Siskel & Ebert Review - I Love You to Death, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Cry-Baby

[@geronimus-prime]

A curious cry-from-the-heart from Siskel: _"Why have kids be reminded of the world in which they spend all of their days?"_ What is it about ninja turtles that so delights kids? The original drawing by Eastman and Laird played on the simple absurdity of a tiny, timid creature becoming physically formidable and powerful. And becoming (suddenly) physically formidable is exactly the fantasy that our culture inculcates into all young boys from an early age. The rest is whimsy. However, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were never well-served by their mania. The comic book ran out of steam when the toy company seduced the creators. After an initial five brilliantly witty episodes, the cartoon show became the most formulaic crap imaginable.The first film was wonderful yet flawed, being a shade too gritty and pedestrian, with its vacuous, earthbound villains not really delivering on the sci-fi fun factor of the cartoon show, nor on the samurai mysticism angle either. The second film amped up the fun and mystery, but its villains turned out to be even more bleak and uninspired. Plus there was no fight-to-the-finish with the turtles' greatest nemesis: Vanilla Ice.

[@pvthitch]

The Turtle comics were in Black & White. The only way you could tell them apart was their weapons.

[@lowbridge7070]

Not mentioned in the review of I Love You To Death is the fact that it was based on a true story. In 1983, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Frances Toto discovered her pizzeria owning husband, Anthony, was cheating on her. So she made several attempts to have him killed. None of which succeeded. At the time the movie came out in 1990, Anthony was 44 and Frances was 45. They both saw the movie and were delighted by it.

[@alonealien1474]

2:34 Ebert actually does mention that it is base on a true story.

[@hawks7775]

I really loved this movie ....the humor was over their heads

[@thrillhousecycling7260]

Thanks so much for uploading these! Simply awesome!

[@takerdust]

7:10 Ebert is a gamer confirmed

[@MalnourishedGoat]

Ebert was much more forgiving of the Turtle film in his newspaper review rewarding it 2 1/2 stars and bouts of praise. Maybe he was embarrassed to proclaim its good qualities in front of Siskel.

[@footofjuniper8212]

I couldn't tell by their reviews (until the end) whether they were recommending I Love You to Death. Personally, I think it's hilarious.

[@terrygracy8345]

Keanu and hurt steal the show. It is a good movie.

[@williamshaw9047]

"I was also interested in the high level of your criticism when you pointed out that these turtles only pay lip service to ninja teachings. I suppose you would have liked it better if it had been a more devout and religious film." Roger being a dick

[@RagaDagga]

We weren’t “brain warshed”. We were kids who had watched the cartoon, played the video game, and we fucking loved the movie! (And we loved pizza too) worst review ever 🙄

[@richardenglish2195]

Hmm.

[@alonealien1474]

'Warshed'?

[@moviola12]

Is it just me or did Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles One look so dark and dreary? The sequel wasn’t great, but at least it was brighter.

[@JanetStarChild]

By far, the sequel is the better 'kids movie'. The first one tried to have its cake and eat it too by being both a gritty adaptation of the comic books _and_ a live-action projection of the cartoon. Furthermore, I just want to add that I laughed so hard at the biting critique by these two 'dinosaurs' because they're absolutely correct; and only in my advance years now could I see the ridiculousness of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (though I still love it).

[@moviola12]

@@JanetStarChild F*** yeah

[@evilsWa]

@@JanetStarChild only in your advanced years could you see the ridiculousness of a kids movie? Wow. You are so intellectual.

[@JanetStarChild]

@@evilsWa Hey, wiseass, I said that as a comparison to my childhood impressions of the movies (of which were obviously premature and shallow).

[@marciabrady1232]

Love you Chris