Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)

I was the original eighties kid who grew up on the Teenage Mutant Ninja (or 'Hero' as it was here in the UK) Turtles cartoon. Then the inevitable live action film was released in 1990 and, despite how bad it really was, I loved it. I stress again - I was a kid. 'Out of the Shadows' is the second instalment of the modern generation of Turtles films and I remember the outcry from us fanboys when the first one was released. Okay, so we had a point about the possibility of the turtles being evolved from aliens, but, overall, it was just how it wasn't representative of what we remembered. And we collectively hated it.Yeah, it was no masterpiece and there were definitely things in it I'd like to have seen, but didn't. But it wasn't terrible. And, bearing that in mind, I decided to watch its follow-up. And, unbelievably, I'm actually quite glad I did. No, I didn't love it - it wasn't really the Turtles that I remembered from my childhood, but suddenly I could see kids today absolutely loving it. In twenty or thirty years' time I can see them arguing with their own children about how whatever new 'update' to the franchise doesn't compare to Megan Fox's portrayal of April O'Neil. And they'll be right. And so will their kids.I could bang on about how there was too much CGI, or that the Turtles themselves looked hideous and scary compared to their loveable cartoon incarnations. Plus the film felt like just another addition to Michael Bay's ever-growing list of blockbusters with more explosions than narrative structure. Then there were the complete gaps in logic where you have to suspend your disbelief in order to get past the fact that, in this post 9/11 world, it's quite feasible to break into a New York police station as long as you have a baseball cap and a toolbox (and I guess looking like Megan Fox helps). Yes, it's fair to say that 'Out of the Shadows' is ripe for ripping apart. And yet it was actually still quite fun.I do hate the overuse of computer effects, but, if you're making a live action story about six foot turtles interacting with humans, what else are you supposed to do? Maybe it was because the cartoon was just so, er, cartoonish, that I enjoyed seeing a mutant pig and rhino - almost literally - butting heads with our pizza-loving heroes, plus there was Krang. And, if you don't know he's a kind of pink living brain who lives in the stomach of a robot in another dimension. He was a true joy to watch. My major criticism of him was that he wasn't in it for long enough and had to share stage with (the more obvious baddie) Shredder, who - again - had very little time to develop his character and only popped up here and there to look moody and evil.After watching the first (recent - 2014) incarnation of the turtles, I can only really remember an end battle on a rooftop. Whereas with 'Out of the Shadows' I can actually recall quite a lot of detail regarding the plot. Okay, so there wasn't much of a plot. Maybe I should state that I can remember quite a lot about the action sequences and pretty visuals, plus the banter between the four turtles was amusing enough to keep me entertained. And this is pure entertainment. Don't expect anything else. Just appreciate that boys today will probably love this film in the same way we loved the cartoon back in the late eighties (and we didn't even have Megan Fox at the helm!). I may even watch this one again one day. And it's definitely better than any of the recent Michael Bay 'Transformers' movies!

For boys and adult guys who grew up with Teenage Mutant Turtles

Now usually I don't like the remaking movies from old shows they all make me a little sad, the new MacGyver and Lethal Weapon series made me sick, 21 and 22 Jump Street, Miami Vice, Starsky and Hutch the Dukes of Hazard,... cartoons like Transformers and GIJoe all just bad, nothing like the series that made them big. But since my injury had be bench bound I had a lot of time, so I pushed play on this the first one was okayish but this one really surprised me well. As I watched I really had some nostalgic feelings, like the cartoons I loved and blended with some newer elements. The difference in the Turtles is good but they are who they are, even though M. Fox is not the best choice for acting but the looks are actually good enough, S. Ammells was a good Casey Jones... though would have liked a more roughed up look with semi long hair. Shredder, Krang even though his voice was meh were the characters they were supossed to be, just like Bebop and Rocksteady ok Stockman didn't use to be black but we live in a time where that is needed. So let him have it, the guy playing Vern was just like him.Story was decent enough with the Shredder escaping and thanks to him Bebop and Rocksteady, Shredder being recruted by Krang to bring the Technodrome to Earth, which was a nice spot on with the cartoon as well... Then letting Stockman transforming Bebop and Rocksteady as we know em. They are a little smarter in the movie, but thats no loss, Finding some pieces thoughout places and creating the portal to bring in the Technodrome, a final battle between the Turles and Krang and the happy ending.There were some Bay goofs againg going to Bumblebee being the main point, but this one was way better then the Power Rangers stupidity. There were some weak jokes, and the CGI was sometimes to much of it. But all in all I really had a good time watching this, and probably will watch it again.Final closing moment is though if Tirtles could do it why didn't GIJOE and the Transformers have the same satisfying felling at the end. I never liked the complete parts of the Transformers, the cars are their disguise. So why can't the Bots look more like the same... only to show off your CGI stuff. And GIJOE had just a more army felling than a special force, and their team was to small in both movies to give you the GIJOE feeling.

In this TMNT movie, the turtles seem to sleep walk through everything(to catch Shredder, fight out of the world aliens, jump from one plane to the other...) - which is what I didn't like and hence the lesser stars. And Donatello, the computer whiz of the lot, got a solution or a device for just about everything, even if it doesn't make sense how he accomplishes it. We have the same actors from the prequel, Megan Fox & Will Arnett but here they are like secondary characters in almost forgettable roles. Police officer Casey Johns, well essayed by Stephen Amell, gets a better role compared to the rest. The turtles are still an adorable lot and I think there's lot more humor in this movie but I looked forward to more kicks, hand chops or sword play from these guys like in the prequel. Anyway the movie is still watchable and an entertainment, also ably supported by other actors who don their characters well like Shredder(Brian Tee), nutty scientist Baxter(Tyler Perry), no-nonsense police chief Vincent(Laura Linney) or the sidekick villains Rocksteady(WWE wrestler Sheamus) & Bebop(Gary Williams). Verdict - miss the intensity & suspense of the 2014 movie but this is still a time pass, clean & fun entertainer.