to. Much will be made of his lack of fight scenes in this movie. He doesn’t have any and never interacts with the Turtles directly, but I like that he’s being used sparingly. He is (quite literally) put on ice for a future installment and you just know he’s going to come back with a vengeance.

Krang is also treated as a serious threat. His villainy is different than Shredder’s. Both yearn for conquest (the movie doesn’t stray that far from it’s Saturday morning roots), but Krang sees Earth as his personal play thing. He is grotesque, selfish, and pretty much a sociopath. Some small children might find him a little too scary.

Alright, that’s style, tone, and character, let’s move on to the story as a whole.

STORY SPOILERS FOLLOW!

Tyler Perry as Baxter Stockman in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

For better or worse this is a straight forward summer blockbuster. The stakes are high, as the Shredder is bent on creating a mutant army and bringing an extra-dimensional monster to Earth, in order to conquer it. Good and Evil are straight forward, but if you’re looking for a more nuanced Turtle’s story, then you should be reading the original Mirage run or the current IDW run. Out of the Shadows is also free of having to do an origin story again, which is great. Instead, the film gives us time to see the brothers hanging out and having fun. The film opens on a great training sequence, with Leo, Raph, and Donnie playing keep away with a whole pizza from Mikey. It culminates with them sneaking into Madison Square Garden to catch a Knicks game, because of course they’re all hometown fans.

Stephen Amell as Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

Meanwhile, April is tracking down Baxter Stockman. She found some evidence that he might be connected to The Foot, and wants to see how deep that connection goes. Donning a disguise, she gets close to Stockman and downloads the contents of his iPad, using a gizmo that Donnie made for her. This spins the plot into motion and it rarely slows down from there. The Turtles meet Casey Jones, a cop(?) turned vigilante, who is chasing down Bebop and Rocksteady. They reunite with Vernon Fenwick, now a city hero due the Turtles letting him take credit for stopping Shredder in the last movie. They discover the plan to create the dimensional portal, and set out to stop Shredder, taking them not just through the city, but all the way to South America in the process! It’s a fun romp, with cars exploding, plane’s crashing, the traditional alleyway ninja fight, and even a heist through police headquarters. It all culminates with the appearance of the Technodrome and Krang in the skies of Manhattan, and a showdown atop it.

Left to right: Leonardo and Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Platinum Dunes

The personal stakes ride on the Turtles and their loss of trust for each other. Donnie discovers that the same mutagen that created Bebop and Rocksteady can be reverse engineered to change the Turtles into humans. Fans of the original cartoon will recognize this plot, as one of the recurring themes in that show was making Splinter human again. Well here, the four debate whether or not they should become human, finally being able to fit in with society. It’s a good analogue for the turmoil that many teenager’s experience, and their reactions run the emotional spectrum. Ultimately, the four decide to embrace who they are, solidifying their bonds of teamwork and brotherhood for the final fight against Krang.

Two years ago I walked out of the theater feeling conflicted, but this time I was genuinely happy. This is not the best Turtles story, nor is it the best movie, but it finally feels like Platinum Dunes knows how to make a Turtle’s story, and a good one at that. It’s fun, actually funny this time, and gets to the heart of what the TMNT are all about: family, teamwork, courage in the face of adversity, and not being afraid to be different, and in fact, a little bit weird. Go into this with an open mind and have fun!

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 8 comments

Movies Reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016) – Movie Review

by Justin W June 3, 2016

written by Justin W

Remember the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series? Compared to the comics, it was a very lighthearted and goofy take on the characters. Much like many of the other cartoons that came out of that era, the TMNT series served as both entertainment and advertisement. After all, who wouldn’t want to get a turtle blimp after seeing it in action on TV? As long as you remember these particular aspects of the original animated series, chances are that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows will hit you right in the nostalgia.

It’s difficult to critique a film like this without putting it into the right context. If you’re not familiar with the original animated series, chances are that you’re going to take issue with a few scenes in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. There are plot details that are somewhat silly and unrealistic, but everything about that original cartoon was silly and unrealistic. For crying out loud, there is an episode where they make the bull in a china shop joke, and that episode is filled with puns so bad that even your dad would groan.

Movie Poster for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Source: Paramount Pictures.

Out of the Shadows definitely has its fair share of groan worthy jokes and puns, but that’s the way I like it. If you want a faithful adaptation of the cartoon that you watched back in the 90’s, this movie is perhaps even more faithful than you’d expect. I saw a few reviews complaining that Shredder doesn’t do much in this movie, but if you actually go back and watch that goofy cartoon, you’ll notice that Shredder was a fairly ineffective villain back then as well.

When one reviewer described this film as “critic-proof,” they were talking about the fact that any complaint you can make about the film is more than likely tied to something that is directly referencing the Ninja Turtles properties of the past. In other words, you can say that the plot is ridiculous and sophomoric, but that’s part of the charm behind the whole franchise.

We’re talking about a story where four mutant turtles take on a group of ninjas led by an ego-maniacal master who is covered in blades. Oh, and the turtles were mutated with the help of a mutagen that came from another dimension after a group of aliens came to earth. Nothing about this story is realistic or serious in any way, shape or form. If you’re feeling like the movie should have a tighter plot and be less goofy, you’re missing the point of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Limited Edition TMNT 2 poster sold exclusively at WonderCon. Source: Paramount.

With that out of the way, allow me to say that Out of the Shadows was an absolute blast. It literally felt like the original TMNT cartoon had come to life on the big screen, and that is really a dream come true for me. If you’re still hoping to see something that more closely replicates what we saw in the Mirage comics, you might be disappointed in this movie; however, if you’re feeling nostalgic for that old school animated series and all the toys that came with it, this is going to be right up your alley.

Although a lot of shellheads took issue with the first film in this series, it’s safe to say that the filmmakers went back to the drawing board with the sequel and attempted to give the fans everything they wanted. Fans were asking why there was a lack of focus on the turtles themselves and why shredder looked like a robot; they wanted to see characters such as Baxter Stockman, Krang, Casey Jones, Bebop and Rocksteady. Now that the movie is out, it’s clear that the head honchos at Platinum Dunes actually listened to these concerns from the fans and literally fixed all of these problems.

Of course, when you shove this many new characters into a sequel, sometimes the result can feel like a jumbled mess. Thankfully, this film manages to introduce each new character while also providing a decent sense of their characterization in the film. Baxter Stockman comes across as an egotistical nerd; Casey Jones is headstrong and hyper-focused on his own brand of justice; Bebop and Rocksteady are both strong, bumbling buffoons. Everyone has enough time to develop and show us who they are in Out of the Shadows, and that’s definitely nice to see.

Although I enjoyed the film, it’s important to note that it definitely wasn’t perfect. Some of the cinematography was pretty bad and there are some plot points that don’t make any sense, but the source material was guilty of far worse offenses. Out of the Shadows managed to fix a lot of the problems that were present in the first film, so it’s difficult to complain about any of the minor problems you might see in this one. Ultimately, this film was a total nostalgia trip that both young shellheads and their parents will enjoy. With that in mind, I give Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows a…

7.5/10

Have you seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows? What did you think of the movie? Was our review spot on? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on facebook/twitter!

June 3, 2016 0 comment

Movies News

TMNT 2 Trailer Coming Out Tomorrow

by Justin W December 9, 2015

written by Justin W

The time has come. Although Stephen Amell originally teased that the trailer would release alongside Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he just recently dropped a teaser for the trailer which announces that it is coming out tomorrow. That’s right, our long wait for the first official trailer of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sequel is finally over! Already, the teaser alone has fans psyched for what is to come, as there are some genuinely interesting shots on display.

Not only do we get our first look at Bebop, Rocksteady, Casey Jones and Baxter Stockman, but we get to see them all in action as well. If you thought the first movie was action packed, it looks like the sequel might even kick it up a notch. Of course, a release this anticipated wasn’t going to come without some level of confusion, as there are some outlets reporting that the movie actually has a new title. Although we were originally told that the sequel would be entitled Half-Shell, eventually it was generally accepted that the movie would just be entitled “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.” With the release of this teaser, some websites are reporting that the official title is now “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.”

#TMNT2

Trailer coming tomorrow at 10 am ET / 7 am PT. Cowabunga.

Posted by Stephen Amell on Wednesday, December 9, 2015

While there’s nothing wrong with this title in theory, it seems odd that they would choose to give the TMNT sequel the same title as a previously released video game. To be quite honest, this might just be a mistake made by another writer that has now made the rounds and become accepted as fact. We still haven’t seen an official title for the movie as of yet, but rest assured that this question and many others will more than likely be answered tomorrow. Check back in tomorrow morning for a look at the first official TMNT 2 trailer and our thoughts, but until then, have fun with this 15 second teaser!

UPDATE: If you’re eager to check out the full trailer, check it out here!

December 9, 2015 0 comment

We’re Breaking down the Mutant Mayhem cast announcement!

We don’t get a look at the weapons in the poster. We don’t see the turtle silhouettes with stark white eyes and the different color bandanas. These are all things we’ve seen before. In the 90’s, in 2007, and 2014. It may not be your preference, but I love that it’s different.

Splinter was the cast announcement I was most excited about. Jackie Chan as Master Splinter is the casting I never knew I wanted but is absolutely the casting we needed.

They look like punk and hardcore kids from 90’s New York.

I’m bunching Baxter and Superfly together.

It feels almost like a Jekyll and Hyde situation.

Finally, this could be the potential big bad of the movie!

That’s the what we noticed in the cast list for Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles Mutant Mayhem!

From the opening scene to the final credits, Batman vs the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an insane crossover that delivers in nearly every aspect to both fandoms.

And while Gotham is a great backdrop for this story, the Ninja Turtles shine brighter than ever.

The crossover, as outlandish as it sounds, makes complete sense of the whole story.

The entire movie is a love letter to fans of the franchises.

7.5/10

Have you seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows? What did you think of the movie? Was our review spot on? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on facebook/twitter!

ABOUT US

ARCHIVES

Follow US

More Stuff