Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• Directed by Steve Barron
• May 30, 1990
• Based on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird

Four teenage mutant ninja turtles in New York City confront a gang of criminal ninjas known as the Foot Clan.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie was an epic dream come true back in the day-at least for me. I was a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series and to see a big screen version of the characters was just awesome.

While I had some knowledge of the Turtles’ comics via the random polybag find, my primary source of knowledge when it came to them was the series. This adaptation certainly leans into the family friendly nature of the television series but tries to take things here and there a little more seriously.

I know this is a loose adaption of the early comics with elements of the series added in but I do wish they had used the series voice actors for the roles that used voice actors. I just do think what we got in the film was a distinct as in the series.

The Turtle’s suits are absolutely fantastic looking but because of technological limitations of the times you, well, can tell they are suits. The shells flex and things shift that if these were real would not. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop did great work but it is a noticeable shortcoming.

I have always been bothered that the Foot Clan is running a petty crime ring. That seems very low tier for a ninja clan or even major villains. It is not even connected to a larger plot. They are just after the best electronics that the late 80s/early 90s had to offer (and the occasional wallet) that could be taken to any pawn shop.

Judith Hoag as April O’Neil felt a bit like she came straight from the TV show. In my opinion she was ideal flesh and blood casting. She gave her part exactly what it needed. She did not fade into the film or feel forgettable at all.

Elias Koteas shows up as Casey Jones. This was my first introduction to the actor, and he far and away outshined everyone else in this movie. I became a fan of him because of this movie. And I really hoped starting here he did more than just silly stuff and mercifully he has. His Casey is tough and humorous without being ridiculous. He’s a former hockey player who wears a goalie mask and uses hockey sticks in his vigilantism yet it never feels really stupid.

I’m not necessarily sure about the inclusion of April’s boss Charles Pennington (Jay Patterson). He doesn’t do anything to really slow up her progress or anything. While his son is the kid that helps a bit in the finale, his dad was unimportant. 

For what it is, this is well acted with a better than it should be script. It’s really not groundbreaking or an edgy narrative but it all connected logically. What should have been really dumb and cheesy was not. But is it great? No. Is it good? Yes. It’s not deep or sophisticated. It’s just fun with no strong message. It is as silly as it is serious but not self-important. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an adaptation of the concept that all these decades later still holds up. It’s entertaining and light fun and if you saw it as a kid, it will take you back. If this is your first time, it will let you know the comic book movies can have a sense of fun. I highly recommend it!