Cowabunga, dudes! The unique Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films are getting numerous love recently, because the 1990 Steve Barron movie got here again to theaters this previous summer time for its thirty fifth anniversary and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze might be returning to huge screens in March 2026! Now, Arrow Video might be distributing the upcoming 4K Blu-ray launch of the unique Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy, which is able to arrive in time for the vacations on December 16. You possibly can order a duplicate on their web site HERE.
Turtle followers rejoice! Arrow Video has come by means of on remastering the unique trilogy of our childhoods for a model new ultra-high-definition expertise! Though the worth may be intimidating for informal consumers, die-hard followers of the 90s movie franchise, bodily media collectors, and movie completionists will certainly marvel on the new 4K set.
So, first we now have the 1990 Steve Barron movie. Revisiting the movie these days, it’s wonderful how nicely it nonetheless holds up. One of many particular options on this UHD disc is a model new 2025 interview with Barron and he talks about how when he was offered with this movie as a venture, he needed to transform the script as a result of though it’s aimed primarily at children, he is aware of the film had potential to be satisfying for adults as nicely and as we become old, we discover increasingly more nuances than we beforehand realized.
The 4K is totally wonderful. All the films on this set have had their footage remastered in 4K, this one is from the movie’s unique negatives and was accredited by the director, whereas the sequels have been remastered from the 35mm interpositive by Arrow Movies. All three movies are offered in Dolby Imaginative and prescient and it was an actual deal with for the eyes this time round. What’s actually stunning is that the colours actually popped on all of the movies on this set. Barron was nice at making New York look gritty and stark, which the brand new switch maintains, however by some means the Turtles look much more vibrant than they ever have earlier than. It took me again considerably trigger it’s like their greens had the consistency of Shrek, nevertheless it by no means really took me out of the film. It was simply actually fascinating to see and a model new manner for the visuals to look.
The particular options have interviews from Barron in addition to Judith Hoag, who portrayed April, and the voice & stunt actors who helped to carry the Turtles to life. Plenty of upgraded re-releases of previous movies have been very spectacular about giving the viewers some new materials for extras and that is no exception. The one factor I want this disc had was some archival footage, together with deleted scenes teased within the Turtle Energy documentary. It’s doubtless that this was in all probability saved for the upcoming Ninja Turtles documentary — TMNT: Evolution, Mutation & Reboot. Nonetheless, we DO get some distinctive alternate footage, together with a Korean reduce and a full UK reduce with alternate takes edited in to censor Michaelangelo’s nunchucks.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
After Steve Barron balanced the tone of the primary one completely, New Line Cinema rushed out a sequel for the next 12 months and whereas it got here out fairly quicky, the film by no means felt rushed and had been in a position to change into its personal film. The sequel leaned the tone extra in the direction of the favored cartoon as parts of the movie have been lighter, just like the Turtles not really utilizing their weapons, in addition to the well-known integration of Vanilla Ice whipping out a theme music for the Ninja Turtles inside minutes of discovering them.
Whereas it’s clear that the studio gave into the dad and mom who thought the primary was too darkish, this entry remains to be very satisfying because the Turtles are nonetheless numerous enjoyable and we do get extra of an arc for them as they uncover extra about their previous. The inclusion of recent mutated villains is clearly impressed by the cartoon, however subplots like Ernie Reyes Jr.’s Keno making an attempt to infiltrate The Foot provides us a welcome look into their operation. Even when this sequel might really feel like a money seize (let’s not overlook how New Line used to pump out A Nightmare on Elm Avenue sequels yearly to capitalize on the recognition of Freddy Krueger), there’s nonetheless numerous coronary heart put into it. And though I hadn’t talked about it but, the animatronics from the Jim Henson Workshop labored miracles in these films as I can nonetheless watch these characters be expressive and really feel actual regardless of having limitations in comparison with CGI.
We get interviews from folks like Paige Turco, who took over for April when Judith Hoag opted to not return, and composer John Du Prez, whose interview moreso encompasses the entire trilogy. The best particular function is the Behind the Shells documentary that additionally got here out in 1991 to accompany the film. That is additionally an prolonged reduce, which is seemingly from an unique broadcast model and contains a bit extra footage than the commercially launched VHS model you can at present watch on YouTube.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
So, reality telling time. I don’t hate this film. I don’t even dislike this film. I for positive have nostalgia for it, however I additionally assume it’s fairly enjoyable for a children journey movie. Shredder and The Foot clan usually are not again for the third time round and director Stuart Gillard (who has a commentary on this 4K launch) pushed the tone absolutely into cartoon territory with a time journey plot. As a fan of the cartoons, I wasn’t delay from it because it was precisely the type of chapter that may occur on the animated collection.
What’s fascinating to see this time round is the tone juxtaposing from the humor being cheesier than earlier than to the villain portion of the film that just about performs like a historic drama. The warfare of households between Lord Norinaga and Mitsu is an fascinating backdrop to place in the course of a Ninja Turtles movie. And one other layer showcases Norinaga buying and selling with an Englishman named Walker, who’s making an attempt to promote him weapons for the warfare, which he pushes for extra as they mistake the Turtles for historical Japanese demons.
These days, I can respect the hassle to carry some weird historic politics right into a children journey, particularly contemplating how Shredder had no seen plan within the first film (What was he planning on doing along with his teenage thieving ring?). Nonetheless, one can argue that it was maybe executed a bit too dry.
The particular options type of showcase how a lot of a black sheep this entry is within the franchise as there’s a commentary by the director, however the one interviews are with Vivian Wu and Sab Shimono, who painting Norinaga and Mitsu. There may be additionally an alternate UK opening, which, once more, showcases the censorship of Michaelangelo’s nunchucks.
Verdict
As said earlier than, the worth of the set may be intimidating to an informal purchaser, however 4Ks are at present holding an analogous combat with streaming as film theaters and they’re providing a bevy of extras on sure titles together with the image improve. This set is ideal for a Ninja Turtles tremendous fan because it additionally consists of stickers, buying and selling playing cards and a guide of essays in regards to the movies. A reversible poster can also be included together with the packages sporting some newly commssioned artwork. This stuff recall to mind some nostalgia for particular prizes despatched to children while you apply to be in a fan membership again within the 90s. As a lover of the trilogy, the options are nice to see, however the actual star is the image high quality. These movies have by no means appeared higher.
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