TMNT, the newest film in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, hit theaters on March 23rd, 2007. Rather than it being live action like the three previous feature films, TMNT was completely CGI (computer generated imagery). Despite this change, TMNT is an official sequel and part of the film franchise.

Along with the four turtles – Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo – the movie also features old favorites Splinter, April O’Neil, and Casey Jones. Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Chris Evans (Fantastic Four) did the voice of April and Casey, while Mako Iwamatsu (Avatar: The Last Airbender) provided the voice of Master Splinter. Unfortunately, Mako passed away shortly after her completed his voice work. He had been suffering from esophageal cancer.

Patrick Stewart also does a voice in the film as Max Winters, the film’s main villain.

The movie revolves around an ancient evil that the turtles must defeat in order to save the world. However, before they can do that, they’ll have to overcome their own differences, so that they may once again function as a team.

Kevin Munroe wrote and directed the movie. However, before this could happen, he had to get the approval of Peter Laird, one of the co-creators of the turtles. When Munroe went to meet with Laird, he brought his original copy of the first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book for Laird to sign. After he left the meeting, he was unsure whether or not he had gotten the job. Upon opening his comic book, he found a drawing left by Laird; it was of Raphael and it said “Dear Kevin…make a good movie…or else.”

I actually got TMNT earlier this week and I have to say, in all honestly, it’s the best Ninja Turtles movie yet. Despite some of the campy, which was to be expected, it was incredibly well made. If you’ve ever been a fan of the Turtles, this is an absolute must-see movie.