The Turtles are back, and are still fighting crime after the Foot has fallen. However. The Shredder has also survived being crushed in a garbage truck, and is now out for revenge, going as far as to steal a canister of the ooze that mutated the four and creating his own mutants, Tokka and Rahzar. Now the turtles must stop the mad man, as well as find a new hideout and keep Keno, a pizza boy who saw them stop a mall robbery, out of danger.
So, yeah, this may not have done as well as its predecessor, but it is still liked. When the first film came out, parents complained about that one being too dark and violent (as it was released at a time when the TMNT brand was marketed to kids, with a popular animated series and a toyline making people forget about the original Mirage comics, which is what it was based on), so for this one, they decided to tone down the Turtles some. While that means they no longer have a potty mouth, it also forbids them from using their signature weapons (with the mall scene having them resort to using toys, leading Michelangelo's famous (or infamous, depending on your view) Combat Cold Cuts scene, which I found funny. Also, Casey Jones does not return due to the parent complaints, as he is replaced by Keno, a pizza delivery boy who witnesses the Turtles and tends to jump into fights that are not his. Also, we get Tokka and Rahzar, two mutants who were a baby turtle and wolf exposed to the ooze stolen by The Foot, who make formidable threats despite their age (as they actually manage to overpower the Turtles).
Despite the softened tone, there is still plenty of action. Keno, played by Ernie Reyes Jr., who was the suit actor for Donatello in the first film, actually proves he is a good actor, even going as far as to do a fight scene. Also, some characters have been recast (the most notable example being April, who is played by Paige Turco for this and the next film, replacing Judith Hoag), but they do a good job. The suits are still from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, and the film starts with a screen dedicating the memory of Jim, who died before the movie was released.
There are some good stuff I like, like the mall fight, and even the Ninja Rap, but sadly, the film suffers from the fact that it bows to parents. Because the Turtles are no longer allowed to use their weapons to attack enemies, this results in them being stuck in traps that Leonardo can easily use his katana to cut them out of. Also, if you were disappointed at the final battle of the first film, chances are you will be disappointed here. But despite its mistakes, TMNT II: The Secret Of The Ooze is a good movie, despite it toning down the tone and violence, and is worth checking out.
So, yeah, this may not have done as well as its predecessor, but it is still liked. When the first film came out, parents complained about that one being too dark and violent (as it was released at a time when the TMNT brand was marketed to kids, with a popular animated series and a toyline making people forget about the original Mirage comics, which is what it was based on), so for this one, they decided to tone down the Turtles some. While that means they no longer have a potty mouth, it also forbids them from using their signature weapons (with the mall scene having them resort to using toys, leading Michelangelo's famous (or infamous, depending on your view) Combat Cold Cuts scene, which I found funny. Also, Casey Jones does not return due to the parent complaints, as he is replaced by Keno, a pizza delivery boy who witnesses the Turtles and tends to jump into fights that are not his. Also, we get Tokka and Rahzar, two mutants who were a baby turtle and wolf exposed to the ooze stolen by The Foot, who make formidable threats despite their age (as they actually manage to overpower the Turtles).
Despite the softened tone, there is still plenty of action. Keno, played by Ernie Reyes Jr., who was the suit actor for Donatello in the first film, actually proves he is a good actor, even going as far as to do a fight scene. Also, some characters have been recast (the most notable example being April, who is played by Paige Turco for this and the next film, replacing Judith Hoag), but they do a good job. The suits are still from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, and the film starts with a screen dedicating the memory of Jim, who died before the movie was released.
There are some good stuff I like, like the mall fight, and even the Ninja Rap, but sadly, the film suffers from the fact that it bows to parents. Because the Turtles are no longer allowed to use their weapons to attack enemies, this results in them being stuck in traps that Leonardo can easily use his katana to cut them out of. Also, if you were disappointed at the final battle of the first film, chances are you will be disappointed here. But despite its mistakes, TMNT II: The Secret Of The Ooze is a good movie, despite it toning down the tone and violence, and is worth checking out.