Plot: What’s it about?
At one time, the streets were safe and criminals had fear in their hearts, as a quartet of heroes known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were on patrol. Now however, the group has splintered with Leonardo honing his skills in the remote jungles of South America, while Michelangelo uses his comedic skills to entertain children at parties. Raphael has continued the crime fighting, this time under a mask known as Night Watcher, while Donatello has settled into a normal job, helping people solve their computer related problems. A reunion seems improbable, but when a wealthy and maniacal man named Max Winters plots to unleash ancient monsters on the world, the time seems right. But can April O’Neil convince the turtles of Winters’ devious intentions and if so, can they shake off the rust and save the world one more time?
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back, but not in live action like previous films or traditional animation as in the television shows. This time around, the turtles are computer generated and while this isn’t labeled as a sequel to the live action films, TMNT does seem like the next installment. I want to say right off the top, the animation here is not up to Pixar or Dreamworks standards, but it is well done and still looks quite cool. The animated platform suits the material, as it allows more freedom in visuals and in action, so the choice was a wise one. The story is passable, but relies on the characters being familiar to the audience, which means there’s a lot going on and the plot is sometimes rushed. As a standlone, the story is lacking, but if you know the characters, the plot works much better. I think TMNT is a fun movie and while the story is a little rough around the edges, the entertainment value is there, so I am able to give this a solid recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
TMNT is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full frame version also included. As expected, this transfer is top notch and allows the visuals to shine. The image is crisp and clear, with impressive detail and no source issues whatsoever. The animation is unhindered, so the fun visuals really come to life and bring you into the movie’s world. The colors aren’t quite as bold as you might expect, but this was true of theatrical showings also, so no fault of this transfer. The colors do look bright, but aren’t as comic book vibrant as I had anticipated. I really like the visual approach of this movie, so I was thrilled to find this transfer was so good, but of course, I can’t wait to see TMNT in high definition.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not to be outdone, the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is impressive as well, with a loud and active presentation. The surrounds are put into overdrive, with a lot of presence and power, so your home theater will get some exercise. I was impressed by how deep the bass was also, not to mention how frequently it was used. Even with all this power however, vocals remain clear and are never lost in all the commotion. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Kevin Munroe provides his director’s comments, but he comes off as dull and unremarkable. He gives us a few worthwhile snippets of information, but his voice is hard to endure, so there is a trade-off here. Not the worst session I’ve ever heard, but not one I’d want to revisit. You can also view alternate opening and ending sequences, sure to please fans, as well as a selection of deleted scenes, presented in somewhat rough form. This disc also includes some brief cast and crew interviews, a storyboard to scene comparison, and Donny’s Digital Data files, which is quite brief.
