Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, also called TMNT III, is a 1993 film. Some people mistakenly call it Turtles in Time.

In TMNT III, April O'Neil is accidentally sent back to feudal Japan and a man, with the same scepter that April had, from feudal Japan is sent to New York. The Turtles take his scepter and go to Japan to save April.

This film was heavily criticized. Common criticism include the cartoon-like feel of the film, the unrealistic plot, and the lack of combat. Another common complaint is the low quality of the Turtles' costumes and Splinter's puppetry.

Plot
The movie opens with a man fighting off a bunch other men in feudal Japan. In the present day, Raphael is complaining that the Turtles aren't appreciated because no one sees what they do. April, who was shopping in preparation for a trip, bought each of the Turtles a gift. Michelangelo was given a colorful lampshade, Donatello an old radio, Leonardo a book on historical swords, and Raphael a cowboy hat. Raphael left before he could receive his gift, however. Splinter was given an ancient Japanese scepter.

In ancient Japan, the man seen earlier, Kenshin, was being reprimanded for disgracing his father, Daimyo Norinaga. He leaves his father, goes to a temple, and drives out its priests. There, he finds a scepter and reads its inscription: "Open Wide the Gates of Time." Before he leaves, an English weapon trader named Walker is introduced as well as his thug, Niles.

In the present, April is looking at the scepter. It's begun to light up and spin. She and Kenshin switch positions in time and space. April is immediately kidnapped and imprisoned by Lord Norinaga.

In the present, the Turtles befriend Kenshin. They call Casey Jones over to watch the lair while they're gone. When they head back in time, they are replaced by four honor guards (instead of four priests as they intended).

When the Turtles arrive in Japan, they arrive on horses. Michelangelo can't ride and falls off the horse. Outlaws kidnap him and steal the scepter. The others decide to rescue April first. People mistake them for honor guards, but they are imprisoned after following Walker's thug. After a sloppy rescue involving a man named Whit (who April thinks is Casey's ancestor), they haven't a clue what to do.

In the present, Kenshin is getting worried. If they don't switch places again in 60 hours, they won't be able to get home. To take Kenshin's mind of his troubles, Casey introduces the group to hockey.

In Japan, an attack on the Turtles leads them to Mitsu, the leader of the rebellion against Lord Norinaga. They discover that Mitsu's village is being burned down and go to save it. In the same village, two men release Michelangelo, thinking he's a honor guard. He shows them his face and the men flee. Michelangelo insists that he's a "beautiful princess in disguise," but is quickly distracted by the dropped swords. Walker was the one who burnt the village, in hopes of finding the scepter and to continue the war so people would buy his weapons. After being confronted by Michelangelo and several villagers, Walker flees. Michelangelo saves a boy named Yoshi, so the Turtles are allowed to stay. However, the scepter has been lost, so they must make a new one.

Lord Narinaga and Walker were bargaining over the price of weapons. Lord Norinaga mentioned that demons that resembled turtles once tried to end his reign. Immediately, Walker rose his prices.

In the village, Michelangelo teaches the people about pizza, but his is so hard he has to use it as a Frisbee instead. Michelangelo is attracted to Mitsu, but he understands that she and Kenshin share a bond. Raphael also grows found of Yoshi. The new scepter is completed, but it's broken by Raphael and Michelangelo in an argument about whether or not to stay. Mitsu informs the village that Lord Narinaga has guns and will attack the village tomorrow. Yoshi, fearing Raphael's death, gives the Turtles the original scepter. They are happy to have it, but angry at Mitsu, whom they believed hid it so they'd fight in the war. Her grandfather, the village leader, defended her by telling them he told Yoshi to hide the scepter and beg them to fight.

Whit, the man the Turtles saved along with April, kidnapped Mitsu. The Turtles save her and free all her friends. This leads to a large battle at Lord Norinaga's palace. Leonardo defeats Norinaga in a duel.

Walker managed to grab the scepter in the confusion and was going to use it to his advantage by tossing it off the roof. However, he forgets his birds and run back to get them. The Turtles save the scepter and Whit redeems himself by finishing off Walker.

The Turtles debate whether to stay in Japan, where they are appreciated but might interfere with history, or return to New York, where they must hide but can continue with their lives. The Turtles ultimately decide to return, but Michelangelo misses the ride. He manages to make it back in time, but the scepter is smashed, making it unusable.

Cast
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 * April O'Neil - Paige Turco
 * Splinter (voice) - James Murray
 * Leonardo - Mark Caso
 * Leonardo (voice) - Brian Tochi
 * Michelangelo - David Fraser
 * Michelangelo (voice) - Robbie Rist
 * Donatello - Jim Raposa
 * Donatello (voice) - Corey Feldman
 * Raphael - Matt Hill
 * Raphael (voice) - Tim Kelleher
 * Casey Jones/Whit - Elias Koteas
 * Lord Norinaga - Sab Shimono
 * Mitsu - Vivian Wu
 * Kenshin - Henry Hayashi
 * Walker - Stuart Wilson
 * Niles - John Aylward
 * Yoshi - Travis Moon
 * Grandfather - Tad Horino

Soundtrack

 * 1) Tarzan Boy - Baltimora
 * 2) Can't Stop Rockin' - ZZ Top
 * 3) Rockin' Over the Beat - Technotronic
 * 4) Conga - The Barrio Boyzz
 * 5) Tarzan Boy (Remix) - Baltimora
 * 6) Turtle Jam - Psychedelic Dust
 * 7) Fighter - Definition of Sound
 * 8) Yoshi's Theme - John Du Prez & Ocean Music
 * 9) Turtle Power - Partners in Kryme
 * 10) Rockin' Over the Beat - Technotronic


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