In 2014, the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie produced by Michael Bay was a late-summer hit. Ten years later, does it hold up?
Few directors have worked harder to build up an intentional reputation as one of the most macho, masculine directors than Michael Bay. From Bad Boys to Transformers, Bay has leaned into action and worn his love of explosions and guns on his sleeve. Bay has plenty of fans and supporters who admire his signature style and the influence he has had as a producer.
There are some premises and subjects where Bay’s approach is a more natural fit than others, though. When, in 2014, Bay decided to lend his producer skills to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, no one was exactly sure what to expect. Unfortunately, what we got was not exactly what the most optimistic fans had hoped for. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may have been a financial success, but it ultimately falls flat. Here are five reasons why it just doesn’t work.The movie doesn’t feel confident in how it looks
All previous adaptations of the Turtles had been either animated or featured practical turtles suits. Those turtle suits may have given some people nightmares, but they were endearingly practical, and you could chalk up whatever limitations they had to that practicality. This time around, the turtles were created with computer-generated imagery (CGI), and it’s safe to say that the movie feels like it’s not totally confident in the way that CGI turned out.
Much of the movie is shrouded in darkness, and that’s especially true of the turtles themselves. What’s more, when we do see the turtles, the decision to keep them in the shadows seems justified. Their skin looks too slimy, too alive, and the overwhelming impression of these creatures is that they are slightly more monstrous than they should be.
