Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem - Movie Review

The turtles learning everything from movies feels like a reflection on a generation that learns how to do everything from youtube.

The fight that continued cutting between the 4 turtles as they fought through different groups was so amazing. I couldn’t help but notice it was shot similar to a TMNT side scrolling game.

Raphael was always my favorite. That scene with Splinter talking to Raph in the sewer in the OG movie is awesome & a sweet father/son moment to this day. It hits even more as an adult.

I personally find the fact that they learned their martial arts/Ninjitsu from Splinter, there father essentially, far more relatable and engaging because it's like a family legacy being passed down to them (like a joke, a culture, a journal, a history, etc.). Something that even when he's gone, they'll always have and can never take away from, it also just happens to be something that's really fuckin awesome. And even if you don't relate to it, the fact that Splinter is their 'found family father' makes someone who doesn't have that kind of legacy or family really want it. Especially with the way he's played in the 1990 film.

If you haven't seen Batman vs. TMNT... don't sleep on it. It's perfectly balanced and respectful of both IPs, and it works WAY better than it has any right to.

“This film is 90 minutes long…lets give it credit for that alone.” PREACH

One thing that came to mind when Jeremy brought up how the turtles in this movie learned martial arts from movies. During the sequence, the turtles were just kinda given their weapons through a Price is Right curtain reveal. It would have been nice to see the turtles pick their iconic weapons or have some reason why splinter gave each turtle their weapons

Mikey. He is the pure embodiment of the Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass trope. He looks like he’s too silly to hold his own in a fight, but along with wirelding the hardest weapon to master (the nunchuck), but he’s also one of only a few TMNT characters to beat Leonardo in one-on-one combat: a short list that includes both Shredder AND Splinter

Raphael was always my favorite. In the first movie, after he tripped those two robbers, he opened up his trench coat and pointed to his sais like they were guns. As a kid, I thought that was hardcore lol

You can tell Jeremy is at that stage that he’s had enough of cheesy comedies and jokes in movies. Just look at his recent marvel and dc reviews.

They actually made them TEENAGERS, in the look, script, and acting... it was refreshing as hell to see them actually be teenagers for once.

No comments about the fantastic art style, music, authentic dialogue for kids the age.. finally entering the generation where the characters arent randomly referencing obscure things from the 60s or 80s and now more culturally relevant topics that aren't dated (ex. Random goat scream).

There's a reason why I kinda like the original animated version of their origins over the others, even over the original comics. Having Splinter be a mutated master of martial arts just makes the education of the turtles so much easier to explain and believe.

Your point about the Turtles not being taught martial arts is a critical point I feel. My kids, myself included wanted to learn martial arts, in part, because of the Turtles. One of the core fundamentals a martial arts class teaches is respect and restraint. This was a point that Master Splinter continued to drive home throughout his teachings, because while disciplined, they were still teenagers and learning is a lifetime experience.

TMNT 2003 is still the best mix of comedy and seriousness.

I’m a single dad raising two sons and I was abandoned as a baby by my mom and then later by my wife. My sons haven’t hit puberty, but I am both overprotective and try to equip them to deal with a world I feel is hostile or indifferent. All that being said, I weirdly connected with Splinter’s arc in the film.

I loved the original ninja turtles movies in the 90s even the third one when they went back in time

Being a 80’s baby I’m so glad I was around for the first TMNT feature film and nothing imo will ever surpass it

TMNT and I are literally the same age, both born in 1984. I have been a shell head my entire life. I say all of that to say this… I just walked out the theater with my 12 year old daughter who is also a TMNT fan (newer adaptations of course) and we both LOVED this movie. In fact for a Thursday matinee it was a decent crowd and ALL the kids were cheering when the credits hit. Of course some of the big changes in story and personality from the OG lore were jarring but I actually embrace the changes and enjoyed the new take on the IP. Also The soundtrack was 🔥.

The 2003 TMNT was the overall coolest. It had that seriousness, spiced with just enough humor and just the most evil Shredder.