TMNT

TMNT
Screened TMNT last night.

We learn our favorite Turtles have defeated Shredder and in an effort to become an even better leader, Master Splinter has sent eldest son Leondaro on a sort of sabatical in Central America. During his year long absense, the others are at their wits end at trying to stay occupied. Donatello takes a job as a 24/7 computer help programer, Michaelangelo has taken a job as Cowabunga Carl, making appearances in a cartoonish turtle suit at birthday parties, and Raphael, well he sleeps all day, but at night becomes the Ghost Rider/Batman-esque Nightwatcher, catching the bad guys on his own - he states that even though Leo and their team took a break, the criminals did not.

Leo eventually makes his return after being found by April O'Neil, and while most are pleased to see him, Raphael still has a chip on his shoulder and makes it almost impossible for Leo continue to lead them.

In the meanwhile, we learn of an ancient prophecy that is about to become real with an immortal warrior and his 4 generals that were turned to stone after he opened a portal to other dimensions 3000 years ago, unleashing 13 monsters on the earth. the time has come for the portal to open again, but this time, the warrior enlists the help of the Foot with new clan leader Karai.

The end gives way to a sequel.

The CGI animation is pretty cool and very video game-esque.

The love connection between April and Casey Jones is completely obvious. April is now more of a history curator rather than a reporter in a yellow jumpsuit and actually gets involved in the action rather than being the damsel in distress like she was in the original series. She's also voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar which drove me nuts the whole time.

Casey Jones is portayed as a more surfer Kenau Reeves type slacker who uses baseball bats - we only see him use his signature hockey stick at the end.

The rest of the turtles seem right on though and the Foot clan looks really cool too! There's also plenty of funny Mikey jokes as well.

If ya grew up with the original cartoon series and movies, you'll think this adaption is just ok, nothing great, but not bad either. It just doesn't feel the same. The beginning sequence about the prophecy reminds ya of 300 which opened 2 weeks ago.

Laurence Fisbourne narrates, Patrick Stewart and the late Mako lend their voices, and Kevin Smith makes a cameo as a scared diner owner. The Gym Class Heroes provide the end credit song "Shell Shocked"

and for those wondering, it's called TMNT because this one was done by Warner Bros, wheras the first 3 films, listed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, was done by New Line Cinema.