Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows Review – 2 Ups And 3 Downs

The Ups:

2. It Looks Much Better

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows
Paramount Pictures

Like Transformers, this iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is dominated by the patented Michael Bay-aesthetic €“ saturated colours, mechanical sensibilities, slow-motion. It€™s nauseating and dominates whatever property he€™s taking on, but, while still being rigidly in that school, Out Of The Shadows does at least try and mix things up a little.

The CGI is strong and by introducing more fan favourite monsters there€™s a greater leaning on it in a more cartoony way €“ simply having a giant warthog and a rhino means you have to tone down the Bay.

There€™s a creativity to the shooting style too. Instead of everything being incomprehensible shakey close-up, new director David Green (who produced fine mediocrity with Earth To Echo) tries to mix things up. The camera pans through the action and he makes great use of wide-shots to actually show the Turtles a part of New York City..

Contributor
Contributor

Film Editor (2014-2016). Loves The Usual Suspects. Hates Transformers 2. Everything else lies somewhere in the middle. Once met the Chuckle Brothers.