I enjoyed the film, but I had to give it a 5/10.
The film tries to make the TMNT origin realistic and viable by drawing from the sci-fi film RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (sentient animals created in a lab), as well as THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (reporter’s family connection to genetic experiments, superhuman reptile-human hybrids). But in the end, they left out Hamato Yoshi and his connection to the Foot Clan, and without it the whole story is distinctly hampered and generic. The IDW comics went on a similar premise, but they managed to work in Hamato through the angle of reincarnation and mysticism and it’s worked out fairly well for that story.
Splinter and Shredder are the most affected by the lack of Hamato Yoshi. While they have received substantial upgrades – Splinter puts his rats’ strength/ability/tail to great use, and Shredder has an awesome suit of armor – they are simply a lab subject and a businessman trying to capture them for his own gain. There is no sense of vendetta or personal stake for either side, and TMNT at heart is a personal story of family - the loss of family and the fight to stay together against all odds.
Thankfully, the Turtles themselves are the best and most awesome thing about this film. Their personality is pretty much how they’ve always been: Leo the leader, Raph the rebel, Donnie the brains and Mikey the fun-loving joker. Their designs are a mix of previous incarnations (bandanas from 1987, physiques from 2012) and with new stuff (superhuman strength and agility, individual apparel) and while the blend is a bit overdone (Raph in a loincloth? Really?) it still fits the Turtles okay.
And thankfully the designs have now been toned down for the sequel and they look cleaner and leaner.
07/08/06... 786... the sentinel of Allah has arrived.
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