TMNT

Seeing as I was a kid when this was first coming out, this was a nice nostalgia/memory lane type deal for me. The Turtles are back for the new generation of kids, and they look better than ever. There is something going on in the city, where a group of stone statues come alive and are gathering a gang of monsters, all for a possibly world take over. The Turtles, with troubles brewing on the inside, need to come together and save the day.

As I said, they look better than ever. I am really glad they went with an animated take on the characters, because they can really excel and go way over board with what they can do, as opposed to being limited by what real actors can do. The animation was very nice, slick, and beyond detailed. There is one very memorable scene, which I have seen has been talked about else where as well. There is a fight on a rooftop in the rain, and it is very cool. Awesome actually.

The story itself is cool enough, and we even get to see the remnants of the Foot Clan get involved, as they are trying to help gather up all of the Monsters running through NYC. Leonardo needs to come back from his years worth of training, to make sure the Turtles can come together, and to be a better leader. Raphael, being the prick he is, doesn't take too kindly to the situation and of course this causes in house feuding.

Anyways, the Turtles themselves were cool. I liked Leo, love Michaelangelo (favorite since I was a kid), and Donatello is not bad. I can't stand Raph, and I hated him as a kid too. I know he is supposed to be the short tempered asshole and all that, and that's fine. My main complaint with him in this one, is the fact that his voice just doesn't fit with the other Turtles. I think it was bad casting because all the others sound like teenagers, then Raph sounds like a middle aged, angry New Yorker. You'd have no idea he was supposed to be younger than Leo, aside from the fact they say it. His voice was the worst, and the only one I have a complaint about.

The action was pretty good, with some decent fights, and cool enough action sequences. Not too violent as there is no blood or anything, but I wasn't expecting any. My biggest complaint about the violence factor in the movie and all that jazz is the fact that I don't recall seeing Michaelangelos nunchucks more than a brief glimpse. I had heard that there was speculation that they were trying to phase them out for whatever reason. Too violent maybe? But I dont see how that has an argument as Raph has two razor sharp Sai'sn and Leo has his humongous swords to slash people around with. Can't see how two swinging sticks are more impressionable on kids than razor sharp blades.

Mike was there solely for comic relief, and he only had a couple of jokes. He had a good skate boarding sequence and was pretty much the same as always. Him and Donatello were pretty much background players in this, and for new kids to the movie, they might not have a big impression of the two, as it mainly focused on Raph and Leo. Splinter was as handsome as ever, as he has a nice humongous Japanese gotee hanging off his chin. For me though, one of the weirdest character changes was with KC Jones. He is banging April O'Neill, and it seems like he is completely pussy whipped by her. He comes off as a bumbling idiot who is also a night time vigilante.

What can you do? Aside from those small complaints, and me wishing Shredder and Krang were in the mix, I loved it. I was a complete kid watching it, laughing at Mikes bad jokes and the dumb little things in there. I was genuinely interested in knowing what was going to happen, and wanted to see all of the conflict resolved.

Very good in my opinion, and I will give it 4 and a half out of 5 buttholes.

I also like the opening for the sequel too, and will watch it when it comes out. Good to see something I grew up loving, is back in full effect appealing to a whole new group of kids. So good.