Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows was OK
By William G Chandler Jr. , June 6, 2016, at 5:45 a.m.
Jonathan Liebesman, Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, and Evan Daugherty made the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie as an origin film. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows was fun.
That first film turned me away from the franchise. As described at IMDb, the first movie dealt with a “kingpin” who threatened the city and the turtles emerged “from the shadows to protect their home.” Their origins, connection to the April O’Neil character, as played by Megan Fox, and movement to various, international l locations, without any actual ninja combat to supplement the film, made it hard to digest.
Shredder was just one computer-generated effect that took away from what could have been stronger movie. I hate to refer to the film Green Lantern. The movie, directed by Martin Campbell, had a very strong organic look. Everything related to outer space in the film was fantastic.
The actual story of the film failed. There was potential for a broad, solid, space film. All it would have taken was an interaction with some criminal cases, an alien civilization, and some Green Lantern lore. David Green, Andre Nemec, and Josh Appelbaum seemed to create a film, in the second movie, which delivered a basic story. After the turtles saved the city in the first film, they resorted to life in the shadows.
This does not sit well with all of them. Throughout the film, some turtles wanted credit, and some acknowledgment, for what they do daily. They questioned, and remained divided on just what the turtles should be in public, and as a team. Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, and Alan Ritchson played the four turtles’ personalities, as well as any animated show.
You cannot ask this movie to reproduce the Mirage Studios 1984 comic. I would say the look of the film dazzled. The computer graphics blended well with real locations. Stephen Farrelly and Gary Anthony Williams were fun as Bebop and Rocksteady. The two played stupid characters, but could easily switch to very dangerous foes.
Brian Tee, as Shredder, was okay. If Shredder had done more action scenes in the film, it would have added to this piece. Stephen Amell, as Casey Jones, was fair. He was not enough crazy, and too much hockey. The brawler aspect this character was absent. Megan Fox still stunned as April O’Neil. Tyler Perry, as Baxter Stockman was good. I just wished his character were more dangerous with his scientific mind. I hated Brad Garrett as Krang. The actual character model was great, but the use of the character was terrible.
The end of this film deserved an all-out-execution. It was a grand, but reserved end that audiences will get. Will Arnett, as Vernon Fenwick, was great comic relief. Laura Linney, as Chief Vincent, played a solid police chief. The scope of this summer film permitted only certain aspects of the comic. If you allowed yourself to take this ride, just enjoy it. Turtle Power was partly in effect.
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TMNT 2: Out of the Shadows Trailer 4 by Paramount Pictures International