Movie Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

I don't know what is it about being thirty (yes, I'm turning 30 this month) but it seems that all of the TV series and movies I watched growing up is being remade or re-imagined in a movie. I have no qualms or complaints here of course as I get to relive my childhood in bigger and better resolution and a whole new generation can get to know them and love them as much as I did. 

I was really disappointed with the first Turtles movie, when it came out a couple of years ago. It was riddled with cliches and the plot was too dramatic. Well, I'm glad to say that 

"Out of the Shadows" is better than its predecessor in so many ways!    

Exceeding it's predecessor, the sequel has more action and laughs which the kids and adults will enjoy. There are so many impressive and jaw dropping action sequences that will make it worth seeing on the big screen (and yes, even the glory of iMAX). 

All is well in the city of New York, with the evil Shredder behind bars, the brothers Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo spend their days eating pizza and watching basketball games inside jumbotrons. They can't actually bask and enjoy the limelight of being the city's heroes due to their appearance, so the teenagers continue their work in the dark. Longiing for the day to be able to step out of the shadows and just be, well normal teenagers. 

Things shake up when Shredder (Brian Tee) escapes prison, with the help of mad scientist Baxter Stockman (the legendary Tyler Perry) and with the addition of two dimwitted henchman Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (WWE Superstar Stephen "Sheamus" Farrelly), work on a diabolical plan to take over the world. 

Stephen Amell as hokey wielding Casey Jones and Megan Fox as a ripped jean sporting April O'Neil. 

One of my issues with the first Turtles movie was that they (the turtles) were HUGE and scary. No longer reflections of their smaller scaled cute selves in the 90's animated series. Put them alongside the mutated versions of Bebop and Rocksteady (a rhinoceros and a warthog) then you have them even matched and their bigger and scarier look is easier to let slide. I have to applaud the computer graphics and the motion capture technology that went into the film, you can really see the emotions in the CGI characters, when they look scared, angry or hurt. It's really there and it's just impressive. 

I was looking forward to seeing Stephen Amell, who we watch on "Arrow" on the big screen. He plays the hokey wielding vigilante Casey Jones in "Out of the Shadows" and his character is different from Oliver Queen, for one, he's more talkative and definitely a lot more noisy. Stephen Amell is a good fit in the role, being Canadian, he has a clear advantage by presumably being good at hokey but I was really bothered by his voice, which I found to be a range too higher for comfort. You won't notice it in Arrow since he is always brooding and whispering and he has that voice changing apparatus (like Batman) but you really notice it as Casey Jones. I don't know if it's just because I'm really sensitive to sound and music but it really bothered me but aside from that, his performance as Casey Jones was well as could be expected. 

Megan Fox has less of a role her than in the first movie, which is fine by me since a lot of my hating on the first movie also had to do with April O'Neil being too involved with the turtles origin story that she should have been. There's a scene where Fox struts up in a mini skirt and crop top, which is probably a fan service for the guys. I for one, would love to see her more in yellow as a homage to the 90's animated April O'Neil.   

Sticking to the original character design. Bebop and Rocksteady make their big screen debut. 

With the external conflicts already too much to handle, the brothers face some internal conflicts as well, which they must set aside in order to save the city that they love. 

There are some loop holes here and there but all forgivable for an action packed almost two hours of non-stop Turtle power. 7 out of 10 stars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is now showing in cinemas!