MovieChat Forums > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016) Discussion > TMNT90 Will Always Be The Best

TMNT90 Will Always Be The Best

posted 8 years ago by NeonManiac0
22 replies | jump to latest

The original 1990 TMNT movie still holds up great and I think will always be the best adaptation of the TMNT in anything. It had the right balance of being dark and edgy without overdoing it and it still had plenty of good humor that never got OTT or campy. Rather than being based off of the 1987 cartoon it was more influenced by the early issues of the 80s Mirage comics which IMO was a smart move. Factor into that the excellent interplay between the TMNT which each Turtle feeling unique, the outstanding animatronic costumes that 26 years later still look lifelike, the spot-on casting of April and Casey, the Shredder who was actually frightening and menacing unlike his cartoon counterpart and the great practical fight scenes.

It isn't just childhood nostalgia speaking because at 29 I find the movie is still very entertaining and is surprisingly deep in parts with some emotional moments amidst the humor and action. It's one of those movies that turned out so much better than it had any right to be and wasn't just a terrific adaptation but a fine film on it's own merits. Plus it feels so early 90s which for me is a huge part of it's charm (same with Secret Of The Ooze), the TMNT were at their absolute height of popularity during 1990/1991 and the 90s atmosphere and style just adds to it for me.

[–] StephieVee 8 years ago

Agreed. The 90 version was the best version. It's actually on right now. My kids rented. I'm half-ass watching waiting for scary movie time!

[–] NeonManiac0 8 years ago

I agree with probably the best adaptation of the Archie comics but not even close to the original TMNT (mirage comics).

It was clearly influenced by and based on the very early Mirage comics and had the same dark, gritty inner-city tone to it.

[–] fallingapart20 8 years ago

Agree

[–] NeonManiac0 8 years ago

I think possibly the best moment in any of the TMNT movies was the campfire scene, which still gets me emotional every time I watch it. Pretty astounding that the movie amidst the fight scenes and humor pulls off a powerful emotional moment like that. I still think it's among the best comic book adaptations and I'd honestly rate it among the best of the Marvel movies.

[–] NeonManiac0 8 years ago

I recently rewatched the first two TMNT movies again and the 1990 movie still holds up excellently. The uber-dark, edgy and seedy urban atmosphere and aesthetic it has and early 90s mood adds so much to it and it's amazing how much it gets the tonal balance right.

Secret Of The Ooze is fun but was too toned down and obviously made to be more like the cartoon series and not the original Mirage comic books unike the 1990 movie. They emphasized the humor aspect too much and there's the feeling of wasted potential in some regards, especially Super Shredder.

If I have any negatives about the 1990 movie, it's how Donatello's voice and personality feel off. SOTO did one thing better and that was get his personality and voice much better. If the SOTO version of Donatello had been in the 1990 movie than the 1990 movie would be about perfect.

[–] manchof1 8 years ago

Donatello was very underutilized in the first Turtles trilogy, at least they managed to balance the team out in these new films and they felt more individualized in their designs.

[–] d_myerss 8 years ago

If I have any negatives about the 1990 movie, it's how Donatello's voice and personality feel off. SOTO did one thing better and that was get his personality and voice much better. If the SOTO version of Donatello had been in the 1990 movie than the 1990 movie would be about perfect.

I feel the complete reverse.

Donatello's voice and personality were perfect in the 1990 movie imo.

He's still the smartest of the guys, except here it's more believable. It's hinted in things like his helping Casey repair the truck, his answering the trivia question without a moments hesitation at the farm, his being judgmental with Mikey's battle cries at the end ("too derivative", "too cliché"), his actual acknowledgement of the weight of Splinter's words at the beginning ("You ever think about what Splinter said tonight?") and maybe even a few other things I can't remember.

He's the smartest of the Turtles, but that doesn't make him super scientist smart.

Bearing in mind these are four teenagers that have spent their lives mastering the art of ninjutsu and having limited access to anything of the outside world.

I think making Donnie typical nerd smart was a step backwards imo.