One of The Greatest Scenes In Film History (TMNT 1990)

Nothing beats this.

Go ninja go

So I've been watching this a TON lately because I have a three year old boy who loves this movie. I still can't believe just how good the first TMNT movie is. It's dark and violent but in all the best ways, and not overly so that it isn't a kid's movie. But it's also super deep at times, with losing a brother, losing a father figure, grief, anger issues (especially with Raph), etc. Hell, even April loses her home.

The Shredder is a great villain, as is Tatsu. The Foot is a worthy opponent for the most part (unlike in TMNT2). Casey Jones is a great supporting character. The jokes come often, and most of them land pretty well. The action is great. The fight choreography is solid for the most part.

The music is good (how badass is that metal music when we first see Shredder?).

It's just really, really good.

And don't get me wrong, I also enjoy the second one too, but the toned-down violence was a mistake as that was one of the best things about the first one. Seeing the turtles fight with sausages and foam bats doesn't really do much and makes the whole thing overly silly. Keno was also a pretty terrible addition. April was a downgrade. Etc. It's enjoyable, but nothing at all like the first one.

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So I've been watching this a TON lately because I have a three year old boy who loves this movie. I still can't believe just how good the first TMNT movie is. It's dark and violent but in all the best ways, and not overly so that it isn't a kid's movie. But it's also super deep at times, with losing a brother, losing a father figure, grief, anger issues (especially with Raph), etc. Hell, even April loses her home.

The Shredder is a great villain, as is Tatsu. The Foot is a worthy opponent for the most part (unlike in TMNT2). Casey Jones is a great supporting character. The jokes come often, and most of them land pretty well. The action is great. The fight choreography is solid for the most part

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I agree with all this. I was 7 when I first saw it so there's all the nostalgia that comes with rewatching it, but it is legit a great movie that could have been the silliest thing ever but was so well done it was the opposite. Shredder's intro is so badass, Splinter is a damn puppet but you're hanging on every word, and the turtles are so well done. It's why I absolutely hate CGI and miss the 80s and early 90s makeup and special effects, what you saw on screen was actually there. You show up to the movie set and there's a frickin Ninja Turtle standing there talking and doing backflips. I have to admit that the scene around the campfire when Splinter appears after he's been kidnapped tightens my throat a little bit. I'm sitting here watching puppets with animatronic heads and getting choked up

Sam Rockwell

My dad took me to see Terminator 2 when I was 5 at the theaters when it came out. Your kids will be alright lol

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My kids are 5 and 8. We good to throw this on? I'm assuming it isn't woke, but it's been 15 years since I watched it. Is it too much action, bad language, etc?

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Definitely IMO. My son is 3 and we’ve watched it for months. There are a couple of words I distract him when they come on (damn a couple of times, for example), and it’s a little violent at times. But the violence is accompanied by humor for the most part (like Michelangelo and Donatello cracking jokes), so it doesn’t feel overly violent.

I’d say it depends on what your five year old has watched before. But for the most part it’s just a fun ride with some great practical effects, solid fight choreography, and a tight great story.

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And don't get me wrong, I also enjoy the second one too, but the toned-down violence was a mistake as that was one of the best things about the first one.

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Parents complained that it was too violent for kids.

Great post, agree with all that. It's just a well made TMNT film.