There are few cartoons that stick out in my mind as predominantly as the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” cartoon. I look back at it with an adoration that doesn't really compare to any other cartoons of that era. I remember play-fighting as a child, while pretending to be Leonardo; I remember the classic side-scrolling beat ‘em up arcade games; I even collected the toys when I didn't really play much with Transformers or He-Man toys. I love these memories, and I love the original three films (yes, even Turtles 3). It is for these reasons that, despite my initial anticipation of a new Turtles film, I was worried the franchise may further distance itself from the quality of the many other forms the series has taken.

I am aware that many people will disagree with me. Quite possibly, even my esteemed colleague, but I thoroughly enjoyed TMNT. Despite the lack of any recognizable villains, I felt the filmmakers did a very good job in translating the films into a CGI world, while still giving the franchise the respect it deserves. The end result is a film that seems to bridge the two mediums, TV cartoon and film series, quite well.

While I am not a huge supporter of CGI, although I believe it does have its place, I am quite impressed with its utilization in this film. It allows for a certain degree of excess within the action scenes, that couldn't be accomplished with costumes. However, as the film seems more real than traditional 2-D animation, it helps create a stronger sense of depth within the central characters. This depth is one of the key reasons TMNT is as successful as it is.

While Michelangelo and Donatello are strictly cardboard cutouts, 1-dimensional characters with no real depth, Raphael and Leonardo are given their own problems and conflicts both with each other and within themselves. Leonardo struggles to prove to himself that he is capable of leading his brothers, made all the more difficult due to his inability to restrain Raphael. The other side of the coin has Raphael holding a certain resentment toward Leonardo for abandoning his brothers and New York to better his leadership abilities. It's well developed conflicts like these that add some much needed character depth to a film that was expected to be just cookie cutter fun.

The feud between Raphael and Leonardo culminates in a magnificent rainy night rooftop battle that is certainly the films best scene. A sequence like this would not have been as effective or breathtaking if filmed with real actors, and certainly displays the possible benefits of well-realized CGI. While, to be honest, I would have initially preferred either another live action film, or even a 2-D cartoon, after watching the film, I have a certain appreciation for the choice to develop the film using strictly computer graphics. Certain types of animation are better suited to certain types of material, and TMNT utilized its CGI form in as effective a manner as possible. While I was certainly a little let down with the choice of villains, the film itself was wholly enjoyable, and I don't believe it would have been done as much justice in any other form, animated or otherwise.