TMNT

Mar 23 2007 By The Journal

Abbreviated to TMNT, Kevin Munroe's computer-animated romp drags the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles kicking and "dude"-ing into the 21st Century.

Fans of the original series will be in raptures. The new film remains faithful to the legend of the four brothers - each with a distinctive personality and coloured eye-mask - and their wily rat mentor.

When one of the turtles is abducted, a plucky sibling rouses the team by declaring: "I know what we're gonna do: we're gonna rescue our brother and then save New York City!"

It has been many months since Leonardo (James Arnold Taylor), Michaelangelo (Mikey Kelley), Donatello (Mitchell Whitfield) and Raphael (Nolan North) defeated arch-nemesis The Shredder, freeing New York from his grasp.

While Leo embarks on a journey of self-discovery, the other three turtles drift along. Mikey breaks into the entertainment industry, Donatello runs an IT support helpline and Raph terrorises the criminal fraternity as masked vigilante The Nightwatcher.

Old ally April O'Neil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is despatched to Central America to persuade Leo to return home where industrialist Maximilian Winters (Patrick Stewart) is scheming to open a portal to an otherworldly realm, home to 13 fierce monsters.

Verdict: TMNT is fast-paced fun, especially for younger audiences, with Mikey providing most of the humour. The action sequences are orchestrated at breakneck pace.