TMNT (2007)

Director:

Kevin Munroe

Writers:

Kevin Munroe (written by)
Peter Laird (characters) ...

Release Date:

23 March 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Raising Shell In 2007

Plot:

The continued adventures of the four adolescent mutated turtles gifted in the art of the ninja, as they attempt to stop a mysterious evil that threatens to end the world.

Plot Keywords:

Turtle | New York City | Ninja | Monster | Martial Arts

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 24	7:00 PM	TOON
Wed. Nov. 25	5:00 PM	TOON
Sat. Nov. 28	8:00 PM	TOON

Cast

Nolan North	...	Raphael / Nightwatcher (voice)
James Arnold Taylor	...	Leonardo (voice)
Mitchell Whitfield	...	Donatello (voice)
Mikey Kelley	...	Michelangelo (voice)
Mako	...	Splinter (voice)
Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	April O'Neil (voice)
Chris Evans	...	Casey (voice)
Patrick Stewart	...	Winters (voice)
Ziyi Zhang	...	Karai (voice)
Laurence Fishburne	...	Narrator (voice)
Kevin Smith	...	Diner Cook (voice)
John Di Maggio	...	Colonel Santino (voice)
Paula Mattioli	...	General Serpiente (voice)
Kevin Michael Richardson	...	General Aguila / Additional Voices (voice)
Fred Tatasciore	...	General Gato (voice)

Also Known As:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (USA) (long title)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV (USA) (working title)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Immortal (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for animated action violence, some scary cartoon images and mild language.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Hong Kong | USA

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:PG | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:6 | Finland:K-11 | Hong Kong:I | Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:PG (certificate #43348) | Australia:PG | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:6 | Argentina:Atp | Brazil:Livre | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Sweden:7 | Norway:7 | Denmark:7 | South Korea:All | South Africa:PG | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U | Portugal:M/6 | Peru:PT | New Zealand:PG

Company:

Imagi Animation Studios

Trivia:

Some of the 13 monsters are based on actual 'monsters' from popular myth - the first one that appears in the unfinished building is based on the Yeti, the next one to be captured is obviously the Cyclops, the one that eats a pigeon on a building is clearly modeled on gargoyles, and the one in the diner brings to mind the Jersey Devil.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Raphael argues with Donatello, and Splinter is introduced, Raphael's bandanna briefly turns grey as he leaves.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Four turtles. Four brothers. Genetically reborn in the sewers of New York. Named after the Renaissance masters and trained as ninjas.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Donny's Digital Data Files (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Lights Out (Chris Vrenna Remix)

Turtle Power!

I would say that I am a moderate fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while I absolutely loved them as a kid, after a while I felt I had outgrown them, despite still finding the idea and characters legendary. The idea of this new movie however did not really excite me when I first heard about it, I just felt they were trying to bring back a franchise that long ago died, this would basically be Turtles for a new generation. However after letting nostalgia get the better of me and starting to get quite excited over the movie after a decent trailer I went and saw the Advance Screening today. Now let me say this is the turtles we all know and loved, they've changed slightly and the movies a teensy weensy bit darker than the old TV show, but this is still the same thing basically. This is a movie that knows what it is, its a fun, action packed, comedy filled thrill ride from beginning to end, and you know what I wouldn't want it any other way. If you go in expecting faults you will find them, I did hence the reason it got 9/10 instead of 10/10. But this movie is full of inventive ideas, a surprisingly compelling plot, beautiful animation, great voice acting and just loads more. I simply loved this movie! Now then first I'll go on about the voice acting, now the voice acting was superb. All of the voice actors for the turtles are newcomers, yet they're still practically the same as the turtles we all know and love. All of the turtles are played brilliantly, especially Leonardo, who was my least favourite turtle originally, I felt the voice actor added an extra layer to him I didn't expect to find. As the humans we get Patrick Stewart in a role surprisingly unlike he usually does, Sarah Michelle Gellar who fitted perfectly into the role of Abi, Chris Evans who does a pretty decent job, hell even Kevin Smith is along for the ride in a slightly pointless but enjoyable to point him out role. The only Voice Actor I was slightly discomforted with at first was Mako as Master Splinter, he just didn't feel right to me, perhaps its because it was a different voice for Splinter, but still I didn't like him at first. He did however grow on me after time. Ziyi Xang also does a pretty good job in her role.

Now next thing to praise has got to be the animation and the actual storyline. The animation didn't look amazing to me in the trailers, seemed too cartoony. Boy was I a fool! The animation to be blunt is simply breathtaking. It took me all of five minutes to figure that out and for the rest of the movie I just gazed in awe. My friends complained about how the humans looked, I still felt they worked perfectly in the movie. The animation of the actual city is breathtaking, and when the animation comes to a fight in the rain it looks beautiful. The plot as well is surprisingly decent. The fact Shredder wasn't the villain might upset people, I was glad as they need to movie on, but the villain and storyline here is just as good. The storyline also allows for plenty of pretty good action, this might be a PG, hence why the action isn't violent, but it doesn't prevent the action looking superb.

Now then the negatives of the movie. Well I suppose the dialogue doesn't exactly amaze, it works perfectly fine and at times I found the dialogue was done very well, at other times it did seem a tiny bit forced. Surprisingly it wasn't the humour that was forced, that actually worked very well, but some of the tough guy action dialogue started to grate after a while. That's pretty much my only negative to be honest, I'm sure there are more, but I was having to much of a blast to notice. Overall TMNT is a great movie that will please fans of the original series and comics as well as newcomers. Its a movie to sit back, relax and enjoy, and bring your bucket of popcorn as well. The turtles are back everyone! And judging by the climax, and if this does well at the Box Office, there's more to come!