The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie (1990) deserves to be remembered because to this day it is still very good.
In the 80s, the Ninja Turtles comics became very popular, which is why they started their own franchise, with action figures, animated series, video games and this always leads to movies. So in 1990 they released the film directed by Steve Barron, which with an approximate budget of 13 million, came to collect more than 201 million worldwide.
So now the time has come to honor this film that deserves a second viewing. Because many young people can learn valuable lessons from not being carried away by the easy life or crime. While they watch fun fight choreographies starring the Ninja Turtles.
Ninja Turtles curiosities.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costumes were designed by Jim Henson, famous for his creations in movies like The Muppets. Each suit weighed around 23 kilos and a team of people was needed to operate the moving parts. The voices of the Turtles were provided by specialized voice actors. However, contrary to what one might think, the actors were not inside the suits while they were making the voice recordings. Instead, the voices were recorded separately and then synchronized with the movements. The casting process to play the Turtles was a challenging task. They sought to find actors with martial arts skills who could bring the characters to life both physically and vocally. The actors finally cast were Judith Hoag as April O’Neil, Elias Koteas as Casey Jones, Josh Pais as the voice of Raphael, David Forman as Leonardo, Brian Tochi as the voice of Leonardo, Leif Tilden as Donatello, Corey Feldman as the voice of Donatello, Michelan Sisti as Michaelangelo, Robbie Rist as the voice of Michaelangelo, Kevin Clash as the voice of Splinter, James Saito as The Shredder, and David McCharen as the voice of The Shredder. The fight scenes in the film were choreographed by Pat E. Johnson, an expert in martial arts who also worked on the Karate Kid franchise. Johnson made sure that the Turtles performed impressive and realistic movements in the action scenes. Actor James Saito, who played the villainous Shredder, spent several hours each day in the makeup chair to achieve the character’s signature look. The elaborate makeup included meticulous details and prosthetics to achieve the Shredder’s menacing appearance. The film was originally titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in English. However, for its international release, the title was shortened to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This was due to the fact that in some countries, the term ‘mutant’ (mutant) had negative connotations, so it was decided to eliminate it.Kevin Clash, the famous puppeteer and voice of Elmo in Sesame Street, made a cameo in the film playing the character of Splinter in some scenes where his manipulation and movement were required. The iconic Cowabunga phrase from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, made famous in comics and cartoons, was first used in the 1990 film. Since then, it has become a characteristic battle cry of the characters. The movie “Ninja Turtles” was a huge box office success, grossing more than 200 million dollars worldwide. This led to the creation of a long-lasting film franchise and the release of numerous sequels and spin-offs over the years. It was director Steve Barron who pushed for the film to have a dark and gritty tone. The executives were very concerned, as they thought it would be too dark and would not appeal to children. Because of that, the sequel changed the tone, but was much less successful.
What is the movie about?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles begins in the dark sewers of New York City, where four young mutant turtles and their master, a rat named Splinter, are hiding from the outside world. The turtles, named Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo, have been trained in martial arts and have taken the names of famous Renaissance artists.
Meanwhile, in the city, a criminal gang known as The Foot Clan, led by the sinister Shredder, terrorizes the inhabitants. The turtles, concerned about the increase in crime, decide to confront the Foot Clan and protect the city. During one of their missions, the turtles meet reporter April O’Neil, who becomes an ally and friend.
When the Foot Clan discovers its existence, they make a counterattack, where Rapahel is badly injured and Master Splinter is kidnapped. So, after a strategic retreat and thanks to the help of a vigilante named Casey Jones, they manage to defeat the Shredder and save Splinter.
The film concludes with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles celebrating their victory and reaffirming their commitment to protect New York City from evil. Furthermore, they vow to remain in the shadows, hidden from the outside world, as silent guardians.
Ninja Turtles
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