HOME   News   Reviews   Adv Search   Features   My DVD   About   Apps   Stats     Search:
  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.85:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • French: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • Spanish: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • German: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • Italian: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
    French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, English - Hearing Impaired, German - Hearing Impaired
  Extras
  • Theatrical trailer

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3

20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox . R4 . COLOR . 92 mins . PG . PAL

  Feature
Contract

After April discovers an ancient Japanese relic at a flea market, she is transported back in time to feudal Japan and inexplicably replaced in present time by a Japanese warrior known as Kenshin. The turtles then use the rod to transport themselves back in time in order to find April and bring her safely home. However, they soon find themselves working against the clock in a bid to save a threatened village from annihilation, rescue their beloved pal April and return Kenshin to his own time before they can make the journey back. So I guess it's kind of like The Seven Samurai meets The Time Machine, except with ninja turtles, and thankfully, no cameo from Vanilla Ice.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 wasn't unleashed quite as quickly as the follow-up to the first film, but that's hardly surprising considering the rather ambitious story and production setting.

While the decision to take something of a more serious stance on this film might have seemed like a good idea at the time, the results could never have dispelled the death rattle of the franchise. The film is often unfairly dismissed as the worst of the three cinematic entries for the franchise. This is true to an extent, but since none of them are really anything special, it's kind of like shooting dead sloths in a rather small wheelie bin.

"Look, I'm just like Elvis in Blue Hawaii!"

Sure, it doesn't work quite as well as the previous ventures, but at least it's a slight change in pace and a big change in setting. There's still plenty of action and crazy turtle shenanigans, and while disappointingly underused, the Japanese setting is a big plus for the film. And hey, does the irrepressible Corey Feldman as the voice of Donatello sound appealing? I thought it might.

  Video
Contract

Like its partner in crime, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, there is really nothing to stamp your feet over here. Generally, the vivid greens of the Japanese countryside benefit a lot more from the format of DVD compared to urban New York. Some film grain is still present throughout the film, however there doesn't seem to be as much here as there was on the second film. Black levels are fairly solid throughout and colour reproduction is generally quite good.

Turn that frown upside down turtle kids, your least favourite of the three films looks just fine!

The film is presented in an anamorphically enhanced ratio of 1.85:1.

  Audio
Contract

There's nothing of any real significance to complain about here either. Again, all five Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtracks do their duties just fine. The soundtrack is clear and dialogue levels are problem free throughout.

What's more, Corey Feldman's immediately recognisable voice over talents are clear and audible for the entire presentation. Which is always a comfort.

  Extras
Contract

Theatrical Trailer - It's in much better condition than the trailer included with the second film, if that's any form of relief.

  Overall  
Contract

After watching both the second and third Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films back to back, I can honestly say that this film isn't as bad as most reviews will have you believe. That and the knowledge that Elias Koteas looks really silly with long hair.

As far as recommending these films for parents though, I think that this film will actually appeal to younger kids a lot more than the second film. It's got lots of humour, lots of kung fu and lots of humorous kung fu; it's sure to have them creating makeshift weapons out of cooking utilities and running around the house with bin lids on their backs for days on end.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=2020
  • Send to a friend.

    Cast your vote here: You must enable cookies to vote.
  •   
      And I quote...
    "...kind of like The Seven Samurai meets The Time Machine, except with ninja turtles, and thankfully, no cameo from Vanilla Ice."
    - Ben Pollock
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Omni SL-P2000KD
    • TV:
          Palsonic 71cm
    • Speakers:
          Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
    • Centre Speaker:
          Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
    • Surrounds:
          Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          standard s-video
      Recent Reviews:
    by Ben Pollock

    Repo Man
    "Cult cinema has rarely been as strikingly memorable..."

    Starman
    "Starman's approach to the sci-fi genre still works because it is primarily grounded in realism..."

    Joe Somebody
    "Along with the superb audio and video transfers, it also helps matters that this remains one of Tim Allen's finer family/comedy performances."

    Transformers - The Movie
    "...will truly make one wish they hadn't lost most of their figurines in sandpits and long grass."

    Stealing Harvard
    "...if you're willing to completely switch off for 80 minutes, you should at least enjoy the nicer aspects of the story."

      Related Links
      None listed

     

    Search for Title/Actor/Director:
    Google Web dvd.net.au
       Copyright © DVDnet. All rights reserved. Site Design by RED 5   
    rss