By Kate “One Take Kate” Taylor

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Could this new TMNT installment really enthrall this original fan and 90s kid?

I loved this chapter in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle universe and growing up totally obsessed with the Ninja Turtles (seriously my first crush was Raphael), I can vouch this is true to the cartoon. The characters are perfect, the colour palette is zany and there’s a healthy dose of basketball love going on with an appearance by Carmelo Anthony, the NY Knicks and the LA Clippers which was really fun to see – even if I don’t think “There’s pizza on my Nike” is probably going to catch on as a catchphrase…sorry, just saying DeAndre Jordan. It was a step up from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) and in my opinion, it was a super fun ride!

I love, love, loved each of the turtles and the development of their personalities in TMNT: Out of the Shadows and what I remember loving about them as a kid is you really identified with a particular turtle most of the time, however sometimes your loyalty could swap even within the same episode. There’s a similar vibe in this turtle narrative as they try to come together as a cohesive team. Even now I’m trying to single out which turtle I loved the most and I can’t, even Leonardo who was my least favourite in the cartoon is actually cool in TMNT: Out of the Shadows.

Behold Bebop and Rocksteady! Image via

New character additions of Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (Stephen Farrelly aka WWE’s Sheamus) are soooo good, absolutely perfect chemistry, their look, their dialogue – all fantastic and you’ll be saying “My Man” all the time without realizing it after seeing this. Stephen Amell (Arrow) does a pretty good job of bringing Casey Jones to life, which is no short order as he’s another of my cartoon crushes from back in the day. Krang though, as voiced by Brad Garrett is a real treat and exactly how I hoped he’d be on a live action screen. I give this film a hearty cowabunga! Now, pass me a slice of that double cheese, double anchovy, chocolate and banana pizza.

If you could be any of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters to be for a whole day, who would you pick? Tell me below or over on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat (onetakekate)