I missed most of the TMNT craze while I was a teenager in Bermuda. While I was out in Halifax, tthe family I lived with had a son who was obsessed! He loved the cartoon, and I got to know some of it from that. I read some of the original Eastman-Laird black and white comics and fell in love, and when word came down that there was film coming, with the involvement of Jim Henson… I was in.

So when the film rolled around, I already had an advance poster on my wall and was super-excited. I had the soundtrack on cassette, and it accompanied me on my walk to class on a regular basis. I was into the Turtles – Donatello was, and still is, my favourite.

Opening weekend, I was there, and it was so much fun. I bought it on videocassette, I bought the trading cards, it was just so much fun. Then before the end of the century, I’d pretty much forgotten it, and had given thee live-action remakes a wide berth.

So would I still enjoy it?

I threw it into the player to find out. And the answer was a resounding yes!

Steve Barron was a first-time director, but the heart and soul of the characters are there. It walks a fine line between family friendly and hinting at something darker. We are introduced to the four turtles who live below the streets of New York. There is the youthful leader, Leonardo (body actor: David Forman, voice: Brian Tochi), the anger-issued Raphael (body and voice played by Josh Pais), the valley-speak surf vibe, Michelangelo (body: Michelan Sisti, voice: Robbie Rist) and the wry and clever, Donatello (body: Leif Tilden, voice: Corey Feldman).

The four of them have been raised in the sewers by the wizened and masterful rat, Splinter (Kevin Clash), and they are about to come to the attention of a reporter, April O’Neil (Judith Hoag) and a sports-equipment-wielding vigilante, Casey Jones (Elias Koteas).

O’Neil is saved by Raph, when she runs afoul of the Foot Gang, who work for Shredder (James Saito). Shredder has a bit of an Oliver Twist thing going, using the youth of the city (including a young Sam Rockwell) to pickpocket and steal anything they can.

When Raph gets his shell-kicked by the Foot, and Splinter is kidnapped, the boys have to do some growing up, and have a quick journey of self-discovery (it has to be quick, the movie is only an hour and a half). Soon, they’ll be ready to go back, and fight. To save Splinter, stop the Foot and become the heroes of New York City, whether they know it or not.

This one is still delightfully fun, the puppetry and animatronics are great, and look great. It’s just a fun and enjoyable movie. I hadn’t seen this one in decades and I loved it. I just wish I still had the soundtrack.