When New York City is in trouble, it’s up to these four ninja-fighting, pizza-loving brothers to save it. Aided by determined reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and their wise master Splinter, these unlikely heroes must face their ultimate nemesis - the evil Shredder.
The Review at a Glance:
(max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
93
Details:
Studio and Year: Paramount - 2014
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 101 minutes
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC/MVC
Video Aspect: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, French/Spanish/Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Starring: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner
Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman
Music by: Brian Tyler
Written by: Josh Applebaum, Andre Nemec, Evan Daugherty
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: December 16, 2014
"Mysterious. Dangerous. Reptilian. You've never seen heroes like this."
My Take:
The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April O'Neil (Megan Fox) and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) to save the city and unravel Shredder's diabolical plan.
Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Characters Created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles eschews meaningful storytelling, incorporating an elementary and formulaic narrative that begins with brief introductions before jumping into the diabolical, city threatening plot that must be thwarted by the heroes. It would be easy to beat this one up for its poor character development, paper thing story and lack of effective direction but honestly, why expect more from it than intended?
The truth is that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is really all about the quips, brotherly banter and sword/ninja star action brought on by the four principles. Trying to build a truly tangible storyline and engaging characters around them would probably tarnish their shine. Yeah, the dialogue could have been wittier, the villain more villainous, and the backstory for their fearless reporter not so lame but letting your hair down a little and sifting through the rubbish there is a bit of fun to be had. Some of the action is nicely done and the special effects are well-executed.
I don’t think there was a single line uttered by Vernon (Will Arnett) or worse yet Bernadette (Whoppi Goldberg) that worked but I got a kick out of the interaction between the Turtles and thought that the cast members that voiced them did a decent job. William Fichtner is a great character actor but his talents were largely wasted here. As for Megan Fox, I have never found her to be much of an actress and she failed to offer anything viable here either.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles probably isn’t going to satisfy hungry genre fans seeking a well-rounded action/fantasy. It’s not a terrible movie especially for younger viewers or nostalgic diehards who enjoy seeing these characters brought to life on the big screen. It’s not edgy enough or refreshing enough to allow its shortcomings to be overlooked. I would say that should you decide to give it a try lower your expectations, take the good with the bad and try and enjoy the top notch audio/video presentation (see below).
Parental Guide:
The rating is for sci-fi action and violence.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100/EXCELLENT = 83-91/GOOD = 74-82/AVERAGE = 65-73/BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
Audio: 100
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency effects:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
- Low frequency extension * (non-rated element):
3D Presentation: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Depth (Onscreen):
- Dimension (Beyond the screen):
- Realism:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Color Reproduction:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3D comes to Blu-ray Disc from Paramount Home Entertainment featuring 1080p MVC encoded video and lossless Dolby Atmos sound that includes the 7.1 Dolby TrueHD lossless core that has an average bitrate of 5 Mbps.
This film wasn’t shot natively in 3D but was converted in post-production. The film was shot using a mix of live action and CG and the reproduction of the digital effects and wide angle background elements translates positively here. Depth is appreciable as evidenced by separation of objects and/or people layered in the foreground/background which creates a visual sense of virtual space. High definition dimensionality and apparent resolution is rarely questionable in close ups and brightly lit exterior sequences but it varies some in the low lit environs featured in the film. Comparing white/black levels, color and skin tone reproduction to the 2D presentation I found them to essentially be identical. There is effective use of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen which where applicable makes for a somewhat involving experience especially during the action based segments. I will say that this added to my enjoyment of the overall presentation which like the 2D version looks terrific on Blu-ray. I didn’t notice any distracting instances of crosstalk or other video related anomalies. The end result is a satisfying but ultimately unremarkable 3D video presentation.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles includes a Dolby Atmos soundtrack which is exciting news for enthusiasts that have already updated their home theaters to incorporate the new Dolby Atmos technology for the home environment. Unfortunately my system has not yet been upgraded for Atmos playback although I do plan on doing so soon (I am planning on upgrading to the Marantz AV8802). For now all I can attest to is the lossless Dolby TrueHD 7.1 channel core which played back flawlessly.
This lossless Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is demonstration quality and features wide dynamic range, superlative clarity and high level detail. Dialogue is definitive and appreciably lucid through the center channel as it is located just slightly in front of the left/right speakers within the acoustic space it occupies in the soundstage. Front and rear channel separation and imaging is excellent. This draws out both large and small sound elements and allows their directional correlation based upon the onscreen events to be definable.
Brian Tyler’s music score, coupled with the integration of discrete and atmospheric surround sound effects, plays an intricate role in this active surround mix. The detection of subtle background sounds, off camera cues and spatial dimension within the room’s acoustic environment is excellent. The atmospheric sounds of the sewer, a crowded subway platform, or open NY City expanse sounds engagingly real. My favorite sequence occurs in chapter 14 during an extended chase sequence involving a tractor trailer and snow covered mountain. The room becomes illuminated with sound effects that traverse the soundstage, panning right to life/left to right as well as sweeping front to back. I have to imagine that this scene will sound terrific with Dolby Atmos’ object based elements.
Low frequency effects are applied authoritatively and underscore the bombastic and aggressive aspects of the presentation with aplomb. Its palpable presence is never in question as it renders refined bass quality that kicks nicely and extends deep enough to engage the room. The film’s final action set piece takes place atop a NY City high rise as the Ninja’s do battle with Schredder. Bass fans will appreciate the pleasingly low and couch shaking frequencies as the buildings spire begins to crumble during the attack. Give the volume an extra turn and have fun with presentation which sounded great on my 9.2 channel system. I eagerly await the opportunity to experience it in Dolby Atmos.
* Keep an eye out for future coverage from AVS on this DOLBY ATMOS soundtrack.*
2D Video Quality:
Video: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black Level/Shadow Detail:
- Color Reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes to Blu-ray Disc from Paramount Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 31 Mbps.
This is an excellent and high quality Blu-ray offering from Paramount. The video is razor sharp with a slightly edgy but otherwise pristine quality that is visually engaging. Detail perception is nearly flawless with lucid visual acuity and fine rendering throughout. Colors are lavish and eye popping with oversaturated primaries and warm tonality that make them pleasing. Flesh tones are noticeably on the warm side with primarily fair delineation among the cast. It should be noted that Megan Fox’s face appears noticeably soft which was apparently done in post to obscure blemishes, age lines, acne scars etc. I didn’t notice this with the other members of the cast. Boldly applied contrast and consistent black levels provide excellent balance during bright scenes containing mixed content. Shadow detail is good enough that I could make out plenty of discernible texture in the low lighting and dark backgrounds. The CGI based and green screen photography softens some shots but its effects are innate and fidelity remained unaffected.
Bonus Features:
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 3D Blu-ray
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 2D Blu-ray
- (HD) Digital Reality – 18 minute featurette
- (HD) In your face! The Turtles in 3D (viewable in 3D or 2D) – 4 minute featurette
- (HD) It Ain’t Easy Being Green – 6 minute featurette
- (HD) Evolutionary Mash-up – 15 minute documentary
- (HD) Turtle Rock – 5 minute featurette
- (HD) Extended Ending
- (HD)”Shell Shocked” Music Video
- (HD) Making of “Shell Shocked”
- Bonus DVD
- Digital HD Copy
Final Thoughts:
Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Characters Created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an uninspired reimaging that if taken with a grain of salt has something to offer especially for fans of the popular quartet. It comes to Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment is this 3D Blu-ray Combo pack that features excellent high definition video, room shaking lossless surround sound, a solid 3D rendering and a fair supplemental package that looks behind the scenes at the production. Home theater enthusiasts that have been waiting for Dolby Atmos encoded titles to come to Blu-ray can take solace in knowing that the wait is over. Hopefully in the coming year we will see more and more Dolby Atmos releases announced. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is tough to recommend as blind buy however if you’re anxious to see and hear what it has to offer toss it in your rental queue and take it for a ride on Blu-ray.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS4910 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6 Meter from Spectracal)
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8801 11.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-103D Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (With Darbee video processing)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SVS PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
SVS PC12-NSD
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package