I mean, really huge. Anybody who's known me for more than five minutes can attest to this. I can't explain exactly why, but Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael have been my favorite characters for as long as I can remember...
Cute, 'eh?
My first introduction to the Turtles came, like most people, through the 1987 cartoon series....
As I got older I discovered the comic books...
I was surprised how different they were from the cartoon. This comic was darker, the violence was more realistic, and the characters were deeper and more complex. Though more mature, the series still had some fun stories and had a certain charm the cartoon didn't. I loved it. In 2003 an new TMNT cartoon series debuted....
This series followed the comic more closely, even adapting most of it's stories into episodes, all while creating a world of it's own. While lacking the same appeal of the old series, this show excelled in action and storytelling....at least for the first 4 seasons. Finally it ended in 2008.
Ever since the announcement of the big TMNT 25th Anniversary celebration, Mirage Studios hinted at a big project that was coming. That project was later revealed to be an original animated movie. We fans went crazy with speculation. Some thought it would be a big finale to the 2003 series, others thought it would be an adaptation of the first issues of the comics, but we were not prepared for what it really was. This movie would be what fans have been waiting for since 2003. All the different versions of the TMNT, rolled up into one kick ass package. Enter...Turtles Forever!
Well, now that we got all the exposition out of the way, we can finally get to the review, which will be spoiler free.
The plot is thus, while trying to stop The Shredder and Krang's latest nefarious plot, the 1987 Ninja Turtles, along with the Technodrome and everyone it in, get's sucked through Krang's Transdimensional Portal and wind up in the universe of the 2003 Ninja Turtles. The two versions soon meet up and....hilarity ensues. Meanwhile, The Shredder and Krang decide to seek out the 2003 universe's Shredder, which soon proves to be a mistake as he kicks their asses and takes over the Technodrome, vowing to destroy all Ninja Turtle life, starting with the source, the original 1984 comic book TMNT.
Let me say this right now....I fucking love this movie. This movie hit all the right the notes for me, for evey Turtles fan. For the first time, 4Kids did something right. They took everything the fans love about the franchise and threw it into this movie. It's clear they actually put care and effort into this.
The story, while not completely original, is still gripping and fun. It may be somewhat predictable, but it's never dull. The writing is, dare I say, actually funny. Legitimately funny. And not just in a kiddie, poop and fart joke kind of way, but a truly well scripted and clever sort of way. The humor comes from the vastly conflicting styles of both teams of Turtles. The 2003 Turtles are essentially the "straight men" while the 1987 Turtles are the goofy ones, a little too goofy at times, but nothing polarizing. They joke around, they rarely take anything seriously, and, as expected, they obsess over pizza. The 2003 Turtles, meanwhile, have to put up with their antics. There are tons of inside jokes for the fans here, Donatello's nonsensical inventions that somehow work, Raphael's habit of breaking the fourth wall, April constantly needing saving, Shredder's incompetence, every little thing is touched upon here and made fun of, but with love rather than spite. It's basically a roast of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Granted there's more fun being poked at the old cartoon, but really there's just more to make fun of there. And like I said, it's nothing harsh, it's all done with love. The reactions of the 2003 Turtles to all the ridiculousness are just truly priceless.
All the main characters are here. The Turtles Splinter, April, Casey, Shredder, Karai, and Hun from the 2003 series and The Turtles, Splinter, April, Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady from the 1987 series, also some surprise cameos from other bit players int he show. Everyone is pretty much in character, including the 87 Turtle characters, their personalities are in full display here(even down to Leonardo's lack of a personality) which is very comforting to see. Plus the design of the 87 characters are spot on, looking like they came right out of the show. And they somehow manged to keep their designs from the clashing with the 2003 designs. Nothing feels out of place, truly great work on the artists part.
My favorite part without a doubt is when the 8 Turtles meet up with the Mirage Comics Turtles, referred to here as Turtle Prime. When they come onto the scene, it's just pure win. True to the original incarnations, these Turtles are darker, violent, spout ridiculous Frank Miller-ish lines of dialogue, and narrate while fighting. It's hard to keep a straight a face, they're completely the original TMNT to a tee. And true to the comics, the Turtle Prime world is in black and white. It looks so perfect it makes me wish they did do an adaption of the original comics.
The voice acting has been a much talked about issue about this movie, and brings up my only real gripe with it. While the cast from the 2003 series returns, the 1987 series don't reprise their roles here. Due to all those voice actors being union actors, 4Kids didn't deal with them, instead bringing in new people to mimic their voices. While not horrible, Raphael and April's are near perfect in fact, they still not the originals, which his kinda sad because it keeps this movie from being truly perfect. It would have been such a treat to hear Cam Clarke, Townsend Coleman, Barry Gordon, Rob Paulsen, Rene Jacobs, Pat Fraley, Peter Renaday, and James "Uncle Phil" Avery resume their famous roles one more time. Still, while noticeable, it still doesn't detract from how awesome this movie is.
The animation is in top form here, it's better than it's ever been before, and it's nice to see the 87 Turtles in an actual, non choppy, fight scene. They actually move normally, it's so refreshing. The fight scenes are back to that same great caliber as those of the 2003 series' first five seasons. The art design is also in top form here as the three major worlds of the TMNT are recreated here in stunning detail.
It was announced a few months ago that Peter Laird has sold all intellectual rights to the TMNT to Viacom, so last year marked the end of the Mirage era of TMNT. 25 years, and I've fortunately been alive for 21 of them, and this movie was the perfect swan song. Everything is touched upon here, except Next Mutation. It was more than any TMNT fan could hope for. On top of that it's just a fun movie. The story is simple, but effective, the writing is funny, the animation is great, it just hits on all the right levels. Every TMNT will love this, you feel like a kid again after seeing it, I know I had to restrain myself from yelling "Cowabunga" after it was over. This movie pretty much marks the Turtles of our generation, and while sad, it's comforting to know that the TMNT will be introduced to a whole new generation, thus beginning the cycle anew. It's like the title said, the Turtles are forever. The characters have so much appeal, and this movie makes it all the more obvious.
I'm giving this movie a 9 1/2 out of 10. The voice acting is the only thing keeping this movie from being perfect. However, the five year old kid in me who ate, slept, and breathed Ninja Turtles gives this movie a perfect 10. I thank everyone involved with this movie for truly epic experience and I thank Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and everyone involved creatively with the TMNT for the past 25 years for everything. It was a shell of a good ride and this movie was the perfect way to close it out. It's my new favorite movie of all time.
Turtle Power
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