'TMNT' review

Rating: ** out of ****

There comes a time when you realize that the things you loved as a kid really weren’t that great. You still enjoy them in the nostalgic sense, but the realization of their overall quality sinks in over time. While the 'Transformers' may be there, I’m not sure if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are yet. There is still something creative, rich and compelling about a story of four walking, talking turtles and their master who is a giant fighting rat. Unfortunately for those who are still fans of this franchise, ‘TMNT’ doesn’t quite take off the way it should and thusly, may be a nail in the coffin for the series.

‘TMNT’ is the fourth film in the series that follows Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo as they battle evil in New York City, while feasting on pizza along the way. After defeating their arch-nemesis, The Shredder, the turtles have gone their separate ways. Leonardo has left New York and is on a spiritual quest in Central America to become a better ninja and leader. Michelangelo now works as a children’s entertainer and Donatello as a technician in a call-center. Raphael, meanwhile, has picked up the slack as a lone warrior named ‘The Nightwatcher’ who wears so much metal, it’s a wonder he can even raise his leg to kick bad guys. The would-be villain this time is Max Winters (Patrick Stewart), a billionaire with a secret who hires the Foot Clan to find him thirteen monsters that have been on Earth for thousands of years, yet no one has ever seen them. Leonardo decides to return to New York after a visit from April O'Neil - who has given up the reporting gig to become a Lara Croft of sorts. It’s then up to the turtles, with the help of their old friend Casey Jones, to stop Winters and send the monsters back where they came from. Master Splinter also comes along for the ride, occasionally offering some ancient wisdom. The voice work on him is either a blatant Asian stereotype or has been performed phonetically by the actor (Mako). Either way, every scene Splinter occupies really lets you know you're watching a cartoon.

The first three Ninja Turtle films were live action and showed the mastery of Jim Henson Studios in full effect. Even now, there is something imaginative and believable to those suits with the motorized heads. The fourth film has gone the CG way, with animation that may not be as impressive as most Pixar films, but still shows off a dark, gloomy New York City while allowing the characters to be colorful and animated in nature.

The problem with the fourth installment is that it contains two stories: one that is not developed enough, and another that is such a mess, I couldn’t have cared less about it. The first story centers on Leonardo and Raphael’s sibling rivalry - a recurring theme throughout all four films. Raphael feels abandoned and betrayed by Leo for having left, and Leo thinks Raphael is too hotheaded and stubborn. This conflict culminates in a rain-drenched, rooftop battle between the two that is far more epic than you normally see in a children’s movie. I enjoyed this plotline very much and wanted to see more of it, however it takes a back seat to the ‘monsters’ story, which makes very little sense and may be confusing to children.

‘TMNT’ contains some attractive animation, exciting fight-sequences and interesting voice work, (Kevin Smith appears in a cameo and Laurence Fishburne is the narrator). I also enjoyed how the low-level thugs were more realistic by carrying guns and not using kung-fu to carry out robberies. I’m sure this will be seen by some as a fitting reinvention of the franchise. However, with a story that plays more like a video game than a movie and a plot that may confuse its target audience, it may be a good idea if the turtles stayed in the sewers a little longer before coming out for a fifth film.