Turtles (1990) vs. Turtles (2014)

(Image Source: Wikipedia.org)

In regard to my list of favorite comic book films, there is none I hold on a higher pedestal than Sam Raimi's original Spider-Man. However, a close second is the first live-action adaptation of Mirage Studios' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I admire the film for how it stays faithful to the source material (the comics as opposed to the popular 1987 cartoon), and shows a casual audience an approximation of the original turtles' personalities. While it is much more faithful to the original comics, it also sprinkles in some elements from the cartoon, such as the turtles' colored bandanas and April O' Neil being a television reporter. Additionally, it shows some amazing effect work courtesy of the Jim Henson Creature Shop. Matter of fact, this project was one of the last Henson was involved in before he passed away in May of 1990 (the film's home media releases are actually dedicated to him, such as the DVD).

Since this film adheres more to the comics than the cartoon in terms of plot, characters such as Krang, Bebop, and Rocksteady are thankfully omitted. The tone is also more realistic and grounded in reality, similar to the later Christopher Nolan Batman films. Therefore, one should not expect much of the science fiction elements found in its' animated counterpart. However, the traditional origins of the turtles are kept, and Master Splinter's origin reverts to being the pet of Hamato Yoshi, as opposed to being Yoshi himself (the latter of which I was never a fan of in the 1987 and 2012 versions). Casey Jones and April O' Neil also play roles more similar to the comics, such as the former being a more prominent character than in the animated series (and actually being unmasked). The realistic tone that is carried over from the comics allows for a product that is more believable, and allows for a greater sense of immersion. However, since it takes on a more realistic and darker tone, I would advise showing this version of the turtles to small children since it contains more violence and instances of profanity. The stakes for the turtles are much higher, and the antagonist, Oroku Saki/Shredder is much more intimidating than the bumbling idiot in the cartoon.

Shredder, the turtles, and Splinter feel like they are ripped directly from the comics in terms of appearances, personality, origin, and motivations. Matter of fact, the former's outfit is a 1:1 recreation of the character's appearance from the first issue of the series. Speaking of which, many moments in the plot are ripped directly from the source material as well, with the final confrontation being almost a "shot for shot" adaptation of the battle with Shredder from issue one (aside from the battle's end). We would not see another faithful recreation after this for another thirteen years, when the 2003 4Kids adaptation was released (a version arguably more faithful than this film). If you are looking for a "definitive" adaptation that perfectly captures the essence of Ninja Turtles, then I would highly recommend this one. However, if you are looking for a version that captures more of the essence of the cartoon (albeit poorly), then we have something for you as well; the 2014 Michael Bay reboot...

While the aforementioned film was more grounded in reality, and adhered to the gritty tone of the original comics, this version is that version's near polar opposite. Instead of following the original comics, it chooses to follow the original cartoon. While the 1990 film used impressive practical effects that made the turtles feel believable, the 2014 reboot uses awkward CGI that made the heroes in a half-shell look like Shrek clones on steroids (and made Shredder look as edgy and extreme as possible). I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, considering the man behind this is Michael "make everything macho and over the top" Bay of Transformers fame.

This version poorly captures the essence of the franchise, and simply turns it into 2+ hours of explosions, excessive amounts of computer graphics (especially where there did not need to be CGI), and a bland, miscast April O' Neil (portrayed by Bay's "go-to gal", Megan Fox). Viewers can really tell that Fox was doing this for a paycheck and nothing more, she acts with little personality to the point of it being sleep-inducing. Unfortunately, she also overshadows the titular characters and has a significantly higher amount of screen-time than they do.

Additionally, the origins of the turtles and Splinter are drastically changed as well, with any connection to Hamato Yoshi being completely omitted. However, while this film is a poor adaptation of the source material, there is one aspect they did get right; the individual characteristics of the turtles. While they look like bulked-up Shrek clones, they still act like they are supposed to. Their family dynamic also remains faithful to the source material, acting like brothers instead of four soldiers.

Overall, if you want an experience that is closer to the comics (and much more enjoyable), go for the 1990 film. However if you are looking for excessive adrenaline rushes, macho manliness, bland characters, extreme action sequences, and a product that is basically Ninja Turtles in name only, then go for the 2014 film by Michael Bay. The latter was an absolute chore to watch in the three moments I attempted to do so, and I do not see myself viewing it again (thank goodness I only rented it instead of outright purchasing it for this review). I hope these turtles fade into obscurity in favor of a future experience that is more like the original film, with believable effects, dynamic characters, and a world adhering more closely to either the original or rebooted comics. Perhaps they could make it a period piece by setting it in the 1980s, and make it closer in tone to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's original vision. I would love to see the turtles having all red bandanas for the first time outside of the comics, and the first live action appearances of the Utroms.

What do you think of these two versions of the turtles? What is your favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptation? Feel free to discuss in the comments below; also feel free to like and follow this page for future updates!