Review of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'

teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles.jpg Splinter and his evil cronies are planning to take over New York so it is up to four mutant (ninja) turtles to put a stop to it! April O'Neil (Megan Fox), a reporter is stuck reporting “fluff” features on the news with her trusted cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) when she stumbles across the turtles - Her ticket into REAL news!

Right, the story has not changed since the last time (if anyone remembers it) but the effects (largely CGI here) are much, much improved as is the story and characterization. While it is true the plot twist related to the civic-minded Eric Sacks (William Fichtner) should come as no surprise to anyone the action cannot be faulted…well, ok, it is a bit silly (one particular scene where the turtles are falling down a slope of snow on their backs while having a conversation with one another comes to mind). The dialogue is often funny and witty but you have to listen carefully with all of the grunts and other noises coming from the soundtrack (but it is worth it - the comment about what happens to the pop tarts every morning is particularly amusing here).

Vern (Will Arnett) gets quite a starring role here and it is good to see what was a minor character being brought forward and adding a bit of the “every man reality” to the proceedings (mutant turtles? No way!).

The violence is certainly present but is largely cartoonish with, for example, no blood. Certainly this is aimed at a younger crowd.

Fantastic effects. Great dialogue. Story a bit shaky. Acting - hammy. A lot of fun. Cinema classic? Absolutely not. I can certainly see why critics have panned it…

Rating: “It is OK but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2014-11-07


Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Year: 2014

Length: 101 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291150/


Other reviewed films by Jonathan Liebesman: