TMNT is a loose sequel to the previous three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films. When I first heard about its "loose sequel" status I was kind of worried as to how different it was. I now realize this was a very smart move since it allows them to take more liberties with the plot without upsetting the continuity of the previous films.
Leonardo has been training in a Central American jungle on the orders of his master, Splinter. April goes out to retrieve him, and eventually he comes back to New York City. And just in time too, as evil is afoot. An almost-evil man is trying to gather thirteen monsters to set a group of stone warrior-things free from their curse. Okay, there's a lot more to the plot than that, and I think it's a good thing that it's beyond my capabilities to explain it in a concise way, it means it's more complex than the other turtles films.
All the characters are once again written well, their characterizations are closer to that of the first film, this is a serious plus for the film. The character development is great, Raphael and Leonardo are the central focus of the film. Raphael has been going out at night in the disguise of the "Nightwatcher" because he has been itching to get back into the vigilante crime fighting world ever since Leonardo left. This subplot reaches a climax that is one of the most spectacular scenes I've ever seen in a CGI animated movie. It's a fight between the brothers in the rain that's so well animated that it makes your jaw drop.
The animation is amazing. It's stylized but at the same time surprisingly realistic, the turtles move with speed and in a ninja-like way. This previously couldn't be achieved due to the limitations of turtle suits. It's so awesome to watch the group jump around the New York City skyline like real ninjas. The turtles new lair is awesome! It's kind of unrealistic that such a big place could exist under New York City without someone noticing, but at the same time it feels a lot more homey than the previous home they were living in.
The dialogue here is just as good as the first's. I loved it, the jokes were all funny and Mikey gets in some really funny lines, and they didn't make him look stupid like the trailers might lead you to believe. The voice acting is perfect, better than any of the other films. I fell in love with all the voices. Sarah Michelle Gellar is great as the new April, who fights alongside the turtles now. Ziyi Zhang adds depth to Karai. Her Chinese accent is amazing and seductive. Chris Evans plays a great Casey Jones, the character is finally done justice again.
The score is good. I liked the themes, but didn't care much for the modern songs used in some scenes. The tone of the film is similar to the first's, it's dark and the sprinkling of jokes(in the right places too) makes a good contrast against it. The city is dark, since the turtles only go out at night, like they're supposed to. Most of the shots are really different and interesting, like some of the ones that zoom quickly around the city. The turtles also get to fight and use their weapons like they never were able to before, yay!
In the end I greatly enjoy this film. The plot belongs in a superhero film, the turtles were never meant to save the Earth, and they practically do here. However, they made it work pretty well, the film is a success in many aspects, the pacing is fast and even, just like the first, and at 87 minutes it speeds by well. Great film.
7/10
Leonardo has been training in a Central American jungle on the orders of his master, Splinter. April goes out to retrieve him, and eventually he comes back to New York City. And just in time too, as evil is afoot. An almost-evil man is trying to gather thirteen monsters to set a group of stone warrior-things free from their curse. Okay, there's a lot more to the plot than that, and I think it's a good thing that it's beyond my capabilities to explain it in a concise way, it means it's more complex than the other turtles films.
All the characters are once again written well, their characterizations are closer to that of the first film, this is a serious plus for the film. The character development is great, Raphael and Leonardo are the central focus of the film. Raphael has been going out at night in the disguise of the "Nightwatcher" because he has been itching to get back into the vigilante crime fighting world ever since Leonardo left. This subplot reaches a climax that is one of the most spectacular scenes I've ever seen in a CGI animated movie. It's a fight between the brothers in the rain that's so well animated that it makes your jaw drop.
The animation is amazing. It's stylized but at the same time surprisingly realistic, the turtles move with speed and in a ninja-like way. This previously couldn't be achieved due to the limitations of turtle suits. It's so awesome to watch the group jump around the New York City skyline like real ninjas. The turtles new lair is awesome! It's kind of unrealistic that such a big place could exist under New York City without someone noticing, but at the same time it feels a lot more homey than the previous home they were living in.
The dialogue here is just as good as the first's. I loved it, the jokes were all funny and Mikey gets in some really funny lines, and they didn't make him look stupid like the trailers might lead you to believe. The voice acting is perfect, better than any of the other films. I fell in love with all the voices. Sarah Michelle Gellar is great as the new April, who fights alongside the turtles now. Ziyi Zhang adds depth to Karai. Her Chinese accent is amazing and seductive. Chris Evans plays a great Casey Jones, the character is finally done justice again.
The score is good. I liked the themes, but didn't care much for the modern songs used in some scenes. The tone of the film is similar to the first's, it's dark and the sprinkling of jokes(in the right places too) makes a good contrast against it. The city is dark, since the turtles only go out at night, like they're supposed to. Most of the shots are really different and interesting, like some of the ones that zoom quickly around the city. The turtles also get to fight and use their weapons like they never were able to before, yay!
In the end I greatly enjoy this film. The plot belongs in a superhero film, the turtles were never meant to save the Earth, and they practically do here. However, they made it work pretty well, the film is a success in many aspects, the pacing is fast and even, just like the first, and at 87 minutes it speeds by well. Great film.
7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment