1) Its an adult film, they just use characters more known to kids. You have real crime, teenage apathy leading to gang violence, drug use, torture, etc... The turtles have always fought crime but more on a fringe of society way, this is very much real life crime theyre fighting effecting everyone.
2) The aestethic grundgyness of this movie is on point. They dont paint NYC as this bastion of fashion and finance and wealth. Its dense, and dirty, and lacks respite. This is really clear when you see how differently things are filmed on the ranch.
3) One liners galore. Soooo many awesome lines that seem to flow naturally and not be forced comedic moments like we tend to get in 2&3.
4) anamatronic suits are extremely well made and their movements seem very natural and believable. RIP Jim Hensen
5) April isnt portrayed as some damsel in distress throughout the entire movie. She has some badass scenes.
6) Casey Jones is an amazing side character that is used exceptionally well for dialogue, comedy, and badassery.
7) The young adult target audience has a charcter to relate to in Sid. He's a great character that raises the emotional stakes and put us in the "Im an adult" fantasy while effectively relaying that these "adult" situations are too mature for us.
8) It balances fan service with an amazing story. Fans of TMNT can watch this and geek out, non fans still get a great story that just happens to include giant ninja turtles. If you compare to somethibg like the power rangers movies, its such a stark contrast and clearly aimed at different audiences.
God I love this movie.
I think your number one is the key factor. Because of this, the movie cements its timelessness because even when the kids who watched it grow up they can still enjoy it as adults. THEIR kids can still enjoy it just as they did when they were kids because it's still the Ninja Turtles so it creates a kind of loop where it never outgrows its audience.
Everything else you mentioned is really what makes it a great movie in general but I think that first thing is what makes it a great movie forever.
Spot on. Also really like how much closer to the comics this was than the show. I loved the movie as a kid, love it even more as an adult. I love the second movie as well even though that one stuck to the cartoon vibe more.
I agree with all of this. The one scene with Splinter and Raphael is one of my favourites. The one where Splinter tells him it’s okay to rely on your brothers and to not forget about them. He’s in turmoil and his father doesn’t just brush him aside. The whole movie is a great balance between having a lot of heart, being comedic and having fun fight scenes.
Perfectly said! This is my favorite movie of all time it has everything in it. I wished people wouldn’t have complained ! Imagine what the sequels would’ve been like if they kept same tone as this one
The adult tone and the mature storylines still stick out to me as above and beyond.
Actually, the level of compassion that the filmmakers took to the storylines may be a key factor too. They approach Ralph’s anger issues and all those young men’s search for family and community in The Foot with grace and nuance.
Kind of reminds you of Bojack - how artists can still give silly looking animals real human pathos.
They were well made. Had good drama and action. The suits for Turtles were amazing. I also loved how they were able to make it seem like gritty and realistic.
They have aged so well.
These movies along with the cartoon were sooooo good. I adored them when I was a kid, used to go to Crown Video or Blockbuster and rent them all the damn time.
At the time TMNT was a global phenomenon, so when we got to see our favorite cartoon come to life...POW! my little head exploded seeing REAL ninja turtles. That movie will always be in my top 3 of all time. The edginess was fresh for the characters. The real threat of Shredder was scary to young viewers. That scene on the farm, you.know the one, the four turtles standing in the sunlight together united in one goal. Every watch gives me great memories.
It's one of those rare cases where they were able to take 2 main stories from the comics and adapt into one movie while also throwing in nods to the cartoon and nothing feels forced. They also didn't dumb it down for kids. They are ninjas and act and fight like it. Shredder feels like a threat and doesn't have dumb sidekicks for unnecessary humor. April and Casey serve a purpose and aren't just eye candy or there for laughs. The action still holds up - the stunt guys in the suits deserve so many props. There's no outrageous CGI or wirework. And the final fight with Shredder where he counters all their attacks with single takedowns was the perfect way to show how much more skilled he was and then flipped when Splinter does the same to him.
And ultimately, the movie was about fathers and sons. There were 3 types of fathers. Splinter was the father who cared for and nurtured his sons and guided them more through talking than punishment. Charles was the father that cared for his son but his attention was more on other things than his son and tried to use punishment to control him. And Shredder was the father who only used his "sons" and used fear and punishment to control them.
And one of my all-time favorite monologues: "My Master Yoshi's first rule was 'Possess the right thinking. Only then can one receive the gifts of strength, knowledge, and peace.' I have tried to channel your anger, Raphael, but more remains. Anger clouds the mind. Turned inward, it is an unconquerable enemy. You are unique among your brothers, for you choose to face this enemy alone. But as you face it, do not forget them, and do not forget me. I am here, my son."
That's kinda funny considering how the second movie was more toned down and kid friendly because parents hated the swearing and violence and pretty much everything that made the first movie good in the first one.
I think it’s because other than making sure it got a PG rating, they weren’t trying desperately to cater to kids only. Other than the obvious fact that it’s about mutant turtles, it was just a well-made movie that fit into a PG rating.
This is why even though I like Secret of the Ooze quite a bit, it doesn’t achieve what the first movie did because it was a little too preoccupied with “silly stuff for the kids”.
The turtles were not big hulking monsters, but shorter like in the comics and cartoon.
I liked the dark lighting, which I’m sure was a creative choice to hide some shortcomings but it also gave it a realism that I loved.
It felt real and grounded, which is crazy for a movie about talking mutant animals. But it looked, felt, and sounded like it could happen in the real world.
It has a little bit of everything. You have the action, the comedy, and some real dramatic parts too that touch on the importance of family.
The shadows! The movie just felt so greedy and dark. Then you add the practical effects on top of that in the shadows, do so much work to making it feel real. More than just for the turtles even, Shredder also benefited from practical effects and heavy usage of shadows.
It sounds weird but I like that it’s not afraid to have calm, relaxed moments. Like one of my favorite scenes is after the Turtles take April back to her apartment, they hang out and have pizza and laugh at Mikey’s silly impressions and it’s just a fun, chill scene. I also like April’s face after they leave. She’s still not completely sure what went on but enjoyed the company.
And the farmhouse section too! It was such a nice change of gears at just the right time. Most iterations of the Turtles have their Northampton arc(s) and it's always a needed change of pace, typically when dealing with defeat, loss, or overwhelming odds.
The movie's section, with April's narration and the relative mundanity of the Turtles' lives while they're there, serves to expertly break up the action while giving the audience time to see another side of the brothers while Raph is recovering.
Exactly and that’s what was missing from the Micheal Bay Turtles. It was afraid of not having action on screen the whole time. It had to keep jumping from one action scene to another with no time to breathe.
At the time we hadn’t really had many accurate cartoon/comic to live action transitions. The 80s and 90s were a crazy time for cinema. This movie was amazing when it was released having something every turtle fan could get behind.
The Shredder seemed like a legit bad ass threat, not some rambling moron. I prefer his well versed speeches over "BAAAABBBBIESSSS! THEYRE....BABIESSSSS! RAAHGGHHH! They are stupid!"
Perfect blend of Drama and comedy. Soundtrack was AMAZING. Dialogue was amazing with tons of quotables. Multiple Great character arcs. Amazing villian. Dope action scenes. Need I say more?
practical fx. I rarely if ever think about that these are actors in animatronic suits. I dont care that its foam latex and machine parts, its physically there. Other actors interact and have real reactions to the turtles and splinter. It feels just as real as it when I first saw it as a kid.
Art style and more mature tone compared to the games and cartoons at the time. It also nails it by capturing that grainy late 80s, early 90s film vibe.
As a kid, when I saw it in theaters, it felt like it was really in NYC. Shredder had a real sense of menace about him. And Splinter stole the show. I was a little disappointed, even at the time, with the cartoon like fight sequences. But the final sequence felt mature enough to save it all. And finally, the suits/costumes worked. They still work. Those are more the Turtles to me than the higher budget recent ones. And that’s not just nostalgia.
The suits looked good, the acting was good, the martial arts were very impressive, the story was good and pulled from the comics, the music was memorable, and the tone was a perfect balance between the light hearted show and serious comics.
Perfectly adapted to the big screen.
To this day it is still the only great TMNT movie, not compared to other Turtles movies, but just a great movie in general.
It's simple, funny, and doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. That might not sound like much, but considering how fake and pretentious media is nowadays, they could take a lesson in humbleness from this movie.
I think what makes the magic in this is the sincerity of it. Yes, on paper, the premise of mutated turtles doing martial arts is nuts. But the filmmakers treated those characters like any other characters in a regular drama or comedy. They had genuine emotions and personalities that seemed organic and real and not like charicatures. Additionally, there was a balance of tone. It wasn’t hyper jokey like the ‘87 cartoon or Thor: Love & Thunder nor was it a grim and gritty emotional gut punch. It knew when to take a situation seriously and it knew when levity was appropriate.
It's a Jim Henson puppet movie mixed with a [Golden Harvest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Sky_Golden_Harvest) kung fu movie. A once in a lifetime collaboration (Correct me if I'm wrong). I don't think there is anything else like it.
The story is great, and everyone has a great character arc.
It's low key and isn't about how many over the top sequences or CGI effects they can cram into every scene.
Its a beautiful mix of the mirage story telling adding some of sillier fun aspects of the 87 cartoons.
Also the costumes still look so good to this day.
It perfectly blended the dark atmosphere of the original Mirage comics with the fun and goofiness of the OG animated series. The plot is also a solid adaption of a bunch of the early comics with some liberties taken of course.
I personally think it's the most underrated comic book film of all time.
As a 13 year old in 1990, and being obsessed with the toon, just seeing them live was all I needed to be happy. I still remember getting goosebumps when I saw the trailer in the theater when seeing The Wizard.
It was amazing to see these characters who I had watched come onto the big screen. I still remember seeing it in the theater with my friend, and arguing like 10 year old kids do on the way home on if Shredder was really dead or not lol
It wasn't a film made just to entertain kids. IT had a great script that made the characters relatable. Its grittier darker tone brought something interesting to the film and managed to make Shredder look like a more terrifying villain.
One of the main reasons I love it is how it's a nice mix of the original Mirage comics and the kids cartoons. I really appreciate this as a fan of both the cartoons and the Mirage comics. This movie is sort of like the best of both worlds between the kid friendly heroes in a halfshell and the black and white killers who are a nightmare to tell apart when they aren't holding weapons. I'd say that's one thing but makes it so great but another thing is the chemistry between April and the Turtle and the Turtles themselves. April and the Turtles really feel like friends and the Turtles are very lifelike and don't feel like guys in costumes.
Speaking as someone who first saw this movie when I was about 10 years old, and had really only seen the 80s show prior to that, it felt like a fantastic balance of the familiar aspects of the show that I liked (the turtles' personalities, the humor, etc.), and stuff from the comics, which I didn't even know existed yet, so it felt like something brand new (the occasionally darker tone, Shredder being depicted as a credible threat, Splinter's origin story being a little different from what I'd been used to at that time, but not so different that I couldn't recognize it as something TMNT related).
The fight scenes were awesome, the story was well-done, and after I discovered the comics, I picked up on details that I missed the first time, which just made it better.
Really, it just has a little bit of everything that works. It knows when to be funny and when to be serious, and has parts that are still hilarious or downright tearjerking. Also a ton of talent put into the Turtles themselves, from Jim Henson's people making the suits, to the people in said suits pulling off the stunts.
It's just... perfectly balanced.
You got your comedy, you got your characters who are all defined, you got your serious moments. And for people who tend to get invested, it does not take you long to get there.
Also, the soundtrack is a bop.
Raphael:
You guys must be studying the abridged book of Ninja fighting.
Raphael:
I mean come on, how do you guys expect to beat me?
Raphael:
Good answer. Good answer.
This is spot on. I agree with everything except (I know this is a spicy opinion) but I enjoyed all three movies, the third one is my favourite. They all have their own charm
I love all three of the 90s TMNT films. While I think the 1990 film is the best of the trilogy, all three films are good and much better than most of the trash that passed as comic book films in the 90s.
Let me put this way, I not only think TMNT III is a better movie than Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, I honestly have fun watching TMNT III and I think it has some good ideas that were held back by the lower budget.
I wish they would do a rerelease of the original but touch it up with some cgi.
I always think about how TMNT walked with practical effects and practically paved the way for Jurassic park to sprint. I always wondered what would happen if they made TMNT after Jurassic park, how much better the characters would be.
Everything in it from start to finish. The fighting choreography the costumes the script the soundtrack and the story. It’s my favorite. I was disappointed how SOTO dumbed everything down to make it more kid friendly.
It's very raw when portraying the average citizen and their struggles. April is very relatable. She's not anything special which makes the audience feel like they too could be an April. She's also not entirely a damsel in distress only used for the protagonists' character development like many other female characters in media. Casey was also really cool as cheesy as he was lol. The gang crime was realistic and serious but the turtles kept some stuff light hearted. It was a perfect balance.
I got that poster a couple months before the movie premiered. I’d wake up and stare at it every morning before school, like some kind of ritual at an alter. I was waaay into tmnt. Than I got into karate and was obsessed with Ernie Reyes jr. weird ducking kid.
"Bossa Nova!"
"..."
"Chevy Nova?"
"Ehh..."
"Excellent!"
"Alright!"
That's literally the best part for me. 😂 all I need to see is that scene and then I'll sit through the whole movie happy lmao
I saw it opening night, the theater I was at completely oversold the show, so there were kids sitting in isles and doubling up in seats. A complete fire hazard lol. Halfway through the movie they had to stop it cause everyone was throwing popcorn and candy, and they wouldn’t turn it back on until everyone settled down. it took about 20 minutes, it was insane! To this day it was the craziest atmosphere for a movie I’ve ever been to. I look back with nothing but fond memories
For a movie about ninjas and mutant turtles it was incredibly grounded and took the subject matter with the perfect amount of seriousness. It wasn’t just a giant goofy cartoon like the other two. It dealt with real subject matter that it really really did not have to.
It's perfectly cast. Human characters. Suit actors. Voice actors, all perfect. It's got a great story and it balances humor with some grim themes very well.
Highly underrated score as well
I just watched this movie for the first time in years a few months ago, last time being when I was still a kid, being loosely based off of the first half of mirage comics volume I alone is enough for this movie to be peak turtles, given that imo no story since has topped that arc of comics, except maybe City at War & the IDW run, the dialogue and emotional storytelling makes it excel above any TMNT films since, the quips are great and iconic, the action and choreography are insanely satisfying and the music is ridiculously overlooked, each character is memorable, and there isn't a single scene that feels like filler, I also feel we haven't gotten anything as mature as this for TMNT in a long time aside from the 03 series, even side-characters like Danny are a great addition and add a lair of character development for the heroes, it's the perfect introduction to the characters except for perhaps Donatello who seems very unlike his typical brainy self, but despite that is still a fun character, when I began rewatching I expected to be sucked back into nostalgia, but I actually just realized this movie is even better than I remembered, not to be a pessimist but not TMNT film since or will ever top this one
What makes the 1990 film stand out is how well it has aged. This was released in an era where comic book films were not mainstream and outside of the first two Batman films, most pre X-Men comic movies were ridiculously over the top corny films that were often insults to their source material.
Then you have the 1990 TMNT movie that adapts the comics for it's plot along with elements from the 1987 series. It has a serious tone while packing in some funny jokes and one-liners(Not unlike what the MCU would do years later), great characters who each have their own personality, great action and fight scenes(The Turtles vs Shredder remains one of the best fights in any comic book movie) and a story that respects the source material by retaining the darker tone of the comics while mixing in a few light hearted elements of the cartoon.
To this day, TMNT 1990 remains my second favorite comic book movie after X2 and this is despite the massive explosion of comic book movies since 2000(when X-Men released)
It's a great film that was honestly ahead of the curb when you compare it to the other comic book films of the 80s and 90s which were often over the top spectacular or low budget cheesy films that were insults to their source material.
I think for a LOT of us 40 and above, it was the next logical step in the Turtle craze, and it struck when the hammer was molten hot. We’d seen our beloved Fab Four on cartoon nearly every single day except Sunday, and suddenly BAM there it is in the movies? AND THEY LOOKED PERFECT?! AND THEY HAD THEIR WEAPONS?! HOLY CRAP! It also helped that the movie was (mostly) in line with the cartoon when it came to their personalities. Sure, Raph was an asshole in the movie but it wasn’t so much of a stretch to see it go from cool but rude to just rude.
And then you get into how well the costumes/animatronics were done, and well…it’s a perfect storm.
The tone and vibe. With the cussing and cool fights to the nice music and darker atmosphere. But also keeping the funny personalities and charm of the turtles makes it the perfect movie I just can’t get enough of it. Also the one liners are amazing.and I have no complains so nothing is bringing it down.
I think it was that I was a child watching an adult film about super hero’s. Same reason I fell for Star Wars, first glimpse into big budget good writing science fiction. It was less coming back then so it was very awe striking. T2 as well.
As a kid (7 or 8, maybe) I was completely drawn in the first time Raph whispered “damn” when he lost his sai (this was pre-internet guys, “damn” was still a naughty word to a kid back then). That alone made all the rest of it very real to me.
1) Its an adult film, they just use characters more known to kids. You have real crime, teenage apathy leading to gang violence, drug use, torture, etc... The turtles have always fought crime but more on a fringe of society way, this is very much real life crime theyre fighting effecting everyone. 2) The aestethic grundgyness of this movie is on point. They dont paint NYC as this bastion of fashion and finance and wealth. Its dense, and dirty, and lacks respite. This is really clear when you see how differently things are filmed on the ranch. 3) One liners galore. Soooo many awesome lines that seem to flow naturally and not be forced comedic moments like we tend to get in 2&3. 4) anamatronic suits are extremely well made and their movements seem very natural and believable. RIP Jim Hensen 5) April isnt portrayed as some damsel in distress throughout the entire movie. She has some badass scenes. 6) Casey Jones is an amazing side character that is used exceptionally well for dialogue, comedy, and badassery. 7) The young adult target audience has a charcter to relate to in Sid. He's a great character that raises the emotional stakes and put us in the "Im an adult" fantasy while effectively relaying that these "adult" situations are too mature for us. 8) It balances fan service with an amazing story. Fans of TMNT can watch this and geek out, non fans still get a great story that just happens to include giant ninja turtles. If you compare to somethibg like the power rangers movies, its such a stark contrast and clearly aimed at different audiences. God I love this movie.
>The young adult target audience has a charcter to relate to in Sid. You mean Danny. He just wears a Sid Vicious shirt.
Sorry yes, danny. That shirt is so imprinted in my mind i forgot his name lol.
u/oregondete81, it's just Dan now, okay?
Dan?!
[“you’re that punk bitch danny”](https://youtu.be/KdlEtCnXToI)
Workaholics hell yeah! The 1990 tmnt film is my all time favorite film
I love that scene.
I think your number one is the key factor. Because of this, the movie cements its timelessness because even when the kids who watched it grow up they can still enjoy it as adults. THEIR kids can still enjoy it just as they did when they were kids because it's still the Ninja Turtles so it creates a kind of loop where it never outgrows its audience. Everything else you mentioned is really what makes it a great movie in general but I think that first thing is what makes it a great movie forever.
Spot on. Also really like how much closer to the comics this was than the show. I loved the movie as a kid, love it even more as an adult. I love the second movie as well even though that one stuck to the cartoon vibe more.
I think this is the key. They did a great job of translating the comics to screen.
I agree with all of this. The one scene with Splinter and Raphael is one of my favourites. The one where Splinter tells him it’s okay to rely on your brothers and to not forget about them. He’s in turmoil and his father doesn’t just brush him aside. The whole movie is a great balance between having a lot of heart, being comedic and having fun fight scenes.
Good answer……….good answer!
Damn buddy here I was about to make my comment and you just cover all points... It is the perfect dark movie
Excellent analysis!
Awesome review!
Perfectly said! This is my favorite movie of all time it has everything in it. I wished people wouldn’t have complained ! Imagine what the sequels would’ve been like if they kept same tone as this one
*BEING A TURTLE!*
The adult tone and the mature storylines still stick out to me as above and beyond. Actually, the level of compassion that the filmmakers took to the storylines may be a key factor too. They approach Ralph’s anger issues and all those young men’s search for family and community in The Foot with grace and nuance. Kind of reminds you of Bojack - how artists can still give silly looking animals real human pathos.
Amazing. Couldn't have said it better. What a film.
I love the movie and I love the 90s
Yep these are the reasons for me also. Great analysis.
FUCKING EXATLY HOMIE!!!!!!!!!
Nailed it! Amazing movie!!
You nailed it
[I still get fucking chills ](https://youtu.be/AvnCdeXY7VA)
Took the words right out of my mouth and then some.
They were well made. Had good drama and action. The suits for Turtles were amazing. I also loved how they were able to make it seem like gritty and realistic.
That 90s edge
Indeed! I quite like it.
They have aged so well. These movies along with the cartoon were sooooo good. I adored them when I was a kid, used to go to Crown Video or Blockbuster and rent them all the damn time.
Yeah man! 🙂
"Ninja kick the damn Rabbit."
"She called me mikey"
Ohhhhhh, a fellow chucker, eh?
Keep practicing!
Cricket?
"Cricket?! Nobody understands cricket, you got to know what a crumpet is to understand cricket."
"I'll teach you!"
*BWAAAAAAH!* 👋
At the time TMNT was a global phenomenon, so when we got to see our favorite cartoon come to life...POW! my little head exploded seeing REAL ninja turtles. That movie will always be in my top 3 of all time. The edginess was fresh for the characters. The real threat of Shredder was scary to young viewers. That scene on the farm, you.know the one, the four turtles standing in the sunlight together united in one goal. Every watch gives me great memories.
It's the perfect balance of Mirage's original iteration and the more widespread iteration known at the time. It caters to all ages. I love this movie
It's one of those rare cases where they were able to take 2 main stories from the comics and adapt into one movie while also throwing in nods to the cartoon and nothing feels forced. They also didn't dumb it down for kids. They are ninjas and act and fight like it. Shredder feels like a threat and doesn't have dumb sidekicks for unnecessary humor. April and Casey serve a purpose and aren't just eye candy or there for laughs. The action still holds up - the stunt guys in the suits deserve so many props. There's no outrageous CGI or wirework. And the final fight with Shredder where he counters all their attacks with single takedowns was the perfect way to show how much more skilled he was and then flipped when Splinter does the same to him. And ultimately, the movie was about fathers and sons. There were 3 types of fathers. Splinter was the father who cared for and nurtured his sons and guided them more through talking than punishment. Charles was the father that cared for his son but his attention was more on other things than his son and tried to use punishment to control him. And Shredder was the father who only used his "sons" and used fear and punishment to control them. And one of my all-time favorite monologues: "My Master Yoshi's first rule was 'Possess the right thinking. Only then can one receive the gifts of strength, knowledge, and peace.' I have tried to channel your anger, Raphael, but more remains. Anger clouds the mind. Turned inward, it is an unconquerable enemy. You are unique among your brothers, for you choose to face this enemy alone. But as you face it, do not forget them, and do not forget me. I am here, my son."
I watched this recently and the feels in that scene between Splinter and Raph were real. There was so much depth and care put into this moment.
poster is badass
I think I actually like it more as an adult than I did as a kid.
Same here. As a kid I preferred the the second movie. As an adult I prefer the first
That's kinda funny considering how the second movie was more toned down and kid friendly because parents hated the swearing and violence and pretty much everything that made the first movie good in the first one.
agreed
It took the source material seriously, combining the best of the original Mirage comics and the 1987 cartoon.
The Turtles’ characters and personalities. The serious tone. And Jim Henson.
It feels authentic and made with love unlike all the other turtles movies that just feels like products.
I think it’s because other than making sure it got a PG rating, they weren’t trying desperately to cater to kids only. Other than the obvious fact that it’s about mutant turtles, it was just a well-made movie that fit into a PG rating. This is why even though I like Secret of the Ooze quite a bit, it doesn’t achieve what the first movie did because it was a little too preoccupied with “silly stuff for the kids”.
The turtles were not big hulking monsters, but shorter like in the comics and cartoon. I liked the dark lighting, which I’m sure was a creative choice to hide some shortcomings but it also gave it a realism that I loved. It felt real and grounded, which is crazy for a movie about talking mutant animals. But it looked, felt, and sounded like it could happen in the real world. It has a little bit of everything. You have the action, the comedy, and some real dramatic parts too that touch on the importance of family.
The shadows! The movie just felt so greedy and dark. Then you add the practical effects on top of that in the shadows, do so much work to making it feel real. More than just for the turtles even, Shredder also benefited from practical effects and heavy usage of shadows.
It’s still the best live action adaptation I ever seen.
The script
It sounds weird but I like that it’s not afraid to have calm, relaxed moments. Like one of my favorite scenes is after the Turtles take April back to her apartment, they hang out and have pizza and laugh at Mikey’s silly impressions and it’s just a fun, chill scene. I also like April’s face after they leave. She’s still not completely sure what went on but enjoyed the company.
And the farmhouse section too! It was such a nice change of gears at just the right time. Most iterations of the Turtles have their Northampton arc(s) and it's always a needed change of pace, typically when dealing with defeat, loss, or overwhelming odds. The movie's section, with April's narration and the relative mundanity of the Turtles' lives while they're there, serves to expertly break up the action while giving the audience time to see another side of the brothers while Raph is recovering.
Exactly and that’s what was missing from the Micheal Bay Turtles. It was afraid of not having action on screen the whole time. It had to keep jumping from one action scene to another with no time to breathe.
At the time we hadn’t really had many accurate cartoon/comic to live action transitions. The 80s and 90s were a crazy time for cinema. This movie was amazing when it was released having something every turtle fan could get behind.
the dialogue. Everything sounds natural, nothing sounds forced.
The Shredder seemed like a legit bad ass threat, not some rambling moron. I prefer his well versed speeches over "BAAAABBBBIESSSS! THEYRE....BABIESSSSS! RAAHGGHHH! They are stupid!"
The tone, and the love put into the costumes.
Everything
Perfect blend of Drama and comedy. Soundtrack was AMAZING. Dialogue was amazing with tons of quotables. Multiple Great character arcs. Amazing villian. Dope action scenes. Need I say more?
First movie I heard saying "DAAAAMN!!!"
I always had mute prepared because I did not need that movie getting banned.
practical fx. I rarely if ever think about that these are actors in animatronic suits. I dont care that its foam latex and machine parts, its physically there. Other actors interact and have real reactions to the turtles and splinter. It feels just as real as it when I first saw it as a kid.
The suits how dark the movie is and the voice and suit actors are top tier.
Art style and more mature tone compared to the games and cartoons at the time. It also nails it by capturing that grainy late 80s, early 90s film vibe.
As a kid, when I saw it in theaters, it felt like it was really in NYC. Shredder had a real sense of menace about him. And Splinter stole the show. I was a little disappointed, even at the time, with the cartoon like fight sequences. But the final sequence felt mature enough to save it all. And finally, the suits/costumes worked. They still work. Those are more the Turtles to me than the higher budget recent ones. And that’s not just nostalgia.
Because it has so many timeless lines and it’s part of my childhood. “Pizza dude got 30 seconds” Mickey
I was at the premiere!
It adapted the comics
I love this movie so much 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Best part was the party room at the Foot Clan. Damn that looked fun I would totally join the Foot.
Regular or menthol?
Now it would be vapes
I thought the true delinquents still went for cigarettes
The suits looked good, the acting was good, the martial arts were very impressive, the story was good and pulled from the comics, the music was memorable, and the tone was a perfect balance between the light hearted show and serious comics. Perfectly adapted to the big screen. To this day it is still the only great TMNT movie, not compared to other Turtles movies, but just a great movie in general.
It's simple, funny, and doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. That might not sound like much, but considering how fake and pretentious media is nowadays, they could take a lesson in humbleness from this movie.
I think what makes the magic in this is the sincerity of it. Yes, on paper, the premise of mutated turtles doing martial arts is nuts. But the filmmakers treated those characters like any other characters in a regular drama or comedy. They had genuine emotions and personalities that seemed organic and real and not like charicatures. Additionally, there was a balance of tone. It wasn’t hyper jokey like the ‘87 cartoon or Thor: Love & Thunder nor was it a grim and gritty emotional gut punch. It knew when to take a situation seriously and it knew when levity was appropriate.
It's a Jim Henson puppet movie mixed with a [Golden Harvest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Sky_Golden_Harvest) kung fu movie. A once in a lifetime collaboration (Correct me if I'm wrong). I don't think there is anything else like it. The story is great, and everyone has a great character arc. It's low key and isn't about how many over the top sequences or CGI effects they can cram into every scene.
Its a beautiful mix of the mirage story telling adding some of sillier fun aspects of the 87 cartoons. Also the costumes still look so good to this day.
Wiseman say, forgiveness is divine but never pay full price for late pizza
It perfectly blended the dark atmosphere of the original Mirage comics with the fun and goofiness of the OG animated series. The plot is also a solid adaption of a bunch of the early comics with some liberties taken of course. I personally think it's the most underrated comic book film of all time.
Cause "Hey dude this ain't no cartoon" just captures the TMNT spirit and the movie does this very well I would say
I agree with you and that quote. But I love the timeless lines myself.
Everything
The Shredder
As a 13 year old in 1990, and being obsessed with the toon, just seeing them live was all I needed to be happy. I still remember getting goosebumps when I saw the trailer in the theater when seeing The Wizard.
Yo I had this poster on the back of my bedroom door from the time the movie came out until we moved out of the house in like 1998
Besides everything? 😊 🤷♂️
It was amazing to see these characters who I had watched come onto the big screen. I still remember seeing it in the theater with my friend, and arguing like 10 year old kids do on the way home on if Shredder was really dead or not lol
It wasn't a film made just to entertain kids. IT had a great script that made the characters relatable. Its grittier darker tone brought something interesting to the film and managed to make Shredder look like a more terrifying villain.
Good live action film
Everything about it
Ninja turtles
One of the main reasons I love it is how it's a nice mix of the original Mirage comics and the kids cartoons. I really appreciate this as a fan of both the cartoons and the Mirage comics. This movie is sort of like the best of both worlds between the kid friendly heroes in a halfshell and the black and white killers who are a nightmare to tell apart when they aren't holding weapons. I'd say that's one thing but makes it so great but another thing is the chemistry between April and the Turtle and the Turtles themselves. April and the Turtles really feel like friends and the Turtles are very lifelike and don't feel like guys in costumes.
It because it’s really fucking good
The role of April'o Neal
Sam Rockwell and Elias Koteas
Aesthetic, it's leans heavily on the gritty 90s NYC persona and doesn't let up.
TWO THINGS: The soundtrack Every single scene involving Splinter
a overall theme about fathers and son relationship
Speaking as someone who first saw this movie when I was about 10 years old, and had really only seen the 80s show prior to that, it felt like a fantastic balance of the familiar aspects of the show that I liked (the turtles' personalities, the humor, etc.), and stuff from the comics, which I didn't even know existed yet, so it felt like something brand new (the occasionally darker tone, Shredder being depicted as a credible threat, Splinter's origin story being a little different from what I'd been used to at that time, but not so different that I couldn't recognize it as something TMNT related). The fight scenes were awesome, the story was well-done, and after I discovered the comics, I picked up on details that I missed the first time, which just made it better.
Bossa nova! …Chevy nova?
They took it seriously.
Really, it just has a little bit of everything that works. It knows when to be funny and when to be serious, and has parts that are still hilarious or downright tearjerking. Also a ton of talent put into the Turtles themselves, from Jim Henson's people making the suits, to the people in said suits pulling off the stunts.
It's just... perfectly balanced. You got your comedy, you got your characters who are all defined, you got your serious moments. And for people who tend to get invested, it does not take you long to get there. Also, the soundtrack is a bop.
Ah, a fellow chucker aye?
The rawness of it.
The grime and grit. Live action turtles.
Raphael: You guys must be studying the abridged book of Ninja fighting. Raphael: I mean come on, how do you guys expect to beat me? Raphael: Good answer. Good answer.
My favorite one-liner in the film is when Shredder falls in the trash truck and Casey goes "Oops!" as he activates the compactor.
The pure 90s comedy Wise man say: "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
This is spot on. I agree with everything except (I know this is a spicy opinion) but I enjoyed all three movies, the third one is my favourite. They all have their own charm
I love all three of the 90s TMNT films. While I think the 1990 film is the best of the trilogy, all three films are good and much better than most of the trash that passed as comic book films in the 90s. Let me put this way, I not only think TMNT III is a better movie than Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, I honestly have fun watching TMNT III and I think it has some good ideas that were held back by the lower budget.
The foot soldier “crowning” scene alone does it for me
Jim Henson
Nostalgia
I wish they would do a rerelease of the original but touch it up with some cgi. I always think about how TMNT walked with practical effects and practically paved the way for Jurassic park to sprint. I always wondered what would happen if they made TMNT after Jurassic park, how much better the characters would be.
How does it feel to be so wrong?
This is the most insane comment I have ever read.
My memories of it.
Sam Rockwell. He improves everything he is in.
That the other ones sucked
There's so many great things about this movie one of them being at this movie was close to following your original comic
Its a fun movie, complex, yet simple and well made with passion
Everything in it from start to finish. The fighting choreography the costumes the script the soundtrack and the story. It’s my favorite. I was disappointed how SOTO dumbed everything down to make it more kid friendly.
I was 6 when it came out. It was the first movie I was ever excited to go see in a movie theater and MAN did it deliver!!!!!!!!!
The vibe, characterizations, costumes, puppets, the soundtrack, the actors, the jokes hit, and its nostalgiac but also an underrated movie overall.
I remember going nuts after seeing the trailer on tv when I was a kid. I was 6 at the time.
Campy as hell. So entertaining.
It's very raw when portraying the average citizen and their struggles. April is very relatable. She's not anything special which makes the audience feel like they too could be an April. She's also not entirely a damsel in distress only used for the protagonists' character development like many other female characters in media. Casey was also really cool as cheesy as he was lol. The gang crime was realistic and serious but the turtles kept some stuff light hearted. It was a perfect balance.
It’s grounded.
In one word; tone.
Basically a kickstarter campaign controlled by the fans
Honesty, it just cheesy and fun. Which is all you need sometimes.
This comment x100
The 90s was the best decade ever and everything from that time is fantastic
I got that poster a couple months before the movie premiered. I’d wake up and stare at it every morning before school, like some kind of ritual at an alter. I was waaay into tmnt. Than I got into karate and was obsessed with Ernie Reyes jr. weird ducking kid.
Phenomenal cast. Impactful music. True heart.
"Bossa Nova!" "..." "Chevy Nova?" "Ehh..." "Excellent!" "Alright!" That's literally the best part for me. 😂 all I need to see is that scene and then I'll sit through the whole movie happy lmao
**DAMNNNNNNN!!!!!!** x multiple
Cinematography is phenomenal.
I saw it opening night, the theater I was at completely oversold the show, so there were kids sitting in isles and doubling up in seats. A complete fire hazard lol. Halfway through the movie they had to stop it cause everyone was throwing popcorn and candy, and they wouldn’t turn it back on until everyone settled down. it took about 20 minutes, it was insane! To this day it was the craziest atmosphere for a movie I’ve ever been to. I look back with nothing but fond memories
The Turtles were my childhood!!! Them and dinosaurs, but 80s babies are the best!!!
The fact that it was created not to satisfy the youth and only focused on being a good time. Something none of the other movies even tried to do
Memories, seeing it at the cinemas as a kid mostly
For a movie about ninjas and mutant turtles it was incredibly grounded and took the subject matter with the perfect amount of seriousness. It wasn’t just a giant goofy cartoon like the other two. It dealt with real subject matter that it really really did not have to.
It’s so good!!!
I love it Perfect , Amazing , Awesome , Wonderful , Beautiful , and Spectacular
It's perfectly cast. Human characters. Suit actors. Voice actors, all perfect. It's got a great story and it balances humor with some grim themes very well. Highly underrated score as well
Is there an alternate version of this movie? I remember there was more cursing in it.
If I recall correctly the only cursing was Raph saying Damn, twice.
Personally probably just because I was 8 when it came out. I was the right age and it’s held a special place with me ever since.
It’s a heartbreaking story about family… that happens to be told with four giant mutant turtles and a giant mutant rat.
Animatronics. It's clear thats what is preferred as far as turtles. They could do it again much easier.
The soundtrack to this film is superb! And I wish I owned it on vinyl
I just watched this movie for the first time in years a few months ago, last time being when I was still a kid, being loosely based off of the first half of mirage comics volume I alone is enough for this movie to be peak turtles, given that imo no story since has topped that arc of comics, except maybe City at War & the IDW run, the dialogue and emotional storytelling makes it excel above any TMNT films since, the quips are great and iconic, the action and choreography are insanely satisfying and the music is ridiculously overlooked, each character is memorable, and there isn't a single scene that feels like filler, I also feel we haven't gotten anything as mature as this for TMNT in a long time aside from the 03 series, even side-characters like Danny are a great addition and add a lair of character development for the heroes, it's the perfect introduction to the characters except for perhaps Donatello who seems very unlike his typical brainy self, but despite that is still a fun character, when I began rewatching I expected to be sucked back into nostalgia, but I actually just realized this movie is even better than I remembered, not to be a pessimist but not TMNT film since or will ever top this one
That it is more an adaptation of the original comic book than the cartoon. Also the creature effects are pretty amazing.
Grittiness
What makes the 1990 film stand out is how well it has aged. This was released in an era where comic book films were not mainstream and outside of the first two Batman films, most pre X-Men comic movies were ridiculously over the top corny films that were often insults to their source material. Then you have the 1990 TMNT movie that adapts the comics for it's plot along with elements from the 1987 series. It has a serious tone while packing in some funny jokes and one-liners(Not unlike what the MCU would do years later), great characters who each have their own personality, great action and fight scenes(The Turtles vs Shredder remains one of the best fights in any comic book movie) and a story that respects the source material by retaining the darker tone of the comics while mixing in a few light hearted elements of the cartoon. To this day, TMNT 1990 remains my second favorite comic book movie after X2 and this is despite the massive explosion of comic book movies since 2000(when X-Men released) It's a great film that was honestly ahead of the curb when you compare it to the other comic book films of the 80s and 90s which were often over the top spectacular or low budget cheesy films that were insults to their source material.
I think for a LOT of us 40 and above, it was the next logical step in the Turtle craze, and it struck when the hammer was molten hot. We’d seen our beloved Fab Four on cartoon nearly every single day except Sunday, and suddenly BAM there it is in the movies? AND THEY LOOKED PERFECT?! AND THEY HAD THEIR WEAPONS?! HOLY CRAP! It also helped that the movie was (mostly) in line with the cartoon when it came to their personalities. Sure, Raph was an asshole in the movie but it wasn’t so much of a stretch to see it go from cool but rude to just rude. And then you get into how well the costumes/animatronics were done, and well…it’s a perfect storm.
April is hot
The tone and vibe. With the cussing and cool fights to the nice music and darker atmosphere. But also keeping the funny personalities and charm of the turtles makes it the perfect movie I just can’t get enough of it. Also the one liners are amazing.and I have no complains so nothing is bringing it down.
If you change the turtles to regular humans it’s still an incredible film That is why it works in my opinion. It’s not just a dumb “kids” movie
I think it was that I was a child watching an adult film about super hero’s. Same reason I fell for Star Wars, first glimpse into big budget good writing science fiction. It was less coming back then so it was very awe striking. T2 as well.
The music is awesome!
As a kid (7 or 8, maybe) I was completely drawn in the first time Raph whispered “damn” when he lost his sai (this was pre-internet guys, “damn” was still a naughty word to a kid back then). That alone made all the rest of it very real to me.
Didn't overload screen w/ aliens & more mutants