The Heroes in a Half Shell Return in All Their CGI Splendor

 
    After months and months of waiting, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" has finally arrived. As a source of skepticism, anxiety, disappointment, coupled with excitement and anticipation, this film has officially arrived and there's no turning back. All of the emotion, the backlash, as well as support (yes, I acknowledge those of you who didn't want Michael Bay's head on a spike), that fans have expressed all during the build-up of this movie just goes to show how much these characters and the world they live in are loved and cherished. Hats off to Jonathan Liebesman and his valiant cast and crew for taking on such a beloved endeavor. Looking back now at what made me fall in love with the Ninja Turtles as a kid, it's hard not to lose yourself in those emotions when a new idea or version is presented. I think anyone who has ever loved the Turtles, or any franchise for that matter, can and will have some hesitation, but overall can benefit from having an open mind. This review is an opportunity to share, from a fan's view as well as an outside view, what this iteration means to both fans of old and new.
 
   It was well known before the film was released that this version would be different from past versions. Hard core fans exploded with emotion, claiming that what was already considered great shouldn't be messed with. I don't think Michael Bay (who, let's just note DID NOT DIRECT the movie, but only produced it) received as many death threats on any other film he was a part of than he did for this film. I'll admit, I was extremely skeptical when the first news of the plot and origin differences were released. However, as more of the film's development became evident and more trailers were released, I became more open to this version...even excited. In this film, the origin of the turtles is a bit different from past versions, this fact is true. Note that I said "versions" there. From the first comic to the 80's cartoon, to the feature films, to the new cartoon from 2007 and so on, the origin of the turtles has differed in one way or another. So, though I sympathize and connect with those who grew up on the 80's cartoon and 90's films, this is where that open mind will come in handy. Now, I'm not saying that this film's version is drastically different. There are certain points that were tweaked, and it really wasn't as bad as some might think. We find in this version that the turtles and April O'Neil have a closer, more connected history than in any other iteration. The details of that connection I'll leave for you to discover once you see it, but it is new and refreshing.

   Overall, the movie itself isn't bad. As a fan I wanted more, however I still left the theater without really any disappointment. If anything I was happy it didn't suck. The movie is really entertaining. Each turtle has their own unique characteristics that makes it easy to differentiate between them. That's probably one of the strongest points of the film. No matter how cool or corny past versions of the turtles were, the one constant factor that never changed were the individual personalities of the turtles. Even if they were to take off their colored bandannas, you would still be able to tell them apart. The same goes for this film. If you're familiar with the turtles, you'll feel connected to these new versions from that aspect alone, which really makes watching this story that much more enjoyable.

  The look of the turtles is another big difference, and one that has probably gotten the most flack thus far. They're huge! I mean, they're freakin' gigantic compared to the plucky versions from the past. They're like over six feet tall and completely ripped. They make Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson look puny. I can see how this can take away from the nostalgia that permeates the current fan-boy mindset, and again I say to that: have an open mind. I actually didn't mind that they were so stinkin' huge. They still kicked booty like no other. The CGI was really well done and the action sequences were awesome. Watching the turtles not only fight, but wield their weapons like the masters they are, is a visual feast. You didn't see a whole lot of that in the old 80's cartoon, I mean yeah they used their weapons when they fought, but nothing like this. It wasn't until 2007's animated "TMNT" where you really saw the practical use of the weapons in a more fluid and ninja-like manner. There's no denying when watching this film that Leo, Raph, Mikey and Donny are well versed with their signature weapons of choice.

    Like I mentioned earlier, it was truly nice to recognize their individualism that has transcended over the last 30 years. However, for this film the changes they made were different yet still coincided with their individual nature. Leo is by far the coolest looking turtle. In fact, if you're looking for any resemblance or connection to the past iterations, Leo I think is the closest. His samurai-esque armor fits him nicely and compliments the katanas he wields so effortlessly. Raphael is a brute, enough said. His massive size doesn't take away from the fact that this version does a really great job at portraying the epitome of who Raphael is within the vast world of the turtles. He's the physical threat, the hard-headed black sheep of the brothers and though he's as big as a Humvee, he's portrayed perfectly in that regard. Mikey, like in every other version of the turtle canon, is the source of comedy and who most everyone, kids especially, will gravitate to. Now, Donatello...they went all out with him. Yes, Donny is the brains of the group but they went full-on nerd. From the tech-savvy lingo, to the ghostbusters proton-pack thing he wears, even to his nerdy glasses taped up in the middle, he's one pocket protector away from completely overcoming the cliche stereotype. However, he does wield a mighty bo staff. I guess that balances it out.

   Megan Fox plays the iconic reporter/aspiring crime journalist April O'Neil and...doesn't do a bad job. She's balanced quite nicely with the comical Will Arnett who plays April's cameraman Vernon. With all due respect to the turtles, this movie is really about April and her connection with them. She's the central character in this story, another change in the canon but one that works and is interesting to watch. Playing the central character in a film is a large weight to carry and Megan Fox does an okay job. William Fichtner is our antagonist. This film's iteration of Shredder, I have to say, I really enjoyed. Avoiding all spoilers here, you'll have to wait and see for yourself how this Shredder plays within the world of this film, but I will say that fans of the turtles won't be as disappointed as they think when The Shredder is around.

   "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" isn't the best movie you'll see this summer. It's true. It is however a visual spectacle and a truly fun film. The action is awesome; the story, though resembling pieces of plots from other films thrown together, is still intriguing and fun. The turtles are a blast to watch whether they're surfing through the sewers or fighting The Foot clan. From stunt guys in animatronic suits to computer animated to the now-popular computer-generated, motion-capture versions within a real world, the turtles have come a long way. It's a testament to where we are with technology today and what is able to be accomplished with it. The turtles are as cool as they've ever been. If you're a die-hard fan of the turtles, still stuck in the 80's and 90's, I understand where your hesitation comes from. But I implore you to have an open mind and focus on what made you fall in love with those reptilian brothers, because I found it within the visual escapade that is this iteration. Families will love this movie; I think it'll do great in the box office which means we'll probably see more of the pizza-loving ninjas in the future. To that I say cowabunga dudes!