TMNT (film)

Film
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Release date:	March 23, 2007
Gross:	$54,132,596 (in USA) $95,004,670 (worldwide)
Budget:	$34 million (Largest money budget Ninja Turtles movie)
Director:	Kevin Munroe
Starring:	Chris Evans Sarah Michelle Gellar Mako Iwamatsu Kevin Smith Patrick Stewart Zhang Ziyi Mitchell Whitfield James Arnold Taylor Mikey Kelley Nolan North
Music by:	Klaus Badelt

TMNT (also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4) is a 2007 film based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. This is the fourth installment in the film series. The film sees the Turtles grow apart after their defeat of The Shredder. Meanwhile, strange things are happening in New York City. An army of ancient creatures threatens to take over the world and the Turtles must unite again to save it.

It is the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film made with Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) by Imagi Animation Studios. The previous films in the series were all live-action. It is the first film in the franchise in 14 years. Chronologically, the film takes place after the original films. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was released on March 23, 2007, in a number of Eastern Europe an and Asian countries, on March 23, 2007, in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, and April 5, 2007, in Australia as well as subsequently in numerous other countries. It was the #1 film in the U.S. on its opening weekend, bringing in $25.45 million. It made its television debut on Cartoon Network on November 1, 2009.

The film features the four Turtles (Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo) as well as Casey Jones and April O'Neil. The main villains are Max Winters, the Stone Generals, Karai, and the Foot Clan. Voices are provided by Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Stewart, Zhang Ziyi, and Lawrence Fishburne, who provides narration. It is also the last film starring Mako.

Plot

After defeating the Shredder, the Turtles have grown apart. Leonardo has gone to Central America to train for a year, Raphael continues fighting crime secretly as the vigilante known as the Nightwatcher (though Casey Jones is the only person to easily figure out Raph's secret identity), Michelangelo attends children's birthday parties as "Cowabunga Carl", and Donatello works as tech support over the phone. As he struggles to keep his family together, Splinter realizes that something strange is happening in New York City.

Industrialist Max Winters is really an immortal warlord named Yaolt who tried to conquer the world 3000 years ago by opening an portal containing an army of monsters. He became immortal, but at a price; his brotherhood was turned to stone and thirteen monsters ravaged their army and their enemies at the same time. It seems that he's going to try again when he awakens his siblings, the four Stone Generals that April O'Neil unwittingly took to him. Also, Winters has enlisted the help of Karai, the new leader of the Foot Clan, wanting them to be his eyes and ears around the city, stating that he has some "friends" coming that he would like them to greet and bring to him. With the help of the Stone Generals, the Foot Clan roams the city searching for the thirteen monsters that Winters is looking for.

Leonardo returns to New York City and reestablishes himself as the leader of the group. This leads to some tension between him and Raphael, who feels like Leo abandoned them. This tension comes to a head later in the film, when the two duel after Leo finds out that Raph is the Nightwatcher, the vigilante he was planning on stopping. Raphael comes out the winner, with Leo pinned to the ground and Leo's swords broken with Raph's sais. Fearing what he's become, Raph runs away. Suddenly, Leo is hit with a dart and kidnapped by the Stone Generals. Hearing Leo yell, Raph runs back to help, but he's too late.

Much like Leo did when he returned, Raph goes to Splinter for advice. Raph admits to his master he sees why Leo is the leader rather than him. Splinter tells Raph that he may not be the greatest student, but that doesn't make him any less of a son. He goes on to say that Raphael, like Leonardo, is a great warrior, but a leader must have other qualities like patience and humility. Splinter decides that the time to hide is over, and the Turtles must rescue Leonardo and stop Winters. Splinter goes to help as well as April and Casey Jones. They break they're way through the Foot ninja guarding the stronghold and rescue Leonardo. Raphael gives Leonardo a pair of new swords, asks Leo to lead them, and says the team needs him. Leonardo responds by saying he needs Raphael as well. With that, the team is restored.

Though April, Casey, Splinter and the Turtles believe that Winters is a villain, they later discover his true intentions to send the thirteen monsters back from whence they came to redeem himself and his siblings of the atrocities they've done to the world. Technically after capturing the first twelve monsters earlier, General Aquila learns of this and rally the other Generals to mutiny against Winters, intending to not only preserve their wish for immortality but also use the portal to bring out a new army of monsters so that they can finish their conquest of the world. The Stone Generals demanded that the Foot swear allegiance to them, but Karai states that they are honor-bound to work for Winters. With that in mind, Karai and the Foot work with April and Casey to find the thirteenth monster. Back in the stronghold, the Turtles fight against the Generals while Splinter and Winters throw back any new monsters that come through the portal. Ultimately, the thirteenth monster is returned through the portal, along with the Generals.

Once the battle is over, Karai and the Foot part ways with the Turtles, saying they'll return for revenge. Karai also says that in the near future, they will see a familiar face from their past. With that, the Foot disappear in a puff of smoke. Winters thanks the group for their help and disintegrates into dust, leaving his helmet.

Back in the sewer lair, Splinter puts Winters' helmet on a shelf along with the Shredder's helmet in honor of Winters' redemption. Raphael asks, "Is there room for one more?" and places the Nightwatcher's helmet on the shelf as well. Michelangelo asks if he can put his Cowabunga Carl mask there too.

The film ends with the Turtles jumping across the rooftops, helping each other get across, for example, Mikey lets Don jump on his shell to get to the next rooftop. In a voice over, Raphael says, "We live together, we train together, we fight together, we stand for good, together. We are ninjas. We strike hard, defend, protect and fade into the night. And there ain't no bad guy or monster gonna ever change that. That's what's important. That's why we'll always be...brothers. Oh, I love bein' a turtle!"

Cast

Actor	Role
James Arnold Taylor	Leonardo
Mitchell Whitfield	Donatello
Mikey Kelley	Michelangelo
Nolan North	Raphael/Nightwatcher
Chris Evans	Casey Jones
Sarah Michelle Gellar	April O'Neil
Mako	Splinter
Patrick Stewart	Max Winters
Laurence Fishburne	Narrator
Zhang Ziyi	Karai
John DiMaggio	Colonel Santino
Paula Mattioli	General Serpiente
Kevin Michael Richardson	General Aguila
Fred Tatasciore	General Gato
Kevin Smith	Diner Cook

Additional Voices provided by Dee Bradley Baker, Greg Baldwin, Jeff Bennett, Jim Cummings, Grey DeLisle, Chris Edgerly, Kim Mai Guest, Jennifer Hale, Jess Harnell, Phil LaMarr, Paul Michael Robinson, Tara Strong, and Billy West.

Soundtrack

1. Gym Class Heroes - "Shell Shock"
2. Jet - "Rip It Up"
3. Cute Is What We Aim For - "There's A Class For This"
4. Cobra Starship - "Awww Dip"
5. Meg and Dia - "Roses"
6. Pepper - "Bring Me Along"
7. Amber Pacific - "Fall Back Into My Life"
8. Billy Talent - "Red Flag"
9. This Providence - "Walking on Water
10. Ever We Fall - "Youth Like Tigers"
11. P.O.D. - "Lights Out (Chris Vrenna Remix)"
12. Big City Rock - "Black Betty"
13. Klaus Badelt - "I Love Being A Turtle (Score)"
14. Klaus Badelt - "Nightwatcher (Score)"

Reception

The film received good reception from critics and performed well at the box office making almost three times the production cost. The film was dark and violent like the original comics but still was childlike a little bit. Unlike the first live action film, this one did not have any cursing it at all. There was a rough moment when Raph and Leo are fighting but the fight scenes were not that rough.

TMNT ranked number one at the box office on its opening weekend, beating out 300 (the top film of the previous two weeks), The Last Mimzy, Shooter, Pride, The Hills Have Eyes 2, and Reign Over Me. Weekend estimates showed that the film made $25.45 million over the weekend of March 23-25, 2007. The film grossed over $95 million worldwide during its 91 day run in theaters.

Trivia

• The end of the film holds an homage to the other films, which at the same time places this film within the same continuity. The "shrine" in Splinter's room holds the TCRI canister, Shredder's helmet and staff, a Foot Ninja's mask, the Time Scepter, Walker's hat, pieces of armor that the Turtles wore, and finally Lord Norinaga's helmet.
• This movie was released in the month of March, just like every TMNT film before it.
• The whole script for the movie can be downloaded in a PDF from NinjaTurtles.com here.
• This is the second TMNT film to include a dedication, the other being Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, which was dedicated to Jim Henson.
• During Raphael's finishing lines, the phrase "We strike hard and fade away into the night" was used. That was also the ending line in the first TMNT comic.
• In several parts in the movie, it has been shown that Raphael is left-handed. During the "Breakfast scene", Raphael is fully seen eating his cereal with his left hand.
• While Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello all have brown eyes Michelangelo has blue eyes. According to the film's director, this was done to make Michelangelo seem a bit more innocent and younger than the other turtles.
• The first entirely animated Ninja Turtles movie.
• According to Kevin Munroe, he has stated that they are in the 18-19 years old range, which would make sense that the Turtles were only 15-16 years old in the live-action films.
• In this movie, from oldest to youngest, it goes Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, then Michelangelo.

• This version of the Turtles is similar to the 2003 version despite them not being the same age (The CGI Turtles are between the ages of 18 and 19 while the 2003 Turtles are 15). The Turtles have similar personalities to their 2003 counterparts. Splinter watches soap operas just like Splinter in the 2003 version. Splinter has a large dojo similar to an old ninja masters. This is the first version of the Turtles where they are not cartoons or live action. It also makes sense since the Turtles of TMNT came out while the 2003 version was still on TV.
• This was Mako's last film. He was announced as the voice of Splinter at San Diego Comic Con the day before he died. Fortunately, he had finished the majority of his acting. This film is dedicated to him.
• Some of the 13 monsters are based on actual 'monsters' from popular myth - the first one that appears in the unfinished building is based on the Yeti, the next one to be captured is obviously the Cyclops, the one that eats a pigeon on a building is clearly modeled on gargoyles, and the one in the diner brings to mind the Jersey Devil.

Quote

[Casey quickly looks around, and picks up the alarm clock and starts bashing it on the coffee table.]

• Casey Jones: It-it's broken.

• Raphael: Spoken like a true has-been.
• Donatello: Well, look who woke up. I suppose you think Nightwatcher is some kind of hero.
• Raphael: Beats sitting around doing nothing while dirtbags run free.
• Casey Jones: You think you own these rooftops? I happen to think you could use my help. And I could use a sidekick. You may have everyone else fooled, but you haven't fooled me, Raph.
• "Nightwatcher": Yeah, well guess what... Hey, wait a minute...

["Nightwatcher" removes his helmet, revealing Raphael in the costume.]

• Raphael: How'd you know it was me?
• Casey Jones: It wasn't that hard, man. You look like a big, metal turtle.
• Raphael: It's that obvious, huh?

• Michelangelo: Did anyone get the license plate of that thing that hit us last night? It looked like your mom dude!
• Donatello: Yeah. That would make her your mom too, doofus.
• Michelangelo: Leo! Is that really you? I'm dreaming, aren't I?

[Gives him a big hug.]

• Leonardo: No, Mikey. You're not dreaming.
• Michelangelo: Good. I had nightmares about birthday parties.

• Michelangelo: I heard his [Nightwatcher's] bike, turns into a plane, or like, a jet pack. Don, you're so smart, how come we don't have jet packs?
• Donatello: Yeah, that's good Mikey, except I don't even trust you with a drivers license. Have you seen the way this guy is--

[Donatello is interrupted by a roar coming from a construction site.]

• Leonardo: Alright, but remember, we're up here for training.
• Michelangelo: Y'know what I always say: Train by doing, dude.
• Donatello: Mikey, when have you ever said that?
• Raphael: You are so smug, y'know that? You think that the world revolves around you, don't you? That we couldn't possibly survive without the mighty and powerful Leonardo to guide us through our problems, huh?! Well I've got a a news flash for ya: We got along just fine without you!
• Leonardo: And this qualifies as "just fine"? Dressing up like it's Halloween every night, risking the safety of our family? I mean come on, what were you thinking?!
• Raphael: Don't push it Leo. You can't leave home and come back expecting us to fall in line again, like your little soldiers.
• Leonardo: Hey, I was training. Training to be a better leader. For you! Why do you hate me for that?
• Raphael: Whoever said I wanted to be led?! I'm better off calling my own shots, now get used to it.
• Leonardo: You aren't ready. You're impatient, and hot tempered, and more importantly... I'm better than you. [Raphael laughs coldly]
• Raphael: Oh, y'know something, big brother? I have to disagree with you on that one.

[Raphael makes a "Come get some" motion with his sai.]

• Leonardo: Don't do this, Raph.
• Raphael: I'm done taking orders.

• Donatello: That would be the swirling vortex to another world, I assume.
• Michelangelo: Cool. I want one.

[Raphael hands Leonardo new katana blades to replace the broken ones.]

• Raphael: You're going to need these, if you're going to lead us out of here.
• Leonardo: I'm going to need you, too.

[The stone Generals have just thrown Winters across the lobby of the Winterscorp building.]

• April O'Neil: Winters.
• Michelangelo: Looks more like fall, get it?
• Donatello: Mikey, remember our talk.

• General Aquina: You fight well. You should join us.
• Raphael: No, thanks. I'm good.
• Leonardo: They better hurry up with the last monster!
• Raphael: You know my man Casey's got it all under control!
• Leonardo: That's what I'm afraid of.

(while April is driving)

• Casey: Can't this piece of junk go any faster?!
• April: You wanna drive?!
• Casey: I would as a matter of fact!
• Karai: You would think they would be more concerned about the thirteenth monster.

[Foot Ninja silently nods in agreement.]

[Winters has just vaporised, due to the curse being broken. Golden particles fall to the floor.]

• Michelangelo: Okay, just a little creepy. AACHOO! Oh, gross! I think he's in my no- my no-CHOO! Aw, gross. Somebody give me a hankie! [Michelangelo makes gagging noises.] Now he's in my mouth. [More gagging noises.] Tastes awful!

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	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Films	[view]
Theatrical releases Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)  · The Secret of the Ooze  · Template:Suflonk  · TMNT  · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)  · Out of the Shadows  · Mutant Mayhem Direct-to-video Coming Out of Their Shells  · Operation Blue Line  · We Wish You a Turtle Christmas  · Turtle Tunes  · Turtles Forever  · Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles  · Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie  · Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles  · 35 Days of Kevin Eastman  · The Making of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Behind the Shells Gallery== Don works as an IT specialist Mikey watches the news about the Nightwatcher April after searching for artifacts & finding Leo