Why The 90s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles HAD To Change

[@stonecold6521]

I still enjoy the first movie. Darker and grittier than any of it's counterparts. Shredder, Raphael and Splinter were great performances. Oh, and Casey Jones too. Great movie.

[@ranwolf7650]

The movie was actually fairly close to the original comic's story, though it was more lighthearted and Leonardo was the one that got beat up by the Foot

[@The_Blue_Otaku]

@@ranwolf7650 The other diffrences i seen between the first movie and the original comic by mirage are small things like April O'neil being a TV reporter insted of Baxter Stockman's lab assistant that found out his plans to rab banks with the mousers, Shredder wanting to kill Hamato Yoshi and his wife out of revenge for his older brother's death, Raphael and Casey Jones pauseing there fight in the park to stop a robbery then getting along while kicking some ass

[@YuKheThai]

That film is forever burned into my memory. I must have watched it a hundred times as a kid. I still quote Jones and Raph to this day.

[@stonecold6521]

@@YuKheThai When I was about 8 years old I wet my hair so I looked like Casey Jones. Ha. Confused my Mum. But yeah, same boat as you. I can remember every bit of music and every word spoken.

[@nsasupporter7557]

@@ranwolf7650 as a kid, I loved all 3 movies. But looking back on it as an adult now the first movie was the only good one

[@sachab-h2907]

I recently watched the first TMNT movie, gotta say impressed in how good it was. Impressive fight scenes, great characterisation, a unique comic style and not afraid to get dark and mature either. Definitely still holds up to this day.

[@funkss1]

Now there's a person with integrity

[@LadellTurner]

The best one.

[@num1Jaysta]

@wnc817 You thought the movie was cringe-worthy but not the cartoon?

[@tavorabrown3622]

Yes that's the movie I like not the one with Megan fox on it. I grew up to the first movie movie eventhough it released a decade ago.

[@AMPProf]

Good on set production is nuts in 4k

[@lazymorris5293]

Loved these movies as a kid, it’s how I got into the TMNT franchise. Although they dropped in quality with each movie, I still find value in all three of them!

[@Haywood-Jablomie]

It's like having sex with an ugly chick... it's not the best, but it's still enjoyable !!!

[@motelmicrowave]

I'm still wondering who were the turtles in the scrolls in the third one where they time travel

[@Haywood-Jablomie]

@@motelmicrowave They were these 4 turtles... The scroll had them in it because they were the ones who went back in time... Fun fact, Borderlands 2 has a Ninja Turtles mission

[@motelmicrowave]

@@Haywood-Jablomie so in when those turtles are older they travel even further back in time?

[@Haywood-Jablomie]

@@motelmicrowave Yeah, it's a bit of a plot screw up. There was an interview when one of the producers or writers said that they thought it would be a cool idea to have it look like the Ninja Turtles influenced the past, but then when you look at it from the perspective of the Japanese people already knowing about the kappa that looked like the Ninja Turtles, it kind of falls apart. so I know exactly what you mean, I think it was just a goof on the part of the writers or something.

[@jichaelmorgan3796]

The costumes and darker visual aesthetic stands the test of time amazingly well for a movie of that era

[@skycloud4802]

On movie anyway. The actual prop costumes have famously deteriorated quite spectacularly, and rather scarily. The turtles look like contorted zombies now funny enough.

[@greenhawk3796]

No, it didnt need to change. I grew up watching it and they were fantastic, i watch them nearly once a year and theyre still amazing and frankly i think stuff like this is needed in the industry. This should actually serve as a lesson for all studios. Dont pander, dont try to hit all demographics, stick to original source material, and sell it to the fans.

[@MikeFraley-w7k]

Yeppers

[@solamon77]

Exactly. Instead of listening to all the pearl clutchers out there, they should have been listening to their fanbase. The people spending money on your creations are the only people who matter.

[@BlottaMcTablets]

I totally get it, but the reality is that when I was a child, I MUCH preferred TMNT 2. It wasn't until I went back and watched them last year for the first time since childhood that I realized that the first film is literally a fucking masterpiece of cinema, and Secret Of The Ooze is absolute garbage. They were selling to kids, and making it kid friendly was a no brainer business decision at the time.

[@skadragon]

​@@BlottaMcTablets And yet it didnt make even half as much money as the first one.

[@BlottaMcTablets]

@@skadragon of course we know that now, but how were they supposed to predict that back then? Turtles toy sales were into the hundreds of millions and the cartoon was wildly popular. I mean, it's even in the name. Who thinks teenagers are cool? Not adults. Not teenagers. Kids. If the IP was ever meant to be marketed towards anything but kids, they went with the wrong name in the first place.

[@Ryan_Thompson_Guitarist]

They went wrong when they listened to parents who said the first one was too violent, even though it's extremely mild compared to most MCU movies now.

[@TalentCaldwell]

What’s mind boggling is that it seems they chose to listen to the small handful of outraged parents rather than the multi-millions of them that made it a hit film. I mean kids aren’t buying those VHS tapes.

[@36inc]

@@TalentCaldwell this has always been the way its been- for whatever reason people in executive positions listen to these minority outrage groups thinking theyre losing potential income- and then it ruins their next few projects and never learn that theyre hampering their own projects.

[@Blue-Apple-fc9eo]

@@36inc And guess what? even the parents complain again in the second movie because the ninja turtles are too “annoying” These parents don't know what they want.

[@ShaneJoshua1980]

This was violent for the 90s but it was cool.

[@TaylorPhase]

parents in the 90s were sensitive and outraged with anything. was easy to shelter kids before the internet. things are so much more extreme now. 90s parents would go crazy if they even saw the word WEED and would put it in the same group as crack or meth. they thought eminem was the antichrist and boycotted him because of his rap lyrics, which are nothing now lol

[@JaxBlade]

TMNT 1990 is honestly in my Top 10 favorite movies I love everything about that film and can rewatch it anytime. Secret of the ooze is more a nostalgic fun ride, with knockoff Bebop & Rocksteady and of course the Ninja Rap which me and friends will always get hype to just for old times sake lmao TMNT 3 tho, oof

[@gamedrop3262]

Ok i agree with everything except for your opinion on the 3rd film. I grew up binging that movie. The setting was so epic. . .the staff was an awesome idea and spoke to my imagination as a kid. I think i also related to that kid they were friends with in the village.

[@YouCallThataKnife253]

Bro, same feelings with TMNT 1990. Literally the first film I ever saw in the theatre, and it still holds up today

[@laxative_goofy]

me too i watched it 10 times

[@laxative_goofy]

am i the only one who hates tmnt 4 more than 3

[@I_Am_The_Social_Reject]

@@gamedrop3262 3 was great. Only movie I didn't like was 1. Bored me

[@wardsteel8884]

I still enjoy the movies and the practical effects of them. Would love to see these kinds of effects make a return in films instead of straight CGI all the time.

[@therealCrazyJake]

Just digitally remove the faces from the inside of the mouth! XD

[@realityshifter3399]

It can be both CGI and practical, it doesn't have to be either/or.

[@Blue-Apple-fc9eo]

@@realityshifter3399 Or why not use CGI on comic book accuracy in suits?

[@ZimmZutinZayai]

Practical effects aren't always practical, nor are they superior.

[@paulbaptist28]

Quibble: the secret of the ooze in the second film was that it was produced by TGRI-hence the scene of Splinter putting the two pieces of the broken cannister together for the turtles. It may be underwhelming, but it's there.

[@benshepherd131]

So that’s what the 2 means! Your right as quibbles go that was underwhelming

[@gamephreak5]

The REAL "Secret of the Ooze" was going to originally be that it was accidentally made by the Utrom at TCRI, with the Professor at the end of the movie revealing he was an Utrom by opening his shirt to the camera while holding the Ooze canister in the club, which would explain why the Professor vanished into thin air for the rest of the film along with the TCRI building after the club scene, because he and the other Utroms teleported back home. This would be far closer to the story in the comics. But, it was deemed too expensive and technologically impossible to make an Utrom Henson puppet in the stomach of an actor plus there would be no lead up to it leaving the audience in the dark and bewildered about the Utrom reveal, so when they axed the whole Utrom thing, they changed the building from "TCRI" to "TGRI" and made the Professor just a regular human with no real explanation for the Ooze or where the Professor and the building went..

[@BuckRogers007]

​@@gamephreak5 it was easier as a kid reading that comic and seeing it on paper to suspend disbelief. But seeing it on screen directly after the earth based original movie would have been too wild of a turn. Especially if the turtles got sucked into another dimension to fight in a futuristic gladiator scenario against triceratops warriors LOL. As it was, the turn was bad enough on film. TCRI was Techno Cosmic Research Institute.

[@MrGrombie]

As a kid, I loved Secret of the Ooze more. As an adult, I prefer the first one and think that one aged better.

[@AMPProf]

WTF so you got old.. I'm still a toys r us kid lolzz hmmm

[@supersayan6318]

I still thinkTMNT 2 better than the first. Most of the comments on here are people saying that they loved the 2nd movie better (e.g., your comment), but this video seems to suggest the 2nd movie was a flop.

[@Jasandiz]

same here!

[@SeraphRyan]

@@supersayan6318 oh yea, I remember, EVERY time we went to rent movies, I would get it and watch it a bunch.. im surprised my parents just didnt buy it for me. We had the first movie. But yea, literally every week went to the local movie store and rented it.

[@4577joshua]

its like watching the robocop movies then watching the one that came out in 2014. tone was way off. @gbeach85

[@phillip_reynolds]

I’m gonna keep it real: As a kid of the 90’s “The Ooze” is my favorite. As an adult, I can honestly say that first film is a better movie but “The Ooze” will always put me in a great mood and take me back to the days of my childhood. And yes, Tokka and Razor should’ve been Bebop and Rocksteady.

[@carlodurant87]

you mean teenage mutant ninja turtles 2 the secret of the ooze. thats its proper name

[@carlodurant87]

its not called the ooze

[@omarlopes5762]

And they should of brought in krang in 2 or 3 if they would of made 3 better

[@BigAL68xyz]

TMNT 2 was funny. It had a decent script full of good laughs. I have to give it that.

[@salamander337]

Yes part 2 was funny but Leo didn't even use his sword. I mean, C'mon!

[@ChrisCypher]

I was 10 when the original movie came out and LOVED how dark and gritty it was. They made something as absurd as ninja turtles somehow seem realistic and it still had enough of the turtles' character to not be foreign to someone into the cartoon either. It was the perfect balance and I hated the way the turtles looked and acted in the 2nd one. It wasn't necessary to retone it for kids. It still actually holds up fairly well too.

[@M613M]

In an era of Tobey's Spider-Man and Michael Keaton's Batman coming back, I really think it would work if they just made a straight up sequel to the 90s films, essentially disregarding II and III and keeping the aesthetic of the first film.

[@Nerdstalgic]

You're totally right

[@lanceturley7745]

Would it be a period piece set in the early nineties after the first film, or a modern day sequel set thirty years later? Because I'm not sure I want to see Middle-aged Mutant Ninja Turtles dealing with adult problems and going through a midlife crisis.

[@gumandcoffee]

How about a tmnt batman crossover?

[@herrikudo]

I cant say disregard 2, its good enough on its own steam. 3 yeah... yeah we can... we can all get by without 3

[@seankelley9928]

@@lanceturley7745 I mean, that might not be the worst thing. In the comics, the side story The Last Ronin, is one of the more popular stories going on right now and they're in their 40s at least.

[@tacticalninja8249]

As a kid the original was always my favorite and as an adult I appreciate this film even more. This is the best adaptation of a live action TMNT film. The cast was perfect and it found a middle ground between the cartoon and comic book. I wish the sequels would've maintained the same tone.. we could've explored Krang and the ooze...told a better story.

[@yell0wberry]

The up-to-date movie lost me once I saw Megan Fox casted as April O’Neill

[@nicolaiendsj1407]

Apart from the first film I have to give credit to one other special TMNT moment on the big screen. That being the rooftop fight between Leo and Raph in the 2007 CGI film. It perfectly captured the relationship between the two. The film wasn't much as a whole, but that interaction & fight sequence really hit home.

[@ryublueblanka]

The first film by Jim Henson was a true masterpiece. The original comic was brilliant. The original games and cartoon series...it all worked so incredibly well. That first film... We honestly haven't seen them since...and I miss them.

[@2010broncos1012]

Check out the latest graphic novel, The Last Ronin

[@maartenlaarhoven160]

The 1st NES game didn't make sense to me. TMNT2 was an amazing game.

[@7BlueDodger]

Josh Pais has gone on record in multiple interviews saying that he didn’t return to the second movie because he didn’t want to get pigeon holed as a “costume/creature actor” He also stated that he does not suffer from claustrophobia. The suits were uncomfortable and challenging to everyone that wore them.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

Thank you. It was frustrating to see all the inaccuracies in this.

[@christinaandretich1818]

Judith Hoag was fired because she complained about the horrible conditions for the costume actors. She very freely states this.

[@sebthelonewolf]

As a kid, I loved the 2nd movie so much! Now in my thirties, I find that I love the gritty atmosphere, acting and costumes of the first one a lot more!

[@coronaj07]

Same but you can’t deny when you hear ninja rap you still know the words lol.

[@spacegoat_3d801]

I liked the 3rd as kid because I loved the whole samurai thing they did. But now I really love and appreciate the original a lot more.

[@Sean-te9cg]

Same. As a kid, didn’t care for the first one but loved the second one. As an adult, I still love the second one but now I enjoy the first one given it’s atmosphere.

[@obvioushieidude7668]

"Thirties" isn't in age group. There's late 20s/early 30s, mid 30s, late 30s/early 40s.

[@AMPProf]

Gosh mister you old

[@toshoshi1551]

That first movie is still one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. It’s soooooo good. “Freak?!?!! Freak!?!?” “Come back here! I’m not finished with you! DAMMMMMMMMMNNN!!!” I still get goosebumps. Rafael’s voice acting is TOP NOTCH. TMNT is my childhood.

[@StrayMedicine]

Yep. First one was always the best representation period. The fact that it was also the last film Jim Henson worked on is really crazy too. Splinter looks amazing and is just a puppet, no animatronics used for him

[@jedhawkins1769]

Nothing beats the first movie! It will always be one of my favorites. Watched it when I was a kid, and it did not disturb me at all as the media claimed. I loved the characterization and the dark and mature tones of the movie.

[@subzero308]

Same I was 3 when the first movie came out lol... Loved it the 2nd one came out and I wasn't a big fan... and the 3rd movie couldn't stand it. Love the turtles tho sadly we only ever got 1 good movie with the 2nd one being OK IMO.

[@tommykaira8775]

the original karen must have complained about the movie

[@NEOSCISSORSJAGUARPRIME]

​@@tommykaira8775ZACTLY, SAME PRIMORDIAL KAREN DID A NUMBER ON TIM BURTON'S 3RD BATMAN

[@whiteChocolate808081]

Same. I did like the 2nd movie as well but I was just a kid when these movies came out. Looking back on the two movies now it's obvious that the 1st is a cinematic cult classic. a masterwork and the second movie is fun and entertaining at least.

[@jamesoblivion]

The first movie is a classic, made by people who were serious about adapting the early Mirage comics. Steve Barron pulled most of the scenes directly from the comics, often nearly verbatim. While they worked in elements of the cartoon, they didn't overdo the silliness, and even made creative use of the cartoon elements, such as April's stories as a reporter making her a target of the Foot Clan. For the most part, it's a serious comic book adaptation, and it's shot in appropriately gritty style. After that, they started making movies strictly for kids, that felt WAY more like the cartoon. By the second movie, it doesn't even feel like the same New York. It genuinely looks like a pizza commercial...not the dirty, crime infested NYC we saw in the first movie. Honestly, Secret of the Ooze was so rushed that it just copies most of the beats from the original...but badly. Like Keno. Ernie was great as Don's fight double, but they gave him nothing to work with aa Keno. Danny had a great arc throughout the first movie, where he learned important lessons. Keno has no arc at all...he's a twerp who doesn't listen to anyone, talks back to Splinter, learns NOTHING, then pretends to have learned some undefined lesson at the end. The Turtles are essentially not allowed to use their weapons, which they carry around just for show, I guess. Add a dash of Vanilla Ice, and you've got a sequel that ages like milk. The third movie is an abomination. The de-evolution of the Turtle suits speaks for itself, and Splinter is basically a glorified hand puppet with a horrifically clapping Chucky Cheese mouth. When Casey enters the lair, the whole thing looks so much like a sitcom that I expect to hear the studio audience cheering. And that's just the start of the movie. It goes on...and on...and gets worse...and worse. Incredible that they captured lightning in a bottle the very first time out, and made a perfect TMNT film that stands the year of time, and have never even come close in the three decades since.

[@sh-ps9zd]

I will never understand people who write full on essays for a comment.. Like why? Who actually reads it? 😂😂 Anyway sorry not trying to hate, just had to say something loll

[@memegazer]

The first live action movie was the only iteration of TMNT that took itself seriously as adult entertainment. There have been other examples that did their best to remain true to the source material, but always were handicaped as childrens entertainment. It would be nice to get a true live action adaptation movie, that both took itself serious, was faithful to the source material and was not aimed strictly at children. But I doubt that will ever come to pass in my lifetime. Who knows, maybe when it goes public domain in the distant future though?

[@RingsOfSolace]

My dad told me he hated the cartoon, because he said the comic was really raw and hard-core (idk for a fact, never read it). And he said he remembers waiting for it to come out, to see it on a Saturday morning, where at the end, he turned off the TV in silence, because he felt like they sold out. Idk how true it was to the comics or not, but it always makes me laugh thinking about it.

[@gamedrop3262]

oh trust me. . its not even close broski

[@SicSemperBeats]

The 2000's cartoon was pretty cool, but your dad is right. The comic version has literally never been adapted in any other media form, not even any sort of shorts or animated movies

[@SonicLegends]

Oh it's absolutely true, if I recall right not even the creators cared for it, but it was doing the job in introducing an audience to the TMNT especially because of the catchy intro song. But yeah if you haven't you ought to introduce to him if he hasn't already the 2003 TMNT as that is the one the creators do feel like matches their vision of the turtles the closest. It's on Paramount+.

[@RingsOfSolace]

@@SonicLegends huh, I have paramount+. Maybe I'll show it to him. Thanks!

[@mariaalejandra5787]

@@SicSemperBeats actually the TMNT cartoon from 2003 matches pretty well with the comics, It’s the best animated adaptation of TMNT in my opinion :)

[@markpriss]

In all honesty as a kid I loved TMNT 2. In fact I watched the original film in me late teens or something. So if you keep in mind that the 2nd film was made for kids, they pretty much did their job… critics and adult audience aside. Of course it’s not comparable to the original but I still love “the secret of the ooze” for nostalgia sake

[@alcoyot]

I was 7 years old when the movie came out and words cannot describe how excited we were. It was the only thing on every boys mind. My family was kind of struggling for money at the time but I still was able to get 2 of the action figures to play with. It makes me cry a little because I still remember how happy I was to play with them.

[@KidAstronaut]

The original TMNT still stands up. That bathtub scene 😭😭😭

[@The_RedVIII]

We will probably never get a movie as good as the 1990 movie again for one simple reason, it was already perfect. It had the perfect storyline, the perfect atmosphere, the perfect soundtrack, the perfect casting. There is almost nothing to improve upon. Maybe they could do another darker more grounded take, but it's going to be difficult, and now that Nickelodeon owns the rights it is extremely unlikely that they ever go into this direction again, unfortunately. That being said, despite its shortcomings, Secret of the Ooze is still the second best TMNT movie and I still think it's a lot of fun when you take it for what it is. That intro sequence with the Turtles arriving and jumping into the air, I still get goosebumps. And yes, as a kid, it was my favorite movie. As an adult, I obviously see how the first one is way better. But there is still a lot of stuff I like in the second one. (I also should mention that I watched these dubbed into German when I was a kid, and they got all the voice actors back in the German version, so it's probably less jarring compared to the original) The third movie however is just terrible.

[@Qaosbringer]

TMNT 1990 was perfect, because it combined best parts of comics and cartoons. Cartoons were really good - but only the first season. TMNT 1990 followed the dark atmosphere of that first season, without going caricaturely grim dark version of the comics, and without going cheesy & campy version of the later seasons.

[@LeopoldLitchenstein]

If they actually went back and adapted more elements of the comics the movies haven't touched yet (April being a scientist under Baxter, Purple Dragons, and Mousers) then it could be surpassed. But instead they either don't introduce elements well like the 2007 movie or introduce too many too soon like the reboots

[@JonHop1]

I liked the the first one as a kid a lot more. I didnt like the turlte costumes in the 2nd ones, I dint like the voice changes, I didnt like the new April Oniell and lack of Casey Jones.. I HATED the fact that Leo and Raph NEVER used their weapons, not even once. And I really just thought the 2nd one was super cheesy. I still liked it, but even as a kid at 8 years old, I could tell how much better the 1st one was. I remember just how cool I thought that Foot Clan warehouse was with the skate ramps and arcade and also how cool it was to have an underground sewer bunker. The only part of the 2nd one I really liked was them finding the abandoned subway station and living there.

[@leebard9335]

They could improve it by fixing Splinter's origin story. He wasn't a rat that learned ninjutsu, he was a human that was a part of the Foot clan before it became criminal. He turned into a rat because he was forced to live in the sewers when he came into contact with the Ooze.

[@LeopoldLitchenstein]

@@leebard9335 But in the original comics, yes he was a pet rat that learned ninjitsu from mimicking Hamato Yoshi before being mutated. But most of the cartoons aside from the 4Kids one use the backstory of Yoshi being transformed into a mutant rat and most people prefer that backstory because it makes more sense

[@DazzlingMrScratch]

I think the best part of TMNT is how there is a version each and every single generation can enjoy

[@realityshifter3399]

Exactly, I would love it if a new version of TMNT was seamless combination of 2012 TMNT, Rise of the TMNT, IDW TMNT comics, 1987 TMNT, and original black and white TMNT comics making as universal as possible.

[@sonicmanic2556]

@@realityshifter3399 2003 turtles: What about us?

[@realityshifter3399]

@@sonicmanic2556 Isn't the 2003 Turtles an extension to the original black and white comics?

[@sonicmanic2556]

@@realityshifter3399 Not really sure. I haven't really read the comics but based on how they were in turtles forever, the '03 turtles don't seem to be exactly like the mirage group. They're like inspired by them while still feeling like their own variations.

[@realityshifter3399]

@@sonicmanic2556 No, they aren't exactly alike but 03 Turtles was produced by Mirage studios and Peter Laird was heavily involved in the show.

[@southlondon86]

I remember seeing it on cable back in the day. Seeing the live action turtles in the early 90s as a kid was incredible, pure movie magic.

[@Jerichoswa11]

Wild that parents were boycotting this, I literally grew up with this movie. I was 4 when it came out on VHS and I watched this and Home Alone too many times to count.

[@matt2027]

That first TMNT movie is a really good balance between being a film for kids and a film for teens/adults. It’s basically a movie for adults that doesn’t exclude kids from its audience.

[@shanekelly6295]

After reading the original storyline, I figured the first TMNT movie has got to be the best comic adaptation ever, still today. They really used the source material well, all the way down to Donatello and Casey jones repairing the van and calling each other names alphabetically. Gackface, hosebrain!!

[@reedr7142]

Great scene. Zip neck Atomic mouth Barfarooni Camel breath Dome head Elf lips Funkoid And the two you mentioned.

[@afterthought55]

Secret of the Ooze is goofy but it's still a pretty fun watch. Third one sucks though. Not sure why you thought the secret wasn't explained in Secret of the Ooze, isn't the secret that it mutated the turtles and Splinter?

[@Negajoe]

That's actually explained in a flashback in the first movie when Splinter is detailing the turtles' origins to April. The only thing you learn about the ooze in the sequel is who made it and where it came from, which was a dude in a lab and from some generic company. The movie should have been called Origin of The Ooze. A secret entails some sort of grand revelation, like it came from Dimension X or something.

[@MichaelLayneWeston]

Everyone already knew that.

[@AdrianHoliday]

…. which would have been a perfect segway into a third movie featuring Krang

[@MAMoreno]

The secret was supposed to be that the ooze was created by an alien race, just as it was in the comics. And while the third film is not exactly better than the second one, it's really not any worse, either. It tried to adapt the time travel scepter storyline from the comics, but it took out all of the more fantastical characters and elements associated with that arc. It's as if the sequels were afraid to get as "comic booky" as the source material demanded, even as they desperately tried (and failed) to capture the wackier tone of the animated series.

[@jasonelliott7977]

@@MAMoreno the second film was supposed to end on a cliffhanger and it was going to be revealed that David Warner’s character was an utrom and Krang was to make his debut in the third film.

[@GEN_X_]

1990's Ninja Turtles are SUPERIOR and PEAK TURTLES

[@Ironstarfish]

The first one had the best intros of all of them too. I wasnt an adult at the time but I think that first one could be watched by both kids and adults

[@antoniomontana2034]

The original 1990 will forever be one of my favourite comic book movies, Top 10 for sure just so nostalgic and awesome 🍕🐢

[@kevinmoore5206]

The first film is a classic and perfect portrayal. They didn't need to change, they just needed better writers 💯

[@AMPProf]

still Num chuk Sausages

[@kevinmoore5206]

@@AMPProf OK kid

[@crystalwater505]

They listened to the vocal minority sadly. It's not much different today shockingly.

[@JonHop1]

@@crystalwater505 yup a minority of progressive, privileged, upper-class white women.. as usual.

[@clanpsi]

Fun fact: Ernie Reyes Jr., who played Keno in Turtles 2, was the suit actor for Donatello's fight scenes in Turtles 1.

[@Underland76]

he was also in that TV show with Gil Gerard when he was a kid... it was called Sidekicks

[@RaptureMusicOfficial]

Because hysterical parents. Turtles 1 is the best Turtles movie ever made! I saw it as 12yo in 1991 in the cinemas, one of the greatest cinema experiences I ever had!

[@potentatewags]

It didn't have to change. The first was the best interaction of any Turtles themed media beyond the original comics.

[@AxelfoleyTheGreat]

I agree. The first film was spot on.

[@jonathanw1019]

Another big issue is that, for TMNT2, the turtles weren't allowed to use their weapons, which was the main issue for a lot of parent groups' criticisms after its release. When it was released in the UK, they actually edited out the use of nunchucks, including Mike's stand off in the apartment. From my understanding, Judith Hoag was also very vocal about the use of weapons, demanding they be removed, which influenced the studio's decision to replace her. Then they eliminated fighting with weapons anyway.

[@kirkmcra3]

I thought I was the only one who remembered all of that....yeah there was a steady diet of sensorship after the first movie....that's why they used yo-yo's and balloons and other things around the area.... the weapons never left their shells

[@-007-2]

@@kirkmcra3- funny enough. using yo-yos and found objects as weapons is actually a WORSE example for kids.

[@hefoughtabear118]

TMNT 2007 actually feels like a proper follow up to the 1990 film. Its gritty and lived in yet fun and it expands upon the relationship between raph and leo that was set up

[@astarteswillum5259]

I think that's the sequel to the 2003 show. I'm just guessing though.

[@hefoughtabear118]

@@astarteswillum5259 don't think it is. TMNT has references to the live action 90s films and continuity wise it wouldnt fit in 2003s timeline

[@cthomas025]

Agreed. I didn't care much for the overarching story of the monster catching and all that, but I very much enjoyed the personal dynamics in the movie and the rooftop fight scene was great.

[@shirubionicle]

The 2014 TMNT also had a bit of fun too, despite being shit

[@realityshifter3399]

I didn't hate 2007 TMNT but I didn't exactly love it either.

[@kamrantazz]

10yr old me was confused why the film was so dark and serious like Batman 89 but I dug it! It got better with rewatches as I got older. Its a genuinely good film. Even as a Kid, I could tell the next 2 were poor, but I didn't notice they didn't use their weapons!!

[@trevturp6891]

Secret of The Ooze isn't poor.

[@deuswulf6193]

Same here, as a Kid I could tell the 2nd and 3rd movies were a huge downgrade from the first.

[@saiyan_princestudios9790]

I love the first movie but I really love the second movie too. I think the humor is hilarious actually. Even the opening scene where he tries a pickup like and she shoots him down with a “in your dreams player” he has the perfect response “ok but when I do I will dream of someone a little bit thinner.” Is hilarious but would never happen in a movie today haha. Then my favorite joke is the combat cold cuts and “next time I’ll use mustard.” I get it I love the darker grittier stuff too and prefer real weapons to this dance cinematography and choreography but it’s still my favorite joke in the entire movie. Even splinter is funny at the end of the movie, “where you seen?” “Of course not master as ninja we practice the art of invisibility.” And he pulls out the newspaper with them on it, “practice harder.” Is funny. And the ninja rap is a cult classic and a one hit wonder. Great memories If they kept the second movie a little bit darker and more cinematic, and kept the funny jokes and music it might have been the ultimate masterpiece

[@bigpapaadam1]

They did the same thing with Batman Forever. They wanted to make it more kid friendly and ultimately destroyed future movies after failed attempts such as Batman and Robin. Michael Keaton walked away after seeing the third movie script.

[@ihavespoken9871]

No one talks about the 2007 TMNT movie, tho. Chris Evan, James Arnold Taylor, and THE Nolan North all did an excellent job.

[@brandonspain12345]

It a meh movie. Not the worst, not the best just mostly forgettable.

[@no_nameyouknow]

@@brandonspain12345 Yeah, I literally forget what happened. All I remember is some cool scenes jumping from rooftops. Visually cool, but nothing memorable aside from that.

[@brandonspain12345]

@@no_nameyouknow Right. I mostly remember them jumping on rooftops and the end credit songs for being so damn catchy. I think maybe because it had ugly colors. Greys, greens, teals, yellows, and browns colors. (The 1990 movie was stylistically dark but it still had color.) The human characters looked ugly as hell, and the villains were so bland. Like you have a huge series of great villains from the show, toys and comics and we get bland stone soldiers and generic 13 monsters. Yay?

[@ihavespoken9871]

@@brandonspain12345 It might not be the most well written movie, but it is very entertaining nonetheless.

[@grapeshot]

I remember me and my brother used to play the video game at the arcade.

[@misssniperella]

The first TMNT live action film has always been one of my all time favorite movies, all the raw emotion portrayed and the excellent action scenes make me come back to it ever so often. Never did see the sequels or any of the reboots, and from what I hear I made the right choice.

[@realityshifter3399]

The first TMNT film is definitely the best, but with that being said I have seen better interpretation of the TMNT franchise. The 2012 TMNT is still one best incarnations of the turtles in recent years.

[@jeraldmcclainofficial6005]

I can sum it up, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (1990) went wrong with "Ninja Rap."

[@marginalhero4783]

I still enjoy the first movie. I saw in theaters when I was 6 years old and I am glad my parents weren't the psycho's who boycott it. It was the first movie I ever saw in theaters. Good times. Also, you are right about the current line of Turtle comics. Since the current run started about 10 years ago, it's been a great read!

[@Edward_Strong1982]

I was 8. This movie was not disturbing at all I loved it !! I didn’t see it as violent and mother did my parents.

[@subzero308]

My mom took me when I was 3 lol fell asleep but she got it for me on VHS and I watched it literally 24/7 hell my mom got me Sega with mortal kombat 1 and 2 when I was like 4-5 my mom didn't care because she knew I knew they were just movies and games. A lot of my friends parents wouldn't let them play MK but we did when they came to my house lmao. Growing up in the 90s was seriously the best decaded for tv, toys and movies for kids.

[@WolfA4]

Same here, I was a Turtles fanatic and when I saw the first commercial for the movie on TV I turned to my dad who was sitting behind me and just said "We're going to go see that." There was no question, there was no negotiating it was just a known fact.

[@17R3W]

I recently watched the first movie with my nephews, who are 9 and 6. We talked about the violence, and whether or not we thought the characters made the right decisions. For example - when Raph got the ladies purse back, was it right for Casey Jones to keep following the thieves or should he have just called the cops? We also talked about how the punching and kicking is just "dancing" and how no one got hurt. Talk to your kids, people.

[@DeathnoteBB]

I assume if he called the cops they’d just go “So you got the stolen property back? Cool, why are you calling us? *click*”

[@coldheartedsnake2302]

Omg that sounded like a psa at the end of every mighty Morphin power rangers episode when i was growing up...i always assumed they had it for kids who were "special" or had parents who aren't raising their kids because who didn't know it was pretend. How society has devolved in the 30 yrs obv it was the the latter even then🥤👀

[@TalentCaldwell]

I always like to remind people that in real life everything Batman does is against the law. So don’t be like Batman.

[@DougGarrett]

LMAO

[@Doctor_Odin]

@@TalentCaldwell Such concerns during the Adam west’s era were dealt with with Batman and robin getting deputized in addition to the famous cliché camp jump cuts.

[@D4RKxHOR1ZoN]

I remember buying a new TMNT action figure every weekend as allowance.. the good old days ❤️ the kids these days just don't understand how huge TMNT was and actually play outside with your action figures lol.

[@ketchakik]

Never ceases to amaze me that they got more out of a shoestring budget and rubber suits than Michael bay did with a modern blockbuster budget and cutting edge cgi

[@brichan1851]

The game, Shredder’s Revenge is the best thing to happen to TMNT since the original movie.

[@oni-one574]

As a kid, the second TMNT movie killed all interest I had in TMNT. In my 39 years of existence, I've generally found trying to dumb a movie concept down to appeal to more people never shares the same success, we still see this trend today. Turtles in time was an abomination. Power Rangers, then Mortal Kombat took my interest instead.

[@danavipuzzles7308]

I was a big fan of TMNT as a kid in the 90's. I had most of the cartoons on VHS, all three movies on VHS, lots of action figures, and an NES game. I rewatched the three movies with my wife about half a year ago and still enjoyed them, though perhaps part of the reason for that is the nostalgia it has for me. As far as all the new TMNT movies out there, based on the clips I've seen I hate how they made them look and don't consider them a genuine representation of how the turtles should actually be. I haven't watched any of the new stuff nor do I plan to. I think that the original three movies nailed their appearance perfectly.

[@JamieSwitzer]

Honestly I'd love to see an interview with the director of the third film, get his thoughts on all of this years later.

[@grimdaggz]

Clear example of don't fix what ain't broke. Children get older & will appreciate it if the film was kept more serious.

[@steveg9166]

the original was the first movie i saw in a theatre as a kid and still to this day im a movie goer but nothing compares to the original 1990 turtles. avatar and the matrix are my 2nd and 3rd favorite

[@facetiouslyinsolent8313]

The second they decided to take this hardcore comic and make it kid-friendly they killed Eastman and Laird's creation. Anything you see where they are in different colored bandanas and not all Red is nerfed trash.

[@Punmaster9001]

The original movie is still the best Live Action* TMNT movie. I find it funny how this video also skipped over TMNT from 2007, which did become the technical 4th installment of the 90's run. It was also too cartoony in the end but, (and I'll even say this about the live-action tv series) It was so much better than the michael bay movies. I heard the elevator seen in the first of the bay movies was just something improvised by the actors while they were just goofing around, and they decided to include it in the movie. It also happens to be the most memorable and only thing worth watching in that movie. While I enjoyed the 3 movies as a kid, the first movie was by far the best one, 2 had some fun quotable lines, and the humor was pretty good, it was basically just an extended cartoon episode that kind of parodied the first movie. The 3rd was ok. TMNT would have been better as it's own thing, without the link back to the first 3, but it only seemed like an extension of the 2003 series that started up. Which thankfully had more in common with the original movie in tone and weight seen in the first film. What sucks is how "kid gloves" these properties become. Kids don't notice the tone as much as adults think they do. There are cartoons from back then that had adult jokes that went over my head as a kid and only ever notice now if I watch them, or have them pointed out. Parents can be very fucking stupid at times.

[@TheSinlessAssassin]

I held this trilogy in high regard for a long time, but I made the mistake of watching them as an adult and the nostalgia goggles flew right off.

[@Nerdstalgic]

Ha!

[@aradraugfea6755]

I'd still say that the first holds up just fine. Pre MCU, I'd even say it's the best film adaptation of a comics property. 2 is fine, if goofy. 3 is JUST goofy.

[@blackguyofthesouth2161]

The first one is still great especially that first scene with Raphael and Casey Jones

[@The_RedVIII]

The first one is still a freaking masterpiece. The cinematography and score alone, man. Still holds up.

[@SB-kp2vn]

First two are freaking amazing! Even today I still watch them every now and then can’t say the same about the new ones.

[@sebastianparra8218]

Been a long time viewer and I can’t express how perfectly you nailed this video! I’m a tmnt super fan, currently binge reading the idw run. Thanks this made my day

[@IrocZIV]

They kinda aged it in the wrong direction. Harry Potter got it right, starting off more "kiddy" and getting darker as it went on. I was pretty young when the first came out, I liked it but wished it was more like the cartoon. The second was "ok" but I do remember thinking Bebop and Rocksteady should have been in it (or at least make the turtle Slash). I never saw the 3rd one, because it looked so bad.

[@mplsatty]

I'm still astonished by how overlooked the original comics are in the whole TMNT phenomenon. "Violent & gritty," definitely, & some of the best comics of the late 80's.

[@amirgarcia547]

Honestly it might just be nostalgia talking, but I absolutely love the 1990 TMNT movie. It’s by far the best adaptation we’ve gotten of the characters outside of the cartoons, and despite being quite goofy and filled to the brim with 90s cheese and references, it’s also quite gritty and grounded as well due to knowing when to be serious. And at its core it’s a story about the importance of family and why you shouldn’t take it for granted. It’s just a shame that due to the complaints of parents, they made the second film, while still enjoyable, far sillier and goofier in comparison. Compare the brutal beatdown between the Turtles and Shredder in the first film, where he dies at the end by falling into and being crushed from a trash compactor, to the sequel, where he turns into a giant version of himself and has somehow lost enough brain cells to make a bridge collapse onto him. And then the third movie came along where it just felt like they stopped trying due to a dumb time travel plot. I’m not a big fan of the Michael Bay TMNT movies either for reasons that’ve already been talked to death, so I’m just entirely hoping that the future Seth Rogen TMNT movie can finally do the Turtles justice again.

[@robertobuatti7226]

If they kept the dark tone of the original 1990 movie the franchise wouldn't of gone as downhill in terms of quality, give us a movie in the spirit of the 1990 Turtles movie with the same Turtle designs, the same tone, but it has to have heart to it and Splinter should be that for the new movie like he was in the 1990 movie, don't give us CGI abominations and just deliver a good movie.

[@christophergarrett7082]

This is why you don't listen to parents complaints. The first ninja turtles movie is the best ninja turtles movie. Here's hoping seth rogan will get it right and deliver a great ninja turtles movie. My favorite on screen version is The 20003 one.

[@TheBrotherHolmes]

"Casey Jones" the movie? I've heard about talks of it, but is it out?

[@TankMouseProductions]

Agreed on thoughts of first film. I remember seeing it debut in the theater when I was 7 years old. I immediately fell in love with it. And, even when rewatching it as an adult, I am struck by how much I can still enjoy it. That is not necessarily the case for every film enjoyed as a child. That speaks to the quality of the film. It was truly a timeless classic.

[@TheAJP]

I feel like Michael Bay just wants to keep putting in Megan Fox into his films to attract an adult audience because of her appearance

[@michaelrowe8115]

She looks way different in real life than I thought she would, but not in a bad way.

[@Peppermon22]

The 2012 Nickelodeon tmnt had some amazing stories. If they took the main plot of that show they could easily make 2-3 wonderful movies. The story of splinter being a man who lost his wife and child turning Into a rat to raise turtles was fabulous.

[@jaym5118]

I always preferred the "once human" story of Splinter over the ones where he was always a rat. That's where they screwed up the 1990 movie for me. Although still a great movie.

[@JonHop1]

@@jaym5118 Splinter was originally a rat though, who transformed from the ooze just like the Turtles...

[@devonrichardson6150]

One of my favorite movies of all time is the first tmnt movie

[@Nerdstalgic]

It's amazing

[@AnthonyLeeBand]

I think the turtle movies went wrong probably right at the part where vanilla ice came in, even as a 13 year old kid it was cringy in the theater.

[@JAGtheTrekkieGEMINI1701]

Damn as a boy I was freaking out over the 1st Turtles Film... So *Cowabunga!!*

[@calebellis1764]

Ironically I watched these films over the weekend and thought, “Nerdstalgic should do a video on this.” Another interesting thought. It seemed like they tried to back track and make the third movie like the first. Bringing Donnie’s original voice actor back and bringing back Casey Jones. Which made the trilogy even more of a mess. Another great video!

[@captainvader921]

Honestly, seeing Casey back was probably the best part, just too bad he doesn't contribute to the story whatsoever

[@weiSane]

I always rewatch the 2012 Nickelodeon TMNT animated series. So underated.

[@Folgers333]

The first movie is still one of my top 3 all time favorites. Instantly loved it when I was a kid. The sequels seemed so low brow and weird.

[@azmiraclegirl441]

Secret of the Ooze is a certified hood classic

[@brohiddlesby7010]

I dunno about another live action take, but I’d be interested in a stylized animated film, like Into the Spiderverse

[@nolo2484]

They did in 2007, just called “TMNT.” It uh.. didn’t do well with ratings

[@brohiddlesby7010]

@@nolo2484 all about the creative team and studio at that point.

[@roybatty-]

TMNT never went wrong. Those films were HUGE in the 90s. Nothing lasts forever, everything goes through phases.

[@PhilChoArt]

I'd love to see a Turtles movie with the same tone as say, Netflix's Daredevil or Matt Reeve's The Batman. That would be great!

[@Godzilladad]

Nickelodeon won't do it

[@joaobabler1584]

Here in Brazil, the Turtles 2 is much more in our hearts. The first one is kind of dark, but the second one is funny....I don't know...maybe it was because our portuguese dub, it was a blast for sure

[@FutureLaugh]

holy shit, 7 months after the first???? how the hell they even have time to develop the film lmao

[@spottyhead]

I do have to say that I'm glad to see practical effects making a comeback in some of the movies that have been coming out over the last few years. There is something that lends itself to the screen and the actor performances that just feels hollow when done strictly with CGI characters on screen. So it does give me hope for a reboot at some point but I'd want them to flesh out a good script and not just focus on the visual like some directors

[@Jmarsbeats]

Both 1 and 2 were great. The characters looked so realistic.

[@coffeegator6033]

Saw the first 2 in theaters when they came out. The first was so good and very well done especially with the logistical challenges of the suits, and yeah the second one had a very neon pink trapper keeper feel to it compared to the edge of the first movie.

[@AMPProf]

JEEPERS MISTER you must 100!

[@paulbryant8403]

I used to draw the ninja turtles all over my school books

[@clintonleonard5187]

Despite it's flaws, I LOVE Secret of the Ooze. All the clips you used made me laugh and want to watch it again.

[@mindflayer55]

big fan of the channel keep it up

[@Nerdstalgic]

Appreciate this!

[@andraeblackwell]

I watched all 3 in theaters and even as I kid I loved the first film. It was more mature than the animated series but it was one of the few live action comic book films at the time and I embraced it. The second film was a lot of fun, yes Bebop and Rocksteady should have been there. The film makers had one job and blew it. The third film is still a disappointment.

[@thebroken0wastaken]

As a kid at the time, I LOVED the second movie. As an adult now I understand the criticisms, but at the very least I can say it did appeal to me as a kid. TMNT 3 on the other hand, is hot garbage for many reasons

[@boscoe5334]

LMAO! Jennika was a fan insert OC. (What happens when artists get hired and self insert themselves.) Glad you like it, but feh... Unless it comes straight from Eastman and Laird... Thanks, but no thanks... I don't want that type of turtle in my TMNT.

[@johnburke4931]

I was a kid when these films came out, I loved the first movie. When the second came out, although aimed at kids, I hated it, and still do!

[@tylerhackner9731]

Still a lot of nostalgia

[@ZimmZutinZayai]

As a fan of the original cartoon series, I quite enjoyed the recent TMNT films. Seeing Beebop, Rocksteady, and Krang in a live-action TMNT movie after 26 years of patiently waiting was a childhood wish of mine come true.

[@icthusatarms6687]

I was very forgiving as a kid watching these movies, I saw them all in theatre. I remember being crushed that TMNT 2 did not include bebop and rocksteady and shoehorned in random creations. When the re-re-boot happens, it all needs to be practical effects as mentioned in this video, CGI being used sparingly. Keep the adventures smaller and mostly grounded. Should have the same feeling as the original film and stick to the original story. I think there's a nice blend to be found to have outlandish characters and story while it not feeling cartoonish or a generic CGI fest as we have seen so far. Episodes from the first season of the Mandalorian are a good example.

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen752]

Wow the hockey guy was my favorite as a child

[@DougFiasco]

The thing that I realised recently, was how much this movie achieved in 90mins and it didn't feel rushed. I think that may have been typical for a lot of 90s movies. compared to the 2-3+hour blockbusters now..

[@Power5]

I liked the first 2 movies. I have seen them many times over the years as a teen and as an adult. I think I saw the 3rd one only once. I liked the new ones as well. But I like any movie that takes me out of normal life, and they all did. Sure the later ones are not great movie telling, but I still enjoy them for their action.