When I received these tickets in the mail, I knew straight away who in my family would want to come along to see this film with me, my youngest teenage daughter MacKenzie. Like me, MacKenzie loves to go to the movies and see as many new release films as she can fit into her hectic schedule. So when I asked her if she wanted to go to see the film she jumped at the chance.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, is the second installment of this film franchise, with the usual characters returning, the four turtles, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, led by their rat sensei Splinter, Again these crime fighting superheroes are pitted against the evil Foot clan led by their infamous leader, the deadly Shredder (Brian Tee, The Wolverine).
In this story, the Foot clan break Shredder out of gaol during a prison transfer, in doing this they also release two other prisoners, Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams, The Internship) and Rocksteady (Stephen Farrelly, better known as WWF wrestler Seamus O’Shaunessy) who end up joining as Shredder’s henchmen. Whilst this is occurring investigative reporter April O’Neil played by Megan Fox (Transformers), is trying to unravel what the evil scientific genius Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry) is up to. During an altercation at Baxter Stockman’s laboratory O’Neil steals a serum and during her escape runs into Stephen Amell (Arrow) who plays prison guard Casey Jones, who also happened to be the driver of the prison transport vehicle that Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady escaped from. Casey Jones helps April and the teen-aged turtles to bring the Foot clan down once again.
Full of action with well composed animated sequences, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, is a visual treat. My daughter loved it, especially the well-timed comedic lines that super cool Michelangelo delivers. In my opinion, I believe that this film can be reviewed from two aspects, a teenagers point of view and an adults point of view. After speaking with my daughter, she loved how the movie’s action sequences flowed well. Therefore, children and teenagers won’t become bored with the rehashed story line. Yet, it’s not about that for children, it’s about the fact that teenagers can do anything if they put their minds to it….they can save the world from evil doers. They don’t have to be teenage mutant ninja turtles to do it, so that is a good message that these characters gives to our children.
From my point of view, there is a lot to like about the special effects, animated constructed scenes and development of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles concept, as these turtles have been around since 1984. The addition of Bebop and Rocksteady was also an additional walk down memory lane, but the story line is the same! The turtles, trying to beat the Foot clan without the rest of the world knowing about them, and still being cool teenagers in the process. The characters and the background stories are pretty shallow, there is some push back between the turtle brothers, showing that character relationships and brotherly competitiveness, but the rest of the characters stories are really just peripheral to their involvement in this film.
So, if you are contemplating going to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, and are teenagers yourselves, go your hardest, you’ll really enjoy it. Same goes if you have a young family, the wide-eyed looks from your children, will make the movie worthwhile, because they will watch it with an open mind and fall in love with the turtles. Unfortunately, as an adult you will not be too fussed, if you see it or not. Don’t get me wrong, you will enjoy it, but you won’t be bragging to your friend’s and colleagues the next day.
Rating 1-10 ( 1 = very poor, 10 = excellent)
Cinematography & Animation = 8
Storyline = 4
Characters & Acting = 5
Setting & Costume Design = 8
Overall = 6
