TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III REVIEW!!!
- Matt Palmer
- Aug 22, 2023
- 2 min read
Initial release date: March 19, 1993
Studios: New Line Cinema/Golden Harvest
Tagline: The Turtles Are Back ... In Time
Plot: April O'Neil purchases an ancient Japanese scepter that can cause those simultaneously holding it in different centuries to switch places in time. When she is transported to 16th century Japan, her crime-fighting pals, the Turtles, pursue her. After landing in the past, the Turtles learn April has been captured by the villainous Lord Norinaga. To rescue her, they must team up with rebel leader Mitsu.
Cast
Elias Koteas - Casey Jones/Whit
Paige Turco - April O'Neil
Stuart Wilson - Walker
Sab Shimonu - Lord Norinaga
Vivian Wu - Mitsu
Brian Tochi - Leonardo
Corey Feldman - Donatello
Tim Kellcher - Raphael
Robbie Rist - Michelangelo
James Murray - Splinter
Writer/director: Stuart Gilliard (The Lost Boys: The Thirst)
Rated PG for swashbuckling violence and mild language (96 minutes)
Now onto the final installment of the 90s TMNT trilogy - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III - the one where they go back in time! There are a few moments in this movie that are fairly entertaining. It was cool that the filmmakers of this entry decided to do something different since the Turtles defeated Shredder in the first sequel.
The going back in time adventure is a little cool but the whole movie seems to be a little on the flat side. You can tell by the Turtles designs, animatronics and costumes that there was a new studio working on them and they definitely look not as good as the previous two movies.
So, overall, I always enjoy giving the original TMNT trilogy another visit every now and then. I was hoping to have some time to get to the animated 2007 movie and the two Michael Bay produced movies. But, maybe another time. I did manage to watch the 2007 movie and, if you haven't checked it out yet, it is actually a decent watch.
My next slate for my Exclusive Series will be some films that feature the late Robin Williams to coincide with the anniversary of his death, which was a couple weeks ago!
Here are a few fun tidbits for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III!
The concept for this movie is loosely on a story called Masks for issues #46 and 47 of the original Mirage comics. The story features the Turtles traveling back to Feudal Japan to fight an evil shogun and engage in samurai battles.
At the time this movie was released, Golden Harvest thought the franchise had reached its end. The project went forward with low expectations, little fanfare and a modest $17 million budget.
The sequel debuted at No. 1 at the US box office with a gross of $12.4 million from 2,087 screens. The movie grossed $42.2 million domestic, and $12.2 million internationally, giving a worldwide gross of $54.4 million.
There were early plans for a live action fourth installment, but it never materialized.
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