Just got back from watching this last night and before I give my opinion let me give you a bit of my TMNT history.
Back before the first movie one of my best friends was into the original comics. I read them and found them enjoyable... But I don't remember much about them. I was 18 at the time.
The original movie came out and I enjoyed it.
I never have seen a single cartoon episode.... They look awful.
TMNT part two is garbage.
Never watched part 3.
Thought the fully CGI movie was pretty good. Not perfect but seemed to have the tone of the comics down better... But I only saw it once and I don't really remember the comics.
The Original TMNT film has not aged well for me.
So that being said I am by no means a TMNT super fan. I like the idea and the look. I was a bit worried about this film and how Hulked out they looked. After seeing them in trailers and photos I got use to them. Reading the reviews and what people were saying set my expectations to "Transformers" level and took my wife and kids (they wanted to see it)
All in all I thought it was good. Not great. I thought they did a nice job with the Turtles characters. I laughed a few times at the jokes (Breaking out of the glass cage just to want to clean something after the adrenalin shot
) I liked that not all the turtles were Hulked out and they were pretty easy to identify beyond their color bandanas and weapons. I though the action sequence on the mountain was a blast and had some things that I never seen before and made me smile (that does not happen often anymore) The CG was great and the pacing was OK. My kids loved it and my wife was pleasantly surprised. All in all a good night with the family.
Having said that I had some issues. I thought the pace of the film was uneven. I blame that on the flat human characters. Anytime they showed up and the story moved away from the turtles I deflated a little bit. There was so much fun energy with the turtles that the boring human characters were just that much more boring.
And what really bugged me was the lack of the TMNT kicking some foot clan a$$. There was not much martial arts. No fighting. The turtles barley used their weapons. I think this has to do with making it kid friendly but it was really lacking. I would have been satisfied had the turtles, when looking for an elevator and stumble on the foot clan, had a great fight scene during that time instead of running away. The film really lacked in that department IMO... But it was still fun and I personally don't get the hate. 3 out of 5 for me.
What I find funny and I mean no disrespect to the TMNT fans.... Is what do you guys expect?? The Series was turned into a children's franchise long ago when they made part two and made it into a cartoon show and a toy property for... KIDS.
If you are pure fan of the original comics then yeah.... I get it... But this has become a kids franchise. This movie does nothing to hurt that TMNT label.
I always laugh when fans of TMNT, Transformers, and GI Joe act like they are owned some sort of Shakespearian type of story for their movies based on..... TOYS. IMO you got more then these things ever deserved and you got much better quality then anyone should have hoped for. I mean... TOYS and Cartoons...
Having said that I am not saying they can't make nor should they not try and make the best films they can. But I get a kick out of people that complain about the lack of quality for their childhood cartoon series and toys. Personally I was not shocked by the badness that was Masters of the Universe.... I was more shocked they made a movie of the cartoon series I liked watching after school as a young pre teen.
I guess the argument that these films deserve the same quality and respect that comic books do since many comics became just for kids and had kids cartoons. However the comics themselves pointed the way to were the films and animated movies were going to go. Had the comics stayed lighter in tone we would have gotten a much different Batman and Avengers films. But comics got series again... I don't think TMNT ever managed that. I think the majority of the public think of Kids toys when they think of TMNT... Same goes for Transformers and GI Joe.
But if you come at this purely as a fan of the original Comic and it's tone then I get it... And you should probably hate anything and everything that the TMNT license has become.
