Skip to content
Traveta reviews
New Line Home Video
- Cert: PG
- Cat.no: N5569
- Running time: 95 minutes
- Year: 1992
- Pressing: 2002
- Region(s): 1, NTSC
- Chapters: 20
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English
- Widescreen: 1.85:1, Standard: 4:3
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: No
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: $14.98
- Extras:Theatrical Trailer and Pick That Flick game
Director:
- Stuart Gillard
Screenplay:
- Stuart Gillard
Creature Animatronics:
- Jim Henson Studios
Cast:
- April O’Neil: Paige Turco
Casey Jones/Whit Whitley: Elias Koteas
Walker: Stuart Wilson
Lord Norinaga: Sab Shimono
Mitsu: Vivian Wu
Voices for Animatronics:
Leonardo: Brian Tochi
Raphael: Tim Kelleher
Michaelangelo: Robbie Rist
Donatello: Corey Feldman
Splniter: James Murray
The dreaded second sequel.Beverly Hill Cop 3, Alien 3, and Exorcist 3come to mind when bad third films are brought up. In fact, the onlythird film in a successful series that actually lived up to it’spredecessors I’ve seen was Die Hard 3. Not to say that Ninja Turtles 3is terrible or anything, it just doesn’t live up to it’s predecessorsand many fans agree.
Taking a vacation from the big city plots, it’s time to go back tofeudal Japan! A logical destination for four mutant turtles. AprilO’Neil finds an ancient Japanese sceptre and is transported back intime. A prince takes her place and the Turtles must go back to rescueher.
Back in fuedal Japan, April is greeted as a witch by Lord Norinaga. Hisson was switched with April. A man named Walker, who resembles a cliche80s hair band rocker for some reason, is trying to get Norinaga to buyguns. A tactical weapon that has to be used when the Turtles hurtlethrough time.
In New York, four honor guards have replaced the Turtles and comicmishap ensues when Casey Jones returns. Suprise, we’ve got a fish out ofwate subplot. Actually, these scenes are highlights. Casey tries to getthem to play hockey and such.
After they rescue April, the people of Japan believe the Turtles to bedemons. But all they want to do is to find the scepter and get homebefore the time gate closes in 60 hours.
You can really tell the steam was subsiding. Turtle mania was slowlydying down when this premiered (Mighty Morph’n Power Rangers were set tograb the crown) and it shows. The fights are cool but the plot justseems wierd for the Turtles. Paige Turco is great as April again, CaseyJones finally returns, and Corey Feldman lends his voice to Donatelloagain. But one voice is done terribly wrong, Kevin Clash no longervoices Splinter and instead we get a terrible voice over that soundslike it eminated from the 80s and not 1992. One last complaint, but thisis the major one. Noriaga and Walker are defintely no Shredder andTatsu. These villians were clearly cut and paste. But the trademarkTurtle charm is still here and that’s enough to save it from sequel Hell.
This transfer definitely improves upon the first and second disc.Presented in anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen, gone are the dark overtonesand replaced by sharp and clear visuals. This is is easily the bestlooking of the three and looks as if it came out a year ago, not 10. Theonly thing that keeps this from perfection is a problem with the print.I noticed some dirt on it in some scenes but nothing too bothersome.This is still a surpisingly gorgeous transfer. New Line has included a4:3 full frame transfer on the same side as well.
The sound is presented in the same options as the second disc. Thetrack’s just as good but not much action is heard. Most of the heavyaction scenes are at the end of the film and the track really picks upthere. Dialogue is still clear but not as good as the first two discs.Just a little less dynamic in the long run.
The extras include only the theatrical trailer shown in anamorphicwidescreen and mono. The Pick That Flick game has returned but offers afew more stills than the second disc.
Some advice before you put this is. Turn your system down a few notches.When the menu pops up we are shown a clip and a loud high riff is heard.This thing almost made me jump because it just starts. The menus arealright but cheap techno music plays while clouds move. Then there’smusic that plays in the scene selection that sets up the movie up to bea drama or something.
Overall, this is for fans only. For only $14.98 you might be able tofind some fun here but this was destined to be just for the fans.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALLEmailTraveta
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.