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I've only got a couple of TMNT movies to go before I've finished the theatrical side of the franchise. I admit I had my doubts about this second and final movie in the Michael Bay franchise (producer, not director), because even though it's said to be better, I don't typically go with the grain. I knew this movie was gonna steer even further into the cartoon side of the franchise. Imagine my surprise when they play the 1987 theme at the end of the movie. But I typically love stories about mutants and superpowers anyway. I'm a massive X-Men fan thanks to my sister showing me the first movie.
The Foot Clan is planning on breaking Shredder out, and despite the turtles' best effort stop keep him locked up, he's taken away by the alien warlord Krang, who needs Shredder to find the missing pieces of a machine that can open up Dimesnion X for him. Thanks to their recent screw-ups, the team is breaking apart while Shredder recruits two new mutants to help him defeat them. Can the turtles come together with April and their new security guard friend Casey Jones to keep Shredder and Krang from obtaining ultimate power?
So what we're dealing with here is another blockbuster gonna crazy, except we at least have some faithfulness to the iconic 1987 series. This is oftentimes both a pro and a con. Lemme tell you, even though I didn't really grow up with the original cartoon, I saw a few episodes. I was extremely happy to see how accurately they got a live-action Krang. They focused hard on his delivery and it mostly paid off. His design was perfect and Brad Garrett did an incredible job voicing him, making him feel real while delivering a cartoonish presence. The problem is that he didn't have much screentime at all. Thankfully, we have Bebop and Rocksteady to make up for that with their faithful representations.
But what's most obvious about this movie is that there are some flaws in the first movie that couldn't be changed in the second. The most obvious is turning the turtles into giant roid-raging Shrek's. But they put together some little changes, like the less obnoxious outfits and even replacing Johnny Knoxville, who voiced Leo in the original, and sounded less natural than our new guy. Unfortunately, there's still guilty of a few flaws here and there. I mean, that Shia Labeouf knockoff doesn't feel like Casey Jones at all. At least his battle scene with Bebop and Rocksteady was perfectly cartoonish for the vibe to be right.
OK, so the movie's cast and crew were working hard to bring the cartoon even further into real life, and this might have its strings attached, but also made it an ENJOYABLE piece of blockbuster tripe. We might be getting the full Michael Bay-produced experience, but we're also getting a strong TMNT experience. All the obnoxiously outlandish sci-fi is there as one should expect. Dimension X, Bebop and Rocksteady, talking Bubblicious, you name it. And yes, since it's a sequel to a very flawed movie, some of the flaws follow. So as far as live-action cartoons go, TMNT 2 doesn't have the punch of Kung Fu Hustle, but it's certainly better than Thunderbirds. It stands proud in its faithfulness while trying hard to just role with what they have, so I'll give it points for that at the very least.
= 60
Dave Green has directed 2 movies and is not currently eligible for a directorial score.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
(2016) - Directed by Dave Green
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Superhero / Sci-Fi / Ninja
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(2016) - Directed by Dave Green
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Superhero / Sci-Fi / Ninja
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"Surf's up, New York!"
I've only got a couple of TMNT movies to go before I've finished the theatrical side of the franchise. I admit I had my doubts about this second and final movie in the Michael Bay franchise (producer, not director), because even though it's said to be better, I don't typically go with the grain. I knew this movie was gonna steer even further into the cartoon side of the franchise. Imagine my surprise when they play the 1987 theme at the end of the movie. But I typically love stories about mutants and superpowers anyway. I'm a massive X-Men fan thanks to my sister showing me the first movie.
The Foot Clan is planning on breaking Shredder out, and despite the turtles' best effort stop keep him locked up, he's taken away by the alien warlord Krang, who needs Shredder to find the missing pieces of a machine that can open up Dimesnion X for him. Thanks to their recent screw-ups, the team is breaking apart while Shredder recruits two new mutants to help him defeat them. Can the turtles come together with April and their new security guard friend Casey Jones to keep Shredder and Krang from obtaining ultimate power?
So what we're dealing with here is another blockbuster gonna crazy, except we at least have some faithfulness to the iconic 1987 series. This is oftentimes both a pro and a con. Lemme tell you, even though I didn't really grow up with the original cartoon, I saw a few episodes. I was extremely happy to see how accurately they got a live-action Krang. They focused hard on his delivery and it mostly paid off. His design was perfect and Brad Garrett did an incredible job voicing him, making him feel real while delivering a cartoonish presence. The problem is that he didn't have much screentime at all. Thankfully, we have Bebop and Rocksteady to make up for that with their faithful representations.
But what's most obvious about this movie is that there are some flaws in the first movie that couldn't be changed in the second. The most obvious is turning the turtles into giant roid-raging Shrek's. But they put together some little changes, like the less obnoxious outfits and even replacing Johnny Knoxville, who voiced Leo in the original, and sounded less natural than our new guy. Unfortunately, there's still guilty of a few flaws here and there. I mean, that Shia Labeouf knockoff doesn't feel like Casey Jones at all. At least his battle scene with Bebop and Rocksteady was perfectly cartoonish for the vibe to be right.
OK, so the movie's cast and crew were working hard to bring the cartoon even further into real life, and this might have its strings attached, but also made it an ENJOYABLE piece of blockbuster tripe. We might be getting the full Michael Bay-produced experience, but we're also getting a strong TMNT experience. All the obnoxiously outlandish sci-fi is there as one should expect. Dimension X, Bebop and Rocksteady, talking Bubblicious, you name it. And yes, since it's a sequel to a very flawed movie, some of the flaws follow. So as far as live-action cartoons go, TMNT 2 doesn't have the punch of Kung Fu Hustle, but it's certainly better than Thunderbirds. It stands proud in its faithfulness while trying hard to just role with what they have, so I'll give it points for that at the very least.
= 60
Dave Green has directed 2 movies and is not currently eligible for a directorial score.