Cowabunga dudes. The original live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy comes to 4k; now, finally, with a supreme pizza’s worth of special features via Arrow Video. Turtle Power!
The Films
I’m 43. Which means I was the perfect age for when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon hit the airwaves in 1988, ushering in a huge cultural phenomenon. Based on the far more adult oriented Mirage comics by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird (originally a one-off parody of Daredevil); the show catapulted the brothers (Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello just in case you’ve just woken up from a 48 year coma), their father Splinter, friend (of various jobs; mostly reporter) April O’Neil, and a host of others including Big Bads Shredder and Krang into the public consciousness. They’ve never left, among countless mutations in comics, TV, and film (with the latest, Mutant Mayhem, being my personal favorite [Felix’s reviews of: Mutant Mayhem, 2014, Out of the Shadows, TMNT, Batman vs…] While I did age out of it originally between II and III, I’ve come back into the fold; now working through the whole canon, including the incredible IDW ongoing comics run (though we all know now, nothing wrong with staying a kid in many ways; and I get to relive a childhood by introducing my 4-year-old old the quartet. He loves them. Raphael is his favorite. … I’m still a Donatello boy).
Let’s take a sip of the Ooze and look at each of the films:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) Directed by Steve Barron; written by Bobby Herbeck and Todd W. Langen
[Previous coverage: Felix’s review & Top Five moments from the film]
The film debut of the Heroes in the Halfshell! I had this poster on my wall! That brings me back. Ahem. Nostalgia. Yes, nostalgia may be guiding me, I fully admit, but I still love this flick. The suits from the Henson company look astounding; you can see how much work was put into making it work. It’s telling when they are often allowed to be out in full daylight. There is no trickery to hide the seams. The same can be said for the full film; there’s no slouch to “push out something because this is popular.” Having been rewatching the cartoons and reading the Mirage comics, it’s interesting how the film takes aspects from both in story and tone. The story is familiar to anyone who knows TMNT: Shredder, evil ninja master covered in a kitchen’s worth of sharp stuff, and his FOOT Clan try to control the underworld of NYC. April O’Neil, played by Judith Hoag, funny, my wife knows her from Halloweentown in her youth, and I know her from this in my own, tries to expose them, gets targeted, and ends up with the Turtles and Splinter as protectors. The action beats are fun (although I’ve always found the final battle lacking) and make full use of the turtle suits (again showing the dedication to a good film), the characters are given life, and again, the effects are awesome. They do truly look lifelike. Director Steve Barron gives the film a brooding, dark, noir look, which suits it very well. Nostalgia be damned, it’s a legitimately good flick.
Btw, did you catch a young Sam Rockwell as the “head teen” FOOT soldier? He has several scenes and lines. Future Scream killer Skeet Ulrich is a background FOOT, too.
The disc features an alternate UK cut as well. It’s about two minutes shorter; the main difference is cutting anything involving Michaelangeo’s nunchucks, making for a few awkward cuts. 
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) Directed by Michael Pressman; Written by Todd W. Langen
Heck yeah, David Warner! TMNT II is a highly enjoyable sequel. Fasttracked after the instant success of the first, arriving almost exactly a year later, it’s definitely a lesser, looser movie, toned down to be more like the cartoon. It’s goofier and sillier. But that’s fine, it’s still a good time. There was a higher budget, which allowed for bigger sequences and more monsters! New mutants Tokka (snapping turtle) and Razhor (wolf) look awesome (too bad no Bebop and Rocksteady! But always love to hear my man Frank Welker). The Turtle suits are worked further, smaller, and easier to move, allowing some awesome moves, especially since Pressman and team had to work around a ban on using the weapons as weapons. Lent a creativity to the chorography. In another way to try to appeal younger audience, the more violent adult Casey Jones is replaced by a kid played by Ernie Reyes, Jr (who was a stunt performer in the first). I’ve always liked him.
Like the first, I’m still disappointed by the quickness of the final battle; Super Shredder looks great, but doesn’t do much but knock some pillars down before being crushed.
Final notes: Ninja Rap! Go, ninja go ninja go! & Felix’s review is found here.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time (1993) Written & Directed by Stuart Gillard
More Golden Harvest! I can’t get away from them. They produced TMNT III, along with my recent Sammo Hung and Rosa watches!
Yes, TMNT III is a big step down from the original pair. It has a bad reputation. I’ll admit I didn’t care much for it when I first watched it. But watching this time, I appreciated it a lot more. Perhaps because I’ve been so deep into this set. It has major story issues and often looks cheap as all heck, but there’s still enough to enjoy. The suits are noticeably stiffer and more suit-like, more plastic and artificial. But I’m glad for a new story, moving away from Shedder’s criminal underworld in NYC, allowing new character and action beats as the brothers and April get thrown into feudal Japan. Turtles on horses? Totally awesome! Glad to see Elias Koteas back as Casey Jones, and as a character in the past. Far more cartoony, complete with sound effects and single-digit kid aimed than the wider range of the last two makes it not as grand. But if you’re buying this set, or even thinking about that, you know how it plays for you and are likely a fan enough to accept the lesser to get some TMNT action in a whole new way.
Source: Arrow Video
The Packaging
Quite the tubular package. Arrow offers this collection in Blu-Ray or 4K UHD. Everything in the package, both physical and disc, is the same, no matter the format, except for specialized artwork: the Arrow Exclusive version has new artwork for the box, and film covers if directly purchased.
Each film has its own plastic case with reversible sleeves with original and new art from Matt Frank and Roberto Rivera Padro. The art continues with three double-sided posters, featuring new and original art. The TMNT III Poster’s backside is a recreation of the ancient scroll. Continuing to harken back to my childhood, it includes eight character trading cards (I had so many of these) and four character stickers (pop some quarters in the machine at the bowling alley!). Finally, it has a Roy’s Pizza loyalty card.
All of this is collected in a thick box, featuring the first film’s poster or new art, depending on the edition.
If there’s one thing that this set lacks from my old DVDS, it’s that TMNT III isn’t signed by Eastman like mine.
The Presentation
Cowabunga, this set looks and sounds astounding. All three films are absolutely gorgeous. Especially the first, with its fantastic look, transferring from a 4k restoration from the original negative. Great depths and darkness with all the detail of the costumes front and center, but not to a degree where it betrays the effects. I was concerned about this, but outside the famous “seeing inside Donatello” shot of the memes (referenced by Barron on his commentary). This is no “clearly seeing the suitactor” like Rawhead Rex. II and III are also impressive, restored from the 35mm. Bright and clear, looking astounding for their era and style. Incredible detail levels and crispness.
For the sound: TMNT 1 has three options. The original theatrical mix and a new Dolby Atmos. It also presents a “warrior” mix, which replaces “Ninja” with “Warrior” and some differences. II and III have lossless sero audio and optional DTS-HD MA 5.1. All only in English. All three films feature English subtitles only.
The Features
Until now, the special features on the Turtles releases have been totally bogus, carrying at most a trailer. At least stateside, some European releases have had a handful, including commentaries. Arrow fixes that with a radical and nearly about overwhelming number of new features; enough to fill a Technodrome. The first film receives the mutant lion-human hybrid’s share, but II and III still have plenty. I’ll break down the discs below, but outside of them, the set includes a collector’s booklet, designed to look like a Ray’s Pizza menu with essays about the films.
Outside of the 1991 making of for II, they’re all new. Presented without subtitles.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
“2 Commentaries”
- Director Steve Barron- A solo Barron is technical and interesting. He’s a little dry but has so many stories of how the film came to be from the Mirage comics, the various script notes, and how he was able to pull it all off with all the help from the massive amount of effects and Turtle’s technical needs.
- Comic book expert and podcast host Dave Baxter – this was awesome! An energetic and detailed history of the franchise from start to now, with all sorts of information flowing. Baxter has a depth of knowledge and shares it freely and funly. Not just the franchise, but the details of the creation of the film from the outside, in ways Barron didn’t or couldn’t touch on.
“Rising When We Fall”
Steve Barron continues on the commentary notes, exploring the legacy and how it came about. Forthcoming and interesting. (15m)
“Turtle Talk”
Turtle performers (each brother had a regular suit, stunt suit, and voice performer; some folks did multiple parts of this) Robbie Rist, Brian Tochi, Ernie Reyes Jr, and Kenn Scott talk to their parts in bringing the turtles to life. I loved hearing it from the inside, the ups and downs, and how they worked the suits and movements across the films. (19m)
“O’Neil on the Beat” –
April actor Judith Hoag talks about getting the part and the trials and fun of working with the suits and making something real out of what sounds silly on paper. It was cool to hear her talk about Robin Williams’s love of the franchise (she was on Cadillac Man with him when cast). There’s a great throughline among the features of initial embarrassment of the project becoming excitement as people reveal their love of the franchise. (19m)
“Beneath the Shell” –
Brian Henson (puppet coordinator and 2nd unit) and Rob Tygner (Splinter and Leo) delve into one of my favorite explorations: how the Turtles worked. It’s amazing puppetry, and I could watch and listen to them talk about it all day. So much intricate work. (16m)
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turf”
Weird to see horror critic and writer Michael Gringold in a non-horror property! I love these features (usually with Sean Clark on Shout releases) of checking out locations later on. It has a reality to the flicks. Anyway, he takes us to the NYC locations (love the background folk living their lives as he talks it out) and what remains of the studio in North Carolina. (13M)
“Alternate ending from VHS Work Print”
The long thought lost ending with April and Danny trying to sell the idea to Mirage comics. (3m)
“Alternate Korean Footage”
Like the UK having to cut out all nunchucks, Korea had to take out all references to Japan and ninjas (turning the word into hero). An interesting side note comes in Splinter’s background. (2m)
“Theatrical Trailers” 4 total, I think the Turtles had different voices in these? About 6 min
total.
“Image Gallery” 27 BTS and poster images.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II
“Commentary with director Michael Pressman, moderated by Gillian Wallace Horvat.”
Another well-done commentary. I appreciate Pressman’s honesty on the ups and downs of dealing with the details, studio pressure, parent groups, and working with a quickness to make it out in a year. Horvat is a great moderator; she’s excellent at leading him with questions (Pressman commends her deep knowledge and knowing what to ask).
“John Du Prez to the Rescue” –
The composer of all three films in the trilogy talks about his history (UHF!) and his process to compose the notes and themes. TMNT has a very memorable score; after hearing so much digging through this set, it’ll never leave my head again. (14m)
“Hard Cores” – Kenny Wilson of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop 8m
Kenny Wilson of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop talks about the differences in the suits from parts 1 to 2, and more on how it all works. It’s short, but this is my jam, so I could listen to him talk about it all day. (8m)
“The Secret of the Edit”
Did you know the first TMNT was legendary (and passed) editor Sally Menke’s first project? Editor Steve Mirkovich works through editing for all the moving bits and fights, keeping a full run in 85 minutes and quickly. (15m)
“Behind the Sells” archival from 1991 –
An archival feature from 1991, a very spoiler-filled TV making of (they always were). It’s bodacious to see the way this worked back then. I have fond memories of all of these sorts of things. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth with all the new features, but there was so much of this, including the two musical specials from the live tours! Maybe it’s rights issues, but they’d be cool to see again (off to Youtube after this!). Still, it connects to my youth in the way revisiting the movies did. (29m) Further reading: Felix on the Christmas one.
“Theatrical trailer”
“Image gallery”
27 images of behind the scenes, film stills, lobby cards, and posters.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
“Commentary with director Stuart Gillard”
Gilliard gives an enlightening and honest commentary of making this film from the ground up. He has a deep love of his film and the new take on the Turtles, but doesn’t shy away from the issues of production. I didn’t know he filmed Oregon for Japan. Nice to see my area! PNW, ho!
“Daimyos & Demons”
Sab Shimono, who plays the warlord villain, talks about his history and approaching the film as his Mifune film after working with the legend a few times. He was reticent but spoke highly of the set and the generational love he’s received. (10m)
“Rebel Rebel”
Vivian Wu played the rebel leader, coming to film after a start with The Last Emperor and then Hong Kong cinema. Turtles and horses make good stories! (15m)
“Alternate UK opening”
Much the same, but removes the nunchucks as censors did in the previous films. (2m)
“Theatrical trailer”
A rather silly trailer, I can see why folks got turned off and didn’t turn out. (2m)
“Image Gallery”
24 stills and a few posters.
Final Thoughts
Cowabunga! What a righteous set! As a lifelong (outside that little bit where I turned away) fan of the franchise, I’m glad it’s still going strong in current culture and that Arrow has finally provided a full complement of bodacious extras to build from the amazing-looking transfers of the films. For any Turtles fan, this is one heck of a pick-up. My Xennial heart bursts with nostalgia! So bursting I’m nearly wanting to play the NES game. BRING IT ON, DAMN DAM LEVEL. I’m 43 now, I surely can beat it without Game Genie now, right?
TURTLE POWER
Want some more? In addition to the links above, Felix also ranked the films, looked at the Turtle Power documentary, and waxed on the franchise’s return in 2013.