Not exactly understanding the first two official reviews to show up for TMNT. Both claim that the film will satisfy younger fans while disappointing the older generations. It will be the older generations, however, that push up the film's box office receipts for the first two weekends.
Conclusion: good with a lowercase 'g'.
Early Reviews: TMNT
Below are snippets from two of the first official reviews for TMNT. Since each review is broad, neither should sway your opinion (either way) on whether to see the film.
THR
While "TMNT" is the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles project to take advantage of CGI animation, the movie stakes out no new ground for the highly profitable franchise. A certified phenomenon in publishing, toy manufacturing and TV cartoons -- along with three live-action features in the early '90s -- the green fighting machines' return to movies is a tad too conservative and calculated.
CGI delivers best on moody sets and a noirish atmosphere achieved by lighting, backgrounds and visual effects. But the characters look like plastic dolls, and the story is recycled sci-fi. The film will satisfy youngsters and newcomers but might divide older fans. Those fans certainly will turn out, though, so Warners and the Weinsteins should see respectable boxoffice figures for the first two weeks.
Variety
Conceived for fans but dumbed down for tots, "TMNT" takes one of the most curious comicbook phenoms of the '80s and translates it to yet another platform: a PG-rated all-CG toon. Animation quality is leagues beyond the hand-drawn style that launched the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to popularity, and the storyline is no shallower than "300" (even if ripped turtle shells have nothing on Spartan abs), but pic lacks the personality that made these animated action figures so appealing 20 years ago. Kids will devour this like anchovy-free pizza, while nostalgia-driven kidult attendance should spell sequels for this "cash cowabunga."
Check out both reviews for TMNT by clicking on the bold links above (open in new window).
TMNT opens to theatres on March 23rd.
For posters, banners, trailers and more movie info, go to the TMNT
Movie Page.
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