Tmnt (2007)

"...technically superb and quite enjoyable...  Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
"...a cool, noirish sheen...an attention to detail in the visuals and sound design that pushes it up several notches above most kiddie fare.  Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Editor's Note Director and screenwriter Kevin Munroe brings the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the 21st century with TMNT. This animated film--made with computer-generated imagery (CGI)--finds the four genetically mutated, pizza-loving turtles a less than coherent family unit: Leonardo (James Arnold Taylor) is in Central America, training to be a better leader; Donatello (Mitchell Whitfield) is manning an IT help desk; Michelangelo (Mikey Kelly) is making the children's party circuit as an entertainer; and Raphael (Nolan North) is secretly spending his nights as the city's resident vigilante. Leonardo's return fails to unite them; in fact, it only increases his brother Raphael's resentment. But when monsters begin appearing in New York City and are pursued by both the mysterious Foot Clan (another group of crackerjack Ninjas) and some menacing stone statues that have come to life, the brothers must band together under the tutelage of their sensei, a mutated rat named Master Splinter (Mako), and fight for their city. Sarah Michelle Gellar voices April, an archaeologist and friend of the turtles; her beau, Casey, is voiced by Chris Evans. Patrick Stewart, Laurence Fishburne, Ziyi Zhang, and Kevin Smith also provide voices for the film. Fans of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, created in 1984 by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman as a spoof on superheroes, will appreciate the advances of CGI technology. The story focuses largely on issues faced by real families, but there is still plenty of action. From skateboarding in sewers and bounding across rooftops to using their Ninja training against threatening monsters, the Turtles prove they are back with a vengeance and ready to take on anything.

	Chris Evans - Voice Of
	Gary Richardson - Executive Producer
	John Damien Ryan - Editor
	Kevin Eastman - Based On Characters Created By
	Kevin Michael Richardson - Voice Of
	Kevin Munroe - Screenplay
	Kevin Munroe - Director
	Kevin Smith - Voice Of
	Klaus Badelt - Original Music By
	Laurence Fishburne - Voice Of
	Mako - Voice Of
	Mon Cheung, et. al. - Art Director
	Patrick Stewart - Voice Of
	Peter Laird - Based On Characters Created By
	Sarah Michelle Gellar - Voice Of
	Stephen G. Lumley - Cinematographer
	Thomas K. Gray - Producer
	Ziyi Zhang - Voice Of

Box Office
"Stylized animation works well for the smooth, shiny surfaces of the amphibians..." 05/01/2007 p.76

Sight and Sound
"Directed by Kevin Munroe, an unabashed Turtles fan, the result is surprisingly good....The nocturnal action staging and composition are frequently accomplished..." 05/01/2007 p.87

Entertainment Weekly
"This CGI update has some awesome battle sequences..." -- Grade: B- 08/10/2007 p.55

Variety 7 of 10
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"...Rather than waiting for a screenplay that warranted their bigscreen return, "TMNT" feels like an attempt to exploit the phenomenon further. - Peter Debruge