TMNT Film

The Turtles’ latest feature film, titled simply TMNT, was released March 23, 2007. It is the fourth and final installment of the original series. Unlike the previous films, it utilized 100% computer-generated imagery, produced by Imagi Animation Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Weinstein Company. Chronologically, this movie takes place after the third movie. According to a press release, “the PG-rated movie will derive its tone from the original comic-book series and will be slightly grittier than the previous live-action pictures. The animation was created in Imagi’s state-of-the-art facility in Hong Kong.”[1] The teaser trailer was released July 20, 2006.[2] A second trailer was released January 17, 2007.[3] The storyline focuses on an ancient legend of four siblings and thirteen monsters, taking a giant leap from any preceding turtle movies yet gave small evidence to the fact that the film is a sequel to the 3 movies that had preceded it (including showing the magical sceptre from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, the canister the ‘ooze’ came from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II near the ending, and Shredder’s helmet, resembling the one from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, even though it was thought to have been crushed in the original movie).

The movie takes place after Shredder’s defeat, with the team essentially broken as Leonardo is training in Central America, Donatello and Michelangelo have jobs, and Raphael spends his time as the vigilante crimefighter ‘Nightwatcher’. Leonardo returns when Max Winters, an immortal warrior who tried to take over the world 3,000 years ago, begins hunting for alien beasts and stone statues of his former Generals. However, tensions begin to rise between Raphael and Leonardo over the leadership of the team. The Foot Clan also make an appearance, with Karai leading them. It is hinted towards the end of the film by a comment by Karai that either the Shredder is not dead, there is a new incarnation of the Shredder in the Foot Clan, or that he will be resurrected. TMNT is possibly the final Ninja Turtle movie to be distributed by Time Warner due to the franchise being purchased by Viacom.