Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

It has been awhile since the Heroes In A Half Shell have graced the silver screen, but TMNT, a 2007 computer animated film, celebrates the return of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles after a 14-year hiatus in this fourth installment to the franchise. I wasn’t sure how I was going to react to the use of a fully animated, computer-generated film featuring the Turtles. To my surprise and delight, I rather enjoyed it, mostly for its straightforwardness and genuine fun factor.

The streets of New York City never sleeps (at least that’s what the songs states) but the Turtles are nowhere to be seen. After the defeat the Shredder, the Turtles grow apart. Most conspicuous by his absence is team leader Leonardo, who is off training in South America. He seems to be taking his time coming back to his brethren. It’s is absence that has broken up the team. Master Splinter, the team’s wise sensei spends time in front of the television watching soap operas. Michelangelo is renting himself out to children's birthday parties as a clown called "Cowabunga Carl." Donatello has taken a job doing over-the-phone tech support. And, secretly, Raphael has taken to the streets at night as a vigilante called the Nightwatcher. Also back for the duration is April O’Neil, the Turtles’ friend, who has giving up journalism and operates a shipping business along with her boyfriend, Casey Jones.

Coming back off an expedition from South America, April delivers a stone statue to industrialist Maximillian J. Winters, the final piece in his collection. As legend has it, 3,000 years ago these stone statues were once generals who worked for a warrior-king. In an attempt to amass more power, he opened a portal to another dimension. The portal made him immortal, transformed his generals to stone, and released thirteen monsters into the world.

The Foot Clan, led by Karai, also returns and is now hired to find these monsters for Winters. They get more than the bargain for when they realize why Winters is gathering these beasts.

But all of this becomes pointless if the Turtles can’t reconcile and get along, especially with the tension between Leonardo and Raphael. One is trying to lead his team back into shape while the other holds a grudge for his leader abandoning them in the first place. Brotherly love was never said to be easy and these two prove it. They need to get their act together if they plan to save New York City once again.

The change from a live-action film to computer-animated feature was a great move by writer and director Kevin Munroe. He wisely realized that he needed to capture the original comic book sensation that creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird started back in 1984 for Mirage Studios. When I first saw the teaser, I thought it was computer imagery combined with live-action until I realized it was all computer generated. I greatly applaud the move as it makes the action sequences move in a more fluid manner without slower down the pace.

The animation is obviously going to come under heavy scrutiny. It’s not in the same league as Pixar but it’s not meant to be at all. It definitely has its own style that works very well with the material at hand. The computer animation gives the turtles believable expressions, movements, musculature and skin tones, or as closely one would expect a walking ninja turtle to be.

The story is better than expected. It’s not complex at all, but look at who this movie is targeting. While the original comic book was darker and mature in tone, the cartoon was kid friendly and that’s how it’s been perceived since then. This is a blend of the two worlds and a good compromise. It can get even darker but I’m sure the few scary monsters will be enough to induce a few nightmares for youngsters. I’m also glad that the Shredder sat out of this movie and gave somebody else a chance to be the villain. Winters isn’t your typical villain at all as he has a more ambiguous agenda.

The voice acting is great with Sarah Michelle Gellar (April O’Neil), Chris Evans (Casey Jones), Mako Iwamatsu (Master Splinter), Zhang Ziyi (Karai), and Patrick Stewart (Maximillian Winters) lead the cast. They are not over-the-top at all and bring subtle nuances that are well appreciated for this film.

The franchise is strong than ever. I particularly appreciate how the origin story doesn’t need to be retold over and over again. It gets right into the action at hand and doesn’t waste any time at all. There is a good balance between the darker aspects of the film and the kid-friendliness factor in TMNT. I enjoyed it for its simplicity and am reminded of Pixar’s The Incredibles in terms of getting a message across. Yes, there actually is a message to be told about forgiveness, teamwork, solidarity and family. Of course, an extreme suspension of disbelief is required but therein lie all the fun.


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Other Comic Book Movies
DC Comics
Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941) || Batman (1943) || Batman: The Movie (1966) || Batman (1989) || Batman Returns || Batman Forever || Batman & Robin || Batman Begins || Batman: Mask of the Phantasm || Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero || Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman || The Batman Superman Movie || Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker || Catwoman || Constantine || Steel (1997) || Superman: The Movie || Superman II || Superman II: The Donner Cut || Superman III || Superman IV: The Quest for Peace || Superman Returns || Superman: Brainiac Attacks || Superman: Doomsday

Marvel Comics
Daredevil || Doctor Strange (2007) || Fantastic Four (2005) || Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer || Ghost Rider (2007) || Hulk (2003) || The Invincible Iron Man (2007) || The Punisher (2004) || Spider-Man || Spider-Man 2 || Spider-Man 3 || Ultimate Avengers: The Movie || Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther || X-Men || X2: X-Men United || X-Men: The Last Stand

Independent Comic Books
The Mask of Zorro || Men in Black || Popeye || Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles || Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze || Transformers: The Movie (1986) || Transformers (2007)



Recommended: Yes

Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12