Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Surely everyone knows the Turtles origins. Quick recap: regular turtles touch a radioactive ooze that makes them bigger and smarter. And (in the movies) a rat that knows ninjitsu also touches the ooze. The rat, Splinter, then cares for the turtles and trains them to be ninjas. Splinter names the turtles after his favourite artists: Raphael, Michaelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo. The movie follows the turtles (along with human friends April O'Neil [Judith Hoag] and Casey Jones [Elias Koteas]) in their quest to rescue their captured master Splinter from a ninja called The Shredder and his Foot Clan.

My Father took me to the theatres to see this. I must have gotten too excited because I started to feel sick going in. I told my Father and he returned our tickets. Outside the mall, I told him I felt better and wanted to go back. He bought our tickets again. I made him do this two more times. If not for my Father's patience I would have missed a memorable experience at the movies.

Watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles now is difficult. Particularly because I remember all the parts I enjoyed so much as a child. When the turtles are introduced they stand in a circle and trade favourite adjectives. Leonardo: "Awesome!" Michaelangelo: "Righteous!" I also enjoyed later on when Michaelangelo screams "I love being a turtle!"

Ugh.


The human connection in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is unconventional. In most movies that deal with strange/fantastic settings or characters we have a human character who helps us navigate that world. The human character questions what they see just as the viewer would. Then once they accept the fantastic we do too. When Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles begins we see reporter April O'Neil. She is supposed to be that human link.

But kids identify more with the turtles.

Recently I did a survey on Twitter to see who everyone's turtle was. I assumed it was the common childhood favourite Michealangelo, but no one picked Mikey - most chose Raphael.

I remember Raph's wild anger in the movie striking me as a child. In one scene Casey Jones hits Raph into a trash can then runs away. Raphael chases Casey into the streets alone, screaming.

Splinter tells Raph:

"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."

In the movie Raphael is the vessel we are designed to identify with. One of the film's most memorable scenes is Raph uncoscious in the bathtub. April kneels beside the tub and dips her hand in the water and runs a dripping hand along his shell. Had Raph not stormed off alone he would not have been in that tub.

Amidst the pizza and adjectives these images and emotions came through.

In one scene Splinter tells a boy:

The path from inner-turmoil begins with a friendly ear.
My ear is open if you care to use it.

Danny: I don't think so.

Splinter: What is your name?

Danny: Danny.

Father: And have you no one to go to, Danny? No parent?

Danny: My dad couldn't care less about me.

Splinter: I doubt that is true.

Danny: Why?

Father: All fathers care for their sons.

I doubt it too. I may have forgotten Splinter's words, but that day my Father taught me that lesson. He re-purchased my ticket three times. And I know that his ear is always open.

This post part of a collaboration project between 2dreviews and 2guys1movie. Jim and Puneet have kindly allowed me to experience their "1 movie + 1 review a day" for one week. Over on my site I do an "Auto-Film-Biography" that follows the movies I watched as a kid that made me love movies. Thanks very much to Jim and Puneet for allowing me to continue that project here for a week as a guest writer!