A dive so deep, you’d think we were disarming bombs in the dam.
Turtlemania!! With a new short in theaters, a new season of the animated series, a reboot of the IDW Comics series, and a scorching hot Arrow Video Limited Edition box set of the original movies, there’s no question it’s totally Turtlemania time! Join us as we celebrate the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
Fans have long clamored for a special edition of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, especially the 1990 original. It’s been a long time coming, but UK-based Arrow Video, who were also behind the 4K glow-ups of tangential genre favorites like The Warriors, Robocop and Tremors, have answered the call and delivered a box set of all three films that fans can truly embrace.
Our TMNT-obsessed, sleep-deprived editor watched every extra – yes, every single commentary, featurette, interview, trailer, and alternate cut – on the entire set, most of them more than once, to truly capture the depth and breadth of this release. And take it from us – this is a phenomenal set and packed with extras that viewers will be unpacking for a long time.
Part 2 of this review looks at the extras for the sequels. You can check out Part 1 covering the first film here! (Note, this just covers on-disc extras – for “in the box” extras, check out our huge unboxing pictorial!)
Special Features and Extras – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II
- Commentary with director Michael Pressman – moderated by filmmaker Gillian Wallace Horvat. I always appreciate conversational commentaries like this which tend to have a nice ebb and flow. Pressman describes taking over the direction for the second film and trying to find the studio-mandated lighter tone. One particular part that stuck with is his release-day apprehension that the film wouldn’t do well – but of course it was a huge hit.
- John Du Prez to the Rescue (13:39), a new Arrow interview with composer John Du Prez, who discusses his work on all three films. Interestingly, even though the third film is the least of the trilogy, it’s probably the most expansive musically, incorporating Japanese-style instrumentation into the established pop-funk-rock-hip-hop aesthetic of the first two films. I feel that TMNT lucked out massively by hiring Du Prez. He’s not especially well known, but smashed it out of the park every time delivering massive vibes.
- Hard Cores: An Interview with Kenny Wilson, Former Mould Shop Supervisor at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (8:17) – Wilson discusses building suits to withstand heavy fighting and stunt work, and working with a huge real (!!) snapping turtle as reference for Tokka.
- Steve Mirkovich: The Secret of the Edit (15:00), a new Arrow interview with co-editor Steve Mirkovich, who worked on the film with his frequent editing partner John Wright (who passed away in 2023). Mirkovich describes the editing process (which was quite rushed due to the film’s expedited production), working collaboratively with director Michael Pressman, and a general appreciation for the film and others’ work on it. I especially loved his thoughts on how editing establishes an intimacy or familiarity with the subjects.
- The Making of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Behind The Shells (28:36), a 1991 documentary originally released to VHS. It’s clearly made for kids, featuring an elementary down-talky narration. And although it was called “The Making of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, the behind-the-scenes aspects are from the making of the second film. Still, it’s a great time capsule aside from the tone it’s actually quite insightful, and prominently features Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman discussing the creation of the Turtles. If you’re an old school Turtles fan, chances are you’ve seen this before – but this is probably the best it’s looked. In my mind this video has always been an obvious/critical inclusion for a special edition of TMNT or TMNT II, so I’m glad to see it finally happen.
- Theatrical trailer (2:17)
- Image gallery
Special Features and Extras – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
- Commentary by director Stuart Gillard – I love his account of how the magnificent red sun opening was the very first germ of an idea he had, even before there was a screenplay. His instinct was spot on, because it’s probably the best shot in the entire series. Gillard also discusses the technical aspects of making the film, trying to find the right balance of violence and humor, his admiration for the actors and stunt performers, the relationship between chanbara films and his own wheelhouse of westerns (with acknowledgment of the story’s similarity to Seven Samurai), and sitting next to John Woo during a screening of the film. This is an informative and enjoyable commentary aside from some lulls and pauses. (A conversational approach with an interviewer probably would’ve helped here).
- Rebel Rebel: Vivian Wu Finds Her Inner Warrior (14:17) – a great interview with Wu, who plays Mitsu in the film. She describes her casting in the film based on the strength of her performance in The Last Emperor, coming into the film as a Golden Harvest fan, playing a Japanese character as a Chinese actress, and the incredible opportunity of training in archery, fencing, and horseback riding.
- Daimyos & Demons: Looking Back at Lord Norinaga (10:14) – Sab Shimono generously describes TMNT III as his Toshiro Mifune movie, getting a chance to play a samurai character in a big-budget chanbara film, sharing appreciation for the incredible production design. In discussing his Japanese-American heritage I was surprised to learn that he experienced living in an internment camp as a child during WWII. Side note, unlike his character in the film, he seems like the chillest dude ever.
- Alternate UK Opening (2:03) – More nunchaku censorship. So stupid and pointless. (The censorship, not the inclusion of the extra, which is nice).
- Theatrical Trailer (2:03) – Did I mention that red sun opening shot is still awesome as hell? This is actually an astonishingly great trailer until it leans into the comedy.
- Image Gallery
– A/V Out
