Friday, June 3, 2016

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Review #TMNT2


Unless you've been living underground in the sewers over nearly the last 3 decades {I can't believe they've been around that long, hubby says I'm dating myself}, you are oh too familiar with the multi-generational, beyond cool, TMNT pop-culture franchise that has ensued a long lasting surge of Turtle Mania worldwide. Earlier this month I had the chance, thanks to Paramount Pictures to treat my boys and long time friend Sergio to an early screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows that picks up right were the   version leaves off and follows the return of the heroic foursome Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael who return to battle notorious bad guys who plan to take over the world.


Disclosure: Thanks to Paramount Pictures we were able to check out a pre-screening of the movie. Opinions expressed are my own and no other compensation was received.

As a New York city girl, born and raised, any film using this vibrant city as the backdrop to an unfolding story, whether a comedy, love story or action film, I know I'm going to love every moment unfolding in a recognizable and iconic location or secret NY gem known only to a few. From causing trouble while watching a Knicks games way above the rafters to chasing the foot clan through brightly lit midtown streets there was another dimension of evil brewing with the return of the scar-faced Shredder {Brian Tee} & the introduction of mad scientist Baxter Stockman{Tyler Perry}, BeBop{Gary Anthony Wiliams}and Rocksteady {WWE Superstar Sheamus, Stephen Farrelly} and Kraang that the four mutated amphibian brothers were going to have to defeat with the help of vigilante Casey Jones {Stephen Amell}, April O' Neal{Meagan Fox} and Vern Fenwick {Will Arnett}.


Dellah's Jubilation


Dellah's Jubilation

Dellah's Jubilation


Directed by Dave Green, written by Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec and produced by Michael Bay {we're also big Transformer fans},this 2nd installment was on point. A truly enjoyable movie to watch, you will laugh with out a doubt and if you grew up watching the 80's/90's cartoon you'll feel like you've been teleported back in time with this live action film, needing to sit down in front of the television on a Saturday morning with a bowl of your favorite cereal. My kids didn't blink one instance, unless it was to readjust themselves and loved the turtle's cool tricked out truck - what little kid wouldn't like watching flying sewer caps aimed to stop the bad guys?

Like many of us may have felt at some point in life, the turtles are faced with wanting to come out of the shadows as they question who they really are and battle with self acceptance. When given the chance to alter your appearance to what you think more acceptable to society, how far is one willing to go, and will the end result be worth it or cause more trouble then gambled for? And to think a vile of mysterious purple ooze could make this significant change a realty & is the key to changing both mutants and humans. There was a scene where Michelangelo find himself in the midst of the infamous NYC Halloween parade, and you could see how comfortable and free he felt, even if for just a mere 5 minutes.  Having a tween who's been catching slack at school for looking different by having shoulder length locs, this was a message I'm hoping to expand more on at home. You have to love how different each turtle's personality is, making them very relate-able as teenagers. 


Dellah's Jubilation

Dellah's Jubilation


April and Vern make for great allies and are like honorary turtle family being the only humans that the Turtles actually trust, and that return the sentiment by having their backs. 

Hockey mask wearing Casey Jones made for a charming crime-fighting partner for the Turtles and I think Stephen Amell played the role well. Maybe he could have been a bit more ballsy with a little more street edge like we're familiar with. Honestly just not sure how we feel about him being a cop, I couldn't picture Casey sporting a uniform. 


Dellah's Jubilation

With mousy nerd like mannerisms and an awkward laugh, you'd find that Tyler Perry played the role of the unsupsecting bad guy that he could relate to as the underdog. It was interesting to see how he could end up working hand in hand with Shredder as the ultimate mastermind {the silent deadly type} and how despite all of his hard work and devious planning he could end up where he does. 


Dellah's Jubilation

Who could forget who I'd like to think of as mutated versions of tweedle dee and tweedle dumb, Bebop{the warthog} and Rocksteady{the rhino}who brought the muscle to the film and comedic value. As a WWE long time fan, having Sheamus appear in such an iconic movie was pretty awesome for me and my boys, a very cool combination of pop-culture. Gary Anthony William's impromptu sense of humor I'm sure helped with the great chemistry between these two guys, they may have been the dastardly duo but you almost wanted to root for them! 

I remember when the first glimpse of Kraang being announced came out and I instantly got excited looking at the poster of this menacing eye of this gooey bad guy that was created with special visual effects. All brain, you can't help but wonder what sinister plotting he'd been working on.

Dellah's Jubilation

As fans we're always skeptical of remakes and sequels and question how true and authentic a new take on history makers can really be, but you will not be disappointed with this film, I think for this generation Z group of kids, they do the original justice this go round and we can't wait to take the hubby to see it! 



Synopsis: Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael return to theaters this summer to battle bigger, badder villains, alongside April O'Neil (Megan Fox), Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), and a newcomer: the hockey-masked vigilante Casey Jones (Stephen Amell). After supervillain Shredder escapes custody, he joins forces with mad scientist Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry) and two dimwitted henchmen, Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (WWE Superstar Stephen "Sheamus" Farrelly), to unleash a diabolical plan to take over the world. As the Turtles prepare to take on Shredder and his new crew, they find themselves facing an even greater evil with similar intentions: the notorious Krang.
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