Fun side of cinema
Bakang Israel | Friday July 15, 2016 11:30
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of The Shadows (TMNT2) is our featured movie which is turning heads at the local box office this week. It is another good vs evil duel, even neutrals may enjoy it. This film is a 2016 American science fiction blockbuster that resonates with Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman’s Mirage Studios cartoon comic book popularised by Nickelodeon TV channel. Out of The Shadows edition is the sequel to the 2014 reboot mega hit film. New York’s woes are far from over as the dark force is on the rise again. This time, ‘The turtles face a new challenge’ when Shredder escapes from custody and joins forces with Baxter Stockman, a mad scientist who plans to use a serum to take over the world. Along for the ride are Bebop and Rocksteady, two dimwitted henchmen who provide plenty of muscle. Luckily, the turtles have their own allies in April O’Neil, Vernon Fenwick and Casey Jones, a hockey-masked vigilante. As the pizza-loving heroes prepare for battle, the notorious Krang also emerges to pose an even greater threat. This plot makes for some fascinating 1 hour 52 minutes of thrill. As far as the cast is lined up, most of the main characters have reprised their roles including lead actress Megan Fox (April O’Neil) and the Turtle voice stars. However the production team reinforced the play with some exciting entertainment names such as Tyler Perry who assumes an evil role this time. Even fearsome Shredder is different and more intimidating as ever. TMNT 2 feels vibrant and hypnotic and is very fluid as it was crafted by a young innovative director Dave Green. He has worked his magic from being in the production teams of Hollywood blockbusters such as Spiderman 2 & 3.
Action
Unlike the 2014 edition this Dave Green masterpiece packs a mean punch. This time master Shredder’s foot-clan ninjas are everywhere just like in the cartoons, hence time and again they square off with the best (master splinter shell heroes). For instance, even the film makes a grand entrance with some hard hitting action, with Shredder breaking out of containment and the ninjas demonstrating combat mission skills, gliding using magnetic gloves on moving cars. The movie is also much funnier as it gives superhero action flicks like Deadpool a run for their money. Mickey, the youngest turtle ninja orchestrates laughter from the audience. Perry lights up cinema, adding his Madea crazy talents in the film, but it has to be Baxter Stockman who has an infectious dumb laugh. You really got to hear this deep giggle. Plus Rocksteady and Bebop are the other two retards that were responsible for breaking ribs through irrational behaviour, farting and so forth. Out Of The Shadows is fluid because it has so much star power on display. If you know your TV shows very well, you will notice Megan Fox from Transformers, Stephen Amell (as Casey Jones) synonymous for hit TV series Arrow plus WWE wrestling superstars like Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) serenading the audience as mutants. I for one actually enjoyed this guy’s contribution, most notably the irresistible tag line “My Man”. The film is scintillating because the stunts are good with dazzling and authentic unique high octane events that compliment the action. Fanatics were left tongue wagging during adrenalin moments such as sky-diving into different planes, bone-crunching mutant fighting in the Brazilian Amazon action stunt scenes. Speaking of which, all that is thanks to the creative works of Transformers film series director Michael Bay on the special effects. Out of the Shadows looks colourful and feels exciting as Leonardo and the turtles are very well animated to appear mutant; they look very lively and real for cartoon characters which is good CGI and motion capture stylish visual effects. It keeps one on the edge not to blink as people can teleport to different dimensions, vanishing in an instant just like that. That also compliments the gadgets. The film is unique in that regard as in this one, our turtle automobile is revamped into a huge resourceful dump truck emitting fire, blasting manhole covers armed with nun-chuck arms. This blockbuster is also made enjoyable by the new twists. The tag line ‘out of the shadows’ resonates with the fact that the turtles now engage more with the public. Plus newer characters from the original cartoon script like Stephen Amell (as Casey Jones) are also brought in to the movie. Even the movie villain Krang is nicely incorporated. Krang plays the antagonist role of the dark side very well. Anybody that takes out Shredder with ease is a super villain. Definitely worth a watch. Lastly this sci-fi outshines its predecessor as an eye feasting/mind-blowing delight because of themes of power, crime, justice that have our protagonists and antagonists at each other’s throats depicted in a futuristic way.
Quotes
From the movie that shares fun action
Donatello: If the purple mutagen can turn humans into animals, it can turn animals into humans.
Master Splinter: If Shredder is free, his reign of terror over the city will begin again.
Leonardo: Yeah, turtles fight!
Reception
TMNT 2 is a big budget blockbuster that cost around $135 million to put together according to box office. It premiered #1 back on June 3 scoring $35 million dollars on that weekend before roaring over the world with worldwide total of $219 million. Apart from that, it is still dominant at local theatres giving Ice Age: Collision Course and Me Before You stiff competition. It still ranks in the top 20 of box. TMNT thrills but it looks unlikely that will outclass the $490 mark set by its predecessor. Finally, there has been a change at box office cartoon. Blockbuster Finding Dory has been dethroned this week.
Movie: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- Out Of The Shadows
Genre: Action| Adventure| Comedy| Sci-Fi
Duration: 1 hour 52 mins
Age Restriction: PG
Release Date: July 1, 2016
Director: Dave Green
Main Cast: Megan Fox (April O’Neil), Stephen Amell (Casey Jones), Tyler Perry (Baxter Stockman), Brian Tee (Super Shredder)
Voice Over Characters: Pete Ploszek as (Leonardo, the leader), Jeremy Howard (Donatello, the brains), Alan Ritchson (Raphael, the muscle) & Noel Fisher (Michelangelo, pizza addict)
Top Five movies in the world currently courtesy of box office.
1. The Secret Life of Pets
2. The Legend of Tarzan
3. Finding Dory
4. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
5. The Purge: Election Year
Ratings
I rate it a 10/10 because it is flawlessly fun.