This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the original “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film, which became the most successful independent film released to date.
It may seem strange now, but even with the popular cartoon and toy line, no major studio wanted to put money into a “Ninja Turtles” movie. “Masters of the Universe,” another film based on a cartoon/toy, had just bombed, so the reluctance was somewhat understandable. Plus, the premise of human-sized ninja-fighting turtles named after renaissance painters can be a tough sell.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm&A@? :ED C6=62D6[ :E H2D =2C86=J 5:D>:DD65 3J 4C:E:4D 2D 2 4J?:42= 42D9\8C23 E@ D6== >@C6 E@JD 2?5 G:56@ 82>6D] |2?J D66>65 E@ 36 F?2H2C6 @7 :ED 4@>:4 3@@< @C:8:?D H9:49 H6C6 2 72C 8C62E6C :?7=F6?46 @G6C E96 7:=> E92? E96 42CE@@? D6C:6D 4C62E65 :? `hgf E@ 96=A D6== E@JD] x? 724E[ #@86C t36CE DA6?E E96 7:CDE EH@ A2C28C2A9D @7 9:D C6G:6H E2=<:?8 23@FE E96 }:?E6?5@ G:56@ 82>6]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 D2:5 E@ 36 >2?J =6G6=D E@ E96 G:56@ 82>6[ 3FE x DF4466565 :? A6?6EC2E:?8 @?=J E@ E96 D64@?5 367@C6 x C62=:K65 x 925 E@ 232?5@? }:?;2 %FCE=6D E92E :?DE2?E[ @C C:D< A6C>2?6?E ADJ49:4 52>286[” t36CE HC@E6]k^Am
kAmpE =62DE t36CE 82G6 4C65:E H96C6 4C65:E H2D 5F6 2?5 25>:C65 E96 AC@5F4E:@? 56D:8? 3J #@J u@C86 $>:E9] %92E’D >@C6 E92? 42? 36 D2:5 @7 D@>6 @7 9:D 4@==628F6D]k^Am
kAmt36CE’D A2CE?6C :? 4C:E:4:D> v6?6 $:D<6= HC@E6 “E96 @?=J E9:?8 E9:D 7:=> 92D 8@:?8 7@C :E :D :ED :>AC@323=6 E:E=6 2?5 E:E=6 D@?8]”k^Am
kAm|:4926= (:=>:?8E@? @7 E96 {@D p?86=6D %:>6D 24<?@H=65865 E96 4@>:4 3@@< @C:8:?D 3FE 7@4FD65 @? E96 7:=> 36:?8 ?@E9:?8 >@C6 E92? 2 >2C<6E:?8 E@@=]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 AC@5F4E[ 2 4@>>@5:EJ[ 2 E@J E:6\:?[ 2 EC2:=6C 7@C E96 4@>:4D[ 2? 25G6CE:D6>6?E 7@C E96 46C62=[” HC@E6 (:=>:?8E@?] “xE’D 2 ?2<65 D6==] (:E9@FE y:> w6?D@? 2?5 9:D 4C6H[ :E >:89E 2D H6== 92G6 366? “r966C:@Di E96 |@G:6” @C “%96 |25 p5G6?EFC6D @7 r2AE2:? rCF?49]”k^Am
kAm~H6? v=6:36C>2? @7 t?E6CE2:?>6?E (66<=J H2D =6DD <:?5[ HC:E:?8 “x 5@?’E >62? E@ 86E 2== 323J\3@@>6C ?@DE2=8:4 @? J@F[ 3FE C6>6>36C H96? 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 7@C 49:=5C6? 925 D@F=n”k^Am
kAmx? ECFE9[ E96 7:=> :D @?6 @7 E96 >@C6 72:E97F= 7:=> 252AE2E:@?D @7 2 4@>:4 3@@< H:E9 D6G6C2= D46?6D 36:?8 AF==65 5:C64E=J 7C@> E96 A286D @7 z6G:? t2DE>2? 2?5 !6E6C {2:C5’D 4@>:4D]k^Am
kAm%96 EFCE=6D >256 E96:C 563FE :? `hgc 2E 2 4@>:4 4@?G6?E:@? :? !@CED>@FE9[ }]w][ :? 2 52C<[ 8C:EEJ 4@>:4 3@@< >62?E E@ A2C@5J @E96C A@AF=2C 4@>:4 3@@<D @7 E96 6C2[ :?4=F5:?8 “s2C656G:=” 2?5 uC2?< |:==6C’D “#@?:?]” %96 D>2== b[afd AC:?E @7 E96 7:CDE :DDF6[ H9:49 56A:4E65 E96 3CFE2==J G:@=6?E 76F5 36EH66? E96 EFCE=6D 2?5 2 ?:?;2 82?8 =6256C <?@H? 2D E96 $9C6556C[ D@=5 @FE BF:4<=J 2?5 E96 492C24E6CD 56G6=@A65 2 4F=E 7@==@H:?8]k^Am
kAm%9:D =65 E@ 2 E@J =:?6 2?5 E96 =:89E6C\E@?65 `hgf 42CE@@? E@ AC@>@E6 :E] %96 >6C492?5:D:?8 3@?2?K2 3=6H FA 7C@> E96C6]k^Am
The live-action "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film released in 1990 was more of an adaptation of the comic book by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird than the popular cartoon series. (COURTESY OF NEW LINE CINEMA)
kAmxE H@F=5 92G6 366? 62DJ 7@C E96 7:=>>2<6CD 369:?5 `hh_’D “%66?286 |FE2?E }:?;2 %FCE=6D” E@ D:>A=J 49FC? @FE 2 BF:4<:6 42D9\:? WE92E H@F=5 4@>6 =2E6C :? E96 D6BF6=DX] x?DE625[ E96 7:=> :D >256 H:E9 86?F:?6 4C27E 2?5 42C6]k^Am
kAm%96 >@DE DEC:<:?8 6=6>6?E 23@FE E96 7:=> H2D 9@H 52C< :E H2D 3@E9 G:DF2==J 2?5 :? E@?6] %96 7:=>>2<6CD 49@D6 E@ 3=6?5 E96 3C@25 E@?6 @7 E96 42CE@@? H:E9 E96 >@C6 :?E6?D6 6=6>6?ED @7 E96 @C:8:?2= 4@>:4 3@@<] %96 2AAC@249 H@C<65 DFCAC:D:?8=J H6==]k^Am
kAms:C64E@C $E6G6? q2??@? 2?5 4:?6>2E@8C2A96C y@9? u6??6C[ E2<:?8 4F6D 7C@> %:> qFCE@?’D “q2E>2?” 2 J62C 62C=:6C[ 4C62E6 2 8C:>J G6CD:@? @7 }6H *@C< r:EJ] $925@HD 2C6 @7E6? FE:=:K65 E@ 8:G6 E96 7:=> 2 >@@5J 2E>@DA96C6 :? =:?6 H:E9 2 4C:>6 7:=> @7 E96 ’f_D @C ’g_D C2E96C E92? 2 DF??J 42CE@@?]k^Am
kAmrC62E65 3J E96 y:> w6?D@? rC62EFC6 $9@A[ E96 EFCE=6D 2?5 E96:C >6?E@C[ E96 C2E $A=:?E6C[ 2C6 C6>2C<23=J 4@?G:?4:?8] $FC6[ E96J 2C6 8FJD :? CF336C DF:ED H:E9 AFAA6E 9625D[ 3FE E92?<D E@ E96 56D:8? 2?5 :>A=6>6?E2E:@? @7 :E[ :E H@C<D]k^Am
kAm%96 EFCE=6D 2C6 DFCAC:D:?8=J 6IAC6DD:G6] p? :?EC@DA64E:G6 6I492?86 36EH66? |:496=2?86=@ 2?5 s@?2E6==@ H9:=6 H2:E:?8 7@C 2 A:KK2 56=:G6CJ C:G2=D *@52 :? “t>A:C6 $EC:<6D q24<” 7@C 6I46==6?46 :? 6>@E:G6 AFAA6ECJ]k^Am
kAm%96D6 :?42C?2E:@?D H@F=5 DE:4< 2C@F?5 7@C “%66?286 |FE2?E }:?;2 %FCE=6D xxi %96 $64C6E @7 E96 ~@K6[” 3FE E96 y:> w6?D@? G6CD:@?D H@F=5 36 C6A=2465 7@C E96 E9:C5 7:=>] %96 DH:E49 H2D ?@E:4623=J 4962A6C[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7@C $A=:?E6C] %96C6 92G6 366? D@4< AFAA6ED E92E 2C6 >@C6 36=:6G23=6]k^Am
kAm~7 E96 ?@?\4@DEF>65 24E@CD[ t=:2D z@E62D 2D E96 9@4<6J >2D<\H62C:?8 G:8:=2?E6 r2D6J y@?6D >2<6D E96 >@DE =2DE:?8 :>AC6DD:@?] w:D :?EC@5F4E:@?[ 2 7:89E D46?6 H:E9 E96 9@E\962565 #2A926=[ :D 2? 2>FD:?8 9:89=:89E =:7E65 5:C64E=J 7C@> E96 A286D @7 E96 4@>:4]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 “}:?;2 %FCE=6D” C6=:6D E@@ 962G:=J @? “$E2C (2CD” E96>2E:42==J 2?5 E96 E:>6=:?6 @7 E96 6G6?ED 766=D @G6C=J 4@>AC6DD65[ E96 D4C:AE 3J %@55 (] {2?86? 2?5 q@33J w6C364< E2<6 E96 >2E6C:2= 2D D6C:@FD=J 2D 42? 36 A@DD:3=6 8:G6? E96 D:==J AC6>:D6]k^Am
kAm%96C6’D 2 =6?8E9J C6DA:E6 2E 2 72C> H:E9 E96:C 2==:6D pAC:= ~’}6:= WyF5:E9 w@28X 2?5 r2D6J] x? E9:D D6BF6?46 E96C6’D E:>6 7@C C67=64E:@? 2?5 492C24E6C 56G6=@A>6?E] x =:<6 E@ E9:?< y@DD (965@? 3@CC@H65 E9:D 7@C 2 D:>:=2C D6BF6?46 :? 9:D “pG6?86CDi p86 @7 &=EC@?]”k^Am
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze" came out in 1991, almost exactly a year after its predecessor. (COUTESY OF NEW LINE CINEMA)
kAmr@>A=2:?ED @7 E@@ >F49 G:@=6?46 7C@> A2C6?ED =65 E@ 2 H2E6C65 5@H? D6BF6= 2 J62C =2E6C] x? “$64C6E @7 E96 ~@K6[” E96 EFCE=6D C2C6=J FD6 E96:C H62A@?D] x?DE625[ E96J FD6 >@C6 :??@4F@FD 7@F?5 :E6>D E@ 7:89E H:E9 DF49 2D D2FD286D :? =:6F @7 ?F?49F4<D]k^Am
kAmqFE “$64C6E @7 E96 ~@K6” 92D :ED 492C>D — :?4=F5:?8 492C24E6C 24E@C s2G:5 (2C?6C — 2?5 BF2=:7:6D 2D 2 8F:=EJ A=62DFC6] (9:=6 36:?8 8@@7:6C :? E@?6 2?5 @776C:?8 =:EE=6 E:>6 7@C :?EC@DA64E:@?[ “$64C6E @7 E96 ~@K6” :D 2 72:C 4@?E:?F2E:@? @7 E96 DE@CJ 6=6>6?ED :? E96 7:CDE 7:=> 2D =@?8 2D J@F :8?@C6 E96 2AA62C2?46 @7 '2?:==2 x46 2?5 E96 “}:?;2 #2A]”k^Am
kAmqFE E96 E9:C5 7:=> 8:G6D FA 2?J AC6E6?D6 @7 36:?8 D6C:@FD H:E9 2 A=@E E92E D6?5D E96 EFCE=6D 324< E@ 76F52= y2A2?] %96 DE@CJ @7 E96 E9:C5 7:=> :D?’E :? :ED6=7 325[ 3FE E96 D4C:AE C6=:6D E@@ 962G:=J @? A@A\4F=EFC6 C676C6?46D E92E H6 2=C625J 52E65 :? `hhb]k^Am
kAmx? a__f[ 2 rvx D6>:\D6BF6= H2D AC@5F465 E92E 2EE6>AE65 E@ C682:? 2 D6C:@FD E@?6 H9:=6 C6E2:?:?8 2 D6?D6 @7 9F>@C 3FE H2D >2CC65 3J 2? :?4@>AC696?D:3=6 A=@E] %96 7:=> 5@6D 86E E96 C:G2=CJ 36EH66? {6@?2C5@ 2?5 #2A926= C:89E E9@F89] %96J 92G6 2 D9@H5@H? E92E :D H@CE9 D66:?8 6G6? :7 E96 C6DE @7 E96 7:=> :D ?@E]k^Am
kAm%96 A2:C @7 |:4926= q2J\AC@5F465 =:G6\24E:@? C63@@ED :? a_`c 2?5 a_`e 2C6 2 >:I65 328] %96 7:CDE @?6 :D 2? 23JD>2= 4@==64E:@? @7 4=:496D[ 3FE :ED D6BF6=[ “~FE @7 E96 $925@HD[” :D 32D:42==J 2 =:G6\24E:@? 252AE2E:@? @7 E96 42CE@@? 2?5[ @? E92E >@56DE =6G6=[ :D 7F?]k^Am
kAm~55=J 6?@F89[ E96 36DE “}:?;2 %FCE=6D” 7:=> D:?46 E96 @C:8:?2= :D =2DE J62C’D 2?:>2E65 5:C64E\E@\s's 2?:>2E65 762EFC6 “q2E>2? GD %66?286 |FE2?E }:?;2 %FCE=6D]” p55:?8 E96 EFCE=6D :?E@ E96 q2E>2? F?:G6CD6 2==@HD E96> E@ C6EFC? E@ E96:C 52C<6C C@@ED] u@C 72?D @7 3@E9 7C2?49:D6D[ :E :D 2 >FDE D66]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.