Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Spatial animation suits the turtles quite well, although nostalgia still calls for a classic visual coat somewhere in the corner. The problem, in my opinion, is more in the plot peripeteia regarding the brotherly struggle, which puts the two oldest ones in the crosshairs, to the point that the youngest members are left out so much that they become just useless pawns without any justification. The second storyline with the rescue of N.Y. and the whole world along with it is much more straightforward, more nimble, and, most importantly, provides room for absolutely thrilling action. We don’t see that very often in animation, and especially the brotherly battle in the rain or the final fight against the Foot clan will warm the hearts of action lovers. As a result, it's a nice film for a single watch that definitely won't offend and is more than an obvious choice for ideal relaxation. (20.07.2007)

The good news is (for some) that the Turtles are back. The bad news is that they stopped half way to the top. The non-existent story wouldn’t have fueled a regular episode of the original TV series, let alone a feature-length picture. The whole thing comes across like a prolog for a TV series rather than a regular, self-standing movie. And it’s a shame that things revolve more around Rafaelo and Leonardo and Donatello and Michelangelo are given a back seat. On one hand, this is an attempt to rebook the Turtles, but at the same time it is aimed at “connoisseurs". It alternates serious moments with childish ones. Despite all the negatives, thanks to the short running time it rushes by and I certainly enjoyed myself. Perhaps the creators have learned their lesson for any potential part two, which could become a solid action popcorn movie and not just an intro to a computer game. (25.05.2007)

At first, the idea of reviving the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles seemed like unnecessary money grabbing from a dead series, but once the first images appeared, I started to look forward to it because everything looked absolutely stylish and, most importantly, with love for the source material. And so, to my great joy, the movie turned out well in the end. Maybe there's a lack of more action, as the real showdown only happens at the end, and it would be nice to have villains in the style of the Shredder with Krang instead of stone warriors, but it has the exact light and family-friendly atmosphere as the beloved series. A big compliment and a sigh over the fact that people simply don't go to the cinema to see the Turtles in animated form. (24.06.2007)

The silly smile of a content child spreads across my face :-). The return of the Turtles is really fine. The beginning is slow, but the rest of the film more than makes up for it. The animation, in the style of The Incredibles, suits Ninja Turtles quite well. The action is excellent (especially Leonardo vs. Night Watcher and the final battle). Mikey's jokes are just the sort of gut-busters I've been missing. But Shredder and his partners were missing. The monsters are fine, yet somehow they’re not quite right. I'm kind of counting on seeing them in the sequel. P.S. Badelt's music is excellent and Michelangelo roolzz ;-). (01.08.2007)

Die Handlung mit der 3000 Jahre alten Rache aus dem Jenseits kaufe ich den Machern nicht ab, aber die Situation "nachdem wir den Shredder besiegt haben" ist angemessen dargestellt, die Charaktere passen zur üblichen Vorstellung... und April fehlt auch nicht ;) Und außerdem spricht es Jugendliche und Erwachsene gleichermaßen an. (11.07.2011)

This is probably mainly out of nostalgia, although it is true that the animation is definitely not fundamentally bad. The story is one of those that makes you feel like you're missing something, but this is just for fans of the turtles. The fact that there are some familiar voices here is probably irrelevant. The mythological dimensions of the story are nice, but maybe there is too much of it in one place. The series suits the turtles better. (25.05.2014)