Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Review By Twisted Smile (The Untold Smile)

It's time for a trip down memory lane people and I am going to be your guide. The year was 1990 and yours truly was sitting comfortably at the age of five with a slice of pizza in one hand and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure in the other. Life was indeed sweet and it was made even more delicious with the release of the feature film version of everyone's favorite Salmonella carrying reptilians the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Does the film that amazed a five year old still have the ability to entertain the adult version of that same unbelievably cute and awesome kid? Well, we are about to see. Here is my review.

The live action turtle film mixes elements from both the comic book and the animated cartoon and blends them into a very enjoyable and fun feature adaptation. The film was directed by Steve Barron and it tells the story of four mutated turtles Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello (voiced by Corey Feldman) and Michelangelo whom along with their master and mentor Splinter must save New York City from a dangerous band of ninja thieves lead by the menacing Shredder. Along for the adventure and to give the turtles support in their fight are reporter April O' Neil played here by Judith Hoag and self appointed New York vigilante Casey Jones played by Elias Koteas. Will the turtles succeed in their struggle or are they doomed to face defeat by their dangerous nemesis? You'll have to watch to find out.

The one thing about the film that is undeniable is that the makeup and special effects are still impressive even by today's standards. Jim Henson's Creature Shop was responsible for creating the elaborate turtle costumes which used built in mechanics and puppeteers to manipulate the facial movements. The team would later do the same for the 1991 sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze. Both films still stand as impressive achievements for Jim Henson's Creature Shop and sit comfortably alongside the rest of their established work and legacy.

Now, as I asked above, do I believe the film still holds up today? Even through all the technical advances in film, is it possible that this one time highest grossing independent film has staying power after its release 20 years ago? Well, I can honestly say I believe it does. The film is gritty in its look and presents the mutated ninjas in a real world setting. Even though this is fantasy, it isn't hard to forget our reality and accept that these four could actually inhabit the world we live in. A lot of that is due to the above mentioned work that the Jim Henson team put in. Though the film was marketed towards children there are plenty of aspects in the film that adults can latch on too. One scene that still pulls at my heart strings is between Splinter and Raphael. Shrouded in candle light, Splinter tries to ease the anger and pain felt by the young turtle. It's a very heavy scene and one that further deepens the emotional bond between the audience and the characters on film. It's not a perfect film, nor is any other, but it does a fantastic job of bringing you into their world. You have fun with the laid back turtles, you fear for them when they are out numbered and their pain becomes your pain when they face the possibility of losing the one they love.

I have a tremendous soft spot for this film. It was my first trip to the theater as a boy and it started the love I have now for movies. Maybe this makes me biases in my view on the film? In fact it wouldn't be unfair to say so, but I will accept that and I will defend my feelings on it. A new film on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is on the way and if the creators want to be successful in their effort they need to use this film as their cheat sheet. It remains the only truly loved and adored film in the franchise because it offered up something for everyone. It's mix of fantasy, action, comedy and drama led to a very memorable film that I have no doubt will still be as enjoyable another 20 years from now.