TMNT

The iconic team of reptilian super-ninjas from the ’80s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, have returned in an all new, digitally animated movie. If you have fond childhood memories of the Turtles, either from their television series, live action films or original comic books, you might be wary of this modern day adaptation. However, the updated TMNT movie is fun and enjoyable. While not as dark and "adult” as the original Eastman/Laird comics, the new movie has enough action and plot to interest grown-ups. TMNT picks up the story of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael several years after the defeat of their arch-nemesis Shredder. While this movie doesn’t directly follow any of the previous films, it does use the general history of the Turtles to develop the storyline. The Turtles are no longer fighting crime as a team since Shredder’s downfall, though Raphael has taken it upon himself to act as the solitary defender of the city. Leonardo, after training in the South American jungles for an extended period of time, returns to find his brothers in a sorry state and the city under siege by monsters from another dimension. The Turtles must remember how to work together as a team in order to defeat their new enemies. While this isn’t a great piece of cinema, it is a worthy return for these four now-classic heroes. The cast features a number of famous voices, such as Patrick Stewart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kevin Smith, Lawrence Fishburn, and Ziyi Zhang. The animation style is visually appealing, colourful and fluid. The script has the right amount of humour without falling into the campy trap of the earlier Turtle movies, and even the dated surfer-speak will bring a smile to your lips. There are a few special features on the disc, including a commentary track, alternate and deleted scenes, storyboard comparisons and interviews with the cast and crew, if you care to further explore the Turtle world. For everyone who grew up watching the Turtles, this DVD is well worth the price of a rental, and don’t forget to order some pizza, dudes.