Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
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Four anthropomorphic mutant turtles must use their ninja training to save their master from his long-lost foe, the Shredder.
The story
April O'Neil, a television reporter investigating a crime wave in New York City, is attacked by thieves and saved by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The turtles live in a hidden sewer lair with their mentor, a rat named Splinter. As April investigates the mysterious Foot Clan responsible for the crime wave, she discovers the turtles' secret. Meanwhile, the turtles must protect their home and master from the Shredder, the leader of the Foot Clan, who seeks to eliminate them and their allies.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
April O'Neil, a reporter in New York, is saved by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles after an attack by thieves. She learns of their existence and their mentor, Splinter, who was mutated by a chemical. The plot thickens as April's supervisor tries to stop her investigation into the Foot Clan, a group of thieves led by the Shredder. The turtles' lair is ransacked, and Splinter is kidnapped by the Foot. April and the turtles eventually team up with Casey Jones, a fellow vigilante. After a period of training and preparation, the turtles, Casey, and a rescued Splinter confront the Shredder. In a final battle on a rooftop, the Shredder is defeated and falls into a garbage truck, which Casey then crushes. The film ends with April's career restored and the turtles celebrating their victory.
- First release year
- 1990
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Steve Barron
- Writers
- Todd W. Langen · screenplay; Bobby Herbeck · screenplay; Bobby Herbeck · story
- Cast and characters
- Judith Hoag · April O'Neil; Elias Koteas · Casey Jones; Raymond Serra · Chief Sterns; Michael Turney · Danny Pennington; James Saito / David McCharen · The Shredder; Jay Patterson · Charles Pennington; Toshishiro Obata / Michael McConnohie · Tatsu; Josh Pais · Raphael
- Genres
- superhero comedy; martial arts comedy; action comedy; science fiction comedy
- Themes
- father-son relationships; juvenile delinquency
- Tone and mood
- tongue-in-cheek; martial arts
- Setting
- New York City and a nearby farm.
- Premise and plot tags
- martial arts; superhero; ninja; puppet
- Source material / true-story basis
- comic book
- Franchise connections
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a significant box office success, becoming the highest-grossing independent film at the time.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 46% · scale: percentage · review count: 57; Metacritic · score: 51 · scale: 100 · review count: 21
- Production trivia
- The turtle costumes were developed by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.; The film was the highest-grossing independent film up to that time.; The film was released less than two months before Jim Henson's death.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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