But first, disclaimer. This entry isn't a fanatic approach -- the kind which delves into the littlest, minor Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle character and how who evolved to what. I was a kid of the 90s and as typical young ones, we'd curl in front of the television every Friday night to check out on some toons (there's X-Men, there's Ewoks and then there's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle). In a way, TMNT the Movie serves as a memento of my childhood days. Here are my ten thoughts about the movie:
1. The Introduction. The introduction is highly animated. In a way, it teases the audience' imagination on how the characters will look like in living color. Very reminiscent of how Marvel normally shifts from opening credits to the movie's first few scenes.
2. The main story. April O' Neil (Megan Fox) is an unrecognized news reporter from Channel 6 who seems to be in limbo due to her too limited assignments. While pondering on how she can prove herself as a professional reporter of Channel 6, she coincidentally witnessed four strange vigilantes battling and winning over some feared foot soldiers. Having very limited visual proof of what she witnessed, she went on to investigate and figure out the four vigilantes' identities. Scene after scene unmasks everyone's life secret - including O' Neil's very own.
3. The setting. Set in present 2014, the power team could have been exposed to more technologies. The protagonists and antagonists' tools seem average. Best for the writers to have seized this opportunity to introduce more equipment and machines that are cutting edge.
4. Megan Fox as April O' Neil. Megan Fox as the cunning and strong-willed April O' Neil will never work for me. Based on how O' Neil was depicted in the comic book and in the cartoon series if I may add, she's an unassuming and driven woman, petite with short hair in terms of looks and clad in a yellow suit where fashion is concerned. Instead, we see a very feminine O' Neil who is poised and prim and proper (looking unhurt AND gorgeous even when she's supposed to be getting all roughed up by being dragged by something/someone or by falling down somewhere or by slamming hard into something) all throughout the film. I was thinking of somebody who will be able to look like a harassed damsel in distress (still pretty but not poised) who is in dire need of four turtles rescuing her.
Left: Megan Fox. Right: How April O' Neil typically looks like. And Megan Fox is still Megan Fox in the movie -- plus the casual wear.
5. The action scenes. Martial arts, karate, chase scenes -- the fight scenes were good while it lasted. As part of the audience, I say MORE. Action-packed is how the TMNT the Movie is supposed to be. I mean, COME. ON.
6. The Main Power Team. Great character designs for everyone: Donatello, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo and Splinter of course. [**Spoiler**] Excellent side story that covers the turtles' growing up years.
7. Shredder is oh-so-fly. Shredder's armor is by far the best development that they have in the movie. Gone is his typical villain attire and they replaced it with this gear which makes his character look tougher than ever.
9. Missing characters. Where are Krang, Beebop and Rocksteady? Oops. Sorry. I might be expecting a little too much ...which leads to my hunch (see number 10).
10. The ending. Seems to most that they are brewing the second movie. No, there are no scenes after the ending credits.
This movie merits 3 out of 5 stars for me.
*All photos used in this entry have been obtained from random sites in the world wide web.
