I was expecting a better sequel. While it's not better than its 2014 predecessor, at best it's just as good. So, let's start with the good.
The opening is arguably the live-action equivalent to Po's entrance in KFP 3. The Turtles do some amazing acrobatics tricks, all for a pizza and hidden seat at a basketball game. As to be expected, there are crazy and awesome actions sequences to follow, and they are well-done.
Next, there's some nice character progression. Splinter softens up and shows more of his fatherly side this time around. The dynamic between the brothers (Turtles) is more developed, with Raph and Leo getting into a traditional fight and the former calling out the latter for keeping the mutagen a secret, which then backfires as Leo points out that Raph lied to Casey and April about his plan to get into the police station for the mutagen having Leo's approval, which ends with the two humans getting arrested. And of course, no one messes with Mikey. I also like that April is doing an undercover reporter thing this time around and those fanservice moments of hers really do make sense in context.. Speaking of the girl, I didn't think Megan Fox was a bad April this time around either. She's not a great one, but she's still better than Paige Turco.
I like that they did something different with Casey this time around. He's a corrections officer turned vigilante to settle a score with the new baddies: Bebop and Rocksteady, who are played wonderfully by Sheamus and Gary Anthony Williams. They are very entertaining and could even star in their own spin-off. They are also upgraded from their Comic ReliefDumb Muscle '80s counterparts to being on par with the Turtles by strength alone.
Steve Jablonsky's score is a delight to hear and breathes heroism at the right times.
This is my favorite version of Krang thus far. He comes off as more of genuine threat than his '80s counterpart and Brad Garrett makes him sound like a demon. He sounds seriously scary. His design is also a match in terms of scariness
The humor delivers,Tyler Perry is a delight as Baxter Stockman, and it's interesting to see the Turtles exposed to the public (Police Chief and her men). There are moments that really hit home. Now for the bad.
The script doesn't appear to be put together as well as the original. There isn't enough Bebop and Rocksteady, if you ask me, and the lack of exposition on Krang makes him pretty generic. The lack of ties to 2014 does not help. Sachs could have really stepped up his game in this movie. Recasting Shredder with a considerably younger man seems pointless, recasting Karai moreso since she has a smaller role in this film.
In conclusion, if you're a fan of the '80s cartoon then you'll love this movie as a love for it shows up much in this film. If you hated the 2014 film, then give one a shot. I think you'll enjoy it. If you love fun movies, then this is definitely for you as it even seemed like it was fun to make.
DAVE GREEN'S Turtles - 3rd best Turtles movie
I was expecting a better sequel. While it's not better than its 2014 predecessor, at best it's just as good. So, let's start with the good.
The opening is arguably the live-action equivalent to Po's entrance in KFP 3. The Turtles do some amazing acrobatics tricks, all for a pizza and hidden seat at a basketball game. As to be expected, there are crazy and awesome actions sequences to follow, and they are well-done.
Next, there's some nice character progression. Splinter softens up and shows more of his fatherly side this time around. The dynamic between the brothers (Turtles) is more developed, with Raph and Leo getting into a traditional fight and the former calling out the latter for keeping the mutagen a secret, which then backfires as Leo points out that Raph lied to Casey and April about his plan to get into the police station for the mutagen having Leo's approval, which ends with the two humans getting arrested. And of course, no one messes with Mikey. I also like that April is doing an undercover reporter thing this time around and those fanservice moments of hers really do make sense in context.. Speaking of the girl, I didn't think Megan Fox was a bad April this time around either. She's not a great one, but she's still better than Paige Turco.
I like that they did something different with Casey this time around. He's a corrections officer turned vigilante to settle a score with the new baddies: Bebop and Rocksteady, who are played wonderfully by Sheamus and Gary Anthony Williams. They are very entertaining and could even star in their own spin-off. They are also upgraded from their Comic Relief Dumb Muscle '80s counterparts to being on par with the Turtles by strength alone.
Steve Jablonsky's score is a delight to hear and breathes heroism at the right times.
This is my favorite version of Krang thus far. He comes off as more of genuine threat than his '80s counterpart and Brad Garrett makes him sound like a demon. He sounds seriously scary. His design is also a match in terms of scariness
The humor delivers,Tyler Perry is a delight as Baxter Stockman, and it's interesting to see the Turtles exposed to the public (Police Chief and her men). There are moments that really hit home. Now for the bad.
The script doesn't appear to be put together as well as the original. There isn't enough Bebop and Rocksteady, if you ask me, and the lack of exposition on Krang makes him pretty generic. The lack of ties to 2014 does not help. Sachs could have really stepped up his game in this movie. Recasting Shredder with a considerably younger man seems pointless, recasting Karai moreso since she has a smaller role in this film.
In conclusion, if you're a fan of the '80s cartoon then you'll love this movie as a love for it shows up much in this film. If you hated the 2014 film, then give one a shot. I think you'll enjoy it. If you love fun movies, then this is definitely for you as it even seemed like it was fun to make.