Where to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
1 Star
Ancient Japan, 1393. Without a map. Without a clue. Without a pizza. The international phenomenon that is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, returns for a daring trip back in time. When their closest friend April O’Neil is accidentally transported to 17th century Japan, the Turtles spring into action, using a mysterious scepter to travel after her. Cowabunga. What they discover is they’ve landed right in the middle of a rebel samurai war. Now, with precious time on their side, they must save April and survive the deadly battle before it spills over into present day New York City.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) was a surprisingly dark, visually and thematically, action film that was in the vein of Burton’s Batman. The sequel, Secret of the Ooze (1991), was brighter, sillier, and more in line with the vibe and style established in the cartoon series. Turtles III (1993) is the final film in the original feature film series, and it is the exact type of film that fans of the moody comic books feared the original would be. While fans of the series were aging out of the Mutant Ninjas phenomenon, the producers of this entry decided to aim for an even younger audience. I’d say aged 8 and under would be most entertained.
The time-travel storyline and period setting are unnecessary and illogical choices for a third film. The slow-moving plot doesn’t allow for much turtle-fighting action, which in turn will likely bore the target age group for whom the movie is intended. The men inside the four turtle suits appear to be less agile and athletic than the performers in the previous movies. The overuse of indicating gestures, something the first movie didn’t need because it had Jim Henson’s wizards on board, makes the Turtles too similar to another 90s icon, Barney.
Turtle III is a needless sequel and came on the heels of the brand’s cooling, which was already past its expiration date when the film hit screens. Elias Koreas, absent from Part 2, is back in a dual role that is as inconsequential as the rest of the film. The newly designed creature suits are a downgrade, as are the new voice actors. Turtles III belongs in the sewer.
Directed by: Stuart Gillard
Written by: Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Stuart Gillard
Starring: Elias Koteas, Paige Turco, Stuart Wilson